Epitaph on Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart.

EPITAPHIUM[a]
IN
THOMAM HANMER, BARONETTUM.

Honorabilis admodum THOMAS HANMER, Baronnettus,

Augustus still survives in Maro's strain,
And Spenser's verse prolongs Eliza's reign;
Great George's acts let tuneful Gibber sing;
For nature formed the poet for the king.

Wilhelmi Hanmer armigeri, e Peregrina Henrici
North
De Mildenhall, in Com. Suffolciae, baronetti sorore
et haerede,
Filius;
Johannis Hanmer de Hanmer baronetti
Haeres patruelis
Antiquo gentis suae et titulo et patrimonio successit.
Duas uxores sortitus est;
Alteram Isabellam, honore a patre derivato, de
Arlington comitissam,
Deinde celsissimi principis, ducis de Grafton, viduam
dotariam:
Alteram Elizabetham, Thomae Foulkes de Barton, in
Com. Suff. armigeri
Filiam et haeredem.
Inter humanitatis studia feliciter enutritus,
Omnes liberalium artium disciplinas avide arripuit,
Quas morum suavitate baud leviter ornavit,
Postquam excessit ex ephebis,
Continuo inter populares suos fama eminens,
Et comitatus sui legatus ad parliamentum missus,
Ad ardua regni negotia, per annos prope triginta,
se accinxit:
Cumque, apud illos amplissimorum virorum ordines,
Solent nihil temere effutire,
Sed probe perpensa diserte expromere,
Orator gravis et pressus,
Non minus integritatis quam eloquentiae laude
commendatus,
Aeque omnium, utcunque inter se alioqui dissidentium,
Aures atque arrimos attraxit.
Annoque demum M.DCC.XIII. regnante Anna,
Felicissimae florentissimaeque memoriae regina,
Ad prolocutoris cathedram,
Communi senatus universi voce, designatus est:
Quod munus,
Cum nullo tempore non difficile,
Tum illo certe, negotiis
Et variis, et lubricis, et implicatis, difficillimum,
Cum dignitate sustinuit.
Honores alios, et omnia quae sibi in lucrum cederent
munera,
Sedulo detrectavit,
Ut rei totus inserviret publicae;
Justi rectique tenax,
Et fide in patriam incorrupta notus.
Ubi omnibus, quae virum civemque bonum decent,
officiis satisfecisset,
Paulatim se a publicis consiliis in otium recipiens,
Inter literarum amoenitates,
Inter ante-actae vitae baud insuaves recordationes,
Inter amicorum convictus et amplexus,
Honorifice consenuit;
Et bonis omnibus, quibus charissimus vixit,
Desideratissimus obiit.
Hie, juxta cineres avi, suos condi voluit, et curavit
Gulielmus Bunbury B'ttus, nepos et haeres.

.

PARAPHRASE OF THE ABOVE EPITAPH.

  Thou who survey'st these walls with curious eye,
  Pause at this tomb where Hanmer's ashes lie;
  His various worth through varied life attend,                3
  And learn his virtues while thou mourn'st his end.
   His force of genius burn'd in early youth,
  With thirst of knowledge, and with love of truth;
  His learning, join'd with each endearing art,
  Charm'd every ear, and gain'd on every heart.
   Thus early wise, the endanger'd realm to aid,
  His country call'd him from the studious shade;             10
  In life's first bloom his public toils began,
  At once commenced the senator and man.
   In business dexterous, weighty in debate,
  Thrice ten long years he labour'd for the state;
  In every speech persuasive wisdom flow'd,
  In every act refulgent virtue glow'd:
  Suspended faction ceased from rage and strife,
  To hear his eloquence, and praise his life.
   Resistless merit fix'd the senate's choice,
  Who hail'd him Speaker with united voice.                   20
  Illustrious age! how bright thy glories shone,
  While Hanmer fill'd the chair--and Anne the throne!
   Then when dark arts obscured each fierce debate,
  When mutual frauds perplex'd the maze of state,
  The moderator firmly mild appear'd--
  Beheld with love, with veneration heard.
   This task perform'd--he sought no gainful post,
  Nor wish'd to glitter at his country's cost;
  Strict on the right he fix'd his steadfast eye,
  With temperate zeal and wise anxiety;                       30
  Nor e'er from Virtue's paths was lured aside,
  To pluck the flowers of pleasure, or of pride;
  Her gifts despised, Corruption blush'd and fled,
  And Fame pursued him where Conviction led.
   Age call'd, at length, his active mind to rest,
  With honour sated, and with cares oppress'd:
  To letter'd ease retired, and honest mirth.
  To rural grandeur, and domestic worth:
  Delighted still to please mankind, or mend,
  The patriot's fire yet sparkled in the friend.              40

   Calm Conscience then his former life survey'd,
  And recollected toils endear'd the shade,
  Till Nature call'd him to her general doom,
  And Virtue's sorrow dignified his tomb.

[a] At Hanmer church, in Flintshire.

[b] This paraphrase is inserted in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies. The Latin is there said to be written by Dr. Freind. Of the person whose memory it celebrates, a copious account may be seen in the appendix to the supplement to the Biographia Britannica.