Well tried through many a varying year, See Levett to the grave descend, Officious, innocent, sincere, Of every friendless name, the friend. Yet still he fills affection's eye, When fainting nature called for aid, In misery's darkest cavern known, No summons, mocked by chill delay, No petty gain, disdained by pride; His virtues walked their narrow round, The busy day, the peaceful night, Unfelt, unclouded, glided by; His frame was firm, his powers were bright, Then with no fiery, throbbing pain, Death broke at once the vital chain, EPITAPH ON CLAUDE PHILLIPS, An itinerant Musician. PHILLIPS, whose touch harmonious could remove, EPITAPH ON SIR THOMAS HANMER, BART. THOU, who surveyest these walls with curious eye, Pause at this tomb where Hanmer's ashes lie; His various worth through various life attend, And learn his virtues while thou mourn'st his end. His force of genius burned in early youth, With thirst of knowledge, and with love of truth; His learning joined with each endearing art, Charmed every ear, and gained on every heart. Thus early wise, the endangered realm to aid, His country called him from the studious shade; In life's first bloom his publick toils began, At once commenced the senator and man. In business dexterous, weighty in debate, Thrice ten long years he laboured for the state; In every speech persuasive wisdom flowed, In every act refulgent virtue glowed: Suspended faction ceased from rage and strife, To hear his eloquence and praise his life. Resistless merit fixed the senate's choice, Who hailed him Speaker with united voice. Illustrious age! how bright thy glories shone, While Hanmer filled the chair, and Anne the throne! Then when dark arts obscured each fierce de bate, When mutual frauds perplexed the maze of state, The moderator, firmly mild, appeared; Beheld with love, with veneration heard. This task performed; he sought no gainful post, Nor wished to glitter at his country's cost; Strict on the right he fixed his steadfast eye, Nor e'er from virtue's paths was lured aside, Age called, at length, his active mind to rest, With honour sated, and with cares opprest: To lettered ease retired, 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 surveyed, And recollected toils endeared the shade, Till nature called him to her general doom, And virtue's sorrow dignified his tomb. ON THE DEATH OF STEPHEN GREY, F.R.S. The Electrician. Love hast thou borne the burden of the day, No more shall art thy dextrous hand require, To rouse the power that actuates nature's frame, Now, hoary sage, pursue thy happy flight, With swifter motion haste to purer light, Where Bacon waits, with Newton and and with Boyle, To hail thy genius and applaud thy toil, space, And mocks experiment's successive race; TO MISS HICKMAN, PLAYING ON THE SPINNET. BRIGHT Stella, formed for universal reign, |