PHILIPS, John, an eminent English poet, was born in 1676. He was educated at Winchester and Oxford, where he became acquainted with Milton, whom he studied with great application, and traced in all his successful translations from the ancients. The first poem which distinguished our author, was his Splendid Shilling, which is in the Tatler styled the "finest burlesque poem in the English language." His next was entitled Blenheim, which he wrote at the request of the earl of Oxford, and Mr Henry St John, afterwards Lord Bolingbroke, on the victory obtained there by the duke of Marlborough in 1704. It was published in 1705; and the year after he finished another poem upon cyder, the first book of which had been written at Oxford. It is on the model of Virgil's Georgics, and is a very excellent piece. We have no more of Mr Philips but a Latin ode to Henry St John, Esq. which is esteemed a masterpiece. He was contriving greater things; but illness coming on, he was obliged to drop every thing but the care of his health. This care, however, did not save him: for, after lingering a long time, he died at Hereford, Feb. 15. 1708, of a consumption and asthma, before he had reached his 33d year. He was interred in the cathedral of that city, with an inscription over his grave; and had a monument erected to his memory in Westminster-abbey by Sir Simon Harcourt, afterwards lord-chancellor, with an epitaph upon it written by Dr Atterbury, though commonly ascribed to Dr Freind. He was one of those few poets whose muse and manners were equally excellent and amiable; and both were so in a very eminent degree.
Dr Johnson observes, that "Philips has been always praised, without contradiction, as a man modest, blameless, and pious; who bore a narrow 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 founding works and flatly 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
Philips, with the first author. He that should again adapt Mil-
Philips. ton's phrase to the gross incidents of common life, and
Philipborg. even adapt it with more art, which would not be diffi-
cult, 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.
"There is a Latin ode written to his patron St
John, in return for a present of wine and tobacco,
which cannot be passed without notice. It is gay and
elegant, and exhibits several artful accommodations of
classic expressions to new purposes. It seems better
turned than the odes of Hannes. To the poem on
eyder, written in imitation of the Georgics, may be
given this peculiar praise, that it is grounded in truth;
that the precepts which it contains are exact and just;
and that it is therefore at once a book of entertainment
and of science. This I was told by Miller, the great
gardener and botanist, whose expression was, that 'there
were many books written on the same subject in prose,
which do not contain so much truth as that poem.' In
the disposition of his matter, so as to intersperse pre-
cept, relating to the culture of trees, with sentiments
more generally pleasing, and in easy and graceful transi-
tions from one subject to another, he has very diligent-
ly imitated his master; but he unhappily pleased him-
self with blank verse, and supposed that the numbers of
Milton, which impress the mind with veneration, com-
bined as they are with subjects of inconceivable grand-
deur, could be sustained by images which at most can
rise only to elegance. Contending angels may shake
the regions of heaven in blank verse; but the flow of
equal measures, and the embellishment of rhyme, must
recommend to our attention the art of engraving, and
decide the merit of the redstreak and pearmain. What
study could confer, Philips had obtained; but natural
deficiency cannot be supplied. He seems not born to
greatness and elevation. He is never lofty, nor does he
often surprise with unexpected excellence: but perhaps
to his last poem may be applied what Tully said of the
work of Lucretius, that 'it is written with much art,
though with few blazes of genius.'
It deserves to be remarked, that there were two poets
of both the names of our author, and who flourished in
his time. One of them was Milton's nephew, and
wrote several things, particularly some memoirs of his
uncle, and part of Virgil Travestied. The other was
the author of two political farces, which were both
printed in 1716; 1. The Earl of Marr married, with
the Humours of Jocky the Highlander. 2. The Pre-
tender's Flight; or a Mock Coronation, with the Hu-
mours of the facetious Harry St John.