Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/144

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140 FITZSIMONS. he lived. A connection which had commenced by family intermarriage, was quickly cemented by these sympathies; and the warm and susceptible heart of Fox claimed an intimacy with him, which redounded to the honour of both. The highest intellectual enjoyment of Fox was criticism: Fitzpatrick had read extensively and well; and their literary discussions were attended with equal advan tage to both. In classical attainments, Fox was the superior; in general knowledge, Fitzpatrick had the advan tage; and the sound understanding of both made each respect the talents of the other. As a poet, Fitzpatrick is deserving of considerable praise. The smoothness of his verse, and the justness of his conceptions, are greatly to be admired. Thousands have feasted on his poetry, in total ignorance of i t s author. A s h e was a politician with out ambition, h e was a poet without vanity. The following lines, written b y himself, are inscribed on his monument a t Sunning-hill, Berks:— “Whose turn i s next?—this monitory stone Replies, vain passenger, perhaps thy own. If, idly curious, thou wilt seek t o know, Whose relics mingle with the dust below, Enough t o tell thee, that his destin'd span On earth h e dwelt, and, like thyself, a man. Nor distant farth' inevitable day, When thou, poor mortal, shall, like him, b e clay. Through life h e walk'd, unemulous o f fame, Nor wished beyond i t t o preserve a name; Content, i f friendship o'er his humble bier, Dropt but the heartfelt tribute o f a tear; Though countless ages should unconscious glide, Nor learn that ever he had lived or died.” = HENRY FITZSIMONS, Justly celebrated for his firm attachment t o the Catholic church, and his strenuous exertions i n i t s support. This able orator and excellent disputant was born i n Dublin, i n 1569; h e was the son o f a merchant o f that city, who being himself a protestant, took especial care t o have his