which really makes, though not the fplendor, the felicity of life, and that which every wife man will choose for his final and lafting companion in the languor of age, in the quiet of privacy, when he departs weary and disgusted from the oftentatious, the volatile, and the vain. Of fuch a character, which the dull overlook, and the gay defpife, it was fit that the value should be made known, and the dignity established. Domestic virtue, as it is exerted without great occafions, or confpicuous confequences, in an even unnoted tenor, required the genius of Pope to display it in fuch a manner as might attract regard, and enforce reverence. Who can forbear to lament that this amiable woman has no name in the verses? If the particular lines of this infcription be examined, it will appear lefs faulty than the reft. There is fcarce one line taken from common places, unless it be that in which only Virtue is faid to be our own. I once heard a Lady of great beauty and elegance object to the fourth line, that it contained an unnatural and incredible panegyrick. Of this let the Ladies judge. VII. On the Monument of the Hon. ROBERT DIGBY, and of his Sifter MARY, erected by their Father the Lord DIGBY, in the Church of Sherborne in Dorsetshire, 1727. Go! fair example of untainted youth, Lover of peace, and friend of human kind: And thou, bleft maid! attendant on his doom, Yet take thefe tears, Mortality's relief, And till we fhare your joys, forgive our grief: These little rites, a ftone, a verse receive, 'Tis all a father, all a friend can give! This epitaph contains of the brother only a general indifcriminate character, and of the fifter tells nothing but that he died. The difficulty in writing epitaphs is to give a particular and appropriate praise. This, however, is not always to be performed, whatever be the diligence or ability of the writer; for the greater part of mankind have no character at all, have little that diftinguishes them from others equally good or bad, and therefore nothing can be faid of them which may not be applied with equal propriety to a thousand more. It is indeed no great panegyrick, that there is inclofed in this tomb one who was born in one year, and died in another; yet many useful and amiable lives have been spent, which yet leave little materials, for any other memorial. These are however not the proper fubjects of poetry; and whenever friendship, or any other motive, obliges a poet to write on fuch fubjects, he must be forgiven if he fometimes wanders in generalities, and utters the fame praises over different tombs. The scantiness of human praifes can scarcely be made more apparent, than by remarking how often Pope has, in the few epitaphs which he compofed, found it necessary to borrow from himself. The fourteen epitaphs, which he has written, comprise about an hundred and forty lines, in which there are more repetitions than will eafily be found in all the reft of his works. In the eight lines which make the character of Digby, there is scarce any thought, or word, which may not be found in the other epitaphs. The ninth line, which is far the strongest and most elegant, is borrowed. The conclufion is the fame with that on Harcourt, but is here more elegant and better connected. VIII. On Sir GODFREY KNELLER. Kneller, by heaven, and not a mafter taught, Whofe art was nature, and whofe pictures thought; Now for two ages, having fnatch'd from fate Whate'er was beauteous, or whate'er was great, Lies crown'd with Princes honours, Poets lays, Due to his merit, and brave thirst of praise. Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie Her works; and, dying, fears herself may die. Of Of this epitaph the firft couplet is good, the fecond not bad, the third is deformed with a broken metaphor, the word crowned not being applicable to the honours or the lays, and the fourth is not only borrowed, but of very harsh construction. IX. On General HENRY WITHERS. Here, Withers, rest! thou bravest, gentlest mind, For thee the hardy veteran drops a tear Withers, adieu! yet not with thee remove |