VERSES

TO THE

MEMORY OF GARRICK.

SPOKEN AS A MONODY, AT THE THEATRE ROYAL IN DRURY LANE.

To the right honourable COUNTESS SPENCER, whose approbation and steem were justly considered by MR. GARRICK as the highest panegyric his alents or conduct could acquire, this imperfect tribute to his memory is, with reat deference, inscribed by her ladyship's most obedient humble servant, March 25th, 1779. RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERidan.

Ir dying excellence deserves a tear,
If fond remembrance still is cherish'd here,
Can we persist to bid your sorrows flow
For fabled suff'rers and delusive woe?

Or with quaint smiles dismiss the plaintive strain,
Point the quick jest-indulge the comic vein-
Ere yet to buried Roscius we assign

One kind regret-one tributary line!

His fame requires we act a tenderer part:
His memory claims the tear you gave his art!
The general voice, the meed of mournful verse,
The splendid sorrows that adorn'd his hearse,

The throng that mourn'd as their dead favourite passed,
The graced respect that claim'd him to the last,
While Shakespere's image from its hallow'd base
Seem'd to prescribe the grave, and point the place,-
Nor these, nor all the sad regrets that flow
From fond fidelity's domestic woe,-

So much are Garrick's praise-so much his due-
As on this spot-one tear bestow'd by you.

Amid the hearts which seek ingenuous fame,
Our toil attempts the most precarious claim!
To him whose mimic pencil wins the prize,
Obedient Fame immortal wreaths supplies:
Whate'er of wonder Reynolds now may raise,
Raphael still boasts contemporary praise:
Each dazzling light and gaudier bloom subdued,
With undiminish'd awe his works are view'd:
E'en Beauty's portrait wears a softer prime,
Touch'd by the tender hand of mellowing Time.

The patient Sculptor owns an humbler part,
A ruder toil, and more mechanic art;

Content with slow and timorous stroke to trace
The lingering line, and mould the tardy grace:

But once achieved-though barbarous wreck o'erthrow
The sacred fane, and lay its glories low,
Yet shall the sculptured ruin rise to day,
Graced by defect, and worshipp'd in decay;
Th' enduring record bears the artist's name,
Demands his honours, and asserts his fame.
Superior hopes the Poet's bosom fire;
O proud distinction of the sacred lyre!
Wide as th' inspiring Phoebus darts his ray,
Diffusive splendour gilds his votary's lay.
Whether the song heroic woes rehearse,
With epic grandeur, and the pomp of verse;
Or, fondly gay, with unambitious guile,
Attempt no prize but favouring beauty's smile;
Or bear dejected to the lonely grove
The soft despair of unprevailing love,—

Whate'er the theme-through every age and clime
Congenial passions meet th' according rhyme;
The pride of glory-pity's sigh sincere-
Youth's earliest blush-and beauty's virgin tear.
Such is their meed-their honours thus secure,
Whose arts yield objects, and whose works endure.
The Actor, only, shrinks from Time's award;
Feeble tradition is his memory's guard;
By whose faint breath his merits must abide,
Unvouch'd by proof-to substance unallied!
E'en matchless Garrick's art, to heav'n resign'd,
No fix'd effect, no model leaves behind!

The grace of action—the adapted mien,
Faithful as nature to the varied scene;

Th' expressive glance-whose subtle comment draws
Entranced attention, and a mute applause;

Gesture that marks, with force and feeling fraught,
A sense in silence, and a will in thought;
Harmonious speech, whose pure and liquid tone
Gives verse a music, scarce confess'd its own;
As light from gems assumes a brighter ray,

And clothed with orient hues, transcends the day!
Passion's wild break-and frown that awes the sense,

And every charm of gentler eloquence

All perishable! like th' electric fire,

But strike the frame-and as they strike expire;
Incense too pure a bodied flame to bear,

Its fragrance charms the sense, and blends with air.
Where then-while sunk in cold decay he lies,

And pale eclipse fo ever veils those eyes

Where is the blest memorial that ensures

Our Garrick's fame whose is the trust?-Tis yours.
And O! by every charm his art essay'd
To sooth your cares !-by every grief allay'd!
By the hush'd wonder which his accents drew!
By his last parting tear, repaid by you!

By all those thoughts, which many a distant night
Shall mark his memory with a sad delight!
Still in your hearts' dear record bear his name;
Cherish the keen regret that lifts his fame;
To you it is bequeath'd,-assert the trust,
And to his worth-'tis all you can-be just.
What more is due from sanctifying Time,
To cheerful wit, and many a favour'd rhyme,
O'er his graced urn shall bloom, a deathless wreath,
Whose blossom'd sweets shall deck the mask beneath.
For these, when Sculpture's votive toil shall rear
The due memorial of a loss so dear-

O loveliest mourner, gentle Muse! be thine
The pleasing woe to guard the laurell'd shrine.
As Fancy, oft by Superstition led

To roam the mansions of the sainted dead,
Has view'd, by shadowy eve's unfaithful gloom
A weeping cherub on a martyr's tomb-

So thou, sweet Muse, hang o'er his sculptured bier,
With patient woe, that loves the lingering tear;
With thoughts that mourn-nor yet desire relief;
With meek regret, and fond enduring grief;
With looks that speak-He never shall return!
Chilling thy tender bosom, clasp his urn;
And with soft sighs disperse th' irreverend dust
Which Time may strew upon his sacred bust.

THE

SPEECHES

OF THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDA

EDITED BY

A CONSTITUTIONAL FRIEND.

New and handsome Library Edition, complete in 3 Vols. 8vo, in e cloth boards, (originally published at 21. 5s.), now reduced to 18

"Whatever Sheridan has done, has been, par excellence, always the be of its kind. He has written the best comedy (School for Scandal), the b drama (the Duenna), the best farce (the Critic), and the best address (1 logue on Garrick); and, to crown all, delivered the very best oration ( famous Begum Speech) ever conceived or heard in this country."-Byres

No speeches have ever contained a greater degree of the true fire of quence, or produced more effect upon the auditors, than those of Sherida Mr. Burke declared his speech on the Begum Princesses of Oude, to be t most astonishing effort of eloquence, argument, and wit united, of whic there was any record or tradition." Mr. Fox said, "All that he had eve heard, all that he had ever read, when compared with it, dwindled in nothing, and vanished like vapour before the sun." And Mr. Pitt acknow ledged "that it surpassed all the eloquence of ancient and modern times, ari possessed everything that genius or art could furnish, to agitate and control the human mind."

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.