HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [225 



duction as a student in the University, he accompanied him from 

 his mother's country-seat to Cambridge. He was afterwards em- 

 ployed by Lady Trumbull as auditor of her accounts, and he en- 

 hanced the innocent pleasures of elegant retirement by occasional 

 visits to his friends in London. He also paid a yearly visit to his 

 relations in Staffordshire, and from his high reputation and amiable 

 manners, he was received with respectful affection by his kindred. 

 In one of those visits, an elder brother made an entertainment for 

 the family, and our poet observing that one of his sisters was ab- 

 sent, enquired the reason. He was informed, that in consequence 

 of poverty, she was thought unworthy to make one of the family 

 party, on which he refused to sit at the table till she was invited, 

 and, as she lived in the neighbourhood, she soon came. During 

 the entertainment he treated her with particular attention, and 

 although the circumstance is not mentioned, there can be little 

 doubt that he also gave her some pecuniary aid. 



In the year 1729 Fenton published a splendid edition of Waller's 

 Poems, with illustrative and entertaining notes. But the life of 

 this blameless bard was now drawing towards a close. Habitually 

 indolent, arid when employed, chiefly engaged in the sedentary 

 pursuits of study, he was attacked by the gout, of which he 

 died at Lady Trumbuirs seat at East-Hamstead, in Berkshire, in 

 the year 1730. 



. As Fenton had lived beloved by cotemporary authors, he died 

 lamented by them. But the most durable record of his virtues is 

 the following Epitaph, written by Pope, and inscribed upon his 

 tomb in East-Hamstead church-yard : 



This modest stone, what few vain marbles can, 



May truly say, Here lies an honest man, 



A Poet, blest beyond the poet's t'-ite, 



Whom Heaven kept sacred from the proud and great : 



Foe to loud praise, and friend to learned ease, 



Content with science in the vale of peace. 



Calmly he look'd on either life, and here 



Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear ; 



From Nature's template feast rose satisfied, 



Thank'd Heaven that he had lived, and that he died. 



The person of Fenton is described as tall and bulky, inclining 

 to corpulence. This " tendency to fat," as Walcot calls it, was 

 undoubtedly increased by his habitual enjoyment of ease. He had 

 no family or household to provide for, no children to feed, clothe, 

 or educate. His life passed in an even tenor for many years before 



