The pupil of impulse, it forc'd him along, his own. Here lies honest Richard, whose fate I must sigh at; Alas, that such frolic should now be so quiet! Here 18 Cumberland lies, having acted his parts, The Terence of England, the mender of hearts; A flattering painter, who made it his care To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are. 1 Mr. Richard Burke; vide page 63. This gentleman having slightly fractured one of his arms and legs, at different times, the doctor has rallied him on those accidents, as a kind of retributive justice for breaking his jests upon other people. 18 Vide p. 63. His gallants are all faultless, his women divine, Like a tragedy queen he has dizen'd her out, His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd Here 19 Douglas retires from his toils to relax, The scourge of impostors, the terror of quacks: Come, all ye quack bards, and ye quacking divines, Come, and dance on the spot where your tyrant reclines: When satire and censure encircled his throne, 19 Vide page 64. 20 The Rev. Dr. Dodd. 21 Dr. Kenrick, who read lectures at the Devil Tavern, under the title of The School of Shakespeare.' 22 Macpherson write bombast, and call it a style, Our 23 Townshend make speeches, and I shall com[over, pile; New 24 Lauders and Bowers the Tweed shall cross No countryman living their tricks to discover; Detection her taper shall quench to a spark, 25 And Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark. Here lies 26 David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man; As an actor, confest without rival to shine: As a wit, if not first, in the very first line: Yet, with talents like these, and an excellent heart, The man had his failings, a dupe to his art. Like an ill judging beauty, his colours he spread, And beplaster'd with rouge his own natural red. On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting; 'Twas only that, when he was off, he was acting. With no reason on earth to go out of his way, He turn'd and he varied full ten times a day: Though secure of our hearts, yet confoundedly sick, If they were not his own by finessing and trick: He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back. 22 James Macpherson, Esq. who lately, from the mere force of his style, wrote down the first poet of all antiquity. 23 Vide page 65. 24 Vide page 64. 25 And gods meet gods, and jostle in the dark.' See Farquhar's Love in a Bottle, vol. i. p. 150. 26 Vide page 64. Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came What a commerce was yours, while you got and How did Grub-street reecho the shouts that you rais'd, While he was be-Roscius'd, and you were beprais'd? But peace to his spirit, wherever it flies, To act as an angel and mix with the skies: Those poets, who owe their best fame to his skill, And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above.30 27 Vide page 67. 28 Mr. Hugh Kelly, author of False Delicacy,'' Word to the Wise,'' Clementina,'' School for Wives,' &c. &c. 29 Mr. William Woodfall, printer of the Morning Chronicle. 30 The following poems by Mr. Garrick, may, in some measure, account for the severity exercised by Dr. Goldsmith, in respect to that gentleman: JUPITER AND MERCURY. A FABLE. Here, Hermes, says Jove, who with nectar was mellow, Go fetch me some clay-I will make an odd fellow; Right and wrong shall be jumbled,-much gold and some dross; Here 31 Hickey reclines, a most blunt, pleasant creature, And slander itself must allow him good nature; Without cause be he pleas'd, without cause be he cross: A great love of truth, yet a mind turn'd to fictions! Set fire to the head, and set fire to the tail: For the joy of each sex, on the world I'll bestow it, ON DR. GOLDSMITH'S CHARACTERISTICAL COOKERY. ARE these the choice dishes the doctor has sent us? 31 Vide page 64. |