Poetical Works of Johnson, Parnell, Gray and Smollett

On the Death of Mr Robert Levett

A Practiser in Physic

1 Condemned to Hope’s delusive mine,
      As on we toil from day to day,
    By sudden blasts, or slow decline,
      Our social comforts drop away.

2 Well tried through many a varying year,
      See Levett to the grave descend;
    Officious, innocent, sincere,
      Of every friendless name the friend.

3 Yet still he fills Affection’s eye,
      Obscurely wise and coarsely kind;
    Nor, letter’d Arrogance, deny
      Thy praise to merit unrefined.

4 When fainting Nature call’d for aid,
      And hovering Death prepared the blow,
    His vigorous remedy display’d
      The power of Art without the show.

5 In Misery’s darkest cavern known,
      His useful care was ever nigh;
    Where hopeless Anguish pour’d his groan,
      And lonely Want retired to die.

6 No summons, mock’d by chill delay;
      No petty gain, disdain’d by pride;
    The modest wants of every day,
      The toil of every day supplied.

7 His virtues walk’d their narrow round,
      Nor made a pause, nor left a void;
    And sure the Eternal Master found
      The single talent well employ’d,

8 The busy day—the peaceful night,
      Unfelt, unclouded, glided by;
    His frame was firm—his powers were bright,
      Though now his eightieth year was nigh.

9 Then with no fiery, throbbing pain,
      No cold gradations of decay,
    Death broke at once the vital chain,
      And freed his soul the nearest way.