On seeing the late Mr. Thomas Willoughby, Tragedian, rather below himself.
PEACEFUL, slumb'ring in the ale-house,
See the god-like Rollo lie,
Drink outwits the best of fellows ;
Here lies poor Tom Willoughby.
Where is stern King Richard's fury ?
Where is Osmond' s blood-flush'd eye ?
See these mighty men before ye,
Sunk to poor Tom Willoughby.
Pity tis that men of merit,
Thus such sterling worth destroy ;
Oh ye gods ! did I inherit
Half the pow'rs of Willoughby !
Note by Ramsay.—“This piece appeared in the Author's Edition ; but it has hitherto been omitted in the posthumous ones.”
Mr. Ramsay has committed a mistake, as it appeared in the Editions of 1822 and 1825. Mr. Thomas Willoughby, an Englishman, was a first-class actor, but had sunk down to the boards of provincial theatres. He had been well educated, and had the manners of a gentleman. He frequently acted in the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Theatres, about the end of last, and beginning of the present centuries; and we observe from a playbill of Messrs. Hamilton and Power, New Thtatre, Greenock, that Mr. Willoughby appeared on 10th January, 1800, in the character of Doctor Pangloes, in Coleman's comedy of “The Heir-at-Law.” Mr. Willoughby was a great favourite with Paisley audiences; but his gentlemanly manners were sadly marred with that accursed liquor called “whisky,” and he was oftener found lying in the gutter, than “peaceful, slumb'ring in the alehouse,” from its alcoholic effects.—Ed.
[Semple 52]