Here lies Nolly Goldsmith, for shortness called Noll

Quote byDavid Garrick · 1717–1779

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Impromptu Epitaph on Goldsmith..

English (original)

Here lies Nolly Goldsmith, for shortness called Noll, Who wrote like an angel, and talk’d like poor Poll.

— David Garrick

This scholar, rake, Christian, dupe, gamester, and poet.

Corrupted freemen are the worst of slaves.

Their cause I plead,—plead it in heart and mind; A fellow-feeling makes one wondrous kind.

Let others hail the rising sun: I bow to that whose course is run.

Prologues like compliments are loss of time; ’T is penning bows and making legs in rhyme.

Heart of oak are our ships, Heart of oak are our men; We always are ready.