Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE

LIFE OF EDWARD LOVIBOND,

BY MR. CHALMERS.

THE life of Mr. Lovibond appears to have afforded no subject for biography. Those who knew him best have declined the opportunity which the publication of his works afforded them to say something of the author. All they have been pleased to communicate is, that "he was a gentleman of fortune, who passed the greater part of his years in the neighbourhood of Hampton in Middlesex, where he lived greatly beloved by those who best knew him. He was an admirable scholar, of very amiable manners, and of universal benevolence, of which all his writings hear strong testimony. The little pieces which compose this volume were chiefly writ ten on such incidents as occasionally arose in those societies of intimate acquaintance which he most frequented. After his death, which happened in 1775, his poems being dispersed in the hands of different friends, to whom they had been given by himself, many people expressed to his only brother, Anthony Lovibond Collins, esq. a wish to have them collected together, and preserved. This gentleman, equally zealous for the reputation of a brother he affectionately loved, hath put into the editor's hands those pieces he hath selected for that purpose."

Of a man of so many virtues, and so greatly beloved, the public might reasonably have expected a more detailed account. His father, I am told, was a director of the East India Company, and died in the year 1737, leaving him probably that fortune on which he was enabled to pass his days in the quiet enjoyment of the pleasures of rural life. He died September 27, 1775, at his house at Hampton, but the register of that parish is silent on his interment. I have been informed, also, that he was married, and not very happily.

When the World was began by Edward Moore, and his many noble and learned contributors, Mr. Lovibond furnished five papers; Nos. 93 and 94 contain some

284 just remarks on the danger of extremes, and the impediments to conversation. In Nos. 132 and 134 he opposes the common erroneous notions on the subject of Providence with considerable force of argument, and concludes with some ironical remarks not ill applied. In No. 82 he first published the Tears of Old May Day, the most favourite of all his poems. The thoughts are peculiarly ingenious and happy, yet it may be questioned whether it is not exceeded by his Mulberry Tree, in which the distinguishing features of Johnson's and Garrick's characters are admirably hit off, the frivolous enthusiasm of the one, and the solid and steady veneration of the other for our immortal bard, are depicted with exquisite humour. Julia's printed letter appears to have been a favourite with the author. There are some bursts of genuine passion, and some tenderness displayed occasionally, but it wants simplicity. It was probably suggested by Pope's Eloisa, and must suffer in proportion as it reminds us of that inimitable effort. His lines on Rural Sports, are both poetical and moral, and contain some interesting pictures sweetly persuasive to a humane treatment of the brute creation.

THE LIFE OF EDWARD LOVIBOND.

His love verses, some of which are demi-platonic, are tender and sprightly. The Miss K-P was Miss Kitty Phillips, a relation of a family now ennobled by the

title of Milford.

The tale of the Hitchin Convent, the lines To a young Lady a very good Actress, the Verses to Mr. Wooddeson, and those on converting that gentleman's house into a poor-house, are all distinguished by original turns of thought. His pieces were generally circulated in private, as he had not the common ambition of an author, and was contented to please those whom he intended to please: yet he never at. tempted any subject which he did not illustrate by novelty of manner, and upon the whole may be considered as among the most successful of that class who are rather amateurs, than professional poets.

POEMS

OF

EDWARD LOVIBOND.

ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD
LOVIBOND, ESQ.

BY MISS G

a constitution like ours. But though no lover of his country would desire to weaken this principle, which has more than once preserved the nation, yet he may lament the unfortunate application of it, when perverted to countenance party violence, and opposition to the most innocent measures of the legislature. The clamour against the alteration of the style seemed to be one of these instances. The alarm was given, and the most fatal consequences to our religion and government were immediately apprehended from it. This opinion gathered strength in its course, and received a tincture from the remains of superstition still prevailing in the counties most remote from town. I knew several worthy gentlemen in the west, who lived many months under the daily apprehension of some dreadful visitation from pestilence or famine. The vulgar were almost every where persuaded that Nature

An! what avails-that once the Muses crown'd
Thy head with laurels, and thy temples bound!
That in that polish'd mind bright genius shone,
That letter'd science mark'd it for her own!
Cold is that breast that breath'd celestial fire!
Mute is that tongue, and mute that tuneful
O could my Muse hut emulate thy lays, [lyre!
Immortal numbers should record thy praise,
Redeem thy virtues from oblivion's sleep,
And o'er thy urn bid distant ages weep !-
Yet though no laureat flowers bestrew thy hearse,
Nor pompous sounds exalts the glowing verse,
Sublimer truth inspires this humbler strain,
Bids love lament, and friendship here complain:
Bids o'er thy tomb the Muse her sorrows shed,
And weep her genius, number'd with the dead!-gave evident tokens of her disapproving these

ADVERTISEMENT.

innovations. I do not indeed recollect that any blazing stars were seen to appear upon this ocAs the first poem in this collection was thirty-casion; or that armies were observed to be enone years ago introduced to the public in a countering in the skies: people probably conpaper of The World, and written on a very troul the Sun in his course, would assume equal cluding that the great men who pretend to conremarkable event in our history, viz. the reforming our style or calendar to the general authority over the inferior constellations, and usage of the rest of Europe; the paper expla- not suffer any aerial militia to assemble themnatory of the subject being also written by Mr. selves in opposition to ministerial proceedings. Lovibond, it was judged proper to let it still precede it in this collection.

SIR,

The objection to this regulation, as favouring a custom established among papists, was not heard indeed with the same regard as formerly, when it actually prevented the legislature from passing a bill of the same nature: yet many a president of a corporation club very eloquently harangued upon it, as introductory to the doctrine July 25th, 1754. of transubstantiation, making no doubt that

THE WORLD.
NUMBER LXXXII.

TO MR. FITZ-ADAM.

Ir is a received opinion amongst politicians, that the spirit of iberty can never be too active under

fires would be kindled again in Smithfield before the conclusion of the year. This popular clamour has at last happily subsided, and shared the general fate of those opinions which derive their support from imagination, not reason.

In the present happy disposition of the nation the author of the following verses may venture to introduce the complaints of an ideal personage, without seeming to strengthen the faction of real parties; without forfeiting his reputation as a good citizen; or bringing a scandal on the political character of Mr. Fitz-Adam, by making him the publisher of a libel against the state. This ideal personage is no other than Old Mayday, the only apparent sufferer from the present regulation. Her situation is indeed a little mortifying, as every elderly lady will readily allow; since the train of her admirers is withdrawn from her at once, and their adoration transferred to a rival, younger than herself by at least eleven days.

I am, sir,

your most obedient servant,

E. L.

THE TEARS OF OLD MAY-DAY.

LED by the jocund train of vernal hours

And vernal airs, uprose the gentle May; Blushing she rose, and blushing rose the flow'rs That sprung spontaneous in her genial ray.

Her locks with Heav'n's ambrosial dews were bright,

And am'rous Zephyrs flutter'd on her breast: With ev'ry shifting gleam of morning light

The colours shifted of her rainbow vest. Imperial ensigns grac'd her smiling form,

A golden key, and golden wand she bore; This charms to peace each sullen eastern storm, And that unlocks the summer's copious store. Onward in conscious majesty she came.

The grateful honours of mankind to taste; To gather fairest wreaths of future fame And blend fresh triumphs with her glories

past.

[blocks in formation]

To her no more Augusta's wealthy pride
Pours the full tribute from Potosi's mine;
Nor fresh blown garlands village maids provide,
A purer off'ring at her rustic shrine.

No more the May-pole's verdant height around To valour's games th' ambitious youth advance;

No merry bells and tabers' sprightlier sound Wake the loud carol, and the sportive dance. Sudden in pensive sadness droop'd her head,

Faint on her cheeks the blushing crimson dy'd"O! chaste victorious triumphs, whither fled ? My maiden honours, whither gone?" she cry'd.

"Ah! once to fame and bright dominion born,
The earth and smiling ocean saw me rise,
With time coeval and the star of morn,
The first, the fairest daughter of the skies.

Alluding to the country custom of gathering May-dew.

The plate garlands of London,

[ocr errors]

"Then, when at Heav'n's prolific mandate sprung
The radiant beam of new created day,
Celestial harps, to airs of triumph strung,
Hail'd the glad dawn, and angel's call'd me
May.

"Space in her empty regions heard the sound,
And hills, and dales, and rocks, and vallies
The Sun exulted in his glorious round, [rung;
And shouting planets in their courses sung.

"For ever then I led the constant year; [wiles; Saw Youth, and Joy, and Love's enchanting Saw the mild Graces in my train appear,

And infant Beauty brighten in my smiles.

"No Winter frown'd. In sweet embrace ally'd, Three sister Seasons danc'd th' eternal green; And Spring's retiring softness gently vy'd With Autumn's blush, and Summer's lofty mien.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"Then vanish'd many a sea-girt isle and grove, Their forests floating on the watry plain : Then, fam'd for arts and laws deriv'd from Jove, My Atalantis sunk beneath the main.

"No longer bloom'd primeval Eden's bow'rs, Nor guardian dragons watch'd th' Hesperian With all their fountains, fragrant fruits and flow'rs, steep: Torn from the continent to glut the deep.

"No more to dwell in sylvan scenes I deign'd Yet oft' descending to the languid Earth, With quickning pow'rs the fainting mass sustain'd,

And wak'd her slumb'ring atoms into birth. "And ev'ry echo caught my raptur'd name,

And ev'ry virgin breath'd her am'rous vows, And precious wreaths of rich immortal fame, Show'r'd by the Muses, crown'd my lofty

brows.

"But chief in Europe, and in Europe's pride,
My Albion's favour'd realms, I rose ador'd;
And pour'd my wealth, to other climes deny'd
From Amalthea's horn with plenty stor❜d.
"Ah me! for now a younger rival claims
My ravish'd honours, and to her belong
My choral dances and victorious games,

To her my garlands and triumphal song.
"O say what yet untasted bounties flow,
What purer joys await her gentle reign?
Do lillies fairer, vi'lets sweeter blow?
And warbles Philomel a softer strain?

• See Flato.

« AnteriorContinuar »