Longing, while living, for laurel and bays,
Under this willow a poor poet lays.
With little to censure and less to praise,
He wrote twelve dozen and threescore plays,
He finished his ‘Life’ and went his ways.
While on the subject of epitaphs we may as well give a sample of Tom’s father in this department of literature. The following, penned in all seriousness, is to be found in Lee churchyard, near Blackheath, the tribute of Charley to Parsons, the comic actor:—
Here Parsons lies! Oft on life’s busy stage,
With nature, reader, hast thou seen him vie.
He science knew; knew manners, knew the age,
Respected knew to live—lamented, die.