His virtues walk'd their narrow round, The busy day-the peaceful night, His frame was firm-his pow'rs were bright, Then, with no fiery throbbing pain, EPITAPH ON CLAUDE PHILLIPS AN ITINERANT MUSICIAN". PHILLIPS! whose touch harmonious could remove These lines are among Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies: they are, nevertheless, recognised as Johnson's, in a memorandum of his handwriting, and were probably written at her request. This Phillips was a fiddler, who travelled up and down Wales, and was much celebrated for his skill. The above epitaph, according to Mr. Boswell, won the applause of lord Kames, prejudiced against Johnson as he was. It was published in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies, and was, at first, ascribed to Garrick, from its appearing with the signature G.- Garrick, however, related, that they were composed, almost impromptu, by Johnson, on hearing some lines on the subject, by Dr. Wilkes, which he disapproved. See Boswell, i. 126, where is, likewise, preserved an epigram, by Johnson, on Colley Cibber and George VOL. 6-17 257 THOMAM HANMER, BARONETTUM Honorabilis admodum THOMAS HANMER, Wilhelmi Hanmer armigeri, e Peregrina Henrici 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 a patre derivato, de Arlington comitissam, Deinde celsissimi principis, ducis de Grafton, viduam dotariam: Alteram Elizabetham, Thomæ Foulkes de Barton, in Com. Suff. armigeri Filiam et hæredem. Inter humanitatis studia feliciter enutritus, the second, whose illiberal treatment of artists and learned men was a constant theme of his execration. As it has not yet been inserted among Johnson's works, we will present it to the readers of the present edition, in this note. Agustus still survives in Maro's strain, And Spenser's verse prolongs Eliza's reign; At Hanmer church in Flintshire. ED. Omnes liberalium artium disciplinas avide arripuit, Quas morum suavitate haud leviter ornavit. Postquam excessit ex ephebis, Continuo inter populares suos fama eminens, Et comitatus sui legatus ad parliamentum missus, Ad ardua regni negotia, per annos prope triginta, se accinxit: Cumque, apud illos amplissimorum virorum ordines, Sed probe perpensa diserte expromere, Non minus integritatis quam eloquentiæ laude commendatus, Æque omnium, utcunque inter se alioqui Aures atque animos attraxit. Annoque demum M.DCC. XIII. regnante Anna, Felicissimæ florentissimæque memoriæ regina, Ad prolocutoris cathedram, Communi senatus 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, Sedulo detrectavit, Ut rei totus inserviret publicæ; Justi rectique tenax, Et fide in patriam incorrupta notus. Ubi omnibus, quæ virum civemque bonum decent, officiis satisfecisset, Paulatim se a publicis consiliis in otium recipiens, inter literarum amoenitates, 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 THOU, who survey'st these walls with curious eye, Thus early wise, th' endanger'd realm to aid, In bus'ness dext'rous, weighty in debate, Thrice ten long years he labour'd for the state; b This paraphrase is inserted in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies. 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. In ev'ry speech persuasive wisdom flow'd, Suspended faction ceas'd from rage and strife, 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 steadfast eye, With temp'rate 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. Age call'd, at length, his active mind to rest, With honour sated, and with cares oppress'd; To letter'd ease retir'd, and honest mirth, To rural grandeur and domestick worth; Delighted still to please mankind, or mend, The patriot's fire yet sparkled in the friend. Calm conscience, then, his former life survey'd, And recollected toils endear'd the shade, Till nature call'd him to the gen❜ral doom, And virtue's sorrow dignified his tomb. |