Res seu tenues, seu grandes, sen mediocres Ornandas sumserat, Nusquam, non quod decuit, Et vidit, et assecutus est, Egregius, quocunque stylum verteret, Fandi author, et modorum artifex. Fas sit huic, Auso licet a tua metrorum lege discedere, O poesis Anglicanae pater, atque conditor, Chaucere, Alterum tibi latus claudere, Vatum certe cineres tuos undique stipantium Non dedecebit chorum. SIMON HAHCOUKT, miles, Viri bene de se, de litteris meriti, Quoad viveret fautor, Post obitum pie memor, Hoc illi saxum poni voluit. J. PHILIPS, STEPHANI, S. T. P. Archidiaconi Salop. filius, natus est Bamptoniae In agro Oxon. Dec. 30, 1676. Obijt Herefordiae, Feb. 15, 1708.
Philips has been always praised, without contradiction, as a man modest, blameless, and pious; who bore narrowness of fortune without discontent, and tedious and painful maladies without impatience; beloved by those that knew him, but not ambitious to be known. He was probably not formed for a wide circle. His conversation is commended for its innocent gaiety, which seems to have flowed only among his intimates; for I have been told, that he was in company silent and barren, and employed only upon the pleasures of his pipe. His addiction to tobacco is mentioned by one of his biographers, who remarks, that in all his writings, except Blenheim, he has found an opportunity of celebrating the fragrant fume. In common life he was probably one of those who please by not offending, and whose person was loved because his writings were admired. He died honoured and lamented, before any part of his reputation had withered, and before his patron St. John had disgraced him. His works are few. The Splendid Shilling has the uncommon merit of an original design, unless it may be thought precluded by the ancient Centos. To degrade the sounding words and stately construction of Milton, by an application to the lowest and most trivial things, gratifies the mind with a momentary triumph over that grandeur, which hitherto held its captives in admiration; the words and things are presented with a new appearance, and novelty is always grateful where it gives no pain.
But the merit of such performances begins and ends with the first author. He that should again adapt Milton's phrase to the gross incidents of common life, and even adapt it with more art, which would not be difficult, must yet expect but a small part of the praise which Philips has obtained; he can only hope to be considered as the repeater of a jest.