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Beau Nash at Tunbridge Wells
he certainly more than once coquetted with the idea. The History of Bath and Tunbridge Wells during the last Forty Years may be pardoned him, but what would we not give for that Apology for the Author's Life ?
In spite of failing health, Nash retained his supremacy at Tunbridge, as at Bath, until his death in 1761. At each place he had successors, but amongst them there were none like unto him. His death was lamented in song by many contemporary writers, but it was left for Charles Tennyson Turner to indite the best epitaph—
" ' Alas, alas !' said Moschus in his woe,
When Bion died, ' he comes not back to sing His songs, nor other lip his notes can bring From the same pipe.' So Bath regrets her Beau: Her waters bubble upward without stop, Each market sees her flowers and fruits replaced; Potherbs and roses—plums of every taste— And peaches, brimming with ambrosial slop; All this repeats itself, a constant birth; But mighty Nash, strong-will'd and bold and shrewd, Who awed and charm'd that modish multitude, Hath found no heirs, and to the hollow earth Bequeaths his fame; for none his place may take; Long have such honours slept, and may not reawake."
After the death of Nash one Collett was
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