He grew lazy at last, and drew from himself? I fear'd for your safety, I fear'd for my own; Our Dodds * shall be pious, our Kenricks † shall lecture; Our Townshend make speeches, and I shall compile: 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, *The Rev. Dr. Dodd, who was executed for forgery. † Dr. Kenrick, who read lectures at the Devil Tavern, under the title of 'The School of Shakspeare.' He was a well-known writer, of prodigious versatility, and some talent. Dr. Johnson observed of him, 'He is one of the many who have made themselves public, without making themselves known.' James Macpherson, Esq., who from the mere force of his style, wrote down the first poet of all antiquity. § William Lauder, who, by interpolating certain passages from the Adamus Exul of Grotius, with translations from Paradise Lost, endeavored to fix on Milton a charge of plagiarism from the modern Latin poets. Dr. Douglas detected and exposed this imposture, and extorted from the author a confession and apology. Archibald Bower, a Scottish Jesuit, and author of a History of the Popes from St. Peter to Lambertini. Dr. Douglas convicted Bower of gross imposture, and totally destroyed the credit of his history. An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man ; For he knew when he pleased he could whistle them tack. gave! you raised, How did Grub-street re-echo the shouts that To act as an angel and mix with the skies: * Mr. Hugh Kelley, originally a staymaker, afterwards a news paper editor and dramatist, and latterly a barrister. † Mr. William Woodfall, printer of the Morning Chronicle. Those poets who owe their best fame to his skill, ; Old Shakspeare receive him with praise and with love, And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kelleys above. Here Hickey reclines, a most blunt, pleasant creature, And slander itself must allow him good nature; He cherish'd his friend, and he relish'd a bumper; Yet one fault he had, and that one was a thumper. Perhaps you may ask if the man was a miser? I answer, No, no, for he always was wiser. Too courteous, perhaps, or obligingly flat? His very worst foe can't accuse him of that. Perhaps he confided in men as they go, And so was too foolishly honest? Ah, no! Then what was his failing? come tell it, and burn ye: Here Reynolds is laid, and, to tell you my mind, When they judged without skill, he was still hard of When they talked of their Raphaels, Corregios, and stuff, He shifted his trumpet,* and only took snuff. *Sir Joshua Reynolds was so deaf as to be under the necessity of using an ear-trumpet in company. POSTSCRIPT. After the fourth edition of this poem was printed, the publisher received the following epitaph on Mr. Whitefoord,* from a friend of the late Dr. Goldsmith. HERE Whitefoord reclines, and, deny it who can, What pity, alas! that so liberal a mind Should so long be to newspaper essays confined! Ye newspaper witlings, ye pert scribbling folks! *Mr. Caleb Whitefoord, author of many humorous essays. † Mr. Whitefoord was so notorious a punster, that Dr. Goldsmith used to say it was impossible to keep him company, without being infected with the itch of punning. Mr. H. S. Woodfall, printer of the Public Advertiser. And copious libations bestow on his shrine; Cross Readings, Ship News, and Mistakes of the Press. 'Thou best-humor'd man with the worst-humor'd Muse.' THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION. A TALE. SECLUDED from domestic strife, Made him the happiest man alive; He drank his glass, and cracked his joke, Such pleasures, unalloy'd with care, Could Cupid's shaft at length transfix Oh, had the archer ne'er come down To ravage in a country town! Or Flavia been content to stop * Mr. Whitefoord had frequently indulged the town with hu morous pieces under those titles in the Public Advertiser. |