POETICAL WORKS

OF

5

A

ELIJAH FENTON.

WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

Strong were thy thoughts, yet reason bore the sway;
Humble yet learn'd; tho' innocent yet gay:

So pure of heart, that thou might'st safely show
Thy inmost bosom to thy basest foe;

Careless of wealth, thy bliss a calm retreat,
Far from the insults of the scornful great---
O Woods! O Wilds! O ev'ry bow'ry shade!
So often vocal by his music made,
Now other sounds, far other sounds return,
And o'er his hearse with all your echoes mourn
Where were ye, Muses! by what fountain side,
What river, sporting when your fav'rite dy'd?
He knew by verse to chain the headlong floods,
Silence loud winds, or charm attentive woods.

BROOME.

LONDON:

PRINTED AT THE Apollo Press,

BY GEORGE CAWTHORN, NO. 132, STRAND,
BOOKSELLER & PRINTER TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

ELIJAH FENTON.

THIS worthy gentleman, was born at Shelton, near Newcastle-under-Line, in Staffordshire. In this country though there are several families of the name of Fenton, yet they are all branches from one stock, which is a very ancient and opulent family, our Author's mother being immediately descended from one Mare, an officer in William the Conqueror's army.

Our Poet was the youngest of twelve children, and was intended by his parents for the ministry: he was sent to the university of Cambridge, where he embraced principles very opposite to government, by which he became disqualified for entering into holy orders. We find him soon after his quitting the university Secretary to the Earl of Orrery; but how long he remained in that station we cannot ascertain. After be quitted the service of this noble peer it was his custom to perform a visit annually to his eldest brother's house in the country, who possessed an estate of 1000l. per annum. He was caressed in the country by all his relations, to whom he endeared himself by his affable and genteel behaviour. Mr. Fenton was a man of the most tender humanity, and discovered it upon every proper occasion. A gentleman resident in that county, who has transmitted to us some account of Mr. Fenton, has given us the following instance of his humane disposition.

He had a great number of sisters, some of whom were less happy in their marriages than others; one in particular was exposed to many misfortunes by the indiscretion and extravagance of her husband. It is the custom of some people to make very great distinctions between their rich and poor relations: Mr. Fenton's brother was of this stamp, and it seems treated his unfortunate sister with less ceremony than the rest. One day, while Mr. Fenton was at his brother's house, he observed the family going to dinner without this sister, who was in town, and had as good a right to an invitation as any of the rest, who dined there as a compliment to him. He could not help discovering his displeasure at so unnatural a distinction, and would not sit down to table till she was sent for; and, in consequence of this slight shewn her by the rest of the family, Mr. Fenton treated her with more tenderness and complaisance than any of his sisters.

Our Author carried through life a very fair reputation; he was beloved and esteemed by Mr. Pope, who honoured him with a beautiful epitaph. Mr. Fenton, after a life of ease and tranquillity, died at East-Hampstead Park, near Oakingham, the 13th of July 1730, much regretted by all men of taste, not being obnoxious to the resentment even of his brother writers.

In the year 1723 Mr. Fenton introduced upon the stage his tragedy of Mariamne, built upon the story related of her in the third volume of the Spectator,