Page:The Poetical Works of Elijah Fenton (1779).djvu/14

vi 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 regreted 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,