His reputation was now so far advanced, that the public began to pay reverence to his name; and he was solicited to prefix a preface to the translation of Boccalini, a writer whose satirical vein cost him his life in Italy, and who never, I believe, found many readers in this country, even though introduced by such powerful recommendation. He translated Fontenelle's Dialogues of the Dead; and his version was perhaps read at that time, but is now neglected; for by a book not necessary, and owing its reputation wholly to its turn of diction, little notice can be gained but from those who can enjoy the graces of the original. To the Dialogues of Fontenelle he added two composed by himself; and, though not only an honest but a pious man, dedicated his work to the earl of Wharton. He judged skilfully enough of his own interest; for Wharton, when he went lord lieutenant to Ireland, offered to take Hughes with him, and establish him; but Hughes, having hopes or promises, from another man in power, of some provision more suitable to his inclination, declined Wharton's offer, and obtained nothing from the other. He translated the Miser of Moliere, which he never offered to the stage; and occasionally amused himself with making versions of favourite scenes in other plays. Being now received as a wit among the wits, he paid his contributions to literary undertakings, and assisted the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian. In 1712 he translated Vertot's History of the Revolution of Portugal; produced an Ode to the Creator of the World, from the Fragments of Orpheus; and brought upon the stage an opera called Calypso and Telemachus, intended to show, that the English language might be very happily adapted to music. This was impudently opposed by those who were employed in the Italian opera; and, what cannot be told without indig nation, the intruders had such interest with the duke of Shrewsbury, then lord chamberlain, who had married an Italian, as to obtain an obstruction of the profits, though not an inhibition of the performance. There was at this time a project formed by Tonson for a translation of the Pharsalia by several hands; and Hughes englished the tenth book. But this design, as must often happen when the concurrence of many is necessary, fell to the ground; and the whole work was afterwards performed by Rowe. His acquaintance with the great writers of his time appears to have been very general; but of his intimacy with Addison there is a remarkable proof. It is told on good authority, that Cato was finished and played by his persuasion. It had long wanted the last act, which he was desired by Addison to supply. If the request was sincere, it proceeded from an opinion, whatever it was, that did not last long; for, when Hughes came in a week to show him his first attempt, he found half an act written by Addison himself. He afterwards published the works of Spenser, with his Life, a Glossary, and a Discourse on Allegorical Poetry; a work for which he was well qualified as a judge of the beauties of writing, but perhaps wanted an antiquary's knowledge of the obsolete words. He did not much revive the curiosity of the public; for near thirty years elapsed before his edition was reprinted. The same year produced his Apollo and Daphne, of which the success was very earnestly promoted by Steele, who, when the rage of party did not misguide him, seems to have been a man of boundless benevolence. Hughes had hitherto suffered the mortifications of a narrow fortune; but in 1717 the lord chancellor Cowper set him at ease, by making him secretary to the commissions of the peace; in which he afterwards, by a particular request, desired his successor lord Parker to continue him. He had now affluence; but such is human life, that he had it when his declining health could neither allow him long possession, nor quick enjoyment. His last work was a tragedy, The Siege of Damascus, after which a Siege became a popular title. This play, which still continues on the stage, and of which it is unnecessary to add a private voice to such continuance of approbation, is not acted or printed according to the author's original draught, or his settled intention. He had made Phocyas apostatize from his religion; after which the abhorrence of Eudocia would have been reasonable, his misery would have been just, and the horrours of his repentance exemplary. The players, however, required, that the guilt of Phocyas should terminate in desertion to the enemy: and Hughes, unwilling that his relations should lose the benefit of his work, complied with the alteration. He was now weak with a lingering consumption, and not able to attend the rehearsal, yet was so vigorous in his faculties, that only ten days before his death he wrote the dedication to his patron lord Cowper. On February 17, 1719-20, the play was represented, and the author died. He lived to hear that it was well received; but paid no regard to the intelligence, being then wholly employed in the meditations of a departing Christian. A man of his character was undoubtedly regretted; and Steele devoted an essay, in the paper called The Theatre, to the memory of his virtues. His life is written in the Biographia with some degree of favourable partiality: and an account of him is prefixed to his works by his relation the late Mr. Duncombe, a man whose blameless elegance deserved the same respect. The character of his genius I shall transcribe from the correspondence of Swift and Pope. I never heard of the man "A month ago," says Swift, "were sent me over, by a friend of mine, the works of John Hughes, esquire. They are in prose and verse. in my life, yet I find your name as a subscriber. He is too grave a poet for me; and I think among the mediocrists in prose as well as verse." To this Pope returns: "To answer your question as to Mr. Hughes; what he wanted in genius, he made up as an honest man; but he was of the class you think him." In Spence's Collection, Pope is made to speak of him with still less respect, as having no claim to poetical reputation but from his tragedy. ! This, Dr. Warton asserts, is very unjust censure; and, in a note in his late edition of Pope's Works, asks if "the author of such a tragedy as The siege of Damascus was one of the mediocribus? Swift and Pope scem not to recollect the value and rank of an author who could write such a tragedy." C. RECOMMENDATORY POEMS. ΤΟ MR. JOHN HUGHES, ON HIS POEM entitled, the TRIUMPH OF Peace. INSPIR'D by what melodious Hughes has sung, I'll tune a lyre that long has lain unstrung: Awak'd from drowsy sloth, and soothing rest, Poetic transports fire my ravish'd breast! What pleasure must retiring Dryden find, To see that art his skilful Muse refin'd, So much improv'd by those he leaves behind! So when a father sees a careful son Enlarge those coffers, which were first his own, With joy to Heaven he lifts his aged eyes, Blesses his prosperous heir, and calmly dies. May all your fortune, like your numbers, shine, And smoothly flow, without one rugged line! Till we confess the genius is the same, That guides your fortune, and poetic flame. So when of old some sportive amorous god Vouchsaf'd awhile to leave his blest abode, In whatsoever form the guest appear'd, His heavenly lustre shone, and was rever'd. Catherine Hall, Cambridge. TO THE W. WORTS. February, 1697. MEMORY OF MR. HUGHES, BY MISS JUDITH COWPER 1. ROUND Hughes's humble, though distinguish'd urn, Snatch'd from the Earth, above its trifling praise, 1 Daughter of judge Cowper, afterwards married to col. Martin Madan, author of the Progress of Poetry, &c. and still living, an ornament to her sex and age. Another of her compositions is prefixed to the Poems of Mr. Pope. N. There may thy bays its shady honours spread, The practic part, too soon! beheld in thee. Who now shall strike the lyre with skill divine, Who to harmonious sounds 2 harmonious numbers join! Who the rapacious tide of vice control, And, while they charm the sense, reform the soul! Great ruler of our passions! who with art What pleasure can the bursting heart possess, In the last parting, and severe distress? And make the labouring breast with transport glow? Can fame, wealth, honour, titles, joy bestow, These gaudy trifles gild our morning bright, But O! how weak their influence on our night! Then fame, wealth, honour, titles, vainly bloom, Nor dart one beam of comfort on the gloom; But if the struggling soul a joy receives, "Tis in the just applause that conscious virtue gives: This blameless pride the dying Hughes possest, Soften'd his pain, sat lightly on his breast, And sooth'd his unoffending soul to rest. Free from the bigot's fears, or stoic's pride, Calm as our Christian hero liv'd, he dy’d. ? Opera of Calypso and Telemachus. As on the utmost verge of life he stood, His last great work with heighten'd lustre shone; So when the Sun to worlds unknown retires, As o'er the heavens, sublime, his course extends, 1720. Ir for ourselves the tears profusely flow, TO THE MEMORY OF MR. HUGHES. OLOST too early! and too lately known! How does thy Phocyas warm Britannia's youth, 3 Siege of Damascus. 4 Of whom see Dr. Johnson's encomium in the Life of Hughes, Early thy side the mortal shaft receiv'd, 5 So in the evening of some doubtful day, And clouds divided with a mingled ray, Haply the golden Sun unveils his light, And his whole glories spreads at once to sight; Th' enliven'd world look up with gladsome cheer, Bless the gay scene, nor heed the night so near; Sudden, the lucent orb drops swiftly down, Through western skies, to shine in worlds unknown. March 28, 1720. WM. COWPER. FROM thy long languishing, and painful strife, Thy struggles are no more; the palm is won; JABEZ HUGHES. Ob. 17 Jan. 1731. Anno Æt. 46. IMMORTAL Bard! though from the world retir'd, The Siege of Damascus. |