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Article BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF JOHN WOLCOTT, M.D. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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Biographical Memoir Of John Wolcott, M.D.
from what we can learn , the cause ori ginated in the forgetfulness with which the latter affected to treat his obligations to the former . Of the Doctor ' s poetical productions , while he was engaged in the practice of physic , we have seen only one specimen ; Hut that is an excellent one , and we trust our readers will be pleased with us for inserting it in this place . In the year 177 6 when MrPolwhalewell known bhis various
, . , y publications , was at Truro-school , he had giveV > to him for an evening exercise , to be translated into English , the following beautiful Latin epigram on sleep : ' Somne levis , quamquem certissima mortis imago , Consortem cupio te , tamen esse tori : Alma quies , optata veni ; nam , sic , sine vita Vivere
, quamsuave est ; sic , sine incite , mori . * Of [ his epigram the Doftor was requested to give a translation , which he produced in a few minutes as follows : ' Come , gentle sleep , attend thy yot ' ry's prayer : , And tho' death ' s image to my couch repair , How sweet , thus lifeless , yet with life to lie , Thuswithout d
, ying , O how sweet to die 1 ' Our author ' s first literary production was an ' Epistle to the- Reviewers ; to . 17 S 2 , a truly laughable piece of satire , and certainly discnarged against fair game . His next performance was ' Lyric Odes ' <> the Royal Academicians , ' 178 ; , in which is a happy mixture of wit , taste , and elegance ; but at the same time it must be allowed , that want of candour
a distinguishes the criticisms , and particularly win respect to the paintings of Mr . West . In the year following , he published another set of odes to the members of the Royal Academy , bearing the same characteristics . About tnc same tune he produced a performance of more originality and boldness . This was the Lousiad , a mock heroic poem , abounding"i wit , humour , and strength .
. 1 he foundation on which our Satirist erefted this lively piece was 11 s : —His Majesty one evening at supper observed a human hair "Pon Ins plate , among some green peas . This offensive objeft oc-MSio „ eti a j , be issued forth that a ]] ( he cook ^ scu , | ion Sj & c _ the royal kitchen , should have their heads shaved . Great mur"Humgs were excited by this mandate ; but the Jaw , like that of the wpcles and Persians
, was irrevocable . , - On this incident Peter formed his exquisite production ; only animff " ' by V 1 ' rtUe ° f the licentia P oeika > t 0 a ] iving His next production was an epistle to James Boswell , Esq . the self-Uucent attendant upon Dr .- Johnson to the HebridesThis
. was bin ? , y - ' Z ' , Pi 0 Zzi ' ' in wllich the my of tittle-tattle "' ogiaphers is exposed in the happiest manner . d l « e greatest success attended our author ' s publications . Never pro ; "y satirist display such various excellence . Those who disap-° ved Ins sentiments , and were offended at his freedom and want of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Biographical Memoir Of John Wolcott, M.D.
from what we can learn , the cause ori ginated in the forgetfulness with which the latter affected to treat his obligations to the former . Of the Doctor ' s poetical productions , while he was engaged in the practice of physic , we have seen only one specimen ; Hut that is an excellent one , and we trust our readers will be pleased with us for inserting it in this place . In the year 177 6 when MrPolwhalewell known bhis various
, . , y publications , was at Truro-school , he had giveV > to him for an evening exercise , to be translated into English , the following beautiful Latin epigram on sleep : ' Somne levis , quamquem certissima mortis imago , Consortem cupio te , tamen esse tori : Alma quies , optata veni ; nam , sic , sine vita Vivere
, quamsuave est ; sic , sine incite , mori . * Of [ his epigram the Doftor was requested to give a translation , which he produced in a few minutes as follows : ' Come , gentle sleep , attend thy yot ' ry's prayer : , And tho' death ' s image to my couch repair , How sweet , thus lifeless , yet with life to lie , Thuswithout d
, ying , O how sweet to die 1 ' Our author ' s first literary production was an ' Epistle to the- Reviewers ; to . 17 S 2 , a truly laughable piece of satire , and certainly discnarged against fair game . His next performance was ' Lyric Odes ' <> the Royal Academicians , ' 178 ; , in which is a happy mixture of wit , taste , and elegance ; but at the same time it must be allowed , that want of candour
a distinguishes the criticisms , and particularly win respect to the paintings of Mr . West . In the year following , he published another set of odes to the members of the Royal Academy , bearing the same characteristics . About tnc same tune he produced a performance of more originality and boldness . This was the Lousiad , a mock heroic poem , abounding"i wit , humour , and strength .
. 1 he foundation on which our Satirist erefted this lively piece was 11 s : —His Majesty one evening at supper observed a human hair "Pon Ins plate , among some green peas . This offensive objeft oc-MSio „ eti a j , be issued forth that a ]] ( he cook ^ scu , | ion Sj & c _ the royal kitchen , should have their heads shaved . Great mur"Humgs were excited by this mandate ; but the Jaw , like that of the wpcles and Persians
, was irrevocable . , - On this incident Peter formed his exquisite production ; only animff " ' by V 1 ' rtUe ° f the licentia P oeika > t 0 a ] iving His next production was an epistle to James Boswell , Esq . the self-Uucent attendant upon Dr .- Johnson to the HebridesThis
. was bin ? , y - ' Z ' , Pi 0 Zzi ' ' in wllich the my of tittle-tattle "' ogiaphers is exposed in the happiest manner . d l « e greatest success attended our author ' s publications . Never pro ; "y satirist display such various excellence . Those who disap-° ved Ins sentiments , and were offended at his freedom and want of