VOL. II. He spread the airy Ocean without shores, Where birds are wafted with their feather'd oars. That racks, as if the axis of the world Was broke, and heaven's bright towers were downwards hurl'd. He sung how earth's wide ball, at Jove's command, Did in the midst on airy columns stand; And how the soul of plants, in prison held, It only works and twists a stronger chain. Its head, and in a tender plant appears. Hence springs the oak, the beauty of the grove, Whose stately trunk fierce storms can scarcely move. 3 Does round the elm it purple clusters twine. He sung how sun-beams brood upon the earth, Prince Arthur, book iv. FENTON. 1683-1730. Born at Shelton in Staffordshire-Educated at Cambridge, but leaves without taking a Degree ---Becomes a Nonjuror-Secretary to the Earl of Orrery and Tutor to his Son-Acquires the friendship of Southerne and Pope-Publishes his Poems-Assists Pope in the OdysseyHis Benevolence of Heart and Indolent Habits-Death and Burial at Easthampstead, Berks -Works and Character. THE brevity with which I am to write the account of ELIJAH FENTON is not the effect of indifference or negligence. I have sought intelligence among his relations in his native country, but have not obtained it. He was born near Newcastle in Staffordshire,' of an ancient family, whose estate was very considerable; but he was the youngest of eleven children, and being therefore necessarily destined to some lucrative employment, was sent first to school and afterwards to Cambridge, but, with many other wise and other virtuous men who at that time of discord and debate consulted conscience, whether well or ill informed, more than interest, he doubted the legality of the government, and, refusing to qualify himself for public employment by the oaths required, left the university without a degree; but I never heard that the enthusiasm of opposition impelled him to separation from the church. By this perverseness of integrity he was driven out a commoner of Nature, excluded from the regular modes of profit and prosperity, and reduced to pick up a livelihood uncertain and fortuitous; but it 'He was born May 20, 1683, at Shelton, near Stoke in Stafford, and was the youngest of eleven children of John Fenton, an attorney-at-law, and one of the coroners for the county of Stafford. His father died in 1694; and his grave in the churchyard of Stoke-upon-Trent, bears a Latin inscription from the pen of his son. Old Shelton Hall, in which Fenton was born, was destroyed by fire 22nd May, 1853. 2 He was entered of Jesus College, and took a Bachelor's degree in 1704. In 1726 he removed to Trinity Hall. Nichols in his 'Select Poems,' viii. 296, says he was admitted a pensioner July 1, 1700. |