Maggoty Johnson's grave

Image: © Peter Turner Taken: 29 Feb 2012

The capstone to the unconsecrated burial bears the following inscription now sadly all but indecipherable. "Under this Stone Rest the Remains of Mr SAMUEL JOHNSON Afterwards ennobled with the grander Title of LORD FLAME Who after having been in his Life distinct from other Men By the Eccentricities of his Genius Chose to retain the same Character after his Death And was, at his own Desire, buried here May 5th A.D. MDCCLXXIII aged 82. "Stay, thou whom Chance directs or ease persuades, To seek the Quiet of these Sylvan shades, Here, undesturbed and hid from Vulgar Eyes, A Wit, Musician, Poet, Player, lies A Dancing master too in Grace he shone, And all the arts of Opera were his own, In Comedy well skilled he drew Lord Flame, Acted the Part and gaind himself the Name, Averse to Strife how oft he'd gravely say, These peaceful Groves should shade his breathless Clay, That, when he rose again, laid here alone, No friend and he should quarrel for a Bone, Thinking that were some old lame Gossip nigh, She possibly might take his Leg or Thigh."

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0