All the friendly cares appear?
Every discontent beguiling,
Crown the Patriot’s coming Year:
In his person strongly guarded,
Counsels blest, and works rewarded.
An Epitaph on Mrs. Oldfield.
Hic Juxta requiescit,
Tot inter poetarum laudata nomina,
ANNA OLDFIELD.
Nec ipsa minore laude digna,
Quippe quæ eorum opera
In scenam quories prodivit,
Illustravit semper, & nobilitavit.
Nunquam ingenium idem ad partes diversissimas
Habilius fuit.
Ita tamen ut ad singulas.
Non facta, sed nata esse videretur.
In tragediis
Formæ splendor, oris dignitas, incessus majestas
Tantâ vocis suavitate temperabantur,
Ut nemo esset tam agrestis, tam durus spectator,
Quin in admirationem totus raperetur.
In comedià autem
Tanta vis, tam venusta hilaritas, tam curiosa felicitas
Ut neque sufficerent spectando oculi,
Neque plaudendo manus.
English’d thus.
Near this place rests the body of Anne Oldfield, amidst so many celebrated Poets, herself not less deserving to be celebrated; for whene’er she trod the stage, her actions always illustrated and ennobled their compositions. Never was one Genius so adapted to the most different parts; she seem’d not made but born for each distinctly. In tragedy her noble presence, elevated speech, and majestic step, temper’d with so peculiar a sweetness of voice, never fail’d to transport the most rustic and insensible into admiration. In comedy she discover’d such a winning air, such a sprightly and becoming gayety, and so happy an address, that neither eyes were satisfied with seeing her, nor hands weary of applauding.