a Our Garrick's * sallad; for in him we see Here lies the good dean, re-united to earth, mirth; If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt, such, David Garrick, Esq. + Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish bar. Sir Joshua Reynolds $ An eminent attorney. Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat To persuade Tommy Townshend * to lend him a vote; Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining, [dining; And thought of convincing, while they thought of Though equal to all things, for all things unfit ; Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit ; For a patriot too cool; for a drudge disobedient; And too fond of the right to pursue the expedient. In short, 't was his fate, unemploy'd, or in place, sir, To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor. Here lies honest William, whose heart was a mint, [in 't; While the owner ne'er knew half the good that was The pupil of impulse, it forc'd him along, His conduct still right, with his argument wrong ; Still aiming at honour, yet fearing to roam, The coachman was tipsy, the chariot drove home; Would you ask for his merits ? alas ! he had none; What was good was spontaneous, his faults were his (sigh at; Here lies honest Richard +, whose fate I must Alas! that such frolic should now be so quiet: own. * Mr. T. Townshend, Member for Whitchurch. + Mr. Richard Burke. 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. ES What spirits were his! what wit and what whim, Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts; Here 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 re clines : When satire and censure encircled his throne; I foar'd for your safety, I fear'd for my own : But now he is gone, and we want a detector, lecture; over, No countryman living their tricks to discover; Detection her taper shall quench to a spark, And Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark. Here lies David Garrick, describe him who can, An abridgement 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 ; 'T was 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 : * The Rev. Dr. Dodd. + Dr. Kenrick, who read lectures at the Devil Tavern, under the title of The School of Shakspeare. # James Macpherson, Esq. who, from the mere force of his style,, wrote down the first poet of all antiquity. He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack, back. grave, What a commerce was yours, while you got and you gave! How did Grub-street re-echo the shouts that you rais’d, (prais'd! While he was be-Roscius'd, and you were beBut 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 Shall still be his flatterers, go where he will: Old Shakspeare receive him with praise and with love, And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above, Here Hickey reclines, & most blunt pleasant creature, And slander itself must allow him good-nature : * Mr. Hugh Kelly, author of False Delicacy, A Word to the Wise, Clementina, School for Wives, &c. &c. + Mr. W. Woodfall, printer of the Morning Chronicle. |