 | The Poetical Works of Percival Stockdale |  |
329
AN EPITAPH ON MR. PITT.
Quoad humanum genus incolume manserit; quamdiu usus literis,
honor summæ eloquentiæ pretium erit; quamdiu rerum natura, aut fortuna
steterit, aut memoria duraverit; admirabile posteris vigebis ingenium.
aurelius puscus; de cicerone.
The first of Statesmen has resigned his breath;
But fame immortal will succeed his death.
Unequalled genius, he, through every age
Or of the Grecian, or the Roman page!
Destined he was by nature, to controul
The fine emotions of the human soul:
While by his oratory's copious tide
His friends were borne along with rapturous pride;
His honest foes were wont their praise to pay;
And opposition heard it's rage away.
But fame immortal will succeed his death.
Unequalled genius, he, through every age
Or of the Grecian, or the Roman page!
Destined he was by nature, to controul
The fine emotions of the human soul:
While by his oratory's copious tide
His friends were borne along with rapturous pride;
His honest foes were wont their praise to pay;
And opposition heard it's rage away.
Contrasted talents were in him combined;
Command of temper, and command of mind:
He, whom an ardent eloquence inspired;
Who, while he spoke, his listening audience fired;
Knew to improve the public solid health;
And fix the sources of a nation's wealth.
Short was his life, but large the space it ran;
Ambition blazed through his extended plan!
While virtue's light serene adorned the man.
Command of temper, and command of mind:
330
Who, while he spoke, his listening audience fired;
Knew to improve the public solid health;
And fix the sources of a nation's wealth.
Short was his life, but large the space it ran;
Ambition blazed through his extended plan!
While virtue's light serene adorned the man.
Lesbury, near Alnwick, Jan. 26, 1806.
| The Poetical Works of Percival Stockdale | |