Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/307

Rh It is likely that he lived on discontented through the rest of queen Anne's reign; but the time came at last when he found kinder friends. At the accession of king George he was made poet laureat; I am afraid by the ejection of poor Nahum Tate, who (1716) died in the mint, where he was forced to seek; shelter by extreme poverty. He was made likewise one of the land-surveyors of the customs of the port of London. The prince of Wales chose him clerk of his council; and the lord-chancellor Parker, as soon as he received the seals, appointed him, unasked, secretary of the presentations. Such an accumulation of employments undoubtedly produced a very considerable revenue.

Having already translated some parts of Lucan's Pharsalia, which had been published in the Miscellanies, and doubtless received many praises, he undertook a version of the whole work, which he lived to finish, but not to publish. It seems to have been printed under the care of Dr. Welwood, who prefixed the author's life, in which is contained the following character:

"As to his person, it was graceful and well-made: his face regular, and of a Rh