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Well try'd through many a varying year,
See Levet to the grave descend,
Officious, innocent, sincere,

Of ev'ry friendless name the friend.

Yet still he fills Affection's eye,
Obscurely wise, and coarsely kind;
Nor, letter'd Arrogance, deny

Thy praise to merit unrefin'd.

When fainting nature call'd for aid,
And hov'ring death prepar'd the blow,
His vig'rous remedy display'd

The pow'r of art without the show.

In misery's darkest cavern known,
His useful care was ever nigh,
Where hopeless anguish pour'd his groan,
And lonely want retir'd to die.

No summons mock'd by chill delay,
No petty gain disdain'd by pride,
The modest wants of ev'ry day

The toil of ev'ry day supply'd.

His virtues walk'd their narrow round,
Nor made a pause, nor left a void;
And sure th' Eternal Master found
The single talent well employ'd.

The busy day-the peaceful night,
Unfelt, uncounted, glided by;

His frame was firm-his powers were bright,
Though now his eightieth year was nigh.

Then with no fiery throbbing pain,
No cold gradations of decay,
Death broke at once the vital chain,
And freed his soul the nearest way.

EPITAPH ON CLAUDE PHILIPS,

AN ITINERANT MUSICIAN

PHILIPS! whose touch harmonious could remove
The pangs of guilty pow'r, and hapless love,
Rest here, distrest by poverty no more,
Find here that calm thou gav'st so oft before;
Sleep undisturb'd within this peaceful shrine,
Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.

EPITAPHIUM †

IN

THOMAM HANMER, BARONETTUM.

Honorabilis admodum THOMAS HANMER,
Baronettus,

Wilhelmi Hanmer armigeri, è Peregrinâ Henrici
North

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,
Filius;

Johannis Hanmer de Hanmer Baronetti
Hæres patruelis

Antiquo gentis suæ et titulo et patrimonio successit.
Duas uxores fortitus est;

Alteram Isabellam, honore à patre derivato, de Arlington comitissam,

Deindè celsissimi principis ducis de Grafton viduam dotariam:

Alteram Elizabetham Thomæ Foulkes de Barton in
Com. Suff. armigeri
Filiam et hæredem.

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
Solent nihil temerè effutire,

Sed probè perpensa dissertè expromere,
Orator gravis et pressus ;

Non minus integritatis quam eloquentiæ laude commendatus,

què omnium, utcunque inter se alioqui
dissidentium,

Aures atque animos attraxit.

Annoque demum M.DCC.XIII. regnante Annâ, Felicissimæ florentissimæque memoriæ reginâ, Ad Prolocutoris cathedram

Communi Senatûs universi voce designatus est:
Quod munus,

Cum nullo tempore non difficile,
Tum illo certè, negotiis

Et variis et lubricis et implicatis difficillimum,
Cum dignitate sustinuit.

Honores alios, et omnia quæ sibi in lucrum cederent

munera,

Sedulò detrectavit,

Ut rei totus inserviret publicæ;
Justi rectique tenax,

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,
Inter amicorum convictus et amplexus,
Honorificè consenuit ;

Et bonis omnibus, quibus charissimus vixit,
Desideratissimus obiit.

Hic, juxta cineres avi, suos condi voluit, et curavit
Gulielmus Bunbury Bttus nepos et hæres.

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,
And learn his virtues while thou mourn'st his end.
His force of genius burn'd in early youth,
With thirst of knowledge, and with love of truth;
His learning, join'd with each endearing art,
Charm'd ev'ry ear, and gain'd on ev'ry heart.

Thus early wise, th' endanger'd realm to aid,
His country call'd him from the studious shade
In life's first bloom his publick toils began,
At once commenc'd the senator and man,

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.

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