Our Garrick's * a sallad ; for in him we see Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree : To make out the dinner, full certain I am Who'd not be a glutton, and stick to the last? If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt, Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind; * 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; fining, Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on re- 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. E S What spirits were his! what wit and what whim, Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts; His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd Here Douglas retires from his toils to relax, When satire and censure encircled his throne; But now he is gone, and we want a detector, lecture; Macpherson write bombast, and call it a style; Our Townshend make speeches, and I shall compile ; New Lauders and Bowers the Tweed shall cross 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, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back. Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came, What a commerce was yours, while you got and you gave! rais'd, How did Grub-street re-echo the shouts that you To act as an angel and mix with the skies: love, And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above. Here Hickey reclines, a 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. |