Читать книгу Gleanings in Graveyards: A Collection of Curious Epitaphs - Horatio Edward Norfolk - Страница 33

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Copied from the tombstone of Mr. Samuel Johnson, commonly called Maggoty Johnson, who was interred in a plantation or wood, belonging to the Earl of Harrington, in Gawsworth, near Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Under this stone

Rest the remains of Mr. Samuel Johnson, afterwards ennobled with the grander title of Lord Flame. Who, after having been in his life distinct from other men by the eccentricities of his genius, chose to retain the same character after his death, and was, at his own desire, buried here, May 5th, 1773, aged 82 yrs.

Stay thou, whom chance directs, or ease persuades

To seek the quiet of these Sylvan shades;

Here, undisturb’d and hid from vulgar eyes,

A Wit, Musician, Poet, player lies;

A dancing master, too, in grace he shone,

And all the acts of Opera were his own;

In comedy well skill’d he drew Lord Flame,

Acted the part and gained himself the name.

Averse to strife, how oft he’d gravely say

These peaceful groves should shade his breathless clay;

That, when he rose again, laid here alone,

No friend and he should quarrel for a bone;

Thinking, that were some old lame Gossip nigh,

She possibly might take his leg or thigh.