The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume III.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
The author of the Doctor's life, published by Curl, has related an
instance of inhumanity in alderman Barber, towards Dr. King. This
magistrate was then printer of the Gazette, and was so cruel as to
oblige the Dr. to sit up till three or four o'clock in the morning,
upon those days the Gazette was published, to correct the errors of the
press; which was not the business of the author, but a corrector, who is
kept for that purpose in every printing-office of any consequence. This
slavery the Dr. was not able to bear, and therefore quitted the office.
The alderman's severity was the more unwarrantable, as the Dr. had been
very kind in obliging him, by writing Examiners, and some other papers,
gratis, which were of advantage to him as a printer. Those writings at
that juncture made him known to the ministry, who afterwards employed
him in a state paper called the Gazettee.
About Midsummer 1712 the Dr. quitted his employ, and retired to a
gentleman's house on Lambeth side the water; where he had diverted
himself a summer or two before: Here he enjoyed his lov'd tranquility,
with a friend, a bottle, and his books; he frequently visited lord
Clarendon, at Somerset-house, as long as he was able. It was the autumn
season, and the Dr. began insensibly to droop: He shut himself up
entirely from his nearest friends, and would not so much as see lord
Clarendon; who hearing of his weak condition, ordered his sister to go
to Lambeth, and fetch him from thence to a lodging he had provided for
him, in the Strand, over against Somerset-house where next day
about noon he expired, with all the patience, and resignation of a
philosopher, and the true devotion of a christian; but would not be
persuaded to go to rest the night before, till he made such a will, as
he thought would be agreeable to lord Clarendon's inclinations; who
after his death took care of his funeral. He was decently interred in
the cloisters of Westminster-Abbey, next to his master Dr. Knipe, to
whom a little before, he dedicated his Heathen Gods.----The gentleman
already mentioned, who has transmitted some account of our author to
posterity, delineates his character in the following manner. 'He was
a civilian, exquisitely well read; a skillful judge, and among the
learned, an universal scholar, a critic, and an adept; in all sciences
and languages expert; and our English. Ovid, among the poets: In
conversation, he was grave and entertaining, without levity or spleen:
As an author, his character may be also summ'd up in the following
lines.'
Read here, in softest sounds the sweetest satire,
A pen dipt deep in gall, a heart good-nature;
An English Ovid, from his birth he seems,
Inspired alike with strong poetic dreams;
The Roman, rants of heroes, gods, and Jove,
The Briton, purely paints the art of love.
As a specimen of our author's versification, we shall select a Poem of
his called, the Art of making Puddings; published in his Miscellanies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account