Well try'd through many a varying year, Of ev'ry friendless name the friend. Yet still he fills Affection's eye, Thy praise to merit unrefin'd. When fainting nature call'd for aid, The pow'r of art without the show. In misery's darkest cavern known, No summons mock'd by chill delay, The toil of ev'ry day supply'd. His virtues walk'd their narrow round, The busy day-the peaceful night, His frame was firm-his powers were bright, Then with no fiery throbbing pain, EPITAPH ON CLAUDE PHILIPS, AN ITINERANT MUSICIAN PHILIPS! whose touch harmonious could remove EPITAPHIUM † IN THOMAM HANMER, BARONETTUM. Honorabilis admodum THOMAS HANMER, Wilhelmi Hanmer armigeri, è Peregrinâ Henrici These lines are among Mrs Williams's Miscellanies : they are nevertheless recognized as Johnson's in a memorandum of his hand-writing, and were probably written at her request. Phillips was a travelling fidler up and down Wales, and was greatly celebrated for his performance. † At Hanmer church, in Flintshire. De Mildenhall in Com. Suffolciæ Baronetti sorore et hærede, Johannis Hanmer de Hanmer Baronetti Antiquo gentis suæ et titulo et patrimonio successit. Alteram Isabellam, honore à patre derivato, de Arlington comitissam, Deindè celsissimi principis ducis de Grafton viduam dotariam: Alteram Elizabetham Thomæ Foulkes de Barton in Inter humanitates studia felicitèr enutritus, Omnes liberalium artium disciplinas avidè arripuit, Quas morum suavitate haud leviter ornavit. Postquam excessit ex ephebis, Continuò inter populares suos famâ eminens, Et comitatûs sui legatus ad Parliamentum missus, Ad ardua regni negotia per annos prope triginta se accinxit : Cumque apud illos amplissimorum virorum ordines Sed probè perpensa dissertè expromere, Non minus integritatis quam eloquentiæ laude commendatus, què omnium, utcunque inter se alioqui Aures atque animos attraxit. Annoque demum M.DCC.XIII. regnante Annâ, Felicissimæ florentissimæque memoriæ reginâ, Ad Prolocutoris cathedram Communi Senatûs universi voce designatus est: Cum nullo tempore non difficile, Et variis et lubricis et implicatis difficillimum, Honores alios, et omnia quæ sibi in lucrum cederent munera, Sedulò detrectavit, Ut rei totus inserviret publicæ; Et fide in patriam incorruptâ notus. Ubi omnibus, quæ virum civemque bonum decent, officiis satisfecisset, Paulatim se à publicis consiliis in otium recipiens, Inter literarum amœnitates, Inter ante-actæ vitæ haud insuaves recordationes, Et bonis omnibus, quibus charissimus vixit, Hic, juxta cineres avi, suos condi voluit, et curavit PARAPHRASE OF THE ABOVE EPITAPH. By Dr JOHNSON *. THOU who survey'st these walls with curious eye, Pause at his tomb were HANMER's ashes lie; *This Paraphrase is inserted in Mrs Williams's Miscel lanies. The Latin is there said to be written by Dr Freind. Of the person whose memory it celebrates, a copious account may be seen in the Appendix to the Supplement to the Biographia Britannica. His various worth through varied life attend, Thus early wise, th' endanger'd realm to aid, In business dext'rous, weighty in debate, Thrice ten long years he labour'd for the State; In ev'ry speech persuasive wisdom flow'd, In ev'ry act refulgent virtue glow'd: Suspended faction ceas'd from rage and strife, To hear his eloquence, and praise his life. Resistless merit fix'd the Senate's choice, Who hail'd him Speaker with united voice. Illustrious age! how bright thy glories shone, When HANMER fill'd the chair and ANNE the throne! Then when dark arts obscur'd each fierce debate, When mutual frauds perplex'd the maze of state, The moderator firmly mild appear'd Beheld with love-with veneration heard. This task perform'd he sought no gainful post, Nor wish'd to glitter at his country's cost; Strict on the right he fix'd his stedfast eye, With temperate zeal and wise anxiety; Nor e'er from Virtue's paths was lur'd aside, To pluck the flow rs of pleasure, or of pride. Her gifts despis'd, Corruption blush'd and fled, And fame pursu'd him where Conviction led. |