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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12014-0.txt b/12014-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa79455 --- /dev/null +++ b/12014-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11010 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12014 *** + +THE + +LIVES + +OF + +THE + +POETS + +OF + +GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND. + + +By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. VOL. IV. + +MDCCLIII. VOLUME IV. + + +Contains the LIVES OF + + Motteux + Manley Mrs. + Needler + Hughes + Prior + Centlivre Mrs. + Brady + Stepney + Pack + Dawes Arch. York + Congreve + Vanbrugh + Steele + Marvel + Thomas Mrs. + Fenton + Booth + Sewel + Hammond + Eusden + Eachard + Oldmixon + Welsted + Smyth More + Dennis + Granville L. Lansdowne + Gay + Philip D. Wharton + Codrington + Ward + L'Estrange + Smith Edmund + De Foe + Rowe Mrs. + Yalden + Mitchel + Ozell + + * * * * * + +_Just Published,_ + +Dedicated to the Right Honourable PHILIP Earl of CHESTERFIELD. + +Correctly printed in a neat Pocket Volume (Price Bound Three +Shillings,) + +The Second Edition of + +LES MOEURS; or, MANNERS. Accurately Translated from the French. +Wherein the Principles of Morality, or Social Duties, viz. Piety, +Wisdom, Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, Temperance, Love, Friendship, +Humanity, &c. &c. are described in all their Branches; the Obligations +of them shewn to consist in our Nature, and the Enlargement of them +strongly enforc'd. Here Parents are taught, that, giving Birth to +a Child, scarcety entitles them to that honourable Name, without a +strict Discharge of Parental Duties; the Friend will find, there are a +thousand other Decorums, besides the doing of a Favour, to entitle him +to the tender Name of Friend; and the Good natur'd Man will find, +he ought to extend that Quality beyond the Bounds of his own +Neighbourhood or Party. + +The Whole wrote in a manner entirely New and Entertaining, and +enliven'd with real Characters, drawn from life, and fited to instill +the Principles of all Social Virtues into tender Minds. + +Printed for W. Johnston at the Golden-Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard. +THE LIVES OF THE POETS. + + * * * * * + + + + +PETER MOTTEAUX, + + +A French gentleman, born and educated at Rohan, in Normandy. He came +over into England, was a considerable trader, and resided here many +years. He is said to have possessed no inconsiderable share of wit, +and humour; and, besides a translation of Don Quixote, several Songs, +Prologues and Epilogues, together with a Poem on Tea, dedicated to +the Spectator, (see Vol. VII. Numb. 552) he is author of the following +dramatic pieces. + +1. Love's a Jest, a Comedy; acted at the new Theatre, in little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1696. In the two scenes, where love is made a +jest, some passages are taken from Italian writers. + +2. The Loves of Mars and Venus; a Masque set to Music, performed +at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1696; dedicated to colonel +Codrington. The story from Ovid. + +3. The Novelty, or every Act a Play; consisting of Pastoral, Comedy, +Masque, Tragedy, and Farce, after the Italian manner; acted at the +Theatre in little Lincoln's-Inn Fields 1697. + +The model of this play is formed upon Sir William Davenant's +Play-House to be let: But neither of them met with much success. + +4. Europe's Revels for the Peace, and his Majesty's Happy Return, a +Musical Interlude, performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, +1697. + +5. Beauty in Distress, a Tragedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1698. There is some poetry in this play; and in +the multiplicity of its incidents, he has followed the example of the +British Poets. Before this piece, there is prefixed a discourse on the +lawfulness or unlawfulness of plays; written originally in French, +by the learned father Cassaro, divinity professor at Paris; sent by a +friend to Mr. Motteaux. + +6. The Island Princess, or the Generous Portugueze; made into an +Opera, and performed at the Theatre-Royal 1701. The music by Mr. +Daniel Purcell, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Leveridge. The greatest part of the +play is taken from Fletcher's Island Princess. Scene the Spice Island. + +7. The Four Seasons, or Love in every Age; a musical Interlude, set to +Music by Mr. Jeremiah Clark; printed with the musical Entertainments +of the above Opera. 8. Britain's Happiness, a musical Interlude; +performed at both the Theatres, being part of the entertainment, +subscribed for by the nobility. Scene a prospect of Dover castle +and the sea. This Interlude was long before designed, only as an +introduction to an Opera; which if ever finished was to have been +called the Loves of Europe, every act shewing the manner of the +different nations in their addresses to the fair-sex; of which he has +informed us in his prefatory epistle. + +9. Thomyris Queen of Scythia, an Opera; translated from the Italian; +performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. + +10. The Temple of Love, a Pastoral Opera, from the Italian; performed +at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-market, by her majesty's servants, +1706. Scene Arcadia. Time of action, the same with that of the +representation. + +11. Love Dragoon'd, a Farce. + +This gentleman, who seems to have led a very comfortable life, his +circumstances being easy, was unfortunate in his death; for he lost +his life in a disorderly house, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, +not without suspicion of having been murthered; which accident +happened to him, on his birth day in the 58th year of his age, 1718. +His body was interred in his own parish church, being that of St. Mary +Ax, in the city of London. + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. MANLEY, + + +The celebrated authoress of the Atalantis, was born in Hampshire, in +one of those islands which formerly belonged to France, of which her +father Sir Roger Manley was governor; who afterwards enjoyed the same +post in other places in England. He was the second son of an ancient +family; the better part of his estate was ruined in the civil war by +his firm adherence to Charles I. He had not the satisfaction of +ever being taken notice of, nor was his loyalty acknowledged at the +restoration. The governor was a brave gallant man, of great honour and +integrity. + +He became a scholar in the midst of the camp, having left the +university at the age of sixteen, to follow the fortunes of Charles +I. His temper had too much of the Stoic in it to attend much to the +interest of his family. After a life spent in the civil and foreign +wars, he began to love ease and retirement, devoting himself to his +study, and the charge of his little post, without following the court; +his great virtue and modesty, debaring him from solliciting favours +from such persons as were then at the helm of affairs, his deserts +were buried, and forgotten. In this solitude he wrote several tracts +for his own amusement, particularly his Latin Commentaries of the +Civil Wars of England. He was likewise author of the first volume +of that admired work, the Turkish Spy. One Dr. Midgley, an ingenious +physician, related to the family by marriage, had the charge of +looking over his papers. Amongst them he found that manuscript, which +he reserved to his proper use, and by his own pen, and the assistance +of some others, continued the work till the eighth volume was +finished, without having the honesty to acknowledge the author of the +first. + +The governor likewise wrote the History of the Rebellion in England, +Scotland and Ireland; wherein the most material passages, battles, +sieges, policies, and stratagems of war, are impartially related +on both sides, from the year 1640, to the beheading of the duke of +Monmouth 1688, in three parts, printed in octavo, in the year 1691. + +His daughter, our authoress, received an education suitable to her +birth, and gave very early discoveries of a genius, not only above her +years, but much superior to what is usually to be found amongst her +own sex. She had the misfortune to lose her mother, while she was +yet an infant, a circumstance, which laid the foundation of many +calamities, which afterwards befell her. + +The brother of Sir Roger Manley, who was of principles very opposite +to his, joined with the Parliamentarian party; and after Charles I. +had suffered, he engaged with great zeal in the cause of those who +were for settling a new form of government, in which, however, they +were disappointed by the address of Cromwell, who found means +to transfer the government into his own hands, and in place of +instituting a republic, restored monarchy under another name, and +erected a tyranny as dangerous, perhaps, in its consequences, as +that which he had contributed to overthrow. During these heats and +divisions, Mr. Manley, who adhered to the most powerful party, was +fortunate enough to amass an estate, and purchased a title; but these, +upon the restoration, reverted back to the former possessor; so that +he was left with several small children unprovided for. The eldest of +these orphans, Sir Roger Manley took under his protection, bestowed +a very liberal education on him, and endeavoured to inspire his mind +with other principles, than those he had received from his father. +This young gentleman had very promising parts, but under the +appearance of an open simplicity, he concealed the most treacherous +hypocrisy. Sir Roger, who had a high opinion of his nephew's honour, +as well as of his great abilities, on his death-bed bequeathed to him +the care of our authoress, and her youngest sister. + +This man had from nature a very happy address, formed to win much upon +the hearts of unexperienced girls; and his two cousins respected him +greatly. He placed them at the house of an old, out-of-fashion aunt, +who had been a keen partizan of the royal cause during the civil wars; +she was full of the heroic stiffness of her own times, and would read +books of Chivalry, and Romances with her spectacles. + +This sort of conversation, much infected the mind of our poetess, +and fill'd her imagination with lovers, heroes, and princes; made +her think herself in an inchanted region, and that all the men who +approached her were knights errant. In a few years the old aunt died, +and left the two young ladies without any controul; which as soon as +their cousin Mr. Manley heard, he hasted into the country, to visit +them; appeared in deep mourning, as he said for the death of his wife; +upon which the young ladies congratulated him, as they knew his wife +was a woman of a most turbulent temper, and ill fitted to render the +conjugal life tolerable. + +This gentleman, who had seen a great deal of the world, and was +acquainted with all the artifices of seducing, lost no time in making +love to his cousin, who was no otherwise pleased with it, than as +it answered something to the character she had found in those books, +which had poisoned and deluded her dawning reason. Soon after these +protestations of love were made, the young lady fell into a fever, +which was like to prove fatal to her life. + +The lover and her sister never quitted the chamber for sixteen nights, +nor took any other repose than throwing themselves alternately upon a +little pallet in the same room. Having in her nature a great deal of +gratitude, and a very tender sense of benefits; she promised upon +her recovery to marry her guardian, which as soon as her health +was sufficiently restored, she performed in the presence of a maid +servant, her sister, and a gentleman who had married a relation. In a +word, she was married, possessed, and ruin'd. + +The husband of our poetess brought her to London, fixed her in a +remote quarter of it, forbad her to stir out of doors, or to receive +the visits of her sister, or any other relations, friends, or +acquaintance. This usage, she thought exceeding barbarous, and it +grieved her the more excessively, since she married him only because +she imagined he loved and doated on her to distraction; for as +his person was but ordinary, and his age disproportioned, being +twenty-years older than she, it could not be imagined that she was in +love with him.--She was very uneasy at being kept a prisoner; but +her husband's fondness and jealousy was made the pretence. She always +loved reading, to which she was now more than ever obliged, as so +much time lay upon her hands: Soon after she proved with child, and +so perpetually ill, that she implored her husband to let her enjoy the +company of her sister and friends. When he could have no relief from +her importunity (being assured that in seeing her relations, she must +discover his barbarous deceit) he thought it was best to be himself +the relator of his villany; he fell upon his knees before her, with so +much seeming confusion, distress and anguish, that she was at a loss +to know what could mould his stubborn heart to such contrition. At +last, with a thousand well counterfeited tears, and sighs, he stabb'd +her with the wounding relation of his wife's being still alive; and +with a hypocrite's pangs conjured her to have some mercy on a lost +man as he was, in an obstinate, inveterate passion, that had no +alternative but death, or possession. + +He urged, that could he have supported the pain of living without +her, he never would have made himself so great a villain; but when the +absolute question was, whether he should destroy himself, or betray +her, self-love had turned the ballance, though not without that +anguish to his soul, which had poisoned all his delights, and planted +daggers to stab his peace. That he had a thousand times started in +his sleep with guilty apprehensions; the form of her honoured father +perpetually haunting his troubled dreams, reproaching him as a traitor +to that trust which in his departing moments he had reposed in him; +representing to his tortured imagination the care he took of his +education, more like a father than an uncle, with which he had +rewarded him by effecting the perdition of his favourite daughter, who +was the lovely image of his benefactor. + +With this artful contrition he endeavoured to sooth his injured wife: +But what soothing could heal the wounds she had received? Horror! +amazement! sense of honour lost! the world's opinion! ten thousand +distresses crowded her distracted imagination, and she cast looks upon +the conscious traitor with horrible dismay! Her fortune was in his +hands, the greatest part of which was already lavished away in the +excesses of drinking and gaming. She was young, unacquainted with the +world; had never experienced necessity, and knew no arts of redressing +it; so that thus forlorn and distressed, to whom could she run for +refuge, even from want, and misery, but to the very traitor that had +undone her. She was acquainted with none that could or would espouse +her cause, a helpless, useless load of grief and melancholy! with +child! disgraced! her own relations either unable, or unwilling to +relieve her. + +Thus was she detained by unhappy circumstances, and his prevailing +arts to wear away three wretched years with him, in the same house, +though she most solemnly protests, and she has a right to be believed, +that no persuasion could ever again reconcile her to his impious arms. +Whenever she cast her eyes upon her son, it gave a mortal wound to her +peace: The circumstances of his birth glared full on her imagination; +she saw him, in future, upbraided with his father's treachery, and +his mother's misfortunes. Thus forsaken of all the world, in the +very morning of her life, when all things should have been gay, and +promising, she wore away three wretched years. Mean time her betrayer +had procured for himself a considerable employment; the duties of +which obliged him to go into the country where his first wife lived. +He took leave of his injured innocent, with much seeming tenderness; +and made the most sacred protestations, that he would not suffer her, +nor her child ever to want. + +He endeavoured to persuade her to accompany him into the country, and +to seduce, and quiet her conscience, shewed her a celebrated piece +written in defence of Polygamy, and Concubinage: When he was gone, +he soon relapsed into his former extravagances, forgot his promise +of providing for his child, and its mother; and inhumanly left them +a prey to indigence and oppression. The lady was only happy in being +released from the killing anguish, of every day having before her eyes +the object of her undoing. + +When she again came abroad into the world, she was looked upon with +cold indifference; that which had been her greatest misfortune, was +imputed to her as the most enormous guilt; and she was every +where sneered at, avoided, and despised. What pity is it, that an +unfortunate, as well as a false step, should damn a woman's fame! +In what respect was Mrs. Manley to blame? In what particular was she +guilty? to marry her cousin, who passionately professed love to her, +and who solemnly vowed himself a widower, could not be guilt; on +the other hand, it had prudence and gratitude for its basis. Her +continuing in the house with him after he had made the discovery, +cannot be guilt, for by doing so, she was prevented from being exposed +to such necessities as perhaps would have produced greater ruin. When +want and beggary stare a woman in the face, especially one accustomed +to the delicacies of life, then indeed is virtue in danger; and they +who escape must have more than human assistance. + +Our poetess now perceived, that together with her reputation, she had +lost all the esteem, that her conversation and abilities might have +else procured her; and she was reduced to the deplorable necessity of +associating with those whose fame was blasted by their indiscretion, +because the more sober and virtuous part of the sex did not care +to risk their own characters, by being in company with one so much +suspected, and against whom the appearance of guilt was too strong. + +Under this dilemma, it is difficult to point out any method of +behaviour, by which she would not be exposed to censure: If she had +still persisted in solitude, the ill-natured world would have imputed +to it a cause, which is not founded on virtue; besides, as the means +of support were now removed, by the perfidy of Mr. Manley, she must +have perished by this resolution. + +In this case, the reader will not be much surprized to find our +authoress, under the patronage of the duchess of Cleveland, a mistress +of king Charles the IId's, who was justly reckoned one of the most +celebrated beauties of that age. Mrs. Manley was paying a visit to +a lady of her grace's acquaintance, when she was introduced into the +favour of this royal courtezan; and as the duchess of Cleveland was +a woman of parts and genius, she could not but be charmed with the +sprightliness of her conversation. She was fond of new faces, and +immediately contracted the greatest intimacy with our poetess, and +gave her a general invitation to her table. The lady at whose house +the duchess became acquainted with Mrs. Manley, soon perceived her +indiscretion in bringing them together; for the love of novelty so far +prevailed on the duchess, that herself was immediately discarded, and +the affection formerly bestowed upon her, was lavished on Mrs. Manley. + +This procured our poetess an inveterate enemy; and the greatest blow +that was ever struck at her reputation, was by that woman, who had +been before her friend. She was not content to inform persons who +began to know and esteem Mrs. Manley, that her marriage was a +cheat; but even endeavoured to make the duchess jealous of her new +favourite's charms, in respect of Mr. Goodman the player, who at +that time had the honour of approaching her grace's person, with the +freedom of a gallant. + +As the duchess of Cleveland was a woman of a very fickle temper, +in six months time she began to be tired of Mrs. Manley. She was +quarrelsome, loquacious, fierce, excessively fond, or downright rude; +when she was disgusted with any person, she never failed to reproach +them, with all the bitterness of wit she was mistress of, with such +malice, and ill-nature, that she was hated, not only by all the world, +but by her own children and servants: The extremes of prodigality, +and covetousness, of love, and hatred, of dotage, and fondness, met +in her. A woman of this temper will be at no loss for the means of +effecting any one's ruin, and having now conceived an aversion to our +poetess, she was resolved to drive her from her house, with as much +reproach as possible; and accordingly gave out, that she had detected +Mrs. Manley in an intrigue with her own son, and as she did not care +to give encouragement to such amours, she thought proper to discharge +her. Whether or not there was any truth in this charge, it is +impossible for us to determine: But if Mrs. Manley's own word may be +taken, in such a case, she was perfectly innocent thereof. + +When our authoress was dismissed by the duchess, she was sollicited by +lieutenant-general Tidcomb, to pass some time with him at his country +seat; but she excused herself by telling him, she must be in love with +a man, before she could think of residing with him, which she could +not, without a violation of truth, profess for him. She told him her +love of solitude was improved, by her disgust of the world, and +since it was impossible for her to be public with reputation, she was +resolved to remain in it concealed. + +It was in this solitude she composed her first tragedy, which was much +more famous for the language, fire, and tenderness, than the conduct. +Mrs. Barry distinguished herself in it, and the author was often heard +to express great surprize, that a man of Mr. Betterton's grave sense, +and judgment, should think well enough of the productions of a young +woman, to bring it upon the stage, since she herself in a more mature +age could hardly bear to read it. But as the play succeeded, she +received such unbounded incense from admirers, that her apartment +was crowded with men of wit, and gaiety. There is a copy of verses +prefixed to her play, said to be written by a very great hand which +deserve notice. + + What! all our sex in one sad hour undone? + Lost are our arts, our learning, our renown + Since nature's tide of wit came rolling down. + Keen were your eyes we knew, and sure their darts; + Fire to our soul they send, and passion to our heart! + Needless was an addition to such arms, + When all mankind were vassals to your charms: + That hand but seen, gives wonder and desire, + Snow to the fight, but with its touches fire! + Who sees thy yielding Queen, and would not be + On any terms, the best, the happy he; + Entranc'd we fancy all is extasy. + Quote Ovid, now no more ye am'rous swains, + Delia, than Ovid has more moving strains. + Nature in her alone exceeds all art, + And nature sure does nearest touch the heart. + Oh! might I call the bright discoverer mine, + The whole fair sex unenvied I'd resign; + Give all my happy hours to Delia's charms, + She who by writing thus our wishes warms, + What worlds of love must circle in her arms? + +They who had a regard for Mrs. Manley could not but observe with +concern, that her conduct was such, as would soon issue in her ruin. +No language but flattery approached her ear; the Beaux told her, that +a woman of her wit, was not to be confined to the dull formalities of +her own sex, but had a right to assume the unreserved freedom of the +male, since all things were pardonable to a lady, who knew to give +laws to others, yet was not obliged to keep them herself. General +Tidcomb, who seems to have been her sincerest friend, took the +privilege of an old acquaintance to correct her ill taste, and the +wrong turn she gave her judgment, in admitting adulation from such +wretches, whose praise could reflect but little honour, and who would +be ready to boast of favours they never received, nor indeed ever +endeavoured to obtain. + +This salutary council was rejected; she told him, that she did not +think fit to reform a conduct, which she reckoned very innocent; +and still continued to receive the whispers of flatterers, 'till +experience taught her the folly of her behaviour, and she lived to +repent her indiscretion. + +Her virtue was now nodding, and she was ready to fall into the arms of +any gallant, like mellow fruit, without much trouble in the gathering. +Sir Thomas Skipwith, a character of gaiety of those times, and, who +it seems had theatrical connections, was recommended to her, as being +very able to promote her design in writing for the stage. This knight +was in the 50th year of his age, and in the 60th of his constitution, +when he was first introduced to her, and as he had been a long +practised gallant, he soon made addresses to her, and whether or no +this knight, who was more dangerous to a woman's reputation, than her +virtue, was favoured by her, the world was so much convinced of it, +that her character was now absolutely lost. Sir Thomas was a weak, +vain, conceited coxcomb, who delighted in boasting of his conquests +over women, and what was often owing to his fortune, and station in +life, he imputed to his address, and the elegance of his manner, of +both which he was totally destitute. He even published Mrs. Manley's +dishonour, and from that time our sprightly poetess was considered, by +the sober part of the sex, quite abandoned to all shame. + +When her affair with this superannuated knight was over, she soon +engaged in another intrigue, still more prejudicial to her character; +for it was with a married man, one Mr. Tilly, a gentleman of the Law; +with whom she lived a considerable time: while he underwent at +home many of those severe lectures, which the just provocation, and +jealousy of his wife taught her to read him. Mrs. Tilly at last died, +and our gallant was left at his freedom to marry the object of his +passion; but unluckily his finances were in such a situation, that he +was obliged to repair them by marrying a woman of fortune. This was a +cruel circumstance; for he really loved, and doated upon Mrs. Manley, +and had the felicity of a reciprocal passion. She agreed however, in +order to repair his fortune, that he should marry a rich young widow, +whom he soon won by the elegance of his address, while our authoress +retired into the country to spend her days in solitude and sorrow, and +bid an everlasting farewel to the pleasures of love and gallantry. +Mr. Tilly did not many years survive this reparation: his life was +rendered miserable at home by the jealousy of his young wife, who had +heard of his affair with Mrs. Manley; he lost his senses, and died in +a deplorable situation. + +During her retirement, our authoress, who had a most confirmed +aversion to the Whig ministry, wrote her Atalantis, which was meant as +a representation of the characters of some of those, who had effected +the Revolution. A warrant was granted from the secretary of state's +office, to seize the Printer and Publisher of these volumes. This +circumstance reduced the writer to a very troublesome dilemma; she +could not bear the thoughts that innocent people should suffer on her +account, and she judged it cruel to remain concealed, while they who +were only inferior instruments, were suffering for her. She consulted, +on this occasion, her best friend, general Tidcomb, who, after +rallying her for exposing people, who had never in particular injured +her, he advised her to go into France, and made her an offer of +his purse for that purpose. This advice she rejected, and came to +a determined resolution, that no person should ever suffer on her +account. The general asked her, how she should like to be confined in +Newgate? to which she answered, that she would rather lye in a prison, +after having discharged her conference, than riot in a palace under +its reproaches. The general upon this replied, that these things +sounded very heroic, but there was a great difference between real and +imaginary sufferings, 'that she had chosen to declare herself for the +Tories, a party, who never could keep their own, nor other people's +secrets, and were ever forgetful of such as served them; that the most +severe critics upon the Tory writings, were the Tories themselves, who +never considering the design, or honest intention of the author, would +examine the performance only, and that too with as much severity, +as they would an enemy's, and at the same time value themselves +upon being impartial against their friends. Then as to gratitude, +or generosity, the Tories did not approach to the Whigs, who never +suffered any man to go unrewarded, however dull, or insignificant, +provided he declared himself to be for them; whereas the Tories had no +general interest, and consequently no particular, each person refusing +to contribute towards the benefit of the whole; and if it should +happen, that she should perish, through want, in a Jail, they would +sooner condemn her folly, than pity her sufferings.' + +This did not deter our poetess from voluntarily preferring herself +before the Court of King's Bench, as the author of the Atalantis. + +When she was examined before the secretary (then lord Sunderland) +he was assiduous to know from whom she had got information of some +particulars, which they imagined were above her own intelligence. Her +defence was with much humility and sorrow, at the same time denying +that any persons were concerned with her, or that she had a farther +design than writing for her own amusement, and diversion in the +country, without intending particular reflexions, or characters; when +this was not believed, and the contrary urged against her by several +circumstances, she said, 'then it must be by inspiration, because +knowing her own innocence, she could account for it no other way.' The +secretary replied, 'that inspiration used to be upon a good account, +and her writings were stark naught.' She, with an air of penitence, +'acknowledged, that his lordship's observation might be true, but that +there were evil angels, as well as good, so that nevertheless what she +had wrote, might still be by inspiration.' + +In consequence of this examination, our authoress was close shut up +in a messenger's house, without being allowed pen, ink, and paper. +However her council sued out her Habeas Corpus at the King's-Bench +Bar, and she was admitted to bail. + +Whether those in power were ashamed to bring a woman to her trial, +for writing a few amorous trifles, or our laws were defective, as +was generally conjectured, because she had disguised her satire under +romantic names, and a feigned scene of action, she was discharged, +after several times exposing her in person, to cross the court before +the Bench of Judges, with her three attendants, the Printer, and two +Publishers. + +Not long after this a total change of the ministry ensued, +the statesmen to whom she had been obnoxious were removed, and +consequently all her fears upon that score dissipated; her native +gaiety, and good humour returned, and she again employed herself in +writing a tragedy for the stage, and resolved never more to deal in +politics, as being much out of the natural sphere of a woman, she was +persuaded it was folly in one in her station, to disoblige any party +by a pen, equally qualified to divert all. Being advanced to the +autumn of her charms, she conversed with the opposite sex, in a manner +very delicate, sensible, and agreeable, and when she felt that time +had left his impression upon her brow, she did not court praise and +flattery. The greatest genius's of the times conversed freely with +her, and gave her daily proofs of esteem, and friendship, except Sir +Richard Steele, with whom it seems she was at variance; and indeed Sir +Richard sufficiently exposed himself by his manner of taking revenge; +for he published to the world that it was his own fault he was not +happy with Mrs. Manley, for which omission he publickly, and gravely +asked her pardon. + +Those are the most material incidents in the life of our poetess; a +lady, who was born with high powers from nature, which were afterwards +cultivated by enjoying the brightest conversation; the early part of +her life was unfortunate, she fell a sacrifice to a seducer, who laid +the foundation for those errors she afterwards committed, and of those +sufferings she underwent; she had a high relish for the pleasures +of life; she was extremely susceptible of the passion of love, and +treated it with a peculiar vivacity. + +Her dramatic works are + +1. The Lover, or The Jealous Husband; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1696. +This play did not succeed in the representation. + +2. The Royal Mischief, a Tragedy; acted by his Majesty's Servants +in the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1696. This was exhibited with +general applause. + +3. Lucius, the First Christian King of Britain, a Tragedy; acted +at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane by his Majesty's Servants, and +dedicated to Sir Richard Steele. She has written several poems, and +we shall select, as a specimen, an Epistle to the Countess of Bristol, +which will shew how much she possessed the power of delicate numbers; +she has also in print a volume of Letters, the second edition of which +was published in 1713. She died July 11, 1724. + + To the Right Honourable the + Countess of BRISTOL. + + + Long had my mind, unknowing how to soar, + In humble prose been train'd, nor aim'd at more: + Near the fam'd sisters never durst aspire + To sound a verse, or touch the tuneful lyre. + 'Till Bristol's charms dissolv'd the native cold; + Bad me survey her eyes, and thence be bold. + Thee, lovely Bristol! thee! with pride I chuse, + The first, and only subject of my muse; + That durst transport me like the bird of Jove, + To face th' immortal source of light above! + Such are thy kindred beams-- + So blessings, with a bounteous hand they give, + So they create, and make creation live. + + When charming Felton, of a beauteous race, + Adorn'd in blooming youth, with ev'ry grace; + First saw the lovely Suffolk Swain her prize, + The noblest conquest of the brightest eyes! + How many wretched nymphs that union made, + What cold despair the warmest hearts invade! + What crouds of lovers, hopeless and undone, + Deplore those charms which brought their ruin on! + Rich in themselves--all excellence they find, + Wit! beauty! wisdom! and a constant mind! + No vain desires of change disturb their joy; + Such sweets, like bliss divine, can never cloy: + Fill'd with that spirit which great souls inflame, + Their wondrous offspring start to early fame. + In their young minds, immortal sparkles rise! + And all their mother flashes from their eyes! + From thence such scenes of beauty charm the sight, + We know not where o fix the strong delight! + Hervey's soft features--next, Eliza bright! + Anna just dawning, like Aurora's light! + With all the smiling train of Cupids round, + Fond little loves, with flowing graces crown'd. + + As some fair flowers, who all their bloom disclose, + The Spanish Jas'min, or the British Rose? + Arriv'd at full perfection, charm the sense, + Whilst the young blossoms gradual sweets dispense. + The eldest born, with almost equal pride; + The next appears in fainter colours dy'd: + New op'ning buds, as less in debt to time, + Wait to perform the promise of their prime! + All blest descendants of the beauteous tree, + What now their parent is, themselves shall be. + + Oh! could I paint the younger Hervey's mind, + Where wit and judgment, fire and taste refin'd + To match his face, with equal art are join'd: + Oh best belov'd of Jove! to thee alone, + What would enrich the whole, he gives to one! + + [A]In Titian's colours whilst Adonis glows, + See fairest Bristol more than Venus shows; + View well the valu'd piece, how nice each part; + Yet nature's hand surpasses Titian's art! + Such had his Venus and Adonis been, + The standard beauty had from thence been seen! + Whose arbitrary laws had fix'd the doom + To Hervey's form, and Bristol's ever bloom! + + [B]As once Kazeia, now Eliza warms + The kindred-fair bequeath'd her all her charms; + Such were her darts, so piercing and so strong, + Endow'd by Phoebus both, with tuneful song; + But far from thee Eliza be her doom; + Snatch'd hence by death, in all her beauty's bloom. + Long may'st thou live, adorning Bristol's name, + With future heroes to augment his fame. + + When haughty Niobe, with joy and pride, + Saw all her shining offspring grace her side; + She view'd their charms, exulting at each line, + And then oppos'd 'em to the race divine! + Enrag'd Latona urg'd the silver bow: + Immortal vengeance laid their beauties low. + No more a mother now--too much she mourn'd, + By grief incessant into marble turn'd. + + But lovely Bristol, with a pious mind, + Owns all her blessings are from Heav'n assign'd. + Her matchless Lord--her beauteous numerous race! + Her virtue, modesty, and ev'ry grace! + For these, devoutly, to the gods she bows, + And offers daily praise, and daily vows: + Phoebus, well-pleas'd, the sacrifice regards; + And thus the grateful mother's zeal rewards: + 'Beauty and wit, to all of Bristol's line! + But each in some peculiar grace shall shine! + Or to excel in courts, and please the fair! + Or Conquest gain thro' all the wat'ry war! + With harmony divine the ear to charm! + Or souls with more melodious numbers warm! + By wond'rous memory shall some excel + In awful senates, and in speaking well! + To hold Astræa's scales with equal hand, + And call back justice to that happy land! + To teach mankind how best the gods to praise! + To fix their minds in truth's unerring ways! + + 'Thus all her honours, Bristol's sons shall wear, + Whilst each his country's good shall make his chiefest care!' + + +[Footnote A: This is not designed as a parallel of the story, but the +painting from a piece of Titian's, at my lord Bristol's.] + +[Footnote B: A sister of lord Bristol's, who was a lady of most +extraordinary beauty.] + + * * * * * + + + + +HENRY NEEDLER, + + +This Poet was born at Harley in Surry, in the year 1690, and educated +at a private school at Ryegate in the same county[A]. He was removed +from thence in 1705, and in 1708 accepted a small place in a public +office; where he continued the remainder of his days. + +About this time contracting a friendship with a gentleman of a like +taste, who furnished him with proper books, he applied himself at +his intervals of leisure, to reading the dailies, and to the study +of logic, metaphysics, and the mathematics, with which last he was +peculiarly delighted. And in a few years by the force of his own happy +genius, and unwearied diligence, without the assistance of any master, +he acquired a considerable knowledge of the most difficult branches of +those useful and entertaining studies. + +By so close an application, he contracted a violent pain in his head, +which notwithstanding the best advice, daily encreased. This, and +other unfortunate circumstances concurring, so deeply affected him, +who had besides in his constitution a strong tincture of melancholy, +that he was at last brought under almost a total extinction of reason. +In this condition he fell into a fever; and as there were before +scarce any hopes of him, it may be said to have happily put an end to +the deplorable bondage of so bright a mind, on the 21st of December, +1718, in the 29th year of his age. He was buried in the church of +Friendsbury, near Rochester. + +Mr. Needler's life was influenced by the principles of sincere, +unaffected piety, and virtue. + +On all occasions (says Mr. Duncomb) 'he was a strenuous advocate for +universal toleration and forbearance in matters of religion; rightly +supposing that no service can be acceptable to the supreme Being, +unless it proceeds from the heart; and that force serves only to make +hypocrites, but adds no new lights to the understanding. He was +modest to a fault, entertaining the most humble opinion of his own +performances; and was always ready to do justice to those of others. +His affection for his friends indeed sometimes biassed his judgment, +and led him to the commending their writings beyond their merit.' + +In the volume of Mr. Needler's works, are printed some familiar +Letters, upon moral, and natural subjects. They are written with +elegance and taste; the heart of a good man may be traced in them +all, and equally abound with pious notions, as good sense, and +solid reasoning.--He seems to have been very much master of smooth +versification, his subjects are happily chosen, and there is a +philosophical air runs through all his writings; as an instance of +this, we shall present our readers with a copy of his verses addressed +to Sir Richard Blackmore, on his Poem, intitled The Creation. + + Dress'd in the charms of wit and fancy, long + The muse has pleas'd us with her syren song; + But weak of reason, and deprav'd of mind, + Too oft on vile, ignoble themes we find + The wanton muse her sacred art debase, + Forgetful of her birth, and heavenly race; + Too oft her flatt'ring songs to sin intice, + And in false colours deck delusive vice; + Too oft she condescends, in servile lays, + The undeserving rich and great to praise. + These beaten paths, thy loftier strains refuse + With just disdain, and nobler subjects chuse: + Fir'd with sublimer thoughts, thy daring soul + Wings her aspiring flight from Pole to Pole, + Observes the foot-steps of a pow'r divine, + Which in each part of nature's system shine; + Surveys the wonders of this beauteous frame, + And sings the sacred source, whence all things came. + + But Oh! what numbers shall I find to tell, + The mighty transports which my bosom swell, + Whilst, guided by thy tuneful voice, I stray + Thro' radiant worlds, and fields of native day, + Wasted from orb, to orb, unwearied fly + Thro' the blue regions of the yielding sky; + See how the spheres in stated courses roll, + And view the just composure of the whole! + + Such were the strains, by antient Orpheus sung. + To such, Mufæus' heav'nly lyre was strung; + Exalted truths, in learned verse they told, + And nature's deepest secrets did unfold. + How at th' eternal mind's omnisic call, + Yon starry arch, and this terrestrial ball, + The briny wave, the blazing source of light, + And the wane empress of the silent night, + Each in it's order rose and took its place, + And filled with recent forms the vacant space; + How rolling planets trace their destin'd way, + Nor in the wastes of pathless Æther stray; + How the pale moon, with silver beams adorn + Her chearful orb, and gilds her sharpened horns; + How the vast ocean's swelling tides obey + Her distant reign, and own her watr'y sway; + How erring floods, their circling course maintain, + Supplied by constant succours from the main; + Whilst to the sea, the refluent streams restore, + The liquid treasures which she lent before; + What dreadful veil obscures the solar light, + And Phæbe's darken'd face conceals from mortal sight. + Thy learned muse, I with like pleasure hear + The wonders of the lesser world declare, + Point out the various marks of skill divine, + Which thro' its complicated structure mine, + In tuneful verse, the vital current trace, + Thro' all the windings of its mazy race, + And tell hew the rich purple tide bestows, + Vigour, and kindly warmth where e'er it flows; + By what contrivance of mechanic art + The muscles, motions to the limbs impart; + How at th' imperial mind's impulsive nod, + Th' obedient spirits thro' the nervous road + Find thro' their fib'rous cells the ready way, + And the high dictates of the will obey; + From how exact and delicate a frame, + The channeled bones their nimble action claim; + With how much depth, and subtility of thought + The curious organ of the eye is wrought; + How from the brain their root the nerves derive, + And sense to ev'ry distant member give. + + Th' extensive knowledge you of men enjoy, + You to a double use of man employ; + Nor to the body, is your skill confin'd, + Of error's worse disease you heal the mind. + No longer shall the hardy atheist praise + Lucretius' piercing wit, and philosophic lays; + But by your lines convinc'd, and charm'd at once, + His impious tenets shall at length renounce, + At length to truth and eloquence shall yield, + Confess himself subdu'd, and wisely quit the field. + + +[Footnote A: See his Life prefixed to his works, by William Duncomb +Esq;] + + * * * * * + + + + +JOHN HUGHES, + + +William Duncomb, esq; has obliged the world with an entire edition of +this author's poetical and prose works, to which he has prefixed +some account of his life, written with candour and spirit. Upon his +authority we chiefly build the following narration; in which we shall +endeavour to do as much justice as possible to the memory of this +excellent poet. + +Our author was the son of a worthy citizen of London, and born at +Marlborough in the county of Wilts, on the 29th of January 1677; but +received the rudiments of his learning at private schools in London. + +In the earliest years of his youth, he applied himself with ardour to +the pursuit of the sister arts, poetry, drawing and music, in each of +which by turns, he made a considerable progress; but for the most part +pursued these and other polite studies, only as agreeable amusements, +under frequent confinement from indisposition, and a valetudinary +state of health. He had some time an employment in the office of +ordinance; and was secretary to two or three commissioners under the +great-seal, for purchasing lands for the better securing the docks and +harbours at Portsmouth, Chatham, and Harwich. + +In the year 1717 the lord chancellor Cowper, (to whom Mr. Hughes +was then but lately known) was pleased, without any previous +sollicitation, to make him his secretary for the commissions of the +peace, and to distinguish him with singular marks of his favour and +affection: And upon his lordship's laying down the great-seal, he was +at his particular recommendation, and with the ready concurrence of +his successor, continued in the same employment under the earl of +Macclesfield. + +He held this place to the time of his decease, which happened on the +17th of February 1719, the very night in which his tragedy, entitled +the Siege of Damascus, was first acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane. + +He was cut off by a consumption, after a painful life, at the age of +42, when he had just arrived at an agreeable competence, and advancing +in fame and fortune. So just is the beautiful reflexion of Milton in +his Lycidas; + + Fame is the spur, that the clear spirit doth raise, + (That last infirmity of noble mind) + To scorn delights, and live laborious days; + But the fair guerdon, when we hops to find, + And think to burst out into sudden blaze, + Comes the blind fury with th' abhorred shears, + And slits the thin-spun life.-- + +He was privately buried in the vault under the chancel of St. Andrew's +Church in Holborn. Mr. Hughes, as a testimony of gratitude to his +noble friend, and generous patron, earl Cowper, gave his lordship a +few weeks before he died, his picture drawn by Sir Godfrey Kneller, +which he himself had received from that masterly painter. The value +lord Cowper set upon it will be best shewn, by the letter he wrote +upon this occasion to Mr. Hughes. As such a testimony from so eminent +a person, was considered by himself as one of the highest honours he +was capable of receiving, we shall therefore insert it. + +24th Jan. 1719-20. + +'Sir, + +'I thank you for the most acceptable present of your picture, and +assure you that none of this age can set a higher value on it than I +do, and shall while I live, tho' I am sensible posterity will out-do +me in that particular.' + +I am with the greatest esteem, and sincerity + +Your most affectionate, and oblig'd humble servant + +COWPER. + +Mr. Hughes was happy in the acquaintance and friendship of several of +the greatest men, and most distinguished genius's of the age in which +he lived; particularly of the nobleman just now mentioned, the present +lord bishop of Winchester, lord chief baron Gilbert, Sir Godfrey +Kneller, Mr. Congreve, Mr. Addison, Sir Richard Steele, Mr. Southern, +Mr. Rowe, &c. and might have justly boasted in the words of Horace + + ----me + Cum magnis vixisse, invita fatebitu usque + Invidia.---- + +Having given this short account of his life, which perhaps is all +that is preserved any where concerning him; we shall now consider him, +first, as a poet, and then as a prose writer. + +The Triumph of Peace was the earliest poem he wrote of any length, +that appeared in public. It was written on occasion of the peace +of Ryswick, and printed in the year 1677. A learned gentleman at +Cambridge, in a letter to a friend of Mr. Hughes's, dated the 28th +of February 1697-8, gives the following account of the favourable +reception this poem met with there, upon its first publication. + +'I think I never heard a poem read with so much admiration, as the +Triumph of Peace was by our best critics here, nor a greater character +given to a young poet, at his first appearing; no, not even to Mr. +Congreve himself. So nobly elevated are his thoughts, his numbers so +harmonious, and his turns so fine and delicate, that we cry out with +Tully, on a like occasion, + + 'Nostræ spes altera Romæ!' + +The Court of Neptune, was written on king William's return from +Holland, two years after the peace, in 1699. This Poem was admired +for the verification, however, the musical flow of the numbers is its +least praise; it rather deserves to be valued for the propriety, and +boldness of the figures and metaphors, and the machinery. + +The following lines have been justly quoted as an instance of the +author's happy choice of metaphors. + + As when the golden god, who rules the day, + Drives down his flaming chariot to the sea, + And leaves the nations here, involved in night, + To distant regions he transports his light; + So William's rays by turns, two rations cheer, + And when he sets to them, he rises here. + +A friend of Mr. Hughes's soon after the publication of this poem, +complimented him upon the choice of his subject, and for the moral +sentiments contained in it. 'I am sure (says he) virtue is most for +the interest of mankind; and those poets have ever obtained the most +honour in the world, who have made that the end and design of their +works. A wanton Sappho, or Anacreon, among the ancients, never had the +same applause, as a Pindar, or Alexis; nor in the judgment of Horace +did they deserve it. In the opinion of all posterity, a lewd and +debauch'd Ovid, did justly submit to the worth of a Virgil; and, in +future ages, a Dryden will never be compared to Milton. In all times, +and in all places of the world, the moral poets have been ever the +greatest; and as much superior to others in wit, as in virtue. Nor +does this seem difficult to be accounted for, since the dignity of +their subjects naturally raised their ideas, and gave a grandeur to +their sentiments.' + +The House of Nassau, a Pindaric Ode (printed in 1702) was occasioned +by the death of king William. 'In Pindaric and Lyric Poetry (says +Mr. Duncomb) our author's genius shines in its full lustre. Tho' he +enjoyed all that fire of imagination, and divine enthusiasm, for which +some of the ancient poets are so deservedly admired, yet did his fancy +never run away with his reason, but was always guided by superior +judgment; and the music of his verse is exquisite.' + +The Translation of the third Ode of the third Book of Horace, and +the Paraphrase of the twenty-second Ode, of the first book, were both +written when he was very young; and the latter of them was his first +poetical Essay, which appeared in print. Mr. Hughes, in a private +letter sent to one of his friends, gives it as his opinion, that the +Odes of Horace, are fitter to be paraphrased, than translated. + +The Tenth Book of Lucan, was translated by Mr. Hughes, long before Mr. +Rowe undertook that author. The occasion of it was this: Mr. Tonson +the bookseller, sollicited a translation of Lucan, by several hands. +Mr. Hughes performed his part, but others failing in their promises, +the design was dropp'd; and Mr. Rowe was afterwards prevailed upon to +undertake the whole, which he performed with great success. + +In the year 1709 Mr. Hughes obliged the publick, with an elegant +translation of Moliere's celebrated Comedy, the Misantrope. This has +been since reprinted, with the other plays of that admirable author, +translated by Mr. Ozell; but care is taken to distinguish this +particular play. + +In the year 1712 his Opera of Calypso and Telemachus, was performed at +the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market. Perhaps it may be worth while +to mention here, one circumstance concerning this Opera, as it relates +to the History of Music in England, and discovers the great partiality +shewn at that time to Opera's performed in Italian. After many such +had been encouraged by large subscriptions, this, originally written, +and set in English, after the Italian manner, was prepared with the +usual expence of scenes and decorations; and being much crowded and +applauded at the rehearsals, a subscription was obtained for it as +usual. + +This alarmed the whole Italian band, who, apprehending that their +profession would suffer thereby, procured an order from the duke of +Shrewsbury, then lord chamberlain, the day before the performing of +this Opera, to take off the subscription for it, and to open the house +at the lowest prices, or not at all. This was designed to sink it, but +failed of its end. It was performed, formed, though under such +great discouragement; and was revived afterwards at the theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Mr. Addison, in the Spectator, Numb. 405, +speaking of the just applause given this opera, by Signior Nicolini +(who he says was the greatest performer in dramatic music, that +perhaps ever appeared upon a stage) has these words, + +'The town is highly obliged to that excellent artist, for having shewn +us the Italian music in its perfection, as well as for that generous +approbation he gave to an Opera of our own country, in which Mr. +Galliard the composer endeavoured to do justice to the beauty of the +words, by following that noble example which has been set him by the +greatest foreign masters of that art.' + +The Ode to the Creator of the World, occasioned by the fragments of +Orpheus, was printed in the year 1713, at the particular instance of +Mr. Addison; and is mentioned with applause in the Spectator. This, +and the Extasy, (published since the death of the author) are justly +esteemed two of the noblest Odes in our language. The seventh Stanza +of the last mentioned piece, is so sublimely excellent, that it would +be denying ourselves, and our poetical readers, a pleasure not to +transcribe it. The whole of this Ode is beautifully heightened, and +poetically conceived. It furnished a hint to a living Poet to write +what he entitles the Excursion, which tho' it has very great merit, +yet falls infinitely short of this animated Ode of Mr. Hughes. + +After having represented the natural and artificial calamities to +which man is doomed, he proceeds, + + But why do I delay my flight? + Or on such gloomy objects gaze? + I go to realms serene, with ever-living light. + Haste, clouds and whirlwinds, haste a raptured bard to raise; + Mount me sublime along the shining way, + Where planets, in pure streams of Aether driven, + Swim thro' the blue expanse of heav'n. + And lo! th' obsequious clouds and winds obey! + And lo! again the nations downward fly; + And wide-stretch'd kingdoms perish from my eye. + Heav'n! what bright visions now arise! + What op'ning worlds my ravish'd sense surprize! + I pass Cerulian gulphs, and now behold + New solid globes; their weight self-ballanc'd, bear + Unprop'd amidst the fluid air, + And all, around the central Sun, incircling eddies roll'd. + Unequal in their course, see they advance + And form the planetary dance! + Here the pale Moon, whom the same laws ordain + T' obey the earth, and rule the main; + Here spots no more in shadowy streaks appear; + But lakes instead, and groves of trees, + The wand'ring muse, transported sees, + And their tall heads discover'd mountains rear. + And now once more, I downward cast my sight, + When lo! the earth, a larger moon displays, + Far off, amidst the heav'ns, her silver face, + And to her sister moons by turns gives light! + Her seas are shadowy spots, her land a milky white. + +The author of an Essay on Criticism, printed in the year 1728, informs +us, that the Tragedy of Cato being brought upon the stage in 1713 was +owing to Mr. Hughes. The circumstances recorded by this author are so +remarkable, that they deserve to be related; and as they serve to shew +the high opinion Mr. Addison entertained of our author's abilities as +a Poet, I shall therefore transcribe his own words.-- + +'It has been often said by good judges, that Cato was no proper +subject for a dramatic poem: That the character of a stoic +philosopher, is inconsistent with the hurry and tumult of action, +and passions which are the soul of tragedy. That the ingenious author +miscarried in the plan of his work, but supported it by the dignity, +the purity, the beauty, and justness of the sentiments. This was so +much the opinion of Mr. Maynwaring, who was generally allowed to be +the best critic of our time; that he was against bringing the play +upon the stage, and it lay by unfinished many years. That it was +play'd at last was owing to Mr. Hughes. He had read the four acts +which were finished, and really thought it would be of service to +the public, to have it represented at the latter end of queen +Anne's reign, when the spirit of liberty was likely to be lost. He +endeavoured to bring Mr. Addison into his opinion, which he did, and +consented it should be acted if Mr. Hughes would write the last act; +and he offered him the scenery for his assistance, excusing his +not finishing it himself, upon account of some other avocations. He +press'd Mr. Hughes to do it so earnestly, that he was prevailed upon, +and set about it. But, a week after, seeing Mr. Addison again, with +an intention to communicate to him what he thought of it, he was +agreeably surprized at his producing some papers, where near half of +the act was written by the author himself, who took fire at the hint, +that it would be serviceable; and, upon a second reflexion, went +through with the fifth act, not that he was diffident of Mr. Hughes's +abilities; but knowing that no man could have so perfect a notion of +his design as himself, who had been so long, and so carefully thinking +of it. I was told this by Mr. Hughes, and I tell it to shew, that it +was not for the love-scenes, that Mr. Addison consented to have his +Tragedy acted, but to support public spirit; which in the opinion of +the author was then declining.' + +In the year 1720 the Siege of Damascus was acted at the Theatre-Royal +in Drury-Lane, with universal applause. His present majesty honoured +it with his presence, and the late queen distinguished it with marks +of favour. + +Mr. Hughes drew up the dedication of this Tragedy to the late Earl +Cowper, about ten days before he died. It is indeed surprising, that +he should be able to form a piece so finely turned, and at such +an hour; when death was just before him, and he was too weak to +transcribe it himself. + +Mr. Pope, in a letter to Mr. Hughes's brother, written soon after his +death, in answer to one received from him, with the printed copy of +the play, has the following pathetic passage. + +'I read over again your brother's play, with more concern and sorrow, +than I ever felt in the reading any Tragedy. The real loss of a good +man may be called a distress to the world, and ought to affect us +more, than any feigned distress, how well drawn soever. I am glad +of an occasion of giving you under my hand this testimony, both how +excellent I think this work to be, and how excellent I thought the +author.' + +It is generally allowed that the characters in this play are finely +varied and distinguished; that the sentiments are just, and +well adapted to the characters; that it abounds with beautiful +descriptions, apt allusions to the manners, and opinions of the times +where the scene is laid, and with noble morals; that the diction is +pure, unaffected, and sublime; and that the plot is conducted in a +simple and clear manner. + +Some critics have objected, that there is not a sufficient ground +and foundation, for the distress in the fourth and fifth acts. That +Phocyas only assists the enemy to take Damascus a few days sooner, +than it must unavoidably have fallen into the hands of the Saracens +by a capitulation, which was far from dishonourable. If Phocyas is +guilty, his guilt must consist in this only, that he performed the +same action from a sense of his own wrong, and to preserve the idol +of his soul from violation, and death, which he might have performed +laudably, upon better principles. But this (say they) seems not +sufficient ground for those strong and stinging reproaches he casts +upon himself, nor for Eudocia's rejecting him with so much severity. +It would have been a better ground of distress, considering the +frailty of human nature, and the violent temptations he lay under; if +he had been at last prevailed upon to profess himself a Mahometan: For +then his remorse, and self-condemnation, would have been natural, his +punishment just, and the character of Eudocia placed in a more amiable +light. In answer to these objections, and in order to do justice to +the judgment of Mr. Hughes, we must observe, that he formed his play +according to the plan here recommended: but, over-persuaded by some +friends, he altered it as it now stands. + +When our author was but in the nineteenth year of his age, he wrote +a Tragedy, entitled, Amalasont Queen of the Goths, which displays +a fertile genius, and a masterly invention. Besides these poetical +productions Mr. Hughes is author of several works in prose, +particularly, The Advices from Parnassus, and the Poetical Touchstone +of Trajano Boccalini, translated by several hands, were printed +in folio 1706. This translation was revised and corrected, and the +preface to it was written by Mr. Hughes. + +Fontenelle's Dialogues of the Dead, translated by our author; with two +original Dialogues, published in the year 1708. The greatest part of +this had lain by him for six years. + +Fontenelle's Discourse concerning the ancients, and moderns, are +printed with his conversations with a Lady, on the Plurality of +Worlds, translated by Glanville. + +The History of the Revolutions in Portugal, written in French, by +Monsieur L'AbbĂ© de Vertot, was translated by Mr. Hughes. + +The Translation of the Letters of Abelard and Heloise, was done by Mr. +Hughes; upon which Mr. Pope has built his beautiful Epistle of Heloise +to Abelard. + +As Mr. Hughes was an occasional contributor to the Tatler, Spectator, +and Guardian, the reader perhaps may be curious to know more +particularly what share he had in those papers, which are so justly +admired in all places in the world, where taste and genius have +visited. As it is the highest honour to have had any concern in +works like these, so it would be most injurious to the memory of this +excellent genius, not to particularize his share in them. + +In the Tatler he writ, + + Vol. II. Numb. 64. A Letter signed Josiah Couplet. + Numb. 73. A Letter against Gamesters, + signed William Trusty. + +Mr. Tickell alludes to this Letter, in a Copy of Verses addressed to +the Spectator, Vol. VII. No. 532. + + From Felon Gamesters, the raw squire is free, + And Briton owes her rescued oaks to thee. + + Numb. 113. The Inventory of a Beau. + + In the Spectator. + + Vol. I. Numb. 33. A Letter on the Art of improving + beauty. + Numb. 53. A Second Letter on the same + subject. + Numb. 66. Two Letters concerning fine + breeding. + + Vol. II. Numb. 91. The History of Honoria, or + the Rival Mother. + Numb. 104. A Letter on Riding-Habits for + Ladies. + Numb. 141. Remarks on a Comedy, intitled + the Lancashire-Witches. + + Vol. III. Numb. 210. On the immortality of the + Soul. + Numb. 220. A Letter concerning expedients + for Wit. + Numb. 230. All, except the last Letter. + Numb. 231. A Letter on the awe of appearing + before public assemblies. + Numb. 237. On Divine Providence. + + Vol. IV. Numb. 252. A Letter on the Eloquence of + Tears, and fainting fits. + Numb. 302. The Character of Emilia. + Numb. 311. A Letter from the Father of + a great Fortune. + + Vol. V. Numb. 57. A Picture of Virtue in Distress. + Vol. VII. Numb. 525. On Conjugal Love. + Numb. 537. On the Dignity of Human + Nature. + Numb. 541. Rules for Pronunciation and + Action, chiefly collected from Cicero. + +Vol. VII. Numb. 554. On the Improvement of the Genius, illustrated +in the characters of Lord Bacon, Mr. Boyle, Sir Isaac Newton, and +Leonardo da Vinci.--We have not been able to learn, what papers in +the Guardian were written by him, besides Number 37, Vol. I. which +contains Remarks on the Tragedy of Othello. + +In the year 1715 Mr. Hughes published a very accurate edition of the +works of our famous poet Edmund Spenser, in six volumes, 12mo. to +this edition are prefixed the Life of Spenser; an Essay on Allegorical +poetry; Remarks on the Fairy Queen; on the Shepherd's Calendar, and +other writings of Spenser; and a Glossary explaining the Old and +obsolete Words. + +In 1718 he published a piece called Charon, or The Ferry-Boat, a +Vision. This, and Mr. Walsh's Æsculapius, or Hospital of Fools, are +perhaps two of the finest dialogues we have in English, as well as the +most lively imitations of Lucian. + +Sir Richard Steele, in a paper called The Theatre, No. 15. has paid a +tribute to the memory of Mr. Hughes, with which as it illustrates his +amiable character, we shall conclude his life. + +'I last night (says he) saw the Siege of Damascus, and had the +mortification to hear this evening that Mr. Hughes, the author of it, +departed this life within some few hours after his play was acted, +with universal applause. This melancholy circumstance recalled into +my thought a speech in the tragedy, which very much affected the +whole audience, and was attended to with the greatest, and most solemn +instance of approbation, and awful silence.' The incidents of the +play plunge a heroic character into the last extremity; and he is +admonished by a tyrant commander to expect no mercy, unless he changes +the Christian religion for the Mahometan. The words with which the +Turkish general makes his exit from his prisoner are, + + Farewel, and think of death. + +Upon which the captive breaks into the following soliloquy, + + Farewel! and think of death!--was it not so? + Do murtherers then, preach morality? + But how to think of what the living know not, + And the dead cannot, or else may not tell! + What art thou? O thou great mysterious terror! + The way to thee, we know; diseases, famine, + Sword, fire, and all thy ever open gates, + That day and night stand ready to receive us. + But what, beyond them? who will draw that veil? + Yet death's not there.----No, 'tis a point of time; + The verge 'twixt mortal, and immortal Being. + It mocks our thought----On this side all is life; + And when we've reach'd it, in that very instant, + 'Tis past the thinking of----O if it be + The pangs, the throes, the agonizing struggle, + When soul and body part, sure I have felt it! + And there's no more to fear. + +'The gentleman (continues Sir Richard) to whose memory I devote this +paper, may be the emulation of more persons of different talents, +than any one I have ever known. His head, hand, or heart, was always +employed in something worthy imitation; his pencil, his bow (string) +or his pen, each of which he used in a masterly manner, were always +directed to raise, and entertain his own mind, or that of others, to a +more chearful prosecution of what is noble and virtuous. Peace be with +thy remains, thou amiable spirit! but I talk in the language of our +weakness, that is flown to the regions of immortality, and relieved +from the aking engine and painful instrument of anguish and sorrow, +in which for many tedious years he panted with a lively hope for his +present condition.' We shall consign the trunk, in which he was so +long imprisoned, to common earth, with all that is due to the merit of +its inhabitant[A]. + +[Footnote A: There are several copies of verses written to the memory +of Mr. Hughes, prefixed to Mr. Duncomb's edition of his poems, of +which one by a lady who has withheld her name, deserves particular +distinction.] + + * * * * * + + + + +MATTHEW PRIOR, Esq; + + +This celebrated poet was the son of Mr. George Prior, citizen of +London, who was by profession a Joiner. Our author was born in 1664. +His father dying when he was very young, left him to the care of an +uncle, a Vintner near Charing-Cross, who discharged the trust that was +reposed in him, with a tenderness truly paternal, as Mr. Prior always +acknowledged with the highest professions of gratitude. He received +part of his education at Westminster school, where he distinguished +himself to great advantage, but was afterwards taken home by his +uncle in order to be bred up to his trade. Notwithstanding this mean +employment, to which Mr. Prior seemed now doomed, yet at his leisure +hours he prosecuted his study of the classics, and especially his +favourite Horace, by which means he was soon taken notice of, by the +polite company, who resorted to his uncle's house. It happened one +day, that the earl of Dorset being at his Tavern, which he often +frequented with several gentlemen of rank, the discourse turned upon +the Odes of Horace; and the company being divided in their sentiments +about a passage in that poet, one of the gentlemen said, I find we are +not like to agree in our criticisms, but, if I am not mistaken, there +is a young fellow in the house, who is able to set us all right: upon +which he named Prior, who was immediately sent for, and desired to +give his opinion of Horace's meaning in the Ode under consideration; +this he did with great modesty, and so much to the satisfaction of +the company, that the earl of Dorset, from that moment, determined to +remove him from the station in which he was, to one more suited to his +genius; and accordingly procured him to be sent to St. John's College +in Cambridge, where he took his degree in 1686, and afterwards became +fellow of the College. + +During his residence in the university, he contracted an intimate +friendship with Charles Montague, esq; afterwards earl of Hallifax, +in conjunction with whom he wrote a very humorous piece, entitled The +Hind and Panther transversed to the story of the Country Mouse, and +the City Mouse, printed 1687 in 4to. in answer to Mr. Dryden's Hind +and the Panther, published the year before. + +Upon the revolution Mr. Prior was brought to court by his great patron +the earl of Dorset, by whose interest he was introduced to public +employment, and in the year 1690 was made secretary to the earl +of Berkley, plenipotentiary to King William and Queen Mary at the +Congress at the Hague. + +In this station he acquitted himself so well, that he was afterwards +appointed secretary to the earls of Pembroke, and Jersey, and Sir +Joseph Williamson, ambassadors, and plenipotentiaries, at the treaty +of Ryswick 1697, as he was likewise in 1698 to the earl of Portland, +ambassador to the court of France. While he was in that kingdom, one +of the officers of the French King's houshold, shewing him the royal +apartments, and curiosities at Versailles, especially the paintings of +Le Brun, wherein the victories of Lewis XIV. are described, asked him, +whether King William's actions are to be seen in his palace? 'No Sir, +replied Mr. Prior, the monuments of my master's actions are to be seen +every where, but in his own house.' + +In the year 1697 Mr. Prior was made secretary of state for Ireland, +and in 1700 was created master of arts by Mandamus, and appointed +one of the lords commissioners of trade and plantations, upon the +resignation of Mr. Locke. He was also Member of Parliament for +East-Grimstead in Sussex. In 1710 he was supposed to have had a share +in writing the Examiner, and particularly a Criticism in it upon a +Poem of Dr. Garth to the earl of Godolphin, taken notice of in the +life of Garth. + +About this time, when Godolphin was defeated by Oxford, and the Tories +who had long been eclipsed by the lustre of Marlborough, began again +to hold up their heads, Mr. Prior and Dr. Garth espoused opposite +interests; Mr. Prior wrote for, and Garth against the court. The Dr. +was so far honest, that he did not desert his patron in distress; and +notwithstanding the cloud which then hung upon the party, he addressed +verses to him, which, however they may fail in the poetry, bear strong +the marks of gratitude, and honour. + +While Mr. Prior was thus very early initiated in public business, and +continued in the hurry of affairs for many years, it must appear not +a little surprizing, that he should find sufficient opportunities to +cultivate his poetical talents, to the amazing heights he raised them. +In his preface to his poems, he says, that poetry was only the product +of his leisure hours; that he had commonly business enough upon his +hands, and, as he modestly adds, was only a poet by accident; but we +must take the liberty of differing from him in the last particular, +for Mr. Prior seems to have received from the muses, at his nativity, +all the graces they could well bestow on their greatest favourite. + +We must not omit one instance in Mr. Prior's conduct, which will +appear very remarkable: he was chosen a member of that Parliament +which impeached the Partition Treaty, to which he himself had been +secretary; and though his share in that transaction was consequently +very considerable, yet he joined in the impeachment upon an honest +principle of conviction, that exceptionable measures attended it. + +The lord Bolingbroke, who, notwithstanding many exceptions made both +to his conduct, and sentiments in other instances, yet must be allowed +to be an accomplished judge of fine talents, entertained the highest +esteem for Mr. Prior, on account of his shining abilities. This noble +lord, in a letter dated September 10, 1712, addressed to Mr. Prior, +while he was the Queen's minister, and plenipotentiary at the court of +France, pays him the following compliment; 'For God's sake, Matt. hide +the nakedness of thy country, and give the best turn thy fertile brain +will furnish thee with, to the blunders of thy countrymen, who are not +much better politicians, than the French are poets.' His lordship thus +concludes his epistle; 'It is near three o'clock in the morning, I +have been hard at work all day, and am not yet enough recovered to +bear much fatigue; excuse therefore the confusedness of this scroll, +which is only from Harry to Matt, and not from the secretary to the +minister. Adieu, my pen is ready to drop out of my hand, it being now +three o'clock in the morning; believe that no man loves you better, or +is more faithfully yours, &c. + +'BOLINGBROKE.' + +There are several other letters from Bolingbroke to Prior, which, were +it necessary, we might insert as evidences of his esteem for him; but +Mr. Prior was in every respect so great a man, that the esteem even of +lord Bolingbroke cannot add much to the lustre of his reputation, +both as a statesman, and a poet. Mr. Prior is represented by those who +knew, and have wrote concerning him, as a gentleman, who united the +elegance and politeness of a court, with the scholar, and the man of +genius. This representation, in general, may be just, yet it holds +almost invariably true, that they who have risen from low life, still +retain some traces of their original. No cultivation, no genius, it +seems, is able entirely to surmount this: There was one particular in +which Mr. Prior verified the old proverb. + +The same woman who could charm the waiter in a tavern, still +maintained her dominion over the embassador at France. The Chloe of +Prior, it seems, was a woman in this station of life; but he never +forsook her in the heighth of his reputation. Hence we may observe, +that associations with women are the most lasting of all, and +that when an eminent station raises a man above many other acts of +condescension, a mistress will maintain her influence, charm away the +pride of greatness, and make the hero who fights, and the patriot +who speaks, for the liberty of his country, a slave to her. One would +imagine however, that this woman, who was a Butcher's wife, must +either have been very handsome, or have had something about her +superior to people of her rank: but it seems the case was otherwise, +and no better reason can be given for Mr. Prior's attachment to her, +but that she was his taste. Her husband suffered their intrigue to go +on unmolested; for he was proud even of such a connexion as this, with +so great a man as Prior; a singular instance of good nature. + +In the year 1715 Mr. Prior was recalled from France, and upon his +arrival was taken up by a warrant from the House of Commons; shortly +after which, he underwent a very strict examination by a Committee of +the Privy Council. His political friend, lord Bolingbroke, foreseeing +a storm, took shelter in France, and secured Harry, but left poor +Matt. in the lurch. + +On the 10th of June Robert Walpole, esq; moved the House against +him, and on the 17th Mr. Prior was ordered into close custody, and no +person was admitted to see him without leave from the Speaker. For +the particulars of this procedure of the Parliament, both against Mr. +Prior, and many others concerned in the public transactions of the +preceding reign, we refer to the histories of that time. In the year +1717 an Act of Grace was passed in favour of those who had opposed +the Hanoverian succession, as well as those who had been in open +rebellion, but Mr. Prior was excepted out of it. At the close of this +year, however, he was discharged from his confinement, and retired to +spend the residue of his days at Downhall in Essex. + +The severe usage which Mr. Prior met with, perhaps was the occasion of +the following beautiful lines, addressed to his Chloe; + + From public noise, and factious strife, + From all the busy ills of life, + Take me, my Chloe, to thy breast; + And lull my wearied soul to rest: + For ever, in this humble cell, + Let thee and I, my fair one, dwell; + None enter else, but Love----and he + Shall bar the door, and keep the key. + + To painted roofs, and shining spires + (Uneasy feats of high desires) + Let the unthinking many croud, + That dare be covetous, and proud; + In golden bondage let them wait, + And barter happiness for state: + But oh! my Chloe when thy swain + Desires to see a court again; + May Heav'n around his destin'd head + The choicest of his curses shed, + To sum up all the rage of fate. + In the two things I dread, and hate, + May'st thou be false, and I be great. + +In July 1721, within two months of his death, Mr. Prior published the +following beautiful little tale on the falshood of mankind, entitled +The Conversation, and applied it to the truth, honour, and justice of +his grace the duke of Dorset. + + The CONVERSATION. A Tale. + + + It always has been thought discreet + To know the company you meet; + And sure, there may be secret danger + In talking much before a stranger. + Agreed: what then? then drink your ale; + I'll pledge you, and repeat my tale. + + No matter where the scene is fix'd, + The persons were but odly mix'd, + When sober Damon thus began: + (And Damon is a clever man) + + I now grow old; but still from youth, + Have held for modesty and truth, + The men, who by these sea-marks steer, + In life's great voyage, never err; + Upon this point I dare defy + The world; I pause for a reply. + + Sir, either is a good assistant, + Said one, who sat a little distant: + Truth decks our speeches, and our books, + And modesty adorns our looks: + But farther progress we must take; + Not only born to look and speak, + The man must act. The Stagyrite + Says thus, and says extremely right; + Strict justice is the sovereign guide, + That o'er our actions should preside; + This queen of virtue is confess'd + To regulate and bind the rest. + Thrice happy, if you can but find + Her equal balance poise your mind: + All diff'rent graces soon will enter, + Like lines concurrent to their center. + + 'Twas thus, in short, these two went on, + With yea and nay, and pro and con, + Thro' many points divinely dark, + And Waterland assaulting Clarke; + 'Till, in theology half lost, + Damon took up the Evening-Post; + Confounded Spain, compos'd the North, + And deep in politics held forth. + + Methinks, we're in the like condition, + As at the treaty of partition; + That stroke, for all King William's care, + Begat another tedious war. + Matthew, who knew the whole intrigue, + Ne'er much approv'd that mystic league; + In the vile Utrecht treaty too, + Poor man! he found enough to do. + Sometimes to me he did apply; + But downright Dunstable was I, + And told him where they were mistaken, + And counsell'd him to save his bacon: + But (pass his politics and prose) + I never herded with his foes; + Nay, in his verses, as a friend, + I still found something to commend. + Sir, I excus'd his Nut-brown maid; + Whate'er severer critics said: + Too far, I own, the girl was try'd: + The women all were on my side. + For Alma I return'd him thanks, + I lik'd her with her little pranks; + Indeed, poor Solomon, in rhime, + Was much too grave to be sublime. + Pindar and Damon scorn transition, + So on he ran a new division; + 'Till, out of breath, he turn'd to spit: + (Chance often helps us more than wit) + T'other that lucky moment took, + Just nick'd the time, broke in, and spoke. + + Of all the gifts the gods afford + (If we may take old Tully's word) + The greatest is a friend, whose love + Knows how to praise, and when reprove; + From such a treasure never part, + But hang the jewel on your heart: + And pray, sir (it delights me) tell; + You know this author mighty well-- + Know him! d'ye question it? ods fish! + Sir, does a beggar know his dish? + I lov'd him, as I told you, I + Advis'd him--here a stander-by + Twitch'd Damon gently by the cloke, + And thus unwilling silence broke: + Damon, 'tis time we should retire, + The man you talk with is Matt. Prior. + + Patron, thro' life, and from thy birth my friend, + Dorset, to thee this fable let me send: + With Damon's lightness weigh thy solid worth; + The foil is known to set the diamond forth: + Let the feign'd tale this real moral give, + How many Damons, how few Dorsets live! + +Mr. Prior, after the fatigue of a length of years past in various +services of action, was desirous of spending the remainder of his days +in rural tranquility, which the greatest men of all ages have been +fond of enjoying: he was so happy as to succeed in his wish, living a +very retired, and contemplative life, at Downhall in Essex, and found, +as he expressed himself, a more solid, and innocent satisfaction among +woods, and meadows, than he had enjoyed in the hurry, and tumults +of the world, the courts of Princes, or the conducting foreign +negotiations; and where as he melodiously sings, + + The remnant of his days he safely past, + Nor found they lagg'd too slow, nor flew too fast; + He made his wish with his estate comply, + Joyful to live, yet not afraid to die. + +This great man died on the 18th of September, 1721, at Wimple in +Cambridgshire, the seat of the earl of Oxford, with whose friendship +he had been honoured for some years. The death of so distinguished a +person was justly esteemed an irreparable loss to the polite world, +and his memory will be ever dear to those, who have any relish for the +muses in their softer charms. Some of the latter part of his life was +employed in collecting materials for an History of the Transactions of +his own Times, but his death unfortunately deprived the world of what +the touches of so masterly a hand, would have made exceeding valuable. + +Mr. Prior, by the suffrage of all men of taste, holds the first rank +in poetry, for the delicacy of his numbers, the wittiness of his +turns, the acuteness of his remarks, and, in one performance, for the +amazing force of his sentiments. The stile of our author is likewise +so pure, that our language knows no higher authority, and there is an +air of original in his minutest performances. + +It would be superfluous to give any detail of his poems, they are in +the hands of all who love poetry, and have been as often admired, as +read. The performance however, for which he is most distinguished, is +his Solomon; a Poem in three Books, the first on Knowledge, the second +on Pleasure, and the third on Power. We know few poems to which this +is second, and it justly established his reputation as one of the best +writers of his age. + +This sublime work begins thus, + + Ye sons of men, with just regard attend, + Observe the preacher, and believe the friend, + Whose serious muse inspires him to explain, + That all we act, and all we think is vain: + That in this pilgrimage of seventy years, + O'er rocks of perils, and thro' vales of tears + Destin'd to march, our doubtful steps we tend, + Tir'd of the toil, yet fearful of its end: + That from the womb, we take our fatal shares, + Of follies, fashions, labours, tumults, cares; + And at approach of death shall only know, + The truths which from these pensive numbers flow, + That we pursue false joy, and suffer real woe. + +After an enquiry into, and an excellent description of the various +operations, and effects of nature, the system of the heavens, &c. and +not being fully informed of them, the first Book concludes, + + How narrow limits were to wisdom given? + Earth she surveys; she thence would measure Heav'n: + Thro' mists obscure, now wings her tedious way; + Now wanders dazl'd, with too bright a day; + And from the summit of a pathless coast + Sees infinite, and in that sight is lost. + +In the second Book the uncertainty, disappointment, and vexation +attending pleasure in general, are admirably described; and in the +character of Solomon is sufficiently shewn, that nothing debases +majesty, or indeed any man, more than ungovernable passion. + + When thus the gath'ring storms of wretched love + In my swoln bosom, with long war had strove; + At length they broke their bounds; at length their force + Bore down whatever met its stronger course: + Laid all the civil bounds of manhood waste. + And scatter'd ruin, as the torrent past. + +The third Book treats particularly of the trouble and instability +of greatness and power, considers man through the several stages and +conditions of life, and has excellent reasoning upon life and death. +On the last are these lines; + + Cure of the miser's wish, and cowards fear, + Death only shews us, what we knew was near. + With courage therefore view the 'pointed hour; + Dread not death's anger, but expect its power; + Nor nature's laws, with fruitless sorrow mourn; + But die, O mortal man! for thou wast born. + +The poet has likewise these similies on life; + + As smoke that rises from the kindling fires + Is seen this moment, and the next expires: + As empty clouds by rising winds are tost, + Their fleeting forms no sooner found than lost: + So vanishes our state; so pass our days; + So life but opens now, and now decays; + The cradle, and the tomb, alas! so nigh; + To live is scarce distinguished from to die. + +We shall conclude this account of Mr. Prior's life with the following +copy of verses, written on his Death by Robert Ingram, esq; which is a +very successful imitation of Mr. Prior's manner. + + 1. + + Mat. Prior!--(and we must submit) + Is at his journey's end; + In whom the world has lost a wit, + And I, what's more, a friend. + + 2. + + Who vainly hopes long here to stay, + May see with weeping eyes; + Not only nature posts away, + But e'en good nature dies! + 3. + + Should grave ones count these praises light, + To such it may be said: + A man, in this lamented wight, + Of business too is dead. + + 4. + + From ancestors, as might a fool! + He trac'd no high-fetch'd stem; + But gloriously revers'd the rule, + By dignifying them. + + 5. + + O! gentle Cambridge! sadly say, + Why fates are so unkind + To snatch thy giant sons away, + Whilst pigmies stay behind? + + 6. + + Horace and he were call'd, in haste, + From this vile earth to heav'n; + The cruel year not fully past, + Ætatis, fifty seven. + + 7. + + So, on the tops of Lebanon, + Tall cedars felt the sword, + To grace, by care of Solomon, + The temple of the Lord. + + 8. + + A tomb amidst the learned may + The western abbey give! + Like theirs, his ashes must decay, + Like theirs, his fame shall live. + 9. + + Close, carver, by some well cut books, + Let a thin busto tell, + In spite of plump and pamper'd looks, + How scantly sense can dwell! + + 10. + + No epitaph of tedious length + Should overcharge the stone; + Since loftiest verse would lose its strength, + In mentioning his own. + + 11. + + At once! and not verbosely tame, + Some brave Laconic pen + Should smartly touch his ample name, + In form of--O rare Ben! + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. SUSANNA CENTLIVRE, + + +This lady was daughter of one Mr. Freeman, of Holbeack in +Lincolnshire. There was formerly an estate in the family of her +father, but being a Dissenter, and a zealous parliamentarian, he was +so very much persecuted at the restoration, that he was laid under a +necessity to fly into Ireland, and his estate was confiscated; nor was +the family of our authoress's mother free from the severity of those +times, they being likewise parliamentarians. Her education was in the +country, and her father dying when she was but three years of age, +and her mother not living 'till she was twelve, the improvements our +poetess made were merely by her own industry and application. She was +married before the age of fifteen, to a nephew of Sir Stephen Fox. +This gentleman living with her but a year, she afterwards married Mr. +Carrol, an officer in the army, and survived him likewise in the space +of a year and a half. She afterwards married Mr. Joseph Centlivre, +yeoman of the mouth to his late Majesty. She gave early discoveries of +a genius for poetry, and Mr. Jacob in his Lives of the Poets tells us, +that she composed a song before she was seven years old. She is +the author of fifteen plays; her talent is comedy, particularly the +contrivance of the plots, and incidents. Sir Richard Steele, in one of +his Tatlers, speaking of the Busy Body, thus recommends it. 'The plot, +and incidents of the play, are laid with that subtilty, and spirit, +which is peculiar to females of wit, and is very seldom well performed +by those of the other sex, in whom craft in love is an act of +invention, and not as with women, the effect of nature, and instinct'. + +She died December 1, 1723; the author of the Political State thus +characterizes her. 'Mrs. Centlivre, from a mean parentage and +education, after several gay adventures (over which we shall draw +a veil) she had, at last, so well improved her natural genius by +reading, and good conversation, as to attempt to write for the stage, +in which sh had as good success as any of her sex before her. Her +first dramatic performance was a Tragi-Comedy, called The Perjured +Husband, but the plays which gained her most reputation were, two +Comedies, the Gamester, and the Busy Body. She wrote also several +copies of verses on divers subjects, and occasions, and many ingenious +letters, entitled Letters of Wit, Politics, and Morality, which I +collected, and published about 21 years ago[A].' + +Her dramatic works are, + +1. The Perjured Husband, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1702, +dedicated to the late Duke of Bedford. Scene Venice. + +2. The Beau's Duel, or a Soldier for the Ladies, a Comedy; acted at +the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1703; a Criticism was written +upon this play in the Post-Angel for August. 3. The Stolen Heiress, or +The Salamancha Doctor Out-plotted; a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincolns-Inn-Fields 1704. The scene Palermo. + +4. The Gamester, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields +1704, dedicated to George Earl of Huntingdon. This play is an improved +translation of one of the same title in French. The prologue was +written by Mr. Rowe. + +5. The Basset Table, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane, dedicated to Arthur Lord Altham, 4to. 1706. + +6. Love's Contrivance, or Le Medicin Malgre lui; a Comedy; acted +at Drury-Lane 1705, dedicated to the Earl of Dorset. This is a +translation from Moliere. + +7. Love at a Venture, a Comedy; acted at Bath, 4to. 1706, dedicated to +the Duke of Beaufort. + +8. The Busy Body, acted at the Theatre-Royal 1708, dedicated to Lord +Somers. This play was acted with very great applause. + +9. Marplot, or the Second Part of the Busy Body; acted at the +Theatre-Royal 1709, dedicated to the Earl of Portland. + +10. The Perplex'd Lovers, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1710, +dedicated to Sir Henry Furnace. + +11. The Platonic Lady, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1711. 12. +The Man's Bewitch'd, or The Devil to do about Her; a Comedy; acted +at the Theatre in the Haymarket 1712, dedicated to the Duke of +Devonshire. + +13. The Wonder, a Woman keeps a Secret, a Comedy; acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This play was acted with success. + +14. The Cruel Gift, or The Royal Resentment; a Tragedy; acted at the +Theatre-Royal 1716, for the story of this play consult Sigismonda and +Guiscarda, a Novel of Boccace. + +15. A Bold Stroke for a Wife, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1717, dedicated to the Duke of Wharton. Besides +these plays Mrs. Centlivre has written three Farces; Bickerstaff's +Burying, or Work for the Upholders. The Gotham Election. A Wife well +Managed. + + +[Footnote A: See Bayer's Political State, vol. xxvi. p.670.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Dr. NICHOLAS BRADY, + + +This revd. gentleman was son of Nicholas Brady, an officer in the +King's army, in the rebellion 1641, being lineally descended from Hugh +Brady, the first Protestant bishop of Mieath[A]. He was born at Bandon +in the county of Cork, on the 28th of October 1659, and educated +in that county till he was 12 years of age, when he was removed +to Westminster school, and from thence elected student of Christ's +Church, Oxford. After continuing there about four years, he went to +Dublin, where his father resided, at which university he immediately +commenced bachelor of arts. When he was of due standing, his Diploma +for the degree of doctor of divinity was, on account of his uncommon +merit, presented to him from that university, while he was in +England, and brought over by Dr. Pratt, then senior travelling-fellow, +afterwards provost of that college. His first ecclesiastical +preferment was to a prebend, in the Cathedral of St. Barry's in the +city of Cork, to which he was collared by bishop Wettenhal, to whom +he was domestic chaplain. He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, +and suffered for it in consequence of his zeal. In 1690, when the +troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with King James's +general, Mac Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of Bandon town, +after three several orders given by that Prince to destroy it. The +same year, having been deputed by the people of Bandon, he went +over to England to petition the Parliament, for a redress of some +grievances they had suffered, while King James was in Ireland. During +his stay here, and to the time of his death, he was in the highest +esteem among all ranks of persons in this kingdom, for his eminent +attachment to the true interest of his country. Having quitted +his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London, where he, being +celebrated for his abilities in the pulpit, was elected minister of +St. Catherine-Cree Church, and lecturer of St. Michael's Woodstreet. +He afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry, and Stratford upon +Avon in Warwickshire, and at length, rector of Clapham in the county +above-mentioned; which last, together with Richmond, he held to the +time of his death. He was also chaplain to the duke of Ormond's troop +of Horse-guards, as he was to their Majesties King William, and Queen +Anne. He died on the 20th of May 1726, in the 67th year of his age, +leaving behind him the reputation of a good man; he was of a most +obliging, sweet, affable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent +preacher, and no inconsiderable poet. + +His compositions in poetry are chiefly these, + +1. A New Version of the Psalms of David, performed by him, in +conjunction with Mr. Tate, soon after he settled in London; now sung +in most churches of England, and Ireland, instead of that obsolete +and ridiculous Version made by Sternhold, and Hopkins, in the reign of +King Edward VI. As the 104th Psalm is esteemed one of the most sublime +in the whole book, we shall present the reader with the two first +Parts of his Version of that Psalm as a specimen. There have not been +less than forty different Versions, and Paraphrases of this Psalm, by +poets of very considerable eminence, who seem to have vied with one +another for the superiority. Of all these attempts, if we may trust +our own judgment, none have succeeded so happily as Mr. Blackclock, a +young gentleman now resident at Dumfries in Scotland. This Paraphrase +is the more extraordinary, as the author of it has been blind from +his cradle, and now labours under that calamity; it carries in it such +elevated strains of poetry, such picturesque descriptions, and such a +mellifluent flow of numbers, that we are persuaded, the reader cannot +be displeased at finding it inserted here. + +Dr. Brady also translated the Æneid of Virgil, which were published +by subscription in four volumes octavo, the last of which came out in +1726, a little before the author's death. + +He also published in his life-time three Volumes of Sermons in 8vo. +each consisting of 14, all printed in London; the first in 1704, the +second in 1706, and the third in 1713. After the Dr's. death, his +eldest son, who is now a clergyman, published three other Volumes of +his father's Sermons, each also consisting of 14, printed in London +1730, 8vo. Amongst his sermons there is one preached on St. Cecilia's +day, in vindication of Church-music, first printed in 1697, in 4to. + + PSALM CIV. + + + 1. Bless God my soul; thou, Lord alone, + Possessest empire without bounds: + With honour thou art crown'd, thy throne + Eternal Majesty surrounds. + 2. With light thou dost thy self enrobe, + And glory for a garment take; + Heav'n's curtain stretch'd beyond the globe, + The canopy of state to make. + + 3. God builds on liquid air, and forms + His palace-chambers in the skies: + The clouds his chariots are, and storms + The swift-wing'd steeds with which he flies. + 4. As bright as flame, as swift as wind + His ministers Heav'ns palace fill; + To have their sundry tasks assign'd, + All proud to serve their Sovereign's will. + + 5., 6. Earth on her center fix'd he set, + Her face with waters over spread; + Not proudest mountains dar'd as yet + To lift above the waves their head! + 7. But when thy awful face appear'd, + Th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled + When once thy thunder's voice they heard, + And by their haste confess'd their dread. + + 8. Thence up by secret tracts they creep, + And gushing from the mountain's side, + Thro' vallies travel to the deep; + Appointed to receive their tide. + 9. There hast thou fix'd the ocean's mounds, + The threat'ning surges to repel: + That they no more o'erpass their bounds, + Nor to a second deluge swell. + PART II. + + 10. Yet, thence in smaller parties drawn, + The sea recovers her lost hills: + And starting springs from every lawn, + Surprize the vales with plenteous rills. + 11. The fields tame beasts are thither led + Weary with labour, faint with drought, + And asses on wild mountains bred, + Have sense to find these currents out. + + 12. There shady trees from scorching beams, + Yield shelter to the feather'd throng: + They drink, and to the bounteous streams + Return the tribute of their song. + 13. His rains from heav'n parch'd hills recruit, + That soon transmit the liquid store: + 'Till earth is burthen'd with her fruit, + And nature's lap can hold no more. + + 14. Grass for our cattle to devour, + He makes the growth of every field: + Herbs, for man's use, of various pow'r, + That either food or physic yield. + 15. With cluster'd grapes he crowns the vine + To cheer man's heart oppress'd with cares: + Gives oil that makes his face to shine. + And corn that wasted strength repairs. + + PSALM CIV. imitated by THOMAS BLACKCLOCK. + + Arise my soul! on wings seraphic rise! + And praise th' Almighty sov'reign of the skies! + In whom alone essential glory shines, + Which not the Heav'n of Heav'ns, nor boundless space confines! + When darkness rul'd with universal sway, + He spoke, and kindled up the blaze of day; + First fairest offspring of th' omnific word! + Which like a garment cloath'd it's sovereign lord. + He stretch'd the blue expanse, from pole to pole, + And spread circumfluent æther round the whole. + Of liquid air he bad the columns rise, + Which prop the starry concave of the skies. + Soon as he bids, impetuous whirlwinds fly, + To bear his sounding chariot thro' the sky: + Impetuous whirlwinds the command obey, + Sustain his flight, and sweep th' aerial way. + Fraught with his mandates from the realms on high, + Unnumber'd hosts of radiant heralds fly; + From orb to orb, with progress unconfin'd, + As lightn'ing swift, resistless as the wind. + His word in air this pondr'ous ball sustain'd. + "Be fixt, he said."--And fix'd the ball remain'd. + Heav'n, air, and sea, tho' all their stores combine. + Shake not its base, nor break the law divine. + At thy almighty voice, old ocean raves, + Wakes all his force, and gathers all his waves; + Nature lies mantled in a watry robe, + And shoreless ocean roils around the globe; + O'er highest hills, the higher surges rise, + Mix with the clouds, and leave the vaulted skies. + But when in thunder, the rebuke was giv'n, + That shook th' eternal firmament of heav'n, + The dread rebuke, the frighted waves obey, + They fled, confus'd, along th' appointed way, + Impetuous rushing to the place decreed, + Climb the steep hill, and sweep the humble mead: + And now reluctant in their bounds subside; + Th' eternal bounds restrain the raging tide: + Yet still tumultuous with incessant roar, + It shakes the caverns, and assaults the shore. + By him, from mountains, cloth'd in livid snow, + Thro' verdant vales, the mazy fountains flow. + Here the wild horse, unconscious of the rein, + That revels boundless, o'er the wide champaign, + Imbibes the silver stream, with heat opprest + To cool the fervour of his glowing breast. + Here verdant boughs adorn'd with summer's pride, + Spread their broad shadows o'er the silver tide: + While, gently perching on the leafy spray, + Each feather'd songster tunes his various lay: + And while thy praise, they symphonize around, + Creation ecchoes to the grateful sound. + Wide o'er the heav'ns the various bow he bends. + Its tincture brightens, and its arch extends: + At the glad sign, aĂ«rial conduits flow, + The hills relent, the meads rejoice below: + By genial fervour, and prolific rain, + Gay vegetation cloaths the fertile plain; + Nature profusely good, with bliss o'er-flows, + And still she's pregnant, tho' she still bestows: + Here verdant pastures, far extended lie, + And yield the grazing herd a rich supply! + Luxuriant waving in the wanton air, + Here golden grain rewards the peasant's care! + Here vines mature, in purple clusters glow, + And heav'n above, diffuses heav'n below! + Erect and tall, here mountain cedars rise, + High o'er the clouds, and emulate the skies! + Here the winged crowds, that skim the air, + with artful toil, their little dams prepare, + Here, hatch their young, and nurse their rising care! + Up the steep-hill ascends the nimble doe, + While timid conies scour the plains below; + Or in the pendent rocks elude the scenting foe. + He bade the silver majesty of night, + Revolve her circle, and increase her light. + But if one moment thou thy face should'st hide, + Thy glory clouded, or thy smiles denied, + Then widow'd nature veils her mournful eyes, + And vents her grief, in universal cries! + Then gloomy death, with all his meagre train; + Wide o'er the nations spreads his iron reign! + Sea, earth, and air, the bounteous ravage mourn, + And all their hosts to native dust return! + Again thy glorious quickning influence shed, + The glad creation rears its drooping head: + New rising forms, thy potent smiles obey, + And life re-kindles at the genial ray; + United thanks replenish'd nature pays, + And heaven and earth resound their Maker's praise. + + When time shall in eternity be lost, + And hoary nature languish into dust, + Forever young, thy glories shall remain, + Vast as thy being, endless as thy reign! + Thou from the realms of everlasting day, + See'st all thy works, at one immense survey! + Pleas'd at one view, the whole to comprehend, + Part join'd to part, concurring to one end. + If thou to earth, but turn'st thy wrathful eyes, + Her basis trembles, and her offspring dies. + Thou smit'st the hills, and at th' almighty blow, + Their summits kindle, and their entrails glow. + While this immortal spark of heav'nly flame, + Distends my breast, and animates my frame, + To thee my ardent praises shall be born, + On the first breeze, that wakes the blushing morn: + The latest star shall hear the pleasing sound, + And nature, in full choir shall join around! + When full of thee, my soul excursive flies, + Thro' earth, air, ocean or thy regal skies, + From world, to world, new wonders still I find! + And all the Godhead bursts upon my mind! + When, wing'd with whirlwinds, vice shall take her flight, + To the wide bosom of eternal night, + To thee my soul shall endless praises pay; + Join! men and angels! join th' exalted day! + Assign'd a province to each rolling sphere, + And taught the sun to regulate the year. + At his command wide hov'ring o'er the plain, + Primæval night resumes her gloomy reign. + Then from their dens impatient of delay, + The savage monsters bend their speedy way, + Howl thro' the spacious waste and chase the frighted prey. + Here walks the shaggy monarch of the wood, + Taught from thy providence to ask his food: + To thee O Father! to thy bounteous skies, + He rears his main, and rolls his glaring eyes. + He roars, the desarts tremble wide around! + And repercusive hills repeat the sound. + Now purple gems, the eastern skies adorn, + And joyful nature hails th' opening morn; + The rovers conscious of approaching day, + Fly to their shelters, and forget their prey. + Laborious man, with moderate slumber blest, + Springs chearful to his toil, from downy rest; + Till grateful ev'ning with her silver train, + Bid labour cease, and ease the weary swain! + Hail, sovereign Goodness! All productive mind! + On all thy works, thyself inscribed we find! + How various all! how variously endow'd! + How great their number! and each part how good! + How perfect then must the great parent shine! + Who with one act of energy divine, + Laid the vast plan, and finish'd the design. + Where e'er the pleasing search my thoughts pursue, + Unbounded goodness opens to my view. + Nor does our world alone, its influence share; + Exhaustless bounty, and unwearied care, + Extend thro' all th' infinitude of space, + And circle nature with a kind embrace. + The wavy kingdoms of the deep below, + Thy power, thy wisdom, and thy goodness shew, + Here various beings without number stray, + Croud the profound, or on the surface play. + Leviathan here, the mightiest of the train, + Enormous! sails incumbent o'er the main. + All these thy watchful providence supplies; + To thee alone, they turn their waiting eyes. + For them thou open'st thy exhaustless store, + Till the capacious wish can grasp no more. + + +[Footnote A: Biograph. Brit. Art, Brady.] + + * * * * * + + + + +GEORGE STEPNEY, Esq; + + +This poet was descended of the family of the Stepneys of Pindigrast in +Pembrokeshire, but born in Westminster in the year 1693. He received +the rudiments of his education in Westminster school, and after making +some progress in literature there, he was removed to Trinity College +in Cambridge, where he was cotemporary with Charles Montague, esq; +afterwards earl of Halifax; and being of the same college with him, +a very strict friendship was contracted between them. To this lucky +accident of being early known to Mr. Montague, was owing all the +preferment Mr. Stepney afterwards enjoyed; for he seems not to have +had parts sufficient to have risen to any distinction, without the +immediate patronage of so great a man, as the lord Hallifax. When +Stepney first set out in life, he was perhaps attached to the Tory +interest, for one of the first poems he wrote, was an Address to +king James the Second, on his Accession to the Throne. In this little +piece, in which there is as little poetry, he compares that monarch to +Hercules, but with what propriety let the reader judge. Soon after +the accession of James II. when Monmouth's rebellion broke out, the +university of Cambridge, to demonstrate their zeal for the King, +thought proper to burn the picture of that rash Prince, who had +formerly been their chancellor. Upon this occasion Stepney wrote some +good verses, in answer to this question; + + ----Sed quid + Turba Remi? sequitur fortunam, ut semper + et odit damnatos. + +Upon the revolution he embraced another interest, and procured himself +to be nominated for several foreign embassies. In the year 1692 he +went to the elector of Brandenburgh's court in quality of envoy, and, +in the year following, to the Imperial court in the same character. In +1694 he was sent to the elector of Saxony, and two years after to the +electors of Mentz, Cologn, &c. and the congress at Francfort. He was +employed in several other embassies, and in the year 1706 Queen Anne +sent him envoy to the States General. He was very successful in his +negotiations, which occasioned his constant employment in the most +weighty affairs. At his leisure hours he composed several other pieces +of poetry besides those already mentioned; which are chiefly these, + + An Epistle to the Earl of Hallifax, on his Majesty's + Voyage to Holland. + + A Translation of the Eighth Satire of Juvenal. + + To the Earl of Carlisle upon the Death of his + Son. + + Some Imitations of Horace's Odes. + + The Austrian Eagle. + + The Nature of Dreams. + + A Poem to the Memory of Queen Mary. + +These performances are not very long, nor are the subjects upon +which they are written very considerable. It seems probable that the +eminence to which Stepney rose, must have been more owing to some +personal kindness lord Hallifax had for him, than to his merit as a +writer. In raising Stepney, his lordship might act as the friend +of the man, but not as a patron of the poet. Friendship, in many +respects, participates of the nature of love; it begins, we know +not how, it strengthens by imperceptible degrees, and grows into an +established firmness. Such might be the regard lord Hallifax had for +Stepney, but we may venture to assert, from his lordship's exquisite +taste in poetry, that he never could highly admire the pretty trifles +which compose the works of this author; and which are printed amongst +the works of the Minor Poets, published some years ago by Mr. Tonson +in two volumes 12mo.[A] + +Our author died at Chelsea in the year 1707, and was buried in +Westminster-Abbey, where a fine monument is erected over him, with the +following inscription upon the pedestal; + + H.S.E. + + GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger, + + viz. + + Ob Ingenii acumen, + Literarum Scientiam, + Morum Suavitatem, + Rerum Usum, + Virorum Amplissimorum Consuetudinem, + Linguæ, Styli ac Vitæ Elegantiam, + Praeclara Officia cum Britanniæ; tum Europæ Praestita, + SuĂ¢ ætate multum celebratus, + Apud Posteros semper celebrandus; + Plurimas Legationes obiit + Ea Fide, DiligentiĂ¢, & Felicitate, + Ut Augustissimorum Principum + GULIELMI & ANNÆ + Spem in illo repositam + Nunquam sesellerit, + Haud raro superavit. + Post longum honorum Cursum + Brevi Temporis spatio confectum, + Cum Naturæ parvæ Fama satis vixerat, + Animam ad altiora aspirantem placide efflavit. + + On the left hand. + + G.S. + + Ex Equestri Familia STEPNEIORUM, + De PENDEGRAST, in Comitatu + PEMBROCHIENSI ORIENDUS, + WESTMONASTERII natus est, A.D. 1663. + Electus in Collegium + Sancti PETRI WESTMONAST. A, 1676. + Sanctæ TRINITATIS CANTAB. 1682. + Consiliariorum quibus Commercii + Cura commissa est 1697. + CHELSEIÆ mortuus, & Comitante + Magna Procerum + FrequentiĂ¢ huc elatus, 1707. + +On the right hand is a particular account of all his employments +abroad. + +As a specimen of Mr. Stepney's poetry, we shall quote the following +lines on the Nature of Dreams, + + At dead of night imperial reason sleeps, + And fancy with her train loose revels keeps: + Then airy phantoms a mixt scene display, + Of what we heard, or saw, or wish'd by day; + For memory those images retains + Which passion form'd, and still the strongest reigns, + Huntsmen renew the chase they lately run; + And generals fight again their battles won. + Spectres and furies haunt the murth'rers dreams; + Grants, or disgraces, are the courtiers themes. + The miser spies a thief, or some new hoard, + The cit's a knight, the sycophant a lord. + Thus fancy's in the wild distraction lost + With what we most abhor, or covet most. + But of all passions that our dreams controul, + Love prints the deepest image in the soul; + For vigorous fancy, and warm blood dispense + Pleasures so lively, that they rival sense. + Such are the transports of a willing maid, + Not yet by time and place to act betray'd. + Whom spies, or some faint virtue force to fly + That scene of joy, which yet she dies to try. + 'Till fancy bawds, and by mysterious charms + Brings the dear object to her longing arms; + Unguarded then she melts, acts fierce delight, + And curses the returns of envious light. + In such bless'd dreams Biblis enjoys a flame; + Which waking she detests, and dares not name. + Ixion gives a loose to his wild love, + And in his airy visions cuckolds Jove. + Honours and state before this phantom fall; + For sleep, like death its image, equals all. + +Our author likewise wrote some political pieces in prose, particularly +an Essay on the present Interest of England, 1701. To which are added, +The Proceedings of the House of Commons in 1677, upon the French +King's Progress in Flanders. This piece is reprinted in Cogan's +Collection of Tracts, called Lord Somers's Collection. + + +[Footnote A: And likewise of another work of the same kind, in two +volumes also, published by one Cogan.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Major RICHARDSON PACK, + + +This gentleman was the son of John Pack, of Stocke-Ash in Suffolk, +esq; who in the year 1697 was high sheriff of that county. He had +his early education at a private country school, and was removed from +thence to Merchant Taylor's, where he received his first taste of +letters; for he always reckoned that time which he spent at the former +school as lost, since he had only contracted bad habits, and was +obliged to unlearn what had been taught him there. + +At the age of sixteen he was removed to St. John's College in Oxford. +About eighteen his father entered him of the Middle Temple, designing +him for the profession of the Law; and by the peculiar indulgence +of the treasurer, and benchers of that honourable society, he was at +eight Terms standing admitted barrister, when he had not much exceeded +the age of 20. But a sedentary studious life agreeing as ill with his +health, as a formal one with his inclinations, he did not long +pursue those studies. After some wavering in his thoughts, he at last +determined his views to the army, as being better suited to the gaiety +of his temper, and the sprightliness of his genius, and where he hoped +to meet with more freedom, as well as more action. His first command +was that of a company of foot in March 1705. In November 1710 the +regiment in which he served was one of those two of English foot, that +were with the marshal Staremberg at the battle of Villa Viciosa, the +day after general Stanhope, and the troops under his command were +taken at Brighuega[A], where the major being killed, and our author's +behaviour being equal to the occasion on which he acted, his grace the +duke of Argyle confirmed his pretensions to that vacancy, by giving +him the commission of the deceased major, immediately on his arrival +in Spain. It was this accident which first introduced our gallant +soldier to the acquaintance of that truly noble and excellent person, +with whose protection and patronage he was honoured during the +remaining part of his life. + +The ambition he had to celebrate his grace's heroic virtues (at a +time when there subsisted a jealousy between him and the duke of +Marlborough, and it was fashionable by a certain party to traduce him) +gave birth to some of the best of his performances. + +What other pieces the major has written in verse, are, for the most +part, the unlaboured result of friendship, or love; and the amusement +of those few solitary intervals in a life that seldom wanted either +serious business, or social pleasures, of one kind or other, entirely +to fill up the circle. They are all published in one volume, together +with a translation of the Life of Miltiades and Cymon, from Cornelius +Nepos; the first edition was in 1725. + +The most considerable of them are the following, + + 1. The Muse's Choice, or the Progress of Wit. + + 2. On Friendship. To Colonel Stanhope. + + 3. To Mr. Addison, occasioned by the news of + the victory obtained over the Rebels in Scotland, + by his Grace the Duke of Argyle. + + 4. To Lady Catherine Manners. + + 5. The Lovers Parting. + + 6. The Retreat. + + 7. An Epistle from a Half-pay Officer in the + Country, to his Friend in Town. + + 8. Upon Religious Solitude; occasioned by + reading the Inscription on the Tomb of Casimir + King of Poland, who abdicated his Crown, and + spent the remainder of his life in the Abbey of + St. Germains, near Paris, where he lies interred. + + 9. A Pastoral in Imitation of Virgil's Second + Eclogue. + + 10. The 2d, 3d, and 4th Elegies of the Fourth + Book of Tibullus. + + 11. Elegy. Sylvia to Amintor, in Imitation of + Ovid. After Sylvia is enjoyed, she gives this Advice + to her sex. + + Trust not the slight defence of female pride. + Nor in your boasted honour much confide; + So still the motion, and so smooth the dart, + It steals unfelt into the heedless heart. + +A Prologue to the Tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, and an Epilogue +to Mr. Southern's Spartan Dame. In the former he has the following +beautiful lines on Ambition; + + Ambition is a mistress few enjoy! + False to our hopes, and to our wishes coy; + The bold she bafflles, and defeats the strong; + And all are ruined who pursue her long; + Yet so bewitching are her fatal charms, + We think it heav'n to die within her arms. + +Major Pack obliged the world with some Memoirs of the Life of Mr. +Wycherley, which are prefixed to Theobald's edition of that author. +Mr. Jacob mentions a piece of his which he saw in MS. entitled +Religion and Philosophy, which, says he, with his other works, +demonstrate the author to be a polite writer, and a man of wit and +gallantry. + +This amiable gentleman died at Aberdeen in Scotland, in the month of +September 1728, colonel Montague's regiment, in which he was then a +major, being quartered there. + + +[Footnote A: Vide Jacob's Lives.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir WILLIAM DAWES, Baronet (Archbishop of YORK,) + + +This revd. prelate was descended from an ancient, and honourable +family in the county of Essex; he was educated at Merchant-Taylor's +school, London, and from thence elected to St. John's College in +Oxford, of which he was afterwards fellow. + +He was the youngest of four brothers, three of whom dying young, the +title, and estate of the family fell to him. As soon as he had taken +his first degree in arts, and upon the family estate devolving to him, +he resigned his fellowship, and left Oxford. For some time he gave his +attention to the affairs of his estate, but finding his inclination +lead him more to study, than rural affairs, he entered into holy +orders. Sir William did not long remain in the church without +preferment; his fortune, and family assisted him to rise; for it often +happens that these advantages will do much more for a man, as well in +the ecclesiastical, as in other classes of life, than the brightest +parts without them. Before he was promoted to the mitre, he was made +master of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, chaplain to Queen Anne, and +dean of Bocking. + +In the year 1708 he was consecrated bishop of Chester, and in 1713 +was translated to the archbishopric of York. While he was at the +university, before he went into orders, he wrote the Anatomy of +Atheism, a Poem, dedicated to Sir George Darcy Bart. printed in the +year 1701, 8vo. + +The design of this piece, as his lordship declares in the preface, +'is to expose the folly of those men, who are arrived at that pitch of +impudence and prophaneness, that they think it a piece of wit to +deny the Being of a God, and to laugh at that which they cannot argue +against.' Such characters are well described in the following lines, + + See then our Atheist all the world oppose, + And like Drawcansir make all men his foes. + See with what fancy pride he does pretend, + His miser father's notions to amend, + Huffs Plutarch, Plato, Pliny, Seneca, + And bids even Cicero himself give way. + Tells all the world, they follow a false light, + And he alone, of all mankind is right. + Thus, like a madman, who when all alone, + Thinks himself King, and every chair a throne, + Drunk with conceit, and foolish impudence, + He prides himself in his abounding sense. + +This prelate is said to have united the gentleman, and the divine, +which both shone out with equal lustre in him. He was esteemed in his +time a very popular preacher; his piety was great, and conspicuous; +his charity and benevolence equalled by few, and his good nature, and +humanity the most extensive. + +Our author died in the 53d year of his age, April 30, 1724. We have +no account of any other of his grace's poetical works, probably the +business of his high station diverted his mind from the amusements of +poetry. + +The archbishop has written several sermons upon the Eternity of Hell +Torments, a doctrine which he has laboured to vindicate; also sermons +upon various other subjects. + + * * * * * + + + + +WILLIAM CONGREVE, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from the ancient house of Congreve in +Staffordshire, but authors differ as to the place of his birth; some +contend that he was born in Ireland[A], others that he drew his first +breath at the village of Bardsa, near Leeds in Yorkshire, which was +the estate of a near relation of his by his mother's side. Mr. Jacob, +in his preface to the Lives of the Poets, has informed us, that he +had the advice and assistance of Mr. Congreve in that work, who +communicated to him many particulars of the lives of cotemporary +writers, as well as of himself, and as Mr. Congreve can hardly be +thought ignorant of the place of his own birth, and Mr. Jacob has +asserted it to be in England, no room is left to doubt of it. The +learned antiquary of Ireland, Sir James Ware, has reckoned our author +amongst his own country worthies, from the relation of Southern; but +Mr. Congreve's own account, if Jacob may be relied on, is more than +equal to that of Southern, who possibly might be mistaken. + +About the year 1671, or 1672, our author was born, and his father +carried him, when a child, into Ireland, where he then had a command +in the army, but afterwards was entrusted with the management of a +considerable estate, belonging to the noble family of Burlington, +which fixed his residence there[B]. Mr. Congreve received the first +tincture of letters in the great school of Kilkenny, and, according +to common report, gave early proofs of a poetical genius; his first +attempt in poetry was a copy of verses on the death of his master's +Magpye. + +He went from the school of Kilkenny to the university of Dublin, where +under the direction of Dr. George Ash, he acquired a general knowledge +of the classics. His father, who was desirous that his studies should +be directed to a profitable employment, sent him over to England +a little after the revolution, and placed him as a student in the +Middle-Temple. But the severe study of the Law was so ill adapted to +the sprightly genius of Congreve, that he never attempted to reconcile +himself to a way of life, for which he had the greatest aversion. But +however he disappointed his friends with respect to the proficiency +they expected him to make in the Law; yet it is certain he was not +negligent in those studies to which his genius led him. + +Mr. Congreve's first performance, written when but a youth of +seventeen, was a Novel, dedicated to Mrs. Katherine Leveson, which +gave proof, not only of a great vivacity of wit, but also a fluency of +stile, and a solid judgment. He was conscious that young men in their +early productions generally aimed at a florid stile, and enthusiastic +descriptions, without any regard to the plot, fable, or subserviency +of the parts; for this reason he formed a new model, and gave an +example how works of that kind should be written. He pursued a regular +plan, observed a general moral, and carried on a connexion, as well as +distinction, between his characters. + +This performance is entitled Incognita, or Love and Duty Reconciled; +it has been asserted that this is a real history, and though the scene +is laid in Italy, the adventures happened in England; it is not our +business to enter into the secret history of this entertaining piece, +or to attempt giving the reader a key to what the writer took so much +pains to conceal. It appears from this piece, that Mr. Congreve aimed +at perfection from the very beginning, and his design in writing this +novel, was to shew, how novels ought to be written. Let us hear what +he says himself, and from thence we shall entertain a higher opinion +of his abilities, than could possibly be raised by the warmest +commendations. After very judiciously observing, that there is the +same relation between romances and novels as between tragedy and +comedy, he proceeds thus: 'Since all traditions must indisputably give +glace to the drama, and since there is no possibility of giving that +life to the writing, or repetition of a story, which it has in the +action; I resolved in another beauty to imitate dramatic writing, +namely, in the design, contexture, and result in the plot. I have +not observed it before in a novel. Some I have seen begin with an +unexpected accident which has been the only surprizing part of +the story, cause enough to make the sequel look flat, tedious, and +insipid; for 'tis but reasonable the reader should expect, if not to +rise, at least to keep upon a level in the entertainment, for so he +may be kept on, in hopes, that some time, or other, it may mend; but +the other is such a baulk to a man, 'tis carrying him up stairs to +shew him the dining room, and afterwards force him to make a meal in +the kitchen. This I have not only endeavoured to avoid, but also have +used a method for the contrary purpose. The design of this novel +is obvious, after the first meeting of Aurelian and Hippolito, with +Incognita, and Leonora; the difficulty is in bringing it to pass, +maugre all apparent obstacles within the compass of two days. How many +probable casualties intervene, in opposition to the main design, viz. +of marrying two couple so oddly engaged in an intricate amour, I leave +the reader at his leisure to consider; as also whether every obstacle +does not, in the progress of the story, act as subservient to that +purpose, which at first it seems to oppose. In a comedy this would +be called the unity of action, here it may pretend to no more than +an unity of contrivance. The scene is continued in Florence from the +commencement of the amour, and the time from first to last, is but +three days.' + +Soon after Mr. Congreve's return to England, he amused himself, during +a slow recovery from a fit of sickness, with writing a comedy. Captain +Southern, in conjunction with Mr. Dryden, and Arthur Manwayring, esq; +revised this performance, which was the Old Batchelor; of which Mr. +Dryden said, he never saw such a first play in his life, adding, that +the author not being acquainted with the stage, or the town, it would +be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little assistance. Mr. +Thomas Davenant, who had then the direction of the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane, had so high a sense of the merit of the piece, and was +so charmed with the author's conversation, that he granted him the +freedom of the house before his play came on, which, according to +the maxims of theatrical government, was not only an unusual, but an +unprecedented favour. In 1693 the Old Batchelor was acted before a +numerous, and polite audience. The play was received with such general +applause, that Mr. Congreve was then considered as a prop to the +declining stage, and a rising genius in dramatic poetry. It was this +play, and the singular success which attended it upon the stage, that +introduced our author to the acquaintance of the earl of Hallifax, who +was then the professed patron of men of wit; and who, being desirous +to raise a man of so promising a genius, above the necessity of too +hasty productions, made him one of the commissioners for licensing +Hackney coaches. The earl bestowed upon him soon after a place in the +Pipe-Office, and gave him likewise a post in the Custom-House, to the +value of 600 l. per annum. + +In the following year Mr. Congreve brought upon the stage the Double +Dealer, which met not with so good a reception as the former. + +Mr. Congreve has informed us in the dedication of this play, to +Charles Montague, esq; that he was very assiduous to learn from the +critics what objections could be found to it; but, says he, 'I have +heard nothing to provoke an answer. That which looks most like an +objection, does not relate in particular to this play, but to all; or +most that ever have been written, and that is soliloquy; therefore +I will answer it, not only for my own sake, but to save others the +trouble to whom it may be hereafter objected. I grant, that for a man +to talk to himself, appears absurd, and unnatural, and indeed it is +so in most cases, but the circumstances which may attend the occasion, +makes great alteration. It often happens to a man to have designs, +which require him to himself, and in their nature cannot admit of +a confident. Such for certain is all villainy, and other less +mischievous intentions may be very improper to be communicated to a +second person. In such a case, therefore the audience must observe, +whether the person upon the stage takes any notice of them at all, or +no: for if he supposes any one to be by,[C] when he talks to himself, +it is monstrous and ridiculous to the last degree; nay not only +in this case, but in any part of a play, if there is expressed any +knowledge of an audience it is insufferable. But otherwise, when a man +in a soliloquy reasons with himself, and pro's and con's, and weighs +all his designs, we ought not to imagine that this man either talks to +us, or to himself; he is only thinking, and thinking such matter, +as it were inexcusable folly in him to speak. But, because we are +concealed spectators of the plot in agitation, and the poet finds it +necessary to let us know the whole mystery of his contrivance, he is +willing to inform us of this person's thoughts, and to that end is +forced to make use of the expedient of speech, no other, or better way +being yet invented for the communication of thought.' + +Towards the close of the same year Queen Mary died. Upon that occasion +Mr. Congreve produced an elegiac Pastoral, a composition which the +admirers of this poet have extolled in the most lavish terms of +admiration, but which seems not to merit the incense it obtained. + +When Mr. Betterton opened the new house at Lincoln's-Inn, Congreve +took part with him, and gave him his celebrated comedy of Love for +Love, then introduced upon the stage, with the most extraordinary +success. This comedy, with some more of our author's, was smartly +criticised by the ingenious Mr. Collier, as containing lessons of +immorality, and a representation of loose characters, which can never, +in his opinion, appear on a stage without corrupting the audience. + +Messrs. Congreve, Dennis, and Dryden, engaged in a vigorous defence +of the English stage, and endeavoured to shew the necessity of such +characters being introduced in order to be exposed, and laughed at. To +all their defences Mr. Collier replied, and managed the point with so +much learning, wit, and keenness, that in the opinion of many, he had +the better of his antagonists, especially Mr. Congrove, whose +comedies it must be owned, though they are admirably written, and the +characters strongly marked, are so loose, that they have given great +offence: and surely we pay too dear for pleasure, when we have it at +the expence of morality. + +The same year he distinguished himself in another kind of poetry, viz. +an irregular Ode on the taking Namure, which the critics have allowed +to contain fine sentiments, gracefully expressed. His reputation as +a comic poet being sufficiently established, he was desirous of +extending his fame, by producing a tragedy. It has been alledged, that +some, who were jealous of his growing reputation, put him upon this +task, in order, as they imagined, to diminish it, for he seemed to be +of too gay and lively a disposition for tragedy, and in all likelihood +would miscarry in the attempt. However, + +In 1697, after the expectation of the town had been much raised, the +Mourning Bride appeared on the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields: +few plays ever excited so great an ardour of expectation as this, +and very few ever succeeded to such an extravagant degree. There is +something new in the management of the plot; after moving the passions +of the audience to the greatest commiseration, he brings off his +principal characters, punishes the guilty, and makes the play conclude +happily. + +The controversy we have just now mentioned, was thought to have +occasioned a dislike in Mr. Congreve towards the stage; yet he +afterwards produced another comedy called The Way of the World, which +was so just a picture of the world, that, as an author prettily says, + + The world could not bear it. + +The reception this play met with, compleated our author's disgust to +the theatre; upon which Mr. Dennis, who was a warm friend to Congreve, +made this fine observation, 'that Mr. Congreve quitted the stage +early, and that comedy left it with him.' + +It is said that when Congreve found his play met with but indifferent +success, he came in a passion on the stage, and desired the audience +to save themselves the trouble of shewing their dislike; for he never +intended to write again for the Theatre, nor submit his works to the +censure of impotent critics. In this particular he kept his word with +them, and as if he had foreseen the fate of his play, he took an ample +revenge, in his Epilogue, of the race of Little Snarlers, who excited +by envy, and supported by false ideas of their own importance, dared +to constitute themselves judges of wit, without any just pretensions +to it. This play has long ago triumphed over its enemies, and is now +in great esteem amongst the best judges of Theatrical Entertainments. + +Though Mr. Congreve quitted the stage, yet did not he give up the +cause of poetry; for on the death of the marquis of Blandford, the +only son of the duke of Marlborough, which happened in 1705, we find +him composing a pastoral to soften the grief of that illustrious +family, which he addressed to the lord treasurer Godolphin. + +About the same time, the extraordinary success of the duke of +Marlborough's arms, furnished him with materials for an Ode to Queen +Anne. In another Pindaric Ode he celebrates the lord Godolphin; taking +occasion from that nobleman's delight in horse-racing to imitate +the Greek Poet in his favourite manner of writing, by an elegant +digression; to which he added a criticism on that species of poetry. + +As in the early part of his life, Mr. Congreve had received favours +from people of a less exalted station, so of these he was highly +sensible, and never let slip any opportunity of shewing his gratitude. +He wrote an Epilogue to his old friend Southern's Tragedy of Oroonoko; +and Mr. Dryden has acknowledged his assistance in the translation +of Virgil: He contributed by his Version of the eleventh Satire +of Juvenal, to the translation of that poet, published also by Mr. +Dryden, to whom Mr. Congreve wrote a copy of Verses on his Translation +of Persius. He wrote likewise a Prologue for a Play of Mr. Charles +Dryden's, full of kindness for that young gentleman, and of respect +for his father. + +But the noblest testimony he gave of his filial regard to the memory +of his poetical father, Mr. John Dryden, was the Panegyric he wrote +upon his works, contained in the dedication of Dryden's plays to the +duke of Newcastle. + +Mr. Congreve translated the third Book of Ovid's Art of Love; some +favourite passages from the Iliad, and writ some Epigrams, in all +which he was not unsuccessful, though at the same time he has been +exceeded by his cotemporaries in the same attempts. + +The author of the elegant Letters, not long ago published under the +name of Fitz Osborne, has taken some pains to set before his readers; +the version of those parts of Homer, translated by our author, and +the same passages by Pope and Tickell, in which comparison the palm is +very deservedly yielded to Pope. + +Our author wrote a Satire called Doris, celebrated by Sir Richard +Steele, who was a warm friend to Mr. Congreve. He also wrote the +Judgment of Paris, a Masque; and the Opera of Semele; of these, the +former was acted with great applause, and the latter is finely set +to music by Mr. Eccles. The last of his Poetical Works, is his Art of +Pleasing, addressed to Sir Richard Temple, the late viscount Cobham. +He has written many Prose Epistles, dispersed in the works of other +writers, and his Essay on Humour in Comedy, published in a Collection +of Dennis's Letters, is an entertaining, and correct piece of +criticism: All his other Letters are written with a great deal of wit +and spirit, a fine flow of language; and are so happily intermixt with +a lively and inoffensive raillery, that it is impossible not to be +pleased with them at the first reading: we may be satisfied from the +perusal of them, that his conversation must have been very engaging, +and therefore we need not wonder that he was caressed by the greatest +men of his time, or that they courted his friendship by every act of +kindness in their power. + +It is said of Mr. Congreve, that he was a particular favourite with +the ladies, some of whom were of the first distinction. He indulged +none of those reveries, and affected absences so peculiar to men of +wit: He was sprightly as well as elegant in his manner, and so much +the favourite of Henrietta duchess of Marlborough, that even after +his death, she caused an image of him to be every day placed at her +toilet-table, to which she would talk as to the living Mr. Congreve, +with all the freedom of the most polite and unreserved conversation. +Mrs. Bracegirdle likewise had the highest veneration for our author, +and joined with her Grace in a boundless profusion of sorrow upon his +death. Some think, he had made a better figure in his Last Will, had +he remembered his friendship he professed for Mrs. Bracegirdle, whose +admirable performance added spirit to his dramatic pieces; but he +forgot her, and gratified his vanity by chusing to make a rich duchess +his sole legatee, and executrix. + +Mr. Congreve was the son of fortune, as well as of the muses. He was +early preferred to an affluent situation, and no change of ministry +ever affected him, nor was he ever removed from any post he enjoyed, +except to a better. + +His place in the custom-house, and his office of secretary in Jamaica, +are said to have brought him in upwards of 1200 l. a year; and he was +so far an oeconomist, as to raise from thence a competent estate. No +man of his learning ever pass'd thro' life with more ease, or less +envy; and as in the dawn of his reputation he was very dear to the +greatest wits of his time, so during his whole life he preserved the +utmost respect of, and received continual marks of esteem from, men +of genius and letters, without ever being involved, in any of their +quarrels, or drawing upon himself the least mark of distaste, or, even +dissatisfaction. The greatest part of the last twenty years of his +life were spent in ease and retirement, and he gave himself no trouble +about reputation. When the celebrated Voltaire was in England, he +waited upon Congreve, and pass'd some compliments upon him, as to the +reputation and merit of his works; Congreve thanked him, but at +the same time told that ingenious foreigner, he did not chuse to be +considered as an author, but only as a private gentleman, and in that +light expected to be visited. Voltaire answered, 'That if he had never +been any thing but a private gentleman, in all probability, he had +never been troubled with that visit.' + +Mr. Voltaire upon this occasion observes, that he was not a little +disgusted with so unseasonable a piece of vanity:--This was indeed the +highest instance of it, that perhaps can be produced. A man who owed +to his wit and writings the reputation, as well as the fortune, he +acquired, pretending to divest himself of human nature to such a +degree, as to have no consciousness of his own merit, was the most +absurd piece of vanity that ever entered into the heart of man; and +of all vanity, that is the greatest which masks itself under the +appearance of the opposite quality. + +Towards the close of his life, he was much troubled with the gout; +and for this reason, in the summer of the year 1728, he made a tour to +Bath, for the benefit of the waters, where he had the misfortune to be +overturned in his chariot, from which time he complained of a pain in +his side, which was supposed to arise from some inward bruise. Upon +his return to London, he perceived his health gradually decline, which +he bore with fortitude and resignation. + +On January the 19th, 1728-9, he yielded his last breath, about five +o'clock in the morning, at his house in Surrey-street in the Strand, +in the fifty-seventh year of his age. On the sunday following, January +26, his corpse lay in state in the Jerusalem-Chamber, from whence the +same evening, between the hours of nine and ten, it was carried with +great decency and solemnity to Henry the VIIth's Chapel; and after the +funeral service was performed, it was interred in the Abbey. The pall +was supported by the duke of Bridgewater, earl of Godolphin, lord +Cobham, lord Wilmington, the honourable George Berkley, Esq; and +Brigadier-general Churchill; and colonel Congreve followed his corpse +as chief mourner; some time after, a neat and elegant monument was +erected to his memory, by Henrietta duchess of Marlborough. + +Mr. Congreve's reputation is so extensive, and his works so generally +read, that any specimen of his poetry may be deemed superfluous. But +finding an epistle of our author's in the Biographia Brittannica, not +inserted in his works, it may not be improper to give it a place here. +It is addressed to the lord viscount Cobham, and the ingenious authors +inform us, that they copied it from a MS. very correct. + +As in this poem there is a visible allusion to the measures, which the +writer thought were too complaisant to the French, it is evident it +must have been penned but a very small time before his death. + + Of improving the present time. + + + Sincerest critic of my prose, or rhyme. + Tell how thy pleasing Stowe employs thy time. + Say, Cobham, what amuses thy retreat? + Or stratagems of war, or schemes of state? + Dost thou recall to mind, with joy or grief, + Great Marlbro's actions? that immortal chief, + Whose highest trophy, rais'd in each campaign, + More than suffic'd to signalize a reign. + Does thy remembrance rising, warm thy heart + With glory past, where thou thyself had'st part; + Or do'st thou grieve indignant, now to see + The fruitless end of all thy victory! + To see th' audacious foe, so late subdu'd, + Dispute those terms for which so long they su'd, + As if Britannia now were sunk so low, + To beg that peace she wanted to bestow. + Be far, that guilt! be never known that shame! + That England should retract her rightful claim! + Or ceasing to be dreaded and ador'd, + Stain with her pen the lustre of her sword. + Or dost thou give the winds, a-far to blow, + Each vexing thought, and heart-devouring woe, + And fix thy mind alone on rural scenes, + To turn the levell'd lawns to liquid plains; + To raise the creeping rills from humble beds, + And force the latent springs to lift their heads; + On watry columns capitals to rear, + That mix their flowing curls with upper air? + Or dost thou, weary grown, late works neglect, + No temples, statues, obelisks erect; + But catch the morning breeze from fragrant meads. + Or shun the noon-tide ray in wholesome shades; + Or lowly walk along the mazy wood, + To meditate on all that's wise and good: + For nature, bountiful, in thee has join'd, + A person pleasing, with a worthy mind, + Not giv'n the form alone, but means and art, + To draw the eye, or to allure the heart. + Poor were the praise, in fortune to excel, + Yet want the way to use that fortune well. + While thus adorn'd, while thus with virtue crown'd, + At home in peace; abroad, in arms renown'd; + Graceful in form, and winning in address, + While well you think, what aptly you express; + With health, with honour, with a fair estate, + A table free, and elegantly neat. + What can be added more to mortal bliss? + What can he want that stands possest of this? + What can the fondest wishing mother more, + Of heav'n attentive, for her son implore? + And yet, a happiness remains unknown, + Or to philosophy reveal'd alone; + A precept which, unpractis'd, renders vain + Thy flowing hopes, and pleasure turns to pain. + Shou'd hope and fear thy heart alternate tear, + Or love, or hate, or rage, or anxious care, + Whatever passions may thy mind infest, + (Where is that mind which passions ne'er molest?) + Amidst the pangs of such intestine strife, + Still think the present day the last of life; + Defer not 'till to-morrow to be wise, + To-morrow's sun to thee may never rise; + Or shou'd to-morrow chance to chear thy sight, + With her enliv'ning, and unlook'd-for light. + How grateful will appear her dawning rays! + Its favours unexpected doubly please. + Who thus can think, and who such thoughts pursues, + Content may keep his life, or calmly lose. + All proofs of this, thou may'st thyself receive, + When leisure from affairs will give thee leave. + Come, see thy friend retir'd, without regret, + Forgetting care, or striving to forget, + In easy contemplation, soothing time + With morals much, and now and then with rhyme; + Not so robust in body as in mind, + And always undejected, tho' declin'd; + Not wond'ring at the world's new wicked ways, + Compar'd with those of our fore-father's days: + For virtue now is neither more or less, + And vice is only vary'd in the dress: + Believe it, men have ever been the same, + And OVID'S GOLDEN AGE is but a dream. + +We shall conclude the life of this eminent wit, with the testimony +of Mr. Pope in his favour, from the close of his postscript to the +translation of Homer: It is in every respect so honourable, that +it would be injurious to Mr. Congreve to omit it.--His words +are--'Instead of endeavouring to raise a vain monument to myself, let +me leave behind me a memorial of my friendship with one of the most +valuable men, as well as the finest writers of my age and country. +One who has tried, and knows by his own experience, how hard an +undertaking it is to do justice to Homer, and one who I'm sure +sincerely rejoices with me at the period of my labours. To him +therefore, having brought this long work to a conclusion, I desire to +dedicate it, and have the honour and satisfaction of placing together +in this manner, the names of Mr. Congreve and of + +A. POPE. + + +[Footnote A: General Dictionary.] + +[Footnote B: Wilson's Memoirs of Congreve.] + +[Footnote C: Yet Maskwell purposely talks to himself, designing to be +overheard by Lord Touchwood; undoubtedly an error in the conduit, and +want of art in the author. This he seems here to forget, or would not +remember it.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir JOHN VANBRUGH, + + +This Gentleman was descended from an antient family in Cheshire, which +came originally from France; though by the name it would appear to be +of Dutch extraction. He received a very liberal education, and became +eminent for his poetry, and skill in architecture, to both which +he discovered an early propension. It is somewhat remarkable in +the History of Poetry, that when the spirit of Tragedy, in a great +measure, declined, when Otway and Lee were dead, and Dryden was +approaching to old age, that Comedy should then begin to flourish; at +an Æra, which one would not have expected to prove auspicious to the +cause of mirth. + +Much about the same time rose Mr. Congreve, and Sir John Vanbrugh; +who, without any invidious reflection on the genius of others, gave +a new life to the stage, and restored it to reputation, which before +their appearance had been for some time sinking. Happy would it have +been for the world, and some advantage to the memory of those comic +writers, if they had discovered their wit, without any mixture of +that licentiousness, which while it pleased, tended to corrupt +the audience. The first step our author made into life, was in the +character of an ensign in the army. He was possessed of a very ready +wit, and an agreeable elocution. He happened somewhere in his winter +quarters, to contract an acquaintance with Sir Thomas Skipwith, +and received a particular obligation from him. He had very early +discovered a taste for dramatic writing, to improve which he made +some attempts in that way, and had the draft or out-lines of two plays +lying by him, at the time his acquaintance commenced with Sir Thomas. +This gentleman possessed a large share in a Theatrical Patent, though +he very little concerned himself in the conduct of it; but that +he might not appear altogether remiss, he thought to procure some +advantage to the stage, by having our author's play, called the +Relapse, to be acted upon it. In this he was not disappointed, for +the Relapse succeeded beyond the warmest expectation, and raised +Vanbrugh's name very high amongst the writers for the stage. + +Tho' this play met with greater applause, than the author expected, +yet it was not without its enemies. These were people of the graver +sort, who blamed the looseness of the scenes, and the unguarded +freedom of the dialect. These complaints induced Vanbrugh to make some +observations upon them in his preface, which he thus begins, 'To go +about to excuse half the defects this abortive brat is come into the +world with, would be to provoke the town with a long useless preface, +when 'tis, I doubt, sufficiently sour'd already, by a tedious play. + +'I do therefore, with all the humility of a repenting sinner, confess +it wants every thing--but length, and in that I hope the severest +critics will be pleased to acknowledge, I have not been wanting. But +my modesty will sure attone for every thing, when the world shall know +it is so great, I am even to this day insensible of those two shining +graces, in the play (which some part of the town is pleased to +compliment me with) blasphemy and bawdy. For my part I cannot find +them out; if there were any obscene expressions upon the stage, +here they are in print; for I have dealt fairly, I have not sunk a +syllable, that could be ranged under that head, and yet I believe with +a steady faith, there is not one woman of real reputation in town, but +when she has read it impartially over in her closet, will find it so +innocent, she'll think it no affront to her prayer book, to lay it +upon the same shelf.' + +Being encouraged by the success of the Relapse, he yielded to the +sollicitation of lord Hallifax, who had read some of the loose sheets +of his Provok'd Wife, to finish that piece; and after throwing +them into a proper form, gave the play to the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Though Sir John had a greater inclination to +serve the other company, yet the request of lord Hallifax, so eminent +a patron of the poets, could not be resisted. Sir Thomas Skipwith was +not offended at so reasonable a compliance, and the Provok'd Wife was +acted 1698, with success. Some critics likewise objected against this, +as a loose performance; and that it taught the married women how to +revenge themselves on their husbands, who should offend them. + +The play has indeed this moral, that such husbands as resemble Sir +John Brute, may expect that neglected beauty, and abused virtue, may +be provoked to yield to the motives of revenge, and that the forcible +sollicitations of an agreeable person, who not only demonstrates +a value, but a passion for what the possessor slights, may be +sufficiently prevalent with an injured wife to forfeit her honour. + +Though this event may often fall out, that the brutality of a husband +produces the infidelity of a wife, yet it need not be shewn upon the +stage; women are not generally so tame in their natures, as to bear +neglect with patience, and the natural resentments of the human +heart will without any other monitor point out the method of revenge. +Besides, every husband ought not to be deemed a brute, because a too +delicate, or ceremonious wife, shall, in the abundance of her caprice, +bestow upon him that appellation. Many women who have beheld this +representation, may have been stimulated to imitate lady Brute in her +method of revenge, without having suffered her provocation. This play +verifies the observation of Mr. Pope, + + That Van wants grace, who never wanted wit. + +The next play which Sir John Vanbrugh introduced upon the stage +was Aesop, a Comedy; in two Parts, acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane 1698. This was originally written in French, by Mr. +Boursart, about six years before; but the scenes of Sir Polidorus +Hogstye, the Players, the Senator, and the Beau, were added by our +author. This performance contains a great deal of general satire, +and useful morality; notwithstanding which, it met with but a cold +reception from the audience, and its run terminated in about 8 or 9 +days. This seemed the more surprising to men of taste, as the French +comedy from which it was taken, was played to crowded audiences for +a month together. Sir John has rather improved upon the original by +adding new scenes, than suffered it to be diminished in a translation, +but the French and the English. taste was in that particular very +different. We cannot better account for the ill success of this +excellent piece, than in the words of Mr. Cibber's Apology for his own +Life, when speaking of this play, he has the following observation; +'The character that delivers precepts of wisdom, is, in some sort, +severe upon the auditor, for shewing him one wiser than himself; but +when folly is his object, he applauds himself for being wiser than the +coxcomb he laughs at, and who is not more pleased with an occasion to +commend, than to accuse himself?' + +Sir John Vanbrugh, it is said, had great facility in writing, and is +not a little to be admired for the spirit, ease, and readiness, +with which he produced his plays. Notwithstanding his extraordinary +expedition, there is a clear and lively simplicity in his wit, that +is equally distant from the pedantry of learning, and the lowness of +scurrility. As the face of a fine lady, with her hair undressed, may +appear in the morning in its brightest glow of beauty; such were the +productions of Vanbrugh, adorned with only the negligent graces of +nature. + +Mr. Cibber observes, that there is something so catching to the ear, +so easy to the memory in all he wrote, that it was observed by the +actors of his time, that the stile of no author whatsoever gave the +memory less trouble than that of Sir John Vanbrugh, which he himself +has confirmed by a pleasing experience. His wit and humour was so +little laboured, that his most entertaining scenes seemed to be +no more than his common conversation committed to paper. As his +conceptions were so full of life and humour, it is not much to be +wondered at, if his muse should be sometimes too warm to wait the slow +pace of judgment, or to endure the drudgery of forming a regular Fable +to them. + +That Sir John was capable of a great force of thinking, appears +abundantly clear from that scene between Aesop and a country +gentleman, who comes to complain of the bad conduct of those in power. +The dialogue is at once sensible and animated. Aesop shews him what +he reckoned the oppressions of the administration, flowed from the +prejudices of ignorance, contemplated through the medium of popular +discontent. In the interview between the Beau and the Philosopher, +there is the following pretty fable. The Beau observes to Aesop, 'It +is very well; it is very well, old spark; I say it is very well; +because I han't a pair of plod shoes, and a dirty shirt, you think +a woman won't venture upon me for husband.--Why now to shew you, old +father, how little you philosophers know the ladies.--I'll tell you an +adventure of a friend of mine.' + + A Band, a Bob-wig and a Feather + Attack'd a lady's heart together, + The band in a most learned plea, + Made up of deep philosophy, + Told her, if she would please to wed + A reverend beard, and take instead + Of vigorous youth, + Old solemn truth, + With books, and morals into bed, + How happy she would be. + + The Bob, he talk'd of management, + What wond'rous blessings Heav'n sent + On care, and pains, and industry; + And truly he must be so free, + To own he thought your airy beaux, + With powdered wigs, and dancing shoes, + Were good for nothing (mend his soul) + But prate and talk, and play the fool. + + He said, 'twas wealth gave joy, and mirth, + And that to be the dearest wife, + Of one who laboured all his life, + To make a mine of gold his own, + And not spend sixpence when he'd done + Was Heaven upon earth. + + When these two blades had done, d'ye see. + The Feather (as it might be me) + Steps out sir from behind the skreen. + With such an air and such a mien, + Look you, old gentleman, in short, + He quickly spoil'd the statesman's sport. + + It prov'd such sunshine weather, + That you must know at the first beck + The lady leapt about his neck, + And off they went together. + +The reputation which Sir John gained by his comedies was rewarded +with, greater advantages, than what arise from the usual profits of +writing for the stage. He was appointed Clarencieux King at Arms, a +place which he some time held, and at last disposed of. In August 1716 +he was appointed surveyor of the works at Greenwich Hospital; he was +likewise made comptroller-general of his Majesty's works, and surveyor +of the gardens and waters, the profits of which places, collectively +considered, must amount to a very considerable sum. In some part +of our author's life (for we cannot justly ascertain the time) he +gratified an inclination of visiting France. As curiosity no doubt +induced him to pass over to that country, he lost no time in making +such observations as could enable him to discern the spirit, and +genius of that polite people. His taste for architecture excited him +to take a survey of the fortifications in that kingdom; but the ardour +of his curiosity drew him into a snare, out of which he found +great difficulty to escape. When he was one day surveying some +fortifications with the strictest attention, he was taken notice of +by an Engineer, secured by authority, and then carried prisoner to +the Bastile in Paris. The French were confirmed in suspicions of his +design, by several plans being found in his possession at the time +he was seized upon; but as the French, except in cases of Heresy, +use their prisoners with gentleness and humanity, Sir John found +his confinement so endurable, that he amus'd himself in drawing rude +draughts of some comedies. This circumstance raising curiosity in +Paris, several of the noblesse visited him in the Bastile, when Sir +John, who spoke their language with fluency and elegance, insinuated +himself into their favour by the vivacity of his wit, and the +peculiarity of his humour. He gained so much upon their affections, +that they represented him to the French King in an innocent light, and +by that means procured his liberty some days before the sollicitation +came from: England. + +Sir John Vanbrugh formed a project of building a stately theatre +in the Hay-market, for which: he had interest enough, to raise +a subscription of thirty persons of quality at 100 l. each, in +consideration whereof, every subscriber for his own life, should be +admitted to whatever entertainments should be publickly performed +there, without farther payment for entrance. + +On the first stone that was laid in this theatre, were inscribed the +words LITTLE WHIG, as a compliment to a lady of extraordinary beauty, +then the celebrated toast, and pride of that party. In the year 1706 +when this house was finished, Mr. Betterton and his copartners put +themselves under the direction of Sir John Vanbrugh and Mr. Congreve; +imagining that the conduct of two such eminent authors would restore +their ruined affairs; but they found their expectations were too +sanguine, for though Sir John was an expeditious writer, yet Mr. +Congreve was too judicious to let any thing come unfinished out of his +hands; besides, every proper convenience of a good theatre had +been sacrificed to shew the audience a vast triumphal piece of +architecture, in which plays, by means of the spaciousness of the +dome, could not be successfully represented, because the actors could +not be distinctly heard. + +Not long before this time the Italian Opera began to steal into +England, but in as rude a disguise, and as unlike itself as possible; +notwithstanding which the new monster pleaded, though it had neither +grace, melody, nor action to recommend it. To strike in therefore with +the prevailing fashion, Vanbrugh and Congreve opened their New Theatre +in the Hay-market, with a translated Opera, set to Italian music, +called The Triumph of Love, but it met with a cold reception, being +performed only three days, to thin houses. + +Immediately upon the failure of the Opera, Vanbrugh produced his +comedy called The Confederacy, greatly improved from the Bourgois a la +mode of Dancour. The success of this play was not equal to its merit; +for it is written in, an uncommon vein of humour, and abounds with +the most lively strokes of raillery. The prospects of gain from this +theatre were so very unpromising, that Congreve, in a few months, +gave up his share and interest in the government wholly to Sir John +Vanbrugh; who being now sole proprietor of the house, was under a +necessity to exert himself in its support. As he had a happier talent +for throwing the English spirit into his translations of French plays, +than any former author who had borrowed from them, he, in the same +season, gave the public three more of that kind, viz. + +1. The Cuckold in Conceit, from the Cocu imaginaire of Moliere. + +2. Squire Treelooby, from his Monsieur de Pourceaugnac. + +3. The Mistake, from the Depit Amoureux of the same Author[A]. + +However well executed these pieces were, yet they came to the ear in +the same undistinguished utterance, by which almost all their plays +had equally suffered; for as few could plainly hear, it was not likely +a great many would applaud. + +In this situation it appears, that nothing but the union of the two +companies could restore the stage to its former reputation. + +Sir John Vanbrugh therefore, tired of theatrical management, thought +of disposing of his whole farm to some industrious tenant, that might +put it into better condition. It was to Mr. Owen Swiny, that in the +exigence of his affairs, he made an offer of his actors under such +agreements of salary as might be made with them; and of his house, +cloaths, and scenes, with the Queen's license to employ them, upon +payment of the casual rent of five pounds every acting day, and not +to exceed 700 l. per annum. With this proposal Mr. Swiny complied, and +governed that stage till another great theatrical revolution. + +There are two plays of our author not yet mentioned, viz. The False +Friend, a Comedy; acted in 1698, and A Journey to London, a Comedy; +which he left unfinished. This last piece was finished by Mr. Cibber +to a very great advantage, and now is one of the best comedies in our +language. Mr. Cibber, in his prologue, takes particular notice of our +author's virtuous intention in composing this piece, which, he says, +was to make some amends for those loose scenes, which in the fire of +his youth he had with more regard to applause, than virtue, exhibited +to the public: but this design will be best understood by inserting +the prologue. + + PROLOGUE. + + + This play took birth from principles of truth, + To make amends for errors past, of youth. + A bard that's now no more, in riper days, + Conscious review'd the licence of his plays: + And tho' applause his wanton muse had fir'd, + Himself condemn'd what sensual minds admir'd. + At length he own'd that plays should let you see + Not only what you are, but ought to be: + Though vice was natural, 'twas never meant, + The stage should shew it, but for punishment! + Warm with that thought his muse once more took flame, + Resolv'd to bring licentious life to shame. + Such was the piece, his latest pen design'd', + But left no traces of his plan behind. + Luxurious scenes, unprun'd, or half contriv'd; + Yet, through the mass, his native fire surviv'd: + Rough as rich oar, in mines the treasure lay, + Yet still 'twas rich, and forms at length a play. + In which the bold compiler boasts no merit, + But that his pains have sav'd you scenes of spirit. + Not scenes that would a noisy joy impart, + But such as hush the mind, and warm the heart. + From praise of hands, no sure account he draws, + But fix'd attention is, sincere applause. + If then (for hard you'll own the task) his art + Can to those Embrion scenes new life impart; + The living proudly would exclude his lays, + And to the buried bard resign the praise. + +Sir John indeed appears to have been often sensible of the immorality +of his scenes; for in the year 1725 when the company of comedians was +called upon, in a manner that could not be resisted, to revive the +Provok'd Wife, the author, who was conscious how justly it was exposed +to censure, thought proper to substitute a new scene in the fourth +act, in place of another, in which, in the wantonness of his wit +and humour, he had made a Rake talk like a Rake, in the habit of a +Clergyman. To avoid which offence, he put the same Debauchee into the +Undress of a Woman of Quality; for the character of a fine lady, it +seems, is not reckoned so indelibly sacred, as that of a Churchman. +Whatever follies he exposed in the petticoat kept him at least clear +of his former imputed prophaneness, and appeared now to the audience +innocently ridiculous. + +This ingenious dramatist died of a quinsey at his house in Whitehall, +on the 26th of March 1726. He was a man of a lively imagination, of +a facetious, and engaging humour, and as he lived esteemed by all his +acquaintance, so he died without leaving ons enemy to reproach his +memory; a felicity which few men of public employments, or possessed +of so distinguished a genius, ever enjoyed. He has left behind +him monuments of fame, which can never perish but with taste and +politeness. + + +[Footnote A: The two first were never printed from Sir John's +manuscript.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir RICHARD STEELE, Knt. + + +This celebrated genius was born in Ireland. His father being a +counsellor at law, and private secretary to James duke of Ormond, he +went over with his grace to that kingdom, when he was raised to the +dignity of lord lieutenant[A]. Our author when but very young, came +over into England; and was educated at the Charter-House school +in London, where Mr. Addison was his school-fellow, and where they +contracted a friendship which continued firm till the death of that +great man. + +His inclination leading him to the army, he rode for some time +privately in the guards; in which station, as he himself tells us, in +his Apology for his Writings, he first became an author, a way of +life in which the irregularities of youth are considered as a kind of +recommendation. + +Mr. Steele was born with the most violent propension to pleasure, and +at the same time was master of so much good sense, as to be able +to discern the extreme folly of licentious courses, their moral +unfitness, and the many calamities they naturally produce. He +maintained a perpetual struggle between reason and appetite. He +frequently fell into indulgencies, which cost him many a pang of +remorse, and under the conviction of the danger of a vicious life, +he wrote his Christian Hero, with a design to fix upon his own mind a +strong impression of virtue and religion. But this secret admonition +to his conscience he judged too weak, and therefore in the year 1701 +printed the book with his name prefixed, in hopes that a standing +evidence against himself in the eyes of the world, might the more +forcibly induce him to lay a restraint upon his desires, and make him +ashamed of vice, so contrary to his own sense and conviction. + +This piece was the first of any note, and is esteem'd by some as one +of the best of Mr. Steele's works; he gained great reputation by it, +and recommended himself to the regard of all pious and good men. But +while he grew in the esteem of the religious and worthy, he sunk in +the opinion of his old companions in gaiety: He was reckoned by them +to have degenerated from the gay, sprightly companion, to the dull +disagreeable pedant, and they measured the least levity of his words +and actions with the character of a Christian Hero. Thus he found +himself slighted, instead of being encouraged for his declarations +as to religion; but happily those who held him in contempt for his +defence of piety and goodness were characters, with whom to be at +variance is virtue. But Mr. Steele, who could not be content with the +suffrage of the Good only, without the concurrence of the Gay, set +about recovering the favour of the latter by innocent means: He +introduced a Comedy on the stage, called Grief A-la-Mode, in which, +tho' full of incidents that move laughter, and inspire chearfulness, +virtue and vice appear just as they ought to do. This play was acted +at the Theatre in Drury Lane 1702, and as nothing can make the town +so fond of a man, as a successful play; so this, with some other +particulars enlarged on to his advantage, recommended him to king +William, and his name to be provided for was in the last table-book +worn by his majesty. He had before this time procured a captain's +commission in the lord Lucas's regiment, by the interest of lord +Cutts, to whom he dedicated his Christian Hero, and who likewise +appointed him his secretary: His next appearance as a writer, was in +the office of Gazetteer, in which he observes in the same apology for +himself, he worked faithfully, according to order, without ever erring +against the rule observed by all ministers, to keep that paper very +innocent, and insipid. The reproaches he heard every Gazette-day +against the writer of it, inspired him with a fortitude of being +remarkably negligent of what people said, which he did not deserve. In +endeavouring to acquire this negligence, he certainly acted a prudent +part, and gained the most important and leading advantage, with which, +every author should set out. + +Whoever writes for the public, is sure to draw down envy on himself +from some quarter or other, and they who are resolved never to be +pleased, consider him as too assuming, and discover their resentment +by contempt. How miserable is the state of an author! It is his +misfortune in common with the fair sex, + + To please too little, or to please too much. + +If he happens to be a successful writer, his friends who become then +proud of his acquaintance, flatter him, and by soothing his vanity +teach him to overrate his importance, and while he grasps at universal +fame, he loses by too vigorous an effort, what he had acquired by +diligence and application: If he pleases too little, that is, if his +works are not read, he is in a fair way of being a great loser by his +attempt to please. Mr. Steele still continued to write plays. In the +year 1703 his Comedy, entitled the Tender Husband, or the Accomplished +Fools, was acted at the Theatre in Drury-Lane; as his Comedy of +the Lying-Lovers, or the Ladies Friendship, was likewise the year +following, both with success; so that his reputation was now fully +established. + +In the year 1709 he began the Taller, the first of which was published +on Tuesday April the 12th, and the last on Tuesday January the 2d, +1710-11. This paper greatly increasing his fame, he was preferred to +be one of the commissioners of the stamp office. Upon laying down the +Tatler, he set up, in concert with Mr. Addison, the Spectator, which +was continued from March the 1st, 1710-11, to December the 6th 1712; +and resumed June 18th 1714. and continued till December the 20th, the +same year. + +The Guardian was likewise published by them, in 1713, and in the +October of the same year, Mr. Steele began a political paper, entitled +the Englishman. + +In the Spectator, Mr. Steele's papers are marked with the letter T. +and in them are contained the most picturesque descriptions of low +life, of which he was perfect matter. Humour was his talent, though +not so much confined to that cast of writing to be incapable of +painting very tender scenes; witness his Conscious Lovers, which never +fails to draw tears; and in some of his Spectators he has written in +so feeling a manner, that none can read them without emotion. + +He had a strong inclination to find out the humours of low life, and +to make himself master of them. When he was at Edinburgh, as one of +the commissioners on the forfeited estates, he one day made a very +splendid feast, and while his servants were surprized at the great +preparations, and were expecting every moment to carry out his +invitations to the company for whom they imagined it was prepared, he +commanded them to go out to the street, and pick up whatever beggars, +and poor people they saw, and invite them to his house: The servants +obeyed, and Sir Richard soon saw himself at the head of 40 or 50 +beggars, together with some poor decay'd tradesmen. After dinner he +plied them with punch and wine, and when the frolic was ended, he +declared, that besides the pleasure of feeding so many hungry persons, +he had learned from them humour enough for a good comedy. + +Our author was a man of the highest benevolence; he celebrates a +generous action with a warmth that is only peculiar to a good heart; +and however he may be blamed for want of oeconomy, &c. yet was he +the most agreeable, and if we may be allowed the expression, the most +innocent rake, that ever trod the rounds of indulgence. + +He wrote several poetical pieces, particularly the Englishman's thanks +to the duke of Marlborough, printed in 1711; a letter to Sir Miles +Wharton, concerning Occasional Peers, dated March 5th, 1713. The +Guardian of August the 7th, 1713; and the importance of Dunkirk +considered, in defence of that Guardian, in a letter to the bailiff +of Stockbridge: The French Faith represented in the present state of +Dunkirk: The Crisis, a Letter to a Member of Parliament, concerning +the bill to prevent the present Growth of Schism, dated May 28, 1714; +and his Apology for himself and his Writings. + +These pieces shew how much he was displeased with the last measures +of Queen Anne, and were written to combat the Tory ministry; to oppose +which he set about procuring a seat in Parliament; for which purpose +he resigned his place of commissioner of the stamp-office, in June +1713, in a letter to the earl of Oxford, lord high treasurer, and was +chosen member of the House of Commons, for the Borough of Stockbridge. +But he did not long enjoy his seat in that house before he was +expelled, on the 18th of March 1713, for writing the Englishman, being +the close of the paper so called; and the Crisis[B]. + +In 1714 he published the Romish Ecclesiastical History of late years, +and a paper intitled The Lover; the first of which appeared Thursday +February 25, 1714, and another intitled the Reader, which began on +Thursday April 22, the same year. In the sixth Number of this last +paper, he gave an account of his design of writing the History of +the Duke of Marlborough, from proper materials in his custody: the +relation to commence from the date of his grace's commission, as +captain-general, and plenipotentiary; and to end with the expiration +of these commissions. But this noble design he lived not to execute, +and the materials were afterwards returned to the duchess of +Marlborough, who left them to Mr. Mallet, with a handsome gratuity for +the execution of Sir Richard's design. + +Soon after the accession of king George the 1st to the throne, Mr. +Steele was appointed surveyor of the royal stables at Hampton-Court, +and governor of the royal company of Comedians, by a patent, dated +January 19, 1714-15. He was likewise put into the commission of the +peace for the county of Middlesex; and in April 1715 received the +honour of knighthood from his majesty. In the first parliament of that +king, he was chosen for Borough-brigg in Yorkshire; and after the +suppressing the Rebellion in the North, was appointed one of the +commissioners of the forfeited estates in Scotland, where he received +from several of the nobility and gentry of that part of the united +kingdom the most distinguishing marks of respect. He contracted a +friendship while in Scotland, with one Hart, a Presbyterian minister +in Edinburgh, whom he afterwards honoured with his correspondence: +This Hart he used merrily to stile the Hangman of the Gospel, for +though he was a facetious good-natur'd man, yet he had fallen into a +peculiar way of preaching what he called the Terrors of the Law, and +denounced anathemas from the pulpit without reserve. + +Sir Richard held frequent conversations with Hart, and other +ministers, concerning the restoration of episcopacy, the antient +church-government of that nation, and often observed that it was pity, +when the two kingdoms were united in language, in dress, in politics, +and in all essential points, even in religion, should yet be divided +in the ecclesiastical administration, which still serves to maintain a +kind of alienation between the people. He found many of the Scots +well disposed towards prelacy; but the generality, who were taught +to contemplate the church of England, with as much horror as that of +Rome, could not soon be prevailed upon to return to it. + +Sir Richard wished well to the interests of religion, and as he +imagined that Union would promote it, he had some thoughts of +proposing it at court, but the times were unfavourable. The +Presbyterians had lately appeared active against the rebels, and were +not to be disobliged; but such is now the good understanding between +the episcopal and presbyterian parties, that a few concessions on the +one side, and not many advances on the other, possibly might produce +an amicable coalition, as it is chiefly in form, rather than in +articles of religion, in which they differ. + +In the year 1715 he published an account of the state of the Roman +Catholic Religion throughout the World, translated from an Italian +manuscript, with a dedication to the Pope, giving him a very +particular account of the state of religion amongst the Protestants, +and several other matters of importance, relating to Great-Britain; +but this dedication is supposed to be written by another very eminent +hand, more conversant in subjects of that nature than Sir Richard. + +The same year our author published a Letter from the earl of Marr to +the king, before his majesty's arrival in England; with some remarks +on my lord's subsequent conduct; and the year following a second +volume of the Englishman, and in 1718 an account of a Fish-Pool, which +was a project of his for bringing fish to market alive, for which he +obtained a patent. + +In 1719 he published a pamphlet called the Spinster, and a Letter +to the Earl of Oxford, concerning the Bill of Peerage, which bill he +opposed in the House of Commons. Some time after, he wrote against the +South-Sea-Scheme; his Crisis of posterity; and another piece intitled, +A Nation a Family; and on Saturday January the 2d, 1719-20, he began +a paper called the Theatre, during the course of which his patent of +governor of the Royal Company of Comedians, being suspended by his +majesty, he published, The State of the Case. + +In the year 1722, he brought his Conscious Lovers on the stage, with +prodigious success. This is the last and most finished of all Sir +Richard's Comedies, and 'tis doubtful if there is upon the stage, any +more instructing; that tends to convey a finer moral, or is better +conducted in its design. We have already observed, that it is +impossible to witness the tender scenes of this Comedy without +emotion; that is, no man of feeling and humanity, who has experienced +the dĂ©licate solicitudes of love and affection, can do it. Sir Richard +has told us, that when one of the players told Mr. Wilks, that there +was a General weeping for Indiana; he politely observed, that he +would not fight the worse for that; and indeed what a noble school +of morality would the stage be, if all those who write for it would +observe such delicate chastity; they would then inforce an honourable +and virtuous deportment, by the most insinuating and easy means; +they would so allure the audience by the amiable form of goodness +represented in her native loveliness, that he who could resist her +charms, must be something more than wicked. + +When Sir Richard finished this Comedy, the parts of Tom and Phillis +were not then in it: He read it to Mr. Cibber, who candidly told him, +that though he liked his play upon the whole, both in the cast of the +characters and execution of them; yet, that it was rather too grave +for an English audience, who want generally to laugh at a Comedy, and +without which in their opinion, the end is not answered. Mr. Cibber +then proposed the addition of some comic characters, with which Sir +Richard agreed, and saw the propriety and force of the observation. +This comedy (at Sir Richard's request) received many additions from, +and were greatly improved by Mr. Cibber.--Our author dedicated this +work to the king, who made him a present of 500 l. + +Some years before his death, he grew paralytic, and retired to his +seat at Langunner, near Caermarthen in Wales, where he died September +the 1st, 1729; and was privately interred according to his own desire, +in the church of Caermarthen. + +Besides his writings above-mentionened, he began on Saturday the 17th +of December, a weekly paper in quarto, called the Town-Talk, in a +letter to a lady in the country; and another, intitled the Tea-Table: +He had likewise planned a comedy which he intended to call The School +of Action.--As Sir Richard was beloved when living, so his loss was +sincerely regretted at his death. He was a man of undissembled, and +extensive benevolence; a friend to the friendless, and as far as his +circumstances would permit, the father of every orphan: His works +are chaste, and manly, he himself admired virtue, and he drew her as +lovely as she is: of his works it may be said, as Sir George Lyttleton +in his prologue to Coriolanus observes of Thomson, that there are not +in them + + One corrupted, one immoral thought, + A line which dying he could wish to blot. + +He was a stranger to the most distant appearance of envy or +malevolence, never jealous of any man's growing reputation, and so far +from arrogating any praise to himself, from his conjunction with Mr. +Addison, that he was the first who desired him to distinguish his +papers in the Spectator, and after the death of that great man was a +faithful executor of his fame, notwithstanding an aspersion which Mr. +Tickell was so unjust to throw upon him. Sir Richard's greatest error +was want of oeconomy, as appears from the two following instances +related by the elegant writer of Mr. Savage's Life, to whom that +gentleman communicated them. + +'Savage was once desired by Sir Richard, with an air of the utmost +importance, to come very early to his house the next morning. Mr. +Savage came as he had promised, found the chariot at the door, and +Sir Richard waiting for him ready to go out. What was intended, and +whither they were to go, Savage could not conjecture, and was not +willing to inquire, but immediately seated himself with Sir Richard: +The coachman was ordered to drive, and they hurried with the utmost +expedition to Hyde-Park Corner, where they stopped at a petty tavern, +and retired to a private room. Sir Richard then informed him, that +he intended to publish a pamphlet, and that he desired him to come +thither, that he might write for him. They soon sat down to the work, +Sir Richard dictated, and Savage wrote, till the dinner which had been +ordered, was put upon the table. Savage was surprised at the meanness +of the entertainment, and after some hesitation, ventured to ask for +wine, which Sir Richard, not without reluctance ordered to be brought. +They then finished their dinner, and proceeded in their pamphlet, +which they concluded in the afternoon. Mr. Savage then imagined his +task over, and expected that Sir Richard would call for the reckoning +and return home; but his expectations deceived him, for Sir Richard +told him he was without money and that the pamphlet must be sold +before the dinner could be paid for; and Savage was therefore obliged +to go and offer their new production to sale for two guineas, which +with some difficulty he obtained. Sir Richard then returned home, +having retired that day only to avoid his creditors, and composed the +pamphlet only to discharge his reckoning.' As Savage has said nothing +to the contrary, it is reasonable to conjecture that he had Sir +Richard's permission to use his name to the Bookseller, to whom he +made an offer of it for two guineas, otherwise it is very improbable +that the pamphlet should be sold at all in so short a time. + +The other instance is equally uncommon with the former: Sir Richard +having incited to his house a great number of persons of the +first quality, they were surprized at the number of liveries which +surrounded the table; and after dinner, when wine and mirth had +set them free from the observation of rigid ceremony, one of them +enquired of Sir Richard, how such an expensive train of domestics +could be consistent with his fortune? Sir Richard frankly confessed, +that they were fellows of whom he would very willingly be rid. And +being then asked why he did not discharge them; he declared that they +were Bailiffs who had introduced themselves with an execution, and +whom, since he could not send them away, he had thought it convenient +to imbellish with liveries, that they might do him credit whilst they +staid. + +His friends were diverted with the expedient, and by paying the debt, +discharged the attendance, having obliged Sir Richard to promise that +they should never find him again graced with a retinue of the same +kind. + +He married to his first wife a gentlewoman of Barbadoes, with whom he +had a valuable Plantation there on the death of her brother, who was +taken by the French at Sea as he was coming to England, and died in +France. This wife dying without issue, he married Mary, the daughter +of Jonathan Scurlock of Langunnoc in Carmarthanshire, esq; by whom he +had one son, Eugene, who died young: of his two daughters, one only is +living; which lady became sole heiress to a handsome estate in Wales. +She was married, when young, to the hon. John Trevor, esq; one of the +judges of the principality of Wales; who since, by the death of his +brother, has taken his seat in the House of Lords, as Baron Trevor, +&c. + + +[Footnote A: General Dictionary, vol. ix, p. 395.] + +[Footnote B: His expulsion was owing to the spleen of the then +prevailing party; what they design'd as a disgrace, prov'd an honour +to him.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ANDREW MARVEL, Esq;[A] + + +This ingenious gentleman was the son of Mr. Andrew Marvel, Minister +and Schoolmaster of Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire, and was born in +that town in the year 1620[B]. He was admitted into Trinity College +in Cambridge December 14, 1633, where he had not been long before his +studies were interrupted by the following accident: + +Some Jesuits with whom he familiarly conversed, observing in him a +genius beyond his years, used their utmost efforts to proselyte him +to their faith, which they imagined they could more easily accomplish +while he was yet young. They so far succeeded as to seduce him +from the college, and carry him to London, where, after some months +absence, his father found him in a Bookseller's shop, and prevailed +upon him to return to the college. + +He afterwards pursued his studies with the most indefatigable +application, and in the year 1638, took the degree of bachelor of +arts, and the same year was admitted scholar of the house, that is, +of the foundation at Trinity College[C]. We have no farther account of +him for several years after this, only that he travelled through +the most polite parts of the world, but in what quality we are not +certain, unless in that of secretary to the embassy at Constantinople. + +While our author was in France, he wrote his poem entitled Cuidam, qui +legendo Scripturam, descripsit Formam, Sapientiam, Sortemque Authoris. +Illustrissimo Viro Domino Lanceloto Josepho de Maniban Grammatomanti. + +The person to whom he addresses these verses was an Abbot, famous +for entering into the qualities of those whom he had never seen, and +prognosticating their good, or bad fortune from an inspection of their +hand-writing. + +During the troubles of the Republic we find him tutor to one Mr. +Dutton, a young gentleman; as appears from an original letter of his +to Oliver Cromwel. This letter sent to so extraordinary a person by +a man of Mr. Marvel's consequence, may excite the reader's curiosity, +with which, he shall be gratified. It carries in it much of that +stiffness and pedantry peculiar to the times, and is very different +from the usual stile of our author. + + +'May it please your LORDSHIP, + +'It might perhaps seem fit for me to seek out words to give your +excellence thanks for myself. But indeed the only civility, which it +is fit for me to practise with so eminent a person, is to obey +you, and to perform honestly this work which you have set me about. +Therefore I shall use the time that your lordship is pleased to allow +me for writing, only to that purpose for which you have given me it, +that is to render you some account of Mr. Dutton. I have taken care +to examine him several times in the presence of Mr. Oxenbridge[D], as +those who weigh and tell over money, before some witnesses e'er they +take charge of it; for I thought that there might be possibly some +lightness in the coin, or error in the telling, which hereafter I +might be bound to make good. Therefore Mr. Oxenbridge is the best to +make your excellence an impartial relation thereof; I shall only say, +that I shall strive according to my best understanding to increase +whatsoever talent he may have already. Truly he is of a gentle, and +waxen disposition; and, God be praised, I cannot say that he hath +brought with him any evil impression; and I hope to set nothing upon +his spirit, but what shall be of a good sculpture. He hath in him two +things, which make youth most easily to be managed, modesty, which is +the bridle to vice, and emulation, which is the spur to virtue. And +the care which your excellency is pleased to take of him, is no small +encouragement, and shall be represented to him; but above all, I shall +labour to make him sensible of his duty to God, for then we begin to +serve faithfully, when we consider that he is our master; and in this +both he and I owe infinitely to your lordship, for having placed in so +godly a family as that of Mr. Oxenbridge, whose doctrine and +example are like a book and a map, not only instructing the ear, but +demonstrating to the eye which way we ought to travel. I shall upon +occasion henceforward inform your excellency of any particularities +in our little affairs. I have no more at present but to give thanks to +God for your lordship, and to beg grace of him, to approve myself. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Marvel's first appearance in public business at home, was, in +being assistant to Milton as Latin secretary to the Protector. He +himself tells us, in a piece called The Rehearsal Transposed, that +he never had any, not the remotest relation to public matters, nor +correspondence with the persons then predominant, until the year 1657, +when indeed, says he, 'I entered into an employment, for which I +was not altogether improper, and which I considered to be the most +innocent, and inoffensive towards his Majesty's affairs of any in that +usurped, and irregular government, to which all men were then exposed; +and this I accordingly discharged, without disobliging any one person, +there having been opportunities, and endeavours since his Majesty's +happy return, to have discovered, had it been otherwise.' + +A little before the Restoration, he was chosen by his native +town, Kingston upon Hull, to sit in that Parliament which began at +Westminster April 25, 1660, and again after the Restoration for that +which began at the same place May 8, 1661. In this station our author +discharged his trust with the utmost fidelity, and always shewed a +peculiar regard for those he represented; for he constantly sent the +particulars of every proceeding in the House, to the heads of the town +for which he was elected; and to those accounts he always joined +his own opinion. This respectful behaviour gained so much on their +affections, that they allowed him an honourable pension to his death, +all which time he continued in Parliament. Mr. Marvel was not endowed +with the gift of eloquence, for he seldom spoke in the house; but was +however capable of forming an excellent judgment of things, and was so +acute a discerner of characters, that his opinion was greatly valued, +and he had a powerful influence over many of the Members without +doors. Prince Rupert particularly esteemed him, and whenever he voted +agreeable to the sentiments of Mr. Marvel, it was a saying of the +opposite party, he has been with his tutor. The intimacy between this +illustrious foreigner, and our author was so great, that when it was +unsafe for the latter to have it known where he lived, on account of +some mischief which was threatened him, the prince would frequently +visit him in a disguised habit. Mr. Marvel was often in such danger of +assassination, that he was obliged to have his letters directed to him +in another name, to prevent any discovery that way. He made himself +obnoxious to the government, both by his actions, and writings; and +notwithstanding his proceedings were all contrary to his private +interest, nothing could ever make his resolution, of which the +following is a notable instance, and transmits our author's name with +lustre to posterity. + +One night he was entertained by the King, who had often been delighted +with his company: his Majesty next day sent the lord treasurer Danby +to find out his lodging; Mr. Marvel, then rented a room up two pair of +stairs, in a little court in the Strand, and was writing when the lord +treasurer opened the door abruptly upon him. Surprized at the sight +of so unexpected a visitor, Mr. Marvel told his lordship, that he +believed he had mistaken his way; the lord Danby replied, not now I +have found Mr. Marvel: telling him that he came with a message from +his Majesty, which was to know what he could do to serve him? his +answer was, in his usual facetious manner, that it was not in his +Majesty's power to serve him: but coming to a serious explanation of +his meaning, he told the lord treasurer, that he well knew the nature +of courts, and that whoever is distinguished by a Prince's favour, is +certainly expected to vote in his interest. The lord Danby told him, +that his Majesty had only a just sense of his merits, in regard to +which alone, he desired to know whether there was any place at +court he could be pleased with. These offers, though, urged with +the greatest earnestness, had no effect upon him; he told the lord +treasurer, that he could not accept it with honour, for he must either +be ungrateful to the King by voting against him, or betray his country +by giving his voice against its interest, at least what he reckoned +so. The only favour therefore which he begged of his Majesty, was, +that he would esteem him as dutiful a subject as any he had, and +more in his proper interest in rejecting his offers, than if he had +embraced them. The lord Danby finding no arguments would prevail, told +him, the King had ordered a thousand pounds for him, which he hoped he +would accept, 'till he could think what farther to ask of his Majesty. +This last temptation was refused with the same stedfastness of mind as +the first. + +The reader must have already taken notice that Mr. Marvel's chief +support was the pension allowed him by his constituents, that his +lodgings, were mean, and consequently his circumstances at this time +could not be affluent. His resisting these temptations therefore in +such a situation, was perhaps one of the most heroic instances of +patriotism the Annals of England can furnish. But his conduct will be +still heightened into a more amiable light, when it is related, that +as soon as the lord treasurer had taken his leave, he was obliged to +send to a friend to borrow a guinea. As the most powerful allurements +of riches, and honour, could never seduce him to relinquish the +interest of his country, so not even the most immense dangers could +deter him from pursuing it. In a private letter to a friend from +Highgate, in which he mentions the insuperable hatred of his foes to +him, and their design of murthering him, he has these words; Praeterea +magis eccidere metuo quam occidi, non quod vitam tanti aestimem, sed +ne imparatus moriar, i.e., 'Besides, I am more apprehensive of killing, +than being killed, not that I value life so much, but that I may not +die unprepared.' Mr. Marvel did not remain an unconcerned member of +the state, when he saw encroachments made upon it both by the civil, +and ecclesiastical powers. He saw that some of the bishops had formed +an idea of protestantism very different from the true one, and +were making such advances towards popery, as would soon issue in a +reconciliation. Amongst these ecclesiastics, none was so forward +as Dr. Samuel Parker, who published at London 1672 in 8vo. bishop +Bramhal's Vindication of himself, and the Episcopal Clergy, from the +Presbyterian charge of Popery, as it is managed by Mr. Baxter in his +Treatise on the Grotian Religion. Dr. Parker likewise preached up +the doctrine of Non-resistance, which slavish principle is admirably +calculated to prepare the people for receiving any yoke. Marvel, whose +talent consisted in drollery, more than in serious reasoning, took +his own method of exposing those opinions. He wrote a piece called +The Rehearsal Transposed, in which he very successfully ridiculed Dr. +Parker. This ludicrous essay met with several answers, some serious, +and others humorous; we shall not here enumerate all the Rejoinders, +Replies, and Animad-versions upon it. Wood himself confesses, who was +an avowed enemy to Marvel, 'that Dr. Parker judged it more prudent +rather to lay down the cudgels, than to enter the lists again, with an +untowardly combatant, so hugely well versed, and experienced, in +the then newly refined art of sporting, and jeering buffoonery.' +And bishop Burnet tells us in the History of his own Time, 'That +Dr. Parker, after he had for some years entertained the nation with +several virulent books, was attacked by the liveliest droll of +the age, who wrote in a burlesque stile, but with so peculiar, and +entertaining a conduct, that from the King down to the tradesman, his +book was read with great pleasure. This not only humbled Parker, but +the whole party, for the author of The Rehearsal Transposed, had all +the men of wit on his side.' Dr. Swift likewise in his Apology for +the Tale of a Tub, speaking of the usual fate of common answerers to +books, and how short-lived their labours are, observes, 'That there is +indeed an exception, when any great genius thinks it worth his while +to expose a foolish piece; so we still read Marvel's answer to Parker +with pleasure, though the book it answers be sunk long ago.' + +The next controversy in which we find Mr. Marvel engaged, was with +an antagonist of the pious Dr. Croft, bishop of Hereford, who wrote a +discourse entitled The Naked Truth, or A True State of the Primitive +Church: By an humble Moderator. Dr. Turner, fellow of St. John's +College, wrote Animadversions upon this book; Mr. Marvel's answer to +these Animadversions, was entitled Mr. Smirk, or The Divine in Mode; +being certain Annotations upon the Animadversions on The Naked Truth, +together with a Short Historical Essay concerning General Councils, +Creeds, and Impositions in Matters of Religion, printed 1676. + +Our author's next work was An Account of the Growth of Popery, and +Arbitrary Government in England; more particularly from the long +prorogation of November 1675, ending February 15, 1676, 'till the +meeting of Parliament July 15, 1677, printed in folio 1678. Our author +in a letter dated June 10, 1678, wrote thus; 'There came out about +Christmas last here, a large book concerning the Growth of Popery, +and Arbitrary Government. There have been great rewards offered in +private, and considerable, in the Gazette, to any, who would inform of +the author, and Printer, but not yet discovered. Three or four printed +books since have described (as near as was proper to go, the man being +a member of Parliament) Mr. Marvel to be the author, but if he had, he +surely could not have escaped being questioned in Parliament, or 'Some +other place.' This book was so offensive to the court at that time, +that an order was published in these words, + +'Whereas there have been lately printed, and published several +seditious, and scandalous libels against the proceedings of both +Houses of Parliament, and other his Majesty's Courts of Justice, +to the dishonour of his Majesty's government, and the hazard of the +public peace, these are to give notice, that what person soever shall +discover unto one of the secretaries of state, the printer, publisher, +author, or hander to the press of any of the said libels, so that +full evidence may be made thereof to a Jury, without mentioning the +informer, especially one libel, entitled An Account of the Growth +of Popery; and another called A Reasonable Argument to all the Grand +Juries, &c. the discoverer shall be rewarded as follows; he shall +have fifty pounds for such discovery as aforesaid, of the printer or +publisher of it from the press, and for the hander of it to the press, +one hundred pounds.' + +Mr. Marvel begins this book with a panegyric on the constitution of +the English government, shewing how happy the people are under such +wholesome laws, which if faithfully observed, must make a people +happy, and a monarch great. He observes, that the king and the subject +are equally under the laws; and that the former is no longer king than +he continues to obey them. 'So that, says he, the kings of England, +are in nothing inferior to other princes, save in being more abridg'd +from injuring their own subjects, but have as large a field as any of +external felicity, wherein to exercise their own virtue, and to reward +and encourage it in others. In short there is nothing that comes +nearer the divine perfection, than when the monarch, as with us, +enjoys a capacity of doing all the good imaginable to mankind, under a +disability of all that is evil.' + +After slightly tracing popery from earlier times, he begins with the +Dutch war in 1665; but dwells most upon the proceedings at Rome, from +November 1675, to July 1677. He relates the occasion of the Dutch war, +shews that the papists, and the French in particular, were the true +springs of all our councils; and draws the following picture of +popery. + +'It is such a thing, as cannot but for want of a word to express it, +be called a religion; nor is it to be mentioned with that civility, +which is otherwise decent to be used in speaking of the differences of +human opinions about divine matters; were it either open Juadism, +or plain Turkery, or, there is yet a certain Bona Fides in the most +extravagant belief, and the sincerity of an erroneous profession may +render it more pardonable: But this is a compound of all the three, +an extract of whatever is most ridiculous or impious in them, +incorporated with more peculiar absurdities of its own, in which those +were deficient; and all this deliberately contrived, and knowingly +carried on, by the solid imposture of priests, under the name of +Christianity.' + +This great man died, not without strong suspicions of being poisoned, +August 16, 1678, in the 58th year of his age, and was interred in the +church of St. Giles's in the Fields; and in the year 1688 the town of +Kingston upon Hull contributed a sum of money to erect a monument over +him, in St. Giles's church, for which an epitaph was composed by an +able hand; but the minister of that church, piously forbad both the +inscription and monument to be placed there. + +Mr. Wood tells us, that in his conversation, he was very modest, and +of few words; and Mr. Cooke observes, 'that he was very reserved among +people he did not very well know; but a most delightful, and improving +companion amongst his friends.' + +In the year 1680, his miscellaneous poems were published, to which +is prefixed this advertisement. 'These are to certify every ingenious +reader, that all these poems, as also the other things in this book +contained, are printed according to the exact copies of my late dear +husband, under his own hand writing, both found since his death, among +his other papers. + +Witness my hand, + +MARY MARVEL. + +But Mr. Cooke informs us, 'that these were published with a mercenary +view; and indeed not at all to the honour of the deceased, by a woman +with whom he lodged, who hoped by this stratagem to share in what he +left behind him.' + +He was never married, and the same gentleman observes in another +place, that in the editions of 1681, there are such gross errors, +especially in the Latin Poems, as make several lines unintelligible; +and that in the volume of Poems on Affairs of State, the same mistakes +are as frequent; and in those, some pieces are attributed to our +author, which he never wrote. Most of his Poems printed in Dryden's +Miscellanies are so imperfect, that whole stanzas are omitted in many +places. + +These Mr. Cooke has restored in his edition of the works of Andrew +Marvel, Esq; printed at London 1725, in two volumes, and corrected +such faults as in either of the two former editions obscure the sense: +in this edition are also added, some poems from original manuscripts. +Great care has likewise been taken by Mr. Cooke, to retrench such +pieces as he was sure were not genuine. + +Mr. Marvel, considered as a statesman, makes a more conspicuous +figure than any of the age in which he lived, the proceeding, or the +subsequent: He possessed the first quality of a statesman, that is, +inviolable integrity, and a heart so confirmed against corruption, +that neither indigence, a love of pomp or even dangers the most +formidable, could move his settled purpose, to pursue in every +respect, the interest of his country. + +That Marvel understood the true interest of his country, is abundantly +clear, from the great reverence paid to his opinion, by such persons +as were most able to discern, and most disposed to promote its +welfare. He has succeeded to a miracle in the droll way of writing; +and when he assumes a severity, and writes seriously his arguments and +notions are far removed from imbecility. + +As a poet, I cannot better delineate his character than in the words +of Mr. Cooke, 'There are few of his poems (says he) that have not +something very pleasing in them, and some he must be allowed to have +excelled in; most of them seem to be the effect of a lively genius, +and manly sense, but at the same time seem to want that correctness +he was capable of making. His most finished pieces are upon Milton's +Paradise Lost, and upon Blood's stealing the crown; the latter of +which is very satirical.' + + On BLOOD's stealing the Crown. + + + When daring Blood, his rent to have regain'd, + Upon the English diadem distrain'd; + He chose the cassoc, circingle, and gown, + The fittest mask for one that robs the crown: + But his lay-pity underneath prevail'd, + And, while he sav'd the keeper's life, he fail'd. + With the priest's vestment had he but put on + The prelate's cruelty, the crown had gone. + +'In his state Poems, is contained much of the secret history of +king Charles the IId, in which time they were all written. They +were composed on various occasions, and chiefly to expose a corrupt +ministry, and the violence of those who were for persecuting all who +differed from them in opinion. He has several Poems in Latin, some +of which he translated into English, and one in Greek. They have each +their proper merit; he discovers a great facility in writing the Latin +tongue. There are some small pieces of his in prose, which ought not +to escape observation. From his letter to Sir John Trott, there seems +to have been a friendly correspondence between him and that gentleman. +By his Familiar Letters, we may easily judge what part of his works +are laboured, and what not. But of all his pieces in Prose, the King's +Mock-Speech to both Houses of Parliament, has most of spirit, and +humour. As it will furnish the best specimen of Mr. Marvel's genius +for drollery, as well as the character of that prince and ministry, we +shall here insert it, as a performance of the most exquisite humour we +have ever seen. + + His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both + Houses of Parliament. + + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + 'I told you, at our last meeting, the winter was + the fittest time for business, and truly I thought + so, till my lord treasurer assured me the spring was + the best season for sallads and subsidies. I hope + therefore, that April will not prove so unnatural a + month, as not to afford some kind showers on my + parched exchequer, which gapes for want of them. + Some of you, perhaps, will think it dangerous to + make me too rich; but I do not fear it; for I promise + you faithfully, whatever you give me I will + always want; and although in other things my + word may be thought a slender authority, yet in + that, you may rely on me, I will never break it. + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + I can bear my straits with patience; but my lord + treasurer does protest to me, that the revenue, as it + now stands, will not serve him and me too. One + of us must suffer for it, if you do not help me. I + must speak freely to you, I am under bad circumstances, + for besides my harlots in service, my Reformado + Concubines lie heavy upon me. I have a + passable good estate, I confess, but, God's-fish, I + have a great charge upon't. Here's my lord treasurer + can tell, that all the money designed for next + summer's guards must, of necessity, be applyed to + the next year's cradles and swadling-cloths. What + shall we do for ships then? I hint this only to you, + it being your business, not mine. I know, by experience, + I can live without ships. I lived ten years + abroad without, and never had my health better in + my life; but how you will be without, I leave to + yourselves to judge, and therefore hint this only by + the by: I do not insist upon it. There's another + thing I must press more earnestly, and that is this: + It seems, a good part of my revenue will expire in + two or three years, except you will be pleased to + continue it. I have to say for't; pray why did you + give me so much as you have done, unless you resolve + to give as fast as I call for it? The nation + hates you already for giving so much, and I'll hate + you too, if you do not give me more. So that if + you stick not to me, you must not have a friend in + England. On the other hand, if you will give me + the revenue I desire, I shall be able to do those + things for your religion and liberty, that I have had + long in my thoughts, but cannot effect them without + a little more money to carry me through. + Therefore look to't, and take notice, that if you + do not make me rich enough to undo you, it shall + lie at your doors. For my part, I wash my hands + on't. But that I may gain your good opinion, the + best way is to acquaint you what I have done to deserve + it, out of my royal care for your religion and + your property. For the first, my proclamation is a + true picture of my mind. He that cannot, as in a + glass, see my zeal for the church of England, does + not deserve any farther satisfaction, for I declare + him willful, abominable, and not good. Some + may, perhaps, be startled, and cry, how comes + this sudden change? To which I answer, I am a + changling, and that's sufficient, I think. But to + convince men farther, that I mean what I say, there + are these arguments. + + First, I tell you so, and you know I never break + my word. + + Secondly, my lord treasurer says so, and he never + told a lye in his life. + + Thirdly, my lord Lauderdale will undertake it + for me; and I should be loath, by any art of mine, + he should forfeit the credit he has with you. + + If you desire more instances of my zeal, I have + them for you. For example, I have converted my + natural sons from Popery; and I may say, without + vanity, it was my own work, so much the more + peculiarly mine than the begetting them. 'Twould + do one's heart good to hear how prettily George can + read already in the Psalter. They are all fine children, + God bless 'em, and so like me in their understandings! + But, as I was saying, I have, to please + you, given a pension to your favourite, my lord + Lauderdale; not so much that I thought he wanted + it, as that you would take it kindly. I have made + Carwel duchess of Portsmouth, and marry'd her + sister to the earl of Pembroke. I have, at my brother's + request, lent my lord Inchequin into Barbary, + to settle the Protestant religion among the Moors, + and an English interest at Tangier. I have made + Crew bishop of Durham, and, at the first word of + my lady Portsmouth, Prideaux bishop of Chichester. + I know not, for my part, what factious men would + have; but this I am sure of, my predecessors never + did any thing like this, to gain the good-will of their + subjects. So much for your religion, and now for + your property. My behaviour to the bankers is + a public instance; and the proceedings between + Mrs. Hyde and Mrs. Sutton, for private ones, are + such convincing evidences, that it will be needless + to say any more to't. + + I must now acquaint you, that, by my lord treasurer's + advice, I made a considerable retrenchment + upon my expences in candies and charcoal, and do + not intend to stop there, but will, with your help, + look into the late embezzlements of my dripping-pans + and kitchenstuff; of which, by the way, upon + my conscience, neither my lord treasurer, nor my + lord Lauderdale, are guilty. I tell you my opinion; + but if you should find them dabling in that business, + I tell you plainly, I leave 'em to you; for, I would + have the world to know, I am not a man to be + cheated. + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + I desire you to believe me as you have found me; + and I do solemnly promise you, that whatsoever + you give me shall be specially managed with the + same conduct, trust, sincerity, and prudence, that + I have ever practiced, since my happy restoration.' + +In order to shew the versification of Mr. Marvel, we shall add a +beautiful dialogue between the resolved soul, and created pleasure. It +is written with a true spirit of poetry, the numbers are various, +and harmonious, and is one of the best pieces, in the serious way, of +which he is author. + + A DIALOGUE between the Resolved SOUL + and Created PLEASURE. + + + Courage, my Soul, now learn to weild + The weight of thine immortal shield. + Close on thy head thy helmet bright; + Ballance thy sword against the fight. + See where an army, strong as fair, + With silken banners spreads the air. + Now, if thou be'st that thing divine, + In this day's combat let it shine; + And shew that nature wants an art + To conquer one resolved heart. + + PLEASURE. + + Welcome the creation's guest, + Lord of earth, and heaven's heir; + Lay aside that warlike crest, + And of nature's banquet share: + Where the Souls of fruits and flow'rs, + Stand prepar'd to heighten yours. + + SOUL. + + I sup above, and cannot stay, + To bait so long upon the way. + + PLEASURE. + + On these downy pillows lye, + Whose soft plumes will thither fly: + On these roses, strew'd so plain + Lest one leaf thy side should strain. + SOUL. + + My gentler rest is on a thought, + Conscious of doing what I ought. + + PLEASURE. + + If thou be'st with perfumes pleas'd, + Such as oft the gods appeas'd, + Thou in fragrant clouds shalt show + Like another god below. + + SOUL. + + A Soul that knows not to presume, + Is heaven's, and its own, perfume. + + PLEASURE. + + Every thing does seem to vye + Which should first attract thine eye; + But since none deserves that grace, + In this crystal view thy face. + + SOUL. + + When the creator's skill is priz'd, + The rest is all but earth disguis'd. + + PLEASURE. + + Hark how music then prepares, + For thy stay, these charming airs; + Which the posting winds recall, + And suspend the river's fall. + SOUL. + + Had I but any time to lose, + On this I would it all dispose. + Cease Tempter. None can chain a mind, + Whom this sweet cordage cannot bind. + + CHORUS. + + Earth cannot shew so brave a sight, + As when a single Soul does fence + The batt'ry of alluring sense, + And Heaven views it with delight. + Then persevere; for still new charges sound; + And if thou overcom'st thou shalt be crown'd. + + PLEASURE. + + All that's costly, fair, and sweet, + Which scatteringly doth shine, + Shall within one beauty meet, + And she be only thine. + + SOUL. + + If things of sight such heavens be, + What heavens are those we cannot see? + + PLEASURE. + + Wheresoe'er thy foot shall go + The minted gold shall lye; + Till thou purchase all below, + And want new worlds to buy. + + SOUL. + + Wer't not for price who'd value gold? + And that's worth nought that can be sold. + + PLEASURE. + + Wilt thou all the glory have + That war or peace commend? + Half the world shall be thy slave, + The other half thy friend. + + SOUL. + + What friends, if to my self untrue? + What slaves, unless I captive you? + + PLEASURE. + + Thou shalt know each hidden cause; + And see the future time: + Try what depth the centre draws; + And then to heaven climb. + + SOUL. + + None thither mounts by the degree + Of knowledge, but humility. + + CHORUS. + + Triumph, triumph, victorious Soul; + The world has not one pleasure more; + The rest does lye beyond the pole, + And is thine everlasting store. + +We shall conclude the life of Mr. Marvel, by presenting the reader +with that epitaph, which was intended to be inscribed upon his tomb, +in which his character is drawn in a very masterly manner. + + Near this place + Lieth the body of ANDREW MARVEL, Esq; + A man so endowed by nature, + So improved by education, study, and travel, + So consummated, by experience and learning; + That joining the most peculiar graces of wit + With a singular penetration and strength of judgment, + And exercising all these in the whole course of his life, + With unalterable steadiness in the ways of virtue, + He became the ornament and example of his age, + Beloved by good men, fear'd by bad, admired by all, + Tho' imitated, alas! by few; + And scarce paralleled by any. + But a tombstone can neither contain his character, + Nor is marble necessary to transmit it to posterity. + It is engraved in the minds of this generation, + And will be always legible in his inimitable writings. + Nevertheless + He having served near twenty-years successively in + parliament, + And that, with such wisdom, integrity, dexterity, + and courage, + As became a true patriot, + The town of Kingiton upon Hull, + From whence he was constantly deputed to that + Assembly, + Lamenting in his death the public loss, + Have erected this monument of their grief and + gratitude, + 1688. + + He died in the 58th year of his age + On the 16th day of August 1678. + + Heu fragile humanum genus! heu terrestria vana! + Heu quem spectatum continet urna virum! + + +[Footnote A: A disappointment occasioned our throwing this life out +of the chronlogical order. But we hope the candid reader will pardon +a fault of this kind: we only wish he may find nothing of more +consequence to accuse us of.] + +[Footnote B: Cook's Life of Andrew Marvel, Esq; prefixed to the first +volume of Mr. Marvel's Works, London 1726.] + +[Footnote C: Life ubi supri.] + +[Footnote D: Mr. John Oxenbridge, who was made fellow of Eton College +curing the civil war, but ejected at the Restoration; he died in New +England, and was a very enthusiastic person.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. ELIZABETH THOMAS, + + +This lady, who is known in the world by the poetial name of Corinna, +seems to have been born for misfortunes; her very bitterest enemies +could never brand her with any real crime, and yet her whole life +has been one continued scene of misery[A]. The family from which she +sprung was of a rank in life beneath envy, and above contempt. She was +the child of an ancient, and infirm parent, who gave her life when +he was dying himself, and to whose unhappy constitution she was sole +heiress. From her very birth, which happened 1675, she was afflicted +with fevers and defluxions, and being over-nursed, her constitution +was so delicate and tender, that had she not been of a gay +disposition, and possessed a vigorous mind, she must have been more +unhappy than she actually was. Her father dying when she was scarce +two years old, and her mother not knowing his real circumstances, as +he was supposed from the splendour of his manner of life to be very +rich, some inconveniencies were incurred, in bestowing upon him a +pompous funeral, which in those times was fashionable. The mother of +our poetess, in the bloom of eighteen, was condemned to the arms of +this man, upwards of 60, upon the supposition of his being wealthy, +but in which she was soon miserably deceived. When the grief, which +so young a wife may be supposed to feel for an aged husband, had +subsided, she began to enquire into the state of his affairs, and +found to her unspeakable mortification, that he died not worth one +thousand pounds in the world. As Mrs. Thomas was a woman of good +sense, and a high spirit, she disposed of two houses her husband kept, +one in town, the other in the county of Essex, and retired into a +private, but decent country lodging. The chambers in the Temple her +husband possessed, she sold to her brother for 450 l. which, with her +husband's books of accounts, she lodged in her trustee's hands, who +being soon after burnt out by the fire in the paper buildings in the +temple (which broke out with such violence in the dead of night, that +he saved nothing but his life) she lost considerably. Not being +able to make out any bill, she could form no regular demand, and was +obliged to be determined by the honour of her husband's clients, who +though persons of the first fashion, behaved with very little honour +to her. The deceased had the reputation of a judicious lawyer, and +an accomplished gentleman, but who was too honest to thrive in his +profession, and had too much humanity ever to become rich. Of all +his clients, but one lady behaved with any appearance of honesty. The +countess dowager of Wentworth having then lost her only daughter the +lady Harriot (who was reputed the mistress of the duke of Monmouth) +told Mrs. Thomas, 'that she knew she had a large reckoning with the +deceased, but, says she, as you know not what to demand, so I know +not what to pay; come, madam, I will do better for you than a random +reckoning, I have now no child, and have taken a fancy to your +daughter; give me the girl, I will breed her as my own, and provide +for her as such when I die.' The widow thank'd her ladyship, but with +a little too much warmth replied, 'she would not part with her child +on any terms;' which the countess resented to such a degree, that she +would never see her more, and dying in a few years, left 1500 l. per +annum inheritance, at Stepney, to her chambermaid. + +Thus were misfortunes early entailed upon this lady. A proposal which +would have made her opulent for life, was defeated by the unreasonable +fondness of her mother, who lived to suffer its dismal consequences, +by tasting the bitterest distresses. We have already observed, that +Mrs. Thomas thought proper to retire to the country with her daughter. +The house where she boarded was an eminent Cloth-worker's in the +county of Surry, but the people of the house proved very disagreeable. +The lady had no conversation to divert her; the landlord was an +illiterate man, and the rest of the family brutish, and unmannerly. +At last Mrs. Thomas attracted the notice of Dr. Glysson, who observing +her at church very splendidly dressed, sollicited her acquaintance. He +was a valuable piece of antiquity, being then, 1684, in the hundredth +year of his age. His person was tall, his bones very large, his hair +like snow, a venerable aspect, and a complexion, which might shame +the bloom of fifteen. He enjoyed a sound judgment, and a memory so +tenacious, and clear, that his company was very engaging. His visits +greatly alleviated the solitude of this lady. The last visit he +made to Mrs. Thomas, he drew on, with much attention, a pair of +rich Spanish leather gloves, embost on the backs, and tops with gold +embroidery, and fringed round with gold plate. The lady could not help +expressing her curiosity, to know the history of those gloves, which +he seemed to touch with so much respect. He answered, 'I do respect +them, for the last time I had the honour of approaching my mistress, +Queen Elizabeth, she pulled them from her own Royal hands, saying, +here Glysson, wear them for my sake. I have done so with veneration, +and never drew them on, but when I had a mind to honour those whom +I visit, as I now do you; and since you love the memory of my Royal +mistress, take them, and preserve them carefully when I am gone.' The +Dr. then went home, and died in a few days. + +This gentleman's death left her again without a companion, and an +uneasiness hung upon her, visible to the people of the house; who +guessing the cause to proceed from solitude, recommended to her +acquaintance another Physician, of a different cast from the former. +He was denominated by them a conjurer, and was said to be capable +of raising the devil. This circumstance diverted Mrs. Thomas, who +imagined, that the man whom they called a conjurer, must have more +sense than they understood. The Dr. was invited to visit her, and +appeared in a greasy black Grogram, which he called his Scholar's +Coat, a long beard, and other marks of a philosophical negligence. +He brought all his little mathematical trinkets, and played over his +tricks for the diversion of the lady, whom, by a private whisper, he +let into the secrets as he performed them, that she might see there +was nothing of magic in the case. The two most remarkable articles of +his performance were, first lighting a candle at a glass of cold water +(performed by touching the brim before with phosphorus, a chymical +fire which is preserved in water and burns there) and next reading +the smallest print by a candle of six in the pound, at a hundred yards +distance in the open air, and darkest night. This was performed by a +large concave-glass, with a deep pointed focus, quick-silvered on the +backside and set in tin, with a socket for a candle, sconce fashion, +and hung up against a wall. While the flame of the candle was +diametrically opposite to the centre, the rays equally diverging, gave +so powerful a light as is scarce credible; but on the least variation +from the focus, the charm ceased. The lady discerning in this man a +genius which might be improved to better purposes than deceiving +the country people, desired him not to hide his talents, but to push +himself in the world by the abilities of which he seemed possessed. +'Madam, said he, I am now a fiddle to asses, but I am finishing a +great work which will make those asses fiddle to me.' She then asked +what that work might be? He replied, 'his life was at stake if it took +air, but he found her a lady of such uncommon candour, and good sense, +that he should make no difficulty in committing his life and hope +to her keeping.' All women are naturally fond of being trusted with +secrets; this was Mrs. Thomas's failing: the Dr. found it out, and +made her pay dear for her curiosity. 'I have been, continued he, many +years in search of the Philosopher's Stone, and long master of the +smaragdine-table of Hermes Trismegistus; the green and red dragons of +Raymond Lully have also been obedient to me, and the illustrious sages +themselves deign to visit me; yet is it but since I had the honour to +be known to your ladyship, that I have been so fortunate as to obtain +the grand secret of projection. I transmuted some lead I pulled off +my window last night into this bit of gold.' Pleased with the sight of +this, and having a natural propension to the study, the lady snatched +it out of the philosopher's hand, and asked him why he had not +made more? He replied, 'it was all the lead I could find.' She then +commanded her daughter to bring a parcel of lead which lay in the +closet, and giving it to the Chymist, desired him to transmute it into +gold on the morrow. He undertook it, and the next day brought her an +ingot which weighed two ounces, which with the utmost solemnity he +avowed was the very individual lead she gave him, transmuted to gold. + +She began now to engage him in serious discourse; and finding by his +replies, that he wanted money to make more powder, she enquired how +much would make a stock that would maintain itself? He replied, one +fifty pounds after nine months would produce a million. She then +begged the ingot of him, which he protested had been transmuted +from lead, and flushed with the hopes of success, hurried to town to +examine whether the ingot was true gold, which proved fine beyond the +standard. The lady now fully convinced of the truth of the empyric's +declaration, took fifty pounds out of the hands of a Banker, and +entrusted him with it. + +The only difficulty which remained, was, how to carry on the work +without suspicion, it being strictly prohibited at that time. He was +therefore resolved to take a little house in another county, at a few +miles distance from London, where he was to build a public laboratory, +as a professed Chymist, and deal in such medicines as were most +vendible, by the sale of which to the apothecaries, the expence of the +house was to be defrayed during the operation. The widow was accounted +the housekeeper, and the Dr. and his man boarded with her; to which +she added this precaution, that the laboratory, with the two lodging +rooms over it, in which the Dr. and his man lay, was a different +wing of the building from that where she and her little daughter, and +maid-servant resided; and as she knew some time must elapse before any +profit could be expected, she managed with the utmost frugality. The +Dr. mean time acted the part of a tutor to miss, in Arithmetic, Latin, +and Mathematics, to which she discovered the strongest propensity. All +things being properly disposed for the grand operation, the vitriol +furnace was set to work, which requiring the most intense heat +for several days, unhappily set fire to the house; the stairs were +consumed in an instant, and as it surprized them all in their first +sleep, it was a happy circumstance that no life perished. This unlucky +accident was 300 l. loss to Mrs. Thomas: yet still the grand project +was in a fair way of succeeding in the other wing of the building. But +one misfortune is often followed by another. The next Sunday evening, +while she was reading to, and instructing her little family, a sudden, +and a violent report, like a discharge of cannon was heard; the house +being timber, rocked like a cradle, and the family were all thrown +from their chairs on the ground. They looked with the greatest +amazement on each other, not guessing the cause, when the operator +pretending to revive, fell to stamping, tearing his hair, and raving +like a madman, crying out undone, undone, lost and undone for ever. +He ran directly to the Athanor, when unlocking the door, he found +the machine split quite in two, the eggs broke, and that precious +amalgamum which they contained was scattered like sand among the +ashes. Mrs. Thomas's eyes were now sufficiently opened to discern the +imposture, and, with a very serene countenance, told the empyric, that +accidents will happen, but means might be fallen upon to repair this +fatal disappointment. The Dr. observing her so serene, imagined +she would grant him more money to compleat his scheme, but she soon +disappointed his expectation, by ordering him to be gone, and made +him a present of five guineas, left his desperate circumstances should +induce him to take some violent means of providing for himself. + +Whether deluded by a real hope of finding out the Philosopher's Stone, +or from an innate principle of villainy, cannot be determined, but he +did not yet cease his pursuit, and still indulged the golden delusion. +He now found means to work upon the credulity of an old miser, +who, upon the strength of his pretensions, gave him his daughter +in marriage, and embarked all his hoarded treasure, which was very +considerable, in the same chimerical adventure. In a word, the miser's +stock was also lost, the empyric himself, and the daughter reduced to +beggary. This unhappy affair broke the miser's heart, who did not many +weeks survive the loss of his cash. The Dr. also put a miserable +end to his life by drinking poison, and left his wife with two young +children in a state of beggary. But to return to Mrs. Thomas. + +The poor lady suffered on this occasion a great deal of inward +anguish; she was ashamed of having reduced her fortune, and +impoverished her child by listening to the insinuations of a madman. +Time and patience at last overcame it; and when her health, which by +this accident had been impaired, was restored to her, she began +to stir amongst her husband's great clients. She took a house in +Bloomsbury, and by means of good economy, and an elegant appearance, +was supposed to be better in the world than she really was. Her +husband's clients received her like one risen from the dead: They came +to visit her, and promised to serve her. At last the duke of Montague +advised her to let lodgings, which way of life she declined, as her +talents were not suited for dealing with ordinary lodgers; but added +she, 'if I knew any family who desired such a conveniency, I would +readily accommodate them.' I take you at your word, replied the duke, +'I will become your sole tenant: Nay don't smile, for I am in earnest, +I love a little freedom more than I can enjoy at home, and I may come +sometimes and eat a bit of mutton, with four or five honest fellows, +whose company I delight in.' The bargain was bound, and proved matter +of fact, though on a deeper scheme than drinking a bottle: And his +lordship was to pass in the house for Mr. Freeman of Hertfordshire. + +In a few days he ordered a dinner for his beloved friends, Jack and +Tom, Will and Ned, good honest country-fellows, as his grace called +them. They came at the time appointed; but how surprized was the +widow, when she saw the duke of Devonshire, the lords Buckingham, and +Dorset, and a certain viscount, with Sir William Dutton Colt, under +these feign'd names. After several times meeting at this lady's house, +the noble persons, who had a high opinion of her integrity, entrusted +her with the grand secret, which was nothing less than the project for +the Revolution. + +Tho' these meetings were held as private as possible, yet suspicions +arose, and Mrs. Thomas's house was narrowly watched; but the +messengers, who were no enemies to the cause, betrayed their trust, +and suffered the noblemen to meet unmolested, or at least without any +dread of apprehension. + +The Revolution being effected, and the state came more settled, that +place of rendezvous was quitted: The noblemen took leave of the lady, +with promises of obtaining a pension, or some place in the houshold +for her, as her zeal in that cause highly merited; besides she had a +very good claim to some appointment, having been ruined by shutting up +the Excheqner. But alas! court promises proved an aerial foundation, +and these noble peers never thought of her more. The duke of Montague +indeed made offers of service, and being captain of the band of +pensioners, she asked him to admit Mr. Gwynnet, a gentleman who had +made love to her daughter, into such a post. This he promised, but +upon these terms, that her daughter should ask him for it. The widow +thanked him, and not suspecting that any design was covered under this +offer, concluded herself sure of success: But how amazed was she to +find her daughter (whom she had bred in the most passive subjection) +and who had never discovered the least instance of disobedience, +absolutely refuse to ask any such favour of his grace. She could be +prevailed upon neither by flattery, nor threatning, and continuing +still obstinate in her resolution; her mother obliged her to explain +herself, upon the point of her refusal. She told her then, that the +duke of Montague had already made an attack upon her, that his designs +were dishonourable; and that if she submitted to ask his grace one +favour, he would reckon himself secure of another in return, which he +would endeavour to accomplish by the basest means. This explanation +was too satisfactory; Who does not see the meanness of such an +ungenerous conduct? He had made use of the mother as a tool, for +carrying on political designs; he found her in distress, and as a +recompence for her service, and under the pretence of mending her +fortune, attempted the virtue of her daughter, and would provide for +her, on no other terms, but at the price of her child's innocence. + +In the mean time, the young Corinna, a poetical name given her by Mr. +Dryden, continued to improve her mind by reading the politest authors: +Such extraordinary advances had she made, that upon her sending some +poems to Mr. Dryden, entreating his perusal, and impartial sentiments +thereon, he was pleased to write her the following letter. + + Fair CORINNA, + + 'I have sent your two poems back again, after + having kept them so long from you: They were + I thought too good to be a woman's; some of my + friends to whom I read them, were of the same + opinion. It is not very gallant I must confess to + say this of the fair sex; but, most certain it is, + they generally write with more softness than + strength. On the contrary, you want neither + vigour in your thoughts, nor force in your expression, + nor harmony in your numbers; and me-thinks, + I find much of Orinda in your manner, + (to whom I had the honour to be related, and + also to be known) but I am so taken up with my + own studies, that I have not leisure to descend to + particulars, being in the mean time, the fair + Corinna's + + Most humble, and + + Most faithful servant + Nov. 12, 1699. JOHN DRYDEN. + +Our amiable poetess, in a letter to Dr. Talbot, Bishop of Durham, has +given some farther particulars of her life. We have already seen that +she was addressed upon honourable terms, by Mr. Gwynnet, of the +Middle Temple, son of a gentleman in Gloucestershire. Upon his +first discovering his passion to Corinna, she had honour enough to +remonstrate to him the inequality of their fortune, as her affairs +were then in a very perplexed situation. This objection was soon +surmounted by a lover, especially as his father had given him +possession of the greatest part of his estate, and leave to please +himself. Mr. Gwynnet no sooner obtained this, than he came to London, +and claimed Corinna's promise of marriage: But her mother being then +in a very weak condition, she could not abandon her in that distress, +to die among strangers. She therefore told Mr. Gwynnet, that as she +had not thought sixteen years long in waiting for him, he could not +think six months long in expectation of her. He replied, with a deep +sigh, 'Six months at this time, my Corinna, is more than sixteen years +have been; you put it off now, and God will put it off for ever.'--It +proved as he had foretold; he next day went into the country, made his +will, sickened, and died April the 16th, 1711, leaving his Corinna the +bequest of six-hundred pounds; and adds she, 'Sorrow has been my food +ever since.' + +Had she providentially married him, she had been secure from the +insults of poverty; but her duty to her parent was more prevalent than +considerations of convenience. After the death of her lover, she was +barbarously used: His brother, stifled the will, which compelled her +to have recourse to law; he smothered the old gentleman's conveyance +deed, by which he was enabled to make a bequest, and offered a large +sum of money to any person, who would undertake to blacken Corinna's +character; but wicked as the world is, he found none so compleatly +abandoned, as to perjure themselves for the sake of his bribe. At last +to shew her respect to the memory of her deceased lover, she consented +to an accommodation with his brother, to receive 200 l. down, and +200 l. at the year's end. The first payment was made, and distributed +instantly amongst her mother's creditors; but when the other became +due, he bid her defiance, stood suit on his own bond, and held out +four terms. He carried it from one court to another, till at last +it was brought to the bar of the House of Lords; and as that is +a tribunal, where the chicanery of lawyers can have no weight, he +thought proper to pay the money without a hearing: The gentlemen +of the long-robe had made her sign an instrument, that they should +receive the money and pay themselves: After they had laid their cruel +hands upon it, of the 200 l. the poor distressed lady received but +13 l. 16 s. which reduced her to the necessity of absconding from her +creditors, and starving in an obscure corner, till she was betrayed by +a false friend, and hurried to jail. + +Besides all the other calamities of Corinna, she had ever a bad state +of health, occasioned by an accident too curious to be omitted. + +In the year 1730 her case was given into the college of physicians, +and was reckoned a very surprizing one. It is as follows. + +'In April 1711 the patient swallowed the middle bone of the wing of +a large fowl, being above three inches long; she had the end in +her mouth, and speaking hastily it went forcibly down in the act of +inspiration. After the first surprize, feeling no pain she thought no +more of it; in a few days after, she complained what she eat or drank +lay like a stone in her stomach, and little or nothing pass'd through +her. After three weeks obstruction, she fell into a most violent +bloody flux, attended with a continual pain at the pit of her stomach, +convulsions, and swooning fits; nor had she any ease but while her +stomach was distended with liquids, such as small beer, or gruel: +She continued in this misery, with some little intervals, till the +Christmass following, when she was seized with a malignant fever, and +the convulsions encreased to so high a degree, that she crowed like a +cock, and barked like a dog, to the affrightment of all who saw her, +as well as herself. Dr. Colebatch being called to her relief, and +seeing the almost incredible quantity of blood she voided, said it +was impossible she could live, having voided all her bowels. He was +however prevailed with to use means, which he said could only be by +fetching off the inner coat of her stomach, by a very strong vomit; +he did so, and she brought the hair-veel in rolls, fresh and bleeding; +this dislodged the bone, which split length ways, one half pass'd off +by siege, black as jet, the cartilaginous part at each end consumed, +and sharp on each side as a razor; the other part is still lodged +within her. In this raw and extream weak condition, he put her into a +salivation, unknown to her mother or herself, to carry off the other +part, which shocked them to such a degree, that they sent for Dr. +Garth, who with much difficulty, and against his judgment, was +prevailed on to take it off, and using a healing galenical method, +she began to recover so much strength as to be turned in her bed, +and receive nourishment: But she soon after was seized with the Iliac +Passion, and for eleven days, her excrements came upwards, and no +passage could be forced through her, till one day by Dr. Garth, +with quick-silver. After a few weeks it returned again, and the same +medicine repeated, upon which she recovered, and for some months was +brought to be in a tolerable state of health, only the region of +the spleen much swelled; and at some times, when the bone moved +outwards, as it visibly did to sight and touch, was very painful.--In +July 1713, on taking too strong a purge, a large imposthume bag came +away by stool, on which it was supposed, the cystus, which the bone +had worked for itself, being come away, the bone was voided also; but +her pains continued so extraordinary, she willingly submitted to the +decree of four surgeons, who agreed to make an incision in the left +side of the abdomen, and extract the bone; but one of the surgeons +utterly rejecting the operation, as impracticable, the bone being +lodged in the colon, sent her to Bath, where she found some relief by +pumping, and continued tolerably well for some years, even to bear the +fatigue of an eight years suit at law, with an unjust executor; save +that in over-walking, and sudden passion, she used to be pained, but +not violent; and once or twice in a year a discharge of clean gall, +with some portions of a skin, like thin kid leather, tinged with gall, +which she felt break from the place, and leave her sore within; but +the bone never made any attempt out-wards after the first three years. +Being deprived of a competent fortune, by cross accidents, she has +suffered all the extremities of a close imprisonment, if want of all +the necessaries of life, and lying on the boards for two-years may +be termed such, during which time she never felt the bone. But on her +recovering liberty, and beginning to use exercise, her stomach, and +belly, and head swelled to a monstrous degree, and she was judged in a +galloping dropsy; but no proper medicines taking place, she was given +over as incurable, when nature unexpectedly helped itself, and in +twelve hours time by stool, and vomit, she voided about five gallons +of dirty looking water, which greatly relieved her for some days, but +gathered again as the swelling returned, and always abounded with +a hectic, or suffocating asthma in her stomach, and either a canine +appetite or loathing. She has lately voided several extraneous +membranes different from the former, and so frequent, that it keeps +her very low, some of which she has preserved in spirits, and humbly +implores your honours judgment thereon.' + +Under all these calamities, of which the above is a just +representation, did poor Corinna labour; and it is difficult to +produce a life crouded with greater evils. The small fortune which her +father left her, by the imprudence of her mother, was soon squandered: +She no sooner began to taste of life, than an attempt was made upon +her innocence. When she was about being happy in the arms of her +amiable lover Mr. Gwynnet, he was snatched from her by an immature +fate. Amongst her other misfortunes, she laboured under the +displeasure of Mr. Pope, whose poetical majesty she had innocently +offended, and who has taken care to place her in his Dunciad. Mr. Pope +had once vouchsafed to visit her, in company with Henry Cromwel, +Esq; whose letters by some accident fell into her hands, with some of +Pope's answers. As soon as that gentleman died, Mr. Curl found means +to wheedle them from her, and immediately committed them to the press. +This so enraged Pope, that tho' the lady was very little to blame, yet +he never forgave her. + +Not many months after our poetess had been released from her gloomy +habitation, she took a small lodging in Fleet street, where she died +on the 3d of February 1730, in the 56th year of her age, and was two +days after decently interred in the church of St. Bride's. + +Corinna, considered as an authoress, is of the second rate, she had +not so much wit as Mrs. Behn, or Mrs. Manley, nor had so happy a power +of intellectual painting; but her poetry is soft and delicate, her +letters sprightly and entertaining. Her Poems were published after her +death, by Curl; and two volumes of Letters which pass'd between her +and Mr. Gwynnet. We shall select as a specimen of her poetry, an Ode +addressed to the duchess of Somerset, on her birth-day. + + An ODE, &c. + + + I. + + Great, good, and fair, permit an humble muse, + To lay her duteous homage at your feet: + Such homage heav'n itself does not refuse, + But praise, and pray'rs admits, as odours sweet. + + II. + + Blest be forever this auspicious day, + Which gave to such transcendent virtue birth: + May each revolving year new joys display, + Joys great as can supported be on earth. + + III. + + True heiress of the Finch and Hatton line, + Formed by your matchless parents equal care + (The greatest statesman he, yet best divine, + She bright example of all goodness here). + + IV. + + And now incircled in the dearest tye, + To godlike Seymour, of connubial love; + Seymour illustrious prince, whose family + Did heretofore the kingly race improve. + + V. + + Adorns the nation still, and guards the throne, + In noble Somerset, whose generous breast, + Concenters all his ancestors in one, + That were in church, and state, and arms profest. + VI. + + Yet 'midst the plaudits of a grateful land, + His heaven-born soul reviews his pristine state; + And in obedience to divine command, + Numberless poor are feasted at his gate. + + VII. + + Thrice happy greatness, true philosophy, + That does so well the use of riches know, + And can by charity transpire the sky, + Encompass'd round with splendour here below. + + VIII. + + O may posterity from such a pair, + Enjoy a progeny almost divine, + Great as their fire, and as their mother fair, + And good as both, till last extent of time. + + +[Footnote A: See the Memoirs of Mrs. Thomas's Life, prefixed to a +volume of Letters between her and Mr. Gwynnet; the only account that +is preserved concerning her.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ELIJAH FENTON, + + +This worthy gentleman was born at Shelton, near Newcastle under the +Line, in Staffordshire[A]. In this county, though there are several +families of the name of Fenton, yet they are all branches from one +flock, which is a very antient and opulent family: Our author's mother +being immediately descended from one Mare, an officer in William the +Conqueror's army. + +Our poet was the youngest of twelve children, and was intended by his +parents for the ministry: He was sent to the university of Cambridge, +where he embraced the principles very opposite to the government, by +which he became disqualified for entering into holy orders. We find +him soon after his quitting the university, secretary to the earl of +Orrery, but how long he remained in that station we cannot ascertain. +After he quitted the service of this noble peer, it was his custom to +perform a visit annually to his eldest brother's house in the country, +who possessed an estate of 1000 l. per annum. He was caressed in the +country, by all his relations, to whom he endeared himself, by his +affable and genteel behaviour. Mr. Fenton was a man of the most tender +humanity, and discovered it upon every proper occasion: A gentleman +resident in that county, who has transmitted to us some account of Mr. +Fenton, has given us the following instance of his humane disposition. + +He had a great number of sisters, some of whom were less happy in +their marriages than others; one in particular was exposed to many +misfortunes, by the indiscretion and extravagance of her husband. It +is the custom of some people to make very great distinctions between +their rich and poor relations; Mr. Fenton's brother was of this stamp, +and it seems treated his unfortunate sister with less ceremony than +the rest. One day, while Mr. Fenton, was at his brother's house, he +observed the family going to dinner without this sister, who was in +town, and had as good a right to an invitation, as any of the rest who +dined there as a compliment to him. He could not help discovering his +displeasure at so unnatural a distinction, and would not sit down to +table till she was sent for, and in consequence of this slight shewn +her by the rest of the family, Mr. Fenton treated her with more +tenderness and complaisance than any of his sisters. + +Our author carried through life a very fair reputation, he was beloved +and esteemed by Mr. Pope, who honoured him with a beautiful +epitaph. Mr. Fenton after a life of ease and tranquility, died at +East-Hampstead-Park, near Oakingham, the 13th of July 1730, much +regretted by all men of taste, not being obnoxious to the resentment +even of his brother writers. + +In the year 1723, Mr. Fenton introduced upon the stage his Tragedy of +Mariamne, built upon the story related of her in the third volume of +the Spectator, Numb. 171, which the ingenious author collected out of +Josephus. As this story so fully displays the nature of the passion of +jealousy, and discovers so extraordinary a character as that of Herod, +we shall here insert it, after which we shall consider with what +success Mr. Fenton has managed the plot. In a former paper, the author +having treated the passion of jealousy in various lights, and marked +its progress through the human mind, concludes his animadversions with +this story, which he says may serve as an example to whatever can be +said on that subject. + + 'Mariamne had all the charms that beauty, + birth, wit, and youth could give a woman, and + Herod all the love that such charms are able to raise + in a warm and amorous disposition. In the midst of + his fondness for Mariamne, he put her brother + to death, as he did her father not many years + after. The barbarity of the action was represented + to Mark Anthony, who immediately summoned + Herod into Egypt, to answer for the crime + that was laid to his charge: Herod attributed the + summons to Anthony's desire of Mariamne, whom + therefore before his departure, he gave into the custody + of his uncle Joseph, with private orders to + put her to death, if any such violence was offered + to himself. This Joseph was much delighted + with Mariamne's conversation, and endeavoured + with all his art and rhetoric to set out the excess + of Herod's passion for her; but when he still + found her cold and incredulous, he inconsiderately + told her, as a certain instance of her lord's affection, + the private orders he had left behind him, which + plainly shewed, according to Joseph's interpretation, + that he could neither live nor die without + her. This barbarous instance of a wild unreasonable + passion quite put out for a time those little + remains of affection, she still had for her lord: + Her thoughts were so wholly taken up with the + cruelty of his orders, that she could not consider + the kindness which produced them; and therefore + represented him in her imagination, rather + under the frightful idea of a murderer, than a + lover. + + 'Herod was at length acquitted, and dismiss'd + by Mark Anthony, when his soul was all in flames + for his Mariamne; but before their meeting he was + not a little alarmed at the report he had heard + of his uncle's conversation and familiarity with + her in his absence. This therefore was the first + discourse he entertained her with, in which she + found it no easy matter to quiet his suspicions. + But at last he appeared so well satisfied of her + innocence; that from reproaches, and wranglings, + he fell to tears and embraces. Both of them + wept very tenderly at their reconciliation and + Herod pour'd out his whole soul to her in the + warmest protestations of love and constancy; when, + amidst all his sighs and languishings, she asked + him, whether the private orders he left with his + uncle Joseph were an instance of such an enflamed + affection? The jealous king was immediately + roused at so unexpected a question, and concluded + his uncle must have been too familiar with her, + before he would have discovered such a secret. + In short he put his uncle to death, and very difficultly + prevailed on himself to spare Mariamne. + + 'After this he was forced on a second journey + into Egypt, when he committed his lady to the + care of Sohemus, with the same private orders he + had before given his uncle, if any mischief befel + himself: In the meantime Mariamne had so won + upon Sohemus, by her presents and obliging behaviour, + that she drew all the secret from him, + with which Herod had entrusted him; so that + after his return, when he flew to her, with all the + transports of joy and love, she received him coldly + with sighs and tears, and all the marks of indifference + and aversion. This reception so stirred up + his indignation, that he had certainly slain her + with his own hands, had not he feared he himself + should become the greater sufferer by it. It + was not long after this, when he had another + violent return of love upon him; Mariamne was + therefore sent for to him, whom he endeavoured + to soften and reconcile with all possible conjugal + caresses, and endearments; but she declined his + embraces, and answered all his fondness, with bitter + invectives for the death of her father and + her brother. + + 'This behaviour so incensed Herod, that he + very hardly refrained from striking her; when + in the heat of their quarrel, there came in a + witness, suborned by some of Mariamne's enemies, + who accused her to the king of a design + to poison him. Herod was now prepared to hear + any thing in her prejudice, and immediately ordered + her servant to be stretched upon the rack; + who in the extremity of his tortures confest, that + his mistresses aversion to the king arose from + something Sohemus had told her; but as for any + design of poisoning, he utterly disowned the least + knowledge of it. This confession quickly proved + fatal to Sohemus, who now lay under the same + suspicions and sentence, that Joseph had before + him, on the like occasion. Nor would Herod + rest here; but accused her with great vehemence + of a design upon his life, and by his authority + with the judges had her publickly condemned + and executed. + + 'Herod soon after her decease grew melancholy + and dejected, retiring from the public administration + of affairs, into a solitary forest, and there + abandoned himself to all the black considerations, + which naturally arise from a passion made up of + love, remorse, pity and despair. He used to rave + for his Mariamne, and to call upon her in his distracted + fits; and in all probability, would have + soon followed her, had not his thoughts been + seasonably called off from so sad an object, by + public storms, which at that time very nearly + threatened him.' + +Mr. Fenton in the conduct of this design, has shewn himself a very +great master of stage propriety. He has softened the character of +Herod, well knowing that so cruel a tyrant as the story makes him, +could not be born upon the English stage. He has altered the character +of Sohemus, from an honest confident, to a crafty enterprising +statesman, who to raise his master to the throne of Judea, murthered +the natural heir. He has introduced in his drama, a character under +the name of Salome, the king's sister, who bore an implacable hatred +to Mariamne; and who in league with Sohemus pursues her revenge, at no +less a price than that of her brother's and the queen's life. + +After the wars, which had subsided between Cæsar and Anthony, had +subsided, and the world fell to the share of the former; Herod is +represented as having just returned from Rome, where, as an hostage +to the emperor, he has stipulated to send his younger son there, and +Flaminius, a noble Roman accompanies him into Jewry, to carry off the +young prince. The day in which this dramatic action begins, is upon a +grand festival, appointed in honour of Herod's safe return from Rome, +and being still permitted to enjoy his kingdom. The hard condition of +sending the prince to Rome, greatly affects the heart of the queen, +whom the poet has drawn a most tender mother. This throws a cloud over +the ceremony, and furnishes an opportunity for Sohemus and Salome, to +set their infernal engines at work; who, in conjunction with Sameas +the king's cup bearer, contrive to poison the king and queen at the +feast. But the poisoned cup is first tasted by Hazeroth, a young lord +related to the queen, and the sudden effect which it has upon him +discovers the villainy. + +The queen's absence from the feast proves a fatal circumstance, and +as managed by Sohemus, fixes the appearance of guilt upon her. While +Herod was absent at Rome, Sohemus made addresses to Arsinoe, a Roman +lady, confidant to Mariamne; to whom in the ardour of his passion he +revealed the secret entrusted to him by Herod, of putting Mariamne +to death, in case he by any calamitous accident should lose his life. +Arsinoe from a motive of affection communicated this to Mariamne; as +an instance of the violent passion which Herod had for her. This she +did immediately before her departure for Rome, with Flaminius the +Roman envoy, who proved to be the lord of her wishes, whom she +imagined to have been killed in fighting against Mark Anthony. +Mariamne thrown into this imminent danger, orders Arsinoe to be +intercepted, whose return clears up her innocence, as she declares +that no correspondence had ever been carried on between the queen and +Sohemus, of whom he was now jealous, as Mariamne had upbraided him +with his cruel resolutions of putting her to death, entrusted to that +minister. Herod is satisfied of her innocence, by the evidence of +Arsinoe; but as he had before given the cruel orders for patting the +queen to death, she, to prevent the execution of such barbarity, drank +poison. The Queen is conducted in by the high priest in the agonies +of death, which gives such a shock to Herod, that not able to survive +her, he dies in the sight of the audience. + +Sohemus, who knew what tortures would be reserved for him, kills +himself, after having sacrificed Sameas, by whose treachery the plot +was discovered, and who in his falling stabs Salome to the heart, as +the last effort of his revenge. + +As the plan of this play is regular, simple, and interesting, so +are the sentiments no less masterly, and the characters graphically +distinguished. It contains likewise many beautiful strokes of poetry. + +When Narbal, a lord of the queen's party, gives an account to +Flaminius the Roman general, of the queen's parting with her son; he +says, + + ----A while she stood, + Transform'd by grief to marble, and appear'd + Her own pale monument; + +Flaminius consistent with his character as a soldier, answers, + + Give me, ye gods! the harmony of war, + The trumpet's clangor, and the clash of arms, + That concert animates the glowing breast, + To rush on death; but when our ear is pierc'd + With the sad notes which mournful beauty yields; + Our manhood melts in symphathising tears. + +The character of Sameas the king's cup-bearer, is one of the most +villainous ever shewn upon a stage; and the poet makes Sohemus, in +order to give the audience a true idea of him, and to prepare them for +those barbarities he is to execute, relate the following instance of +his cruelty. + + ----Along the shore + He walk'd one evening, when the clam'rous rage + Of tempests wreck'd a ship: The crew were sunk, + The master only reach'd the neighb'ring strand, + Born by a floating fragment; but so weak + With combating the storm, his tongue had lost + The faculty of speech, and yet for aid + He faintly wav'd his hand, on which he wore + A fatal jewel. Sameas, quickly charm'd + Both by its size, and lustre, with a look + Of pity stoop'd, to take him by the hand; + Then cut the finger off to gain the ring, + And plung'd him back to perish in the waves; + Crying, go dive for more.--I've heard him boast + Of this adventure. + +In the 5th act, when Herod is agitated with the rage of jealousy, his +brother Pheroras thus addresses him, + + Sir, let her crime + Erase the faithful characters which love + Imprinted on your heart, + + HEROD. Alas! the pain + We feel, whene'er we dispossess the soul + Of that tormenting tyrant, far exceeds + The rigour of his rule. + + PHERORAS. With reason quell + That haughty passion; treat it as your slave: + Resume the monarch. + +The observation, which Herod makes upon this, is very affecting. The +poet has drawn him so tortured with his passion, that he seems almost +sufficiently punished, for the barbarity of cutting off the father and +brother of Mariamne, + + HEROD. Where's the monarch now? + The vulgar call us gods, and fondly think + That kings are cast in more than mortal molds; + Alas! they little know that when the mind + Is cloy'd with pomp, our taste is pall'd to joy; + But grows more sensible of grief or pain. + The stupid peasant with as quick a sense + Enjoys the fragrance of a rose, as I; + And his rough hand is proof against the thorn, + Which rankling in my tender skin, would seem + A viper's tooth. Oh blissful poverty! + Nature, too partial! to thy lot assigns + Health, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, + Her real goods; and only mocks the great + With empty pageantries! Had I been born + A cottager, my homely bowl had flow'd + Secure from pois'nous drugs; but not my wife! + Let me, good heav'n! forget that guilty name, + Or madness will ensue. + +Some critics have blamed Mariamne, for yielding her affections to +Herod, who had embrued his hands in her father and brother's blood; in +this perhaps she cannot be easily defended, but the poet had a right +to represent this as he literally found it in history; and being the +circumstance upon which all the others depended. Tho' this play is +one of the most beautiful in our language, yet it is in many places +exposed to just criticism; but as it has more beauties than faults, it +would be a kind of violence to candour to shew the blemishes. + +The life of Fenton, like other poets who have never been engaged in +public business, being barren of incidents, we have dwelt the longer +on his works, a tribute which his genius naturally demanded from us. + +Mr. Fenton's other poetical works were published in one volume 1717, +and consist chiefly of the following pieces. + +An Ode to the Sun, for the new year 1707, as a specimen of which we +shall quote the three following stanza's. + + I. + + Begin celestial source of light, + To gild the new revolving sphere; + And from the pregnant womb of night; + Urge on to birth the infant year. + Rich with auspicious lustre rife, + Thou fairest regent of the skies, + Conspicuous with thy silver bow! + To thee, a god, 'twas given by Jove + To rule the radiant orbs above, + To Gloriana this below. + + II. + + With joy renew thy destin'd race, + And let the mighty months begin: + Let no ill omen cloud thy face, + Thro' all thy circle smile serene. + While the stern ministers of fate + Watchful o'er the pale Lutetia wait. + To grieve the Gaul's perfidious head; + The hours, thy offspring heav'nly fair, + Their whitest wings should ever wear, + And gentle joys on Albion shed. + + III. + + When Ilia bore the future fates of Rome, + And the long honours of her race began, + Thus, to prepare the graceful age to come, + They from thy stores in happy order ran. + Heroes elected to the list of fame, + Fix'd the sure columns of her rising state: + Till the loud triumphs of the Julian name + Render'd the glories of her reign compleat, + Each year advanc'd a rival to the rest, + In comely spoils of war, and great achievements drest. + +Florelio, a Pastoral, lamenting the death of the marquis of Blandford. + +Part of the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah Paraphrased. Verses on the +Union. + +Cupid and Hymen. + +Olivia, a small Poem of humour against a Prude. + +The fair Nun, a Tale. + +An Epistle addressed to Mr. Southern, written in the year 1711. + +The eleventh Book of Homer's Odyssey, translated in Milton's stile. + +The Widow's Will; a Tale. + +A-La-Mode, a very humorous representation of a fond, doating Husband, +injured by his Wife. + +Sappho to Phaon. A Love Epistle, translated from Ovid. + +Phaon to Sappho. + +A Tale devised in the pleasant manner of Chaucer; in which the Poet +imitates that venerable old Bard, in the obsolete Language of his +Verse. + +Verses addressed to Mr. Pope. + +The Platonic Spell. + +Marullus de Neæra. + +Marullus imitated. + +Joannis Secundi Basium I. + +Kisses. Translated from Secundus. I know not if all poetry ever +exceeded the smoothness and delicacy of those lines. They flow with +an irresistable enchantment, and as the inserting them will shew the +spirit both of the original and translation, we shall make no further +apology for doing it. + + When Venus, in the sweet Idalian shade, + A violet couch for young Ascanius made; + Their op'ning gems, th' obedient roses bow'd + And veil'd his beauties with a damask cloud: + While the bright goddess with a gentle show'r, + Of nectar'd dews, perfum'd the blissful bow'r; + Of sight insatiate, she devours his charms. + Till her soft breast re-kindling ardour warms: + New joys tumultuous in her bosom rowl, + And all Adonis rusheth on her soul. + Transported with each dear resembling grace, + She cries, Adonis!--Sure I see thy face! + Then stoops to clasp the beauteous form, but fears + He'd wake too soon, and with a sigh forbears; + Yet, fix'd in silent rapture, stands to gaze, + Kissing each flow'ring bud that round him plays. + Swell'd with the touch, each animated rose + Expands; and strait with warmer purple glows: + Where infant kisses bloom, a balmy store! + Redoubling all the bliss she felt before. + Sudden, her swans career along the skies, + And o'er the globe the fair celestial flies. + Then, as where Ceres pass'd, the teeming plain, + Yellow'd with wavy crops of golden grain; + So fruitful kisses fell where Venus flew; + And by the power of genial magic grew: + A plenteous harvest! which she deign'd t'impart + To sooth an agonizing love-sick heart. + All hail, ye Roseat kisses! who remove + Our cares, and cool the calenture of love. + Lo! I your poet in melodious lays, + Bless your kind pow'r; enamour'd of your praise: + Lays! form'd to last, 'till barb'rous time invades + The muses hill, and withers all their shades. + Sprung from the Guardian[B] of the Roman name, + In Roman numbers live secure of fame. + +Joannis Secundi Basum IId. translated. + +An Epistle to Thomas Lambard Esq; + +An Ode to the right hon. John lord Gower. + + An EPITAPH + + On Mr. ELIJAH FENTON, + + At EAST-HAMPSTEAD in BERKS, 1730. + + + This modest stone, what few vain marbles can, + May truly say, here lies an honest man: + A Poet, bless'd beyond a Poet's fate, + Whom Heav'n kept sacred from the proud and great: + Foe to loud praise, and friend to learned ease, + Content with science in the vale of peace. + Calmly he look'd on either life, and here + Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear; + From nature's temp'rate feast rose satisfy'd + Thank'd Heav'n, that he had liv'd, and that he died. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob, p. 55.] + +[Footnote B: Venus.] + + * * * * * + + + + +BARTON BOOTH, Esq; + + +It[A] is but justice to the memory of this great actor to give him +a place among the poets, if he had been less considerable in that +province than he really was; for he appears early to have understood +the Latin classics, and to have succeeded in occasional pieces, and +little odes, beyond many persons of higher name in poetry. Mr. Booth +was descended from a very ancient, and honourable family, originally +seated in the County Palatine of Lancaster. His father, John Booth, +esq; was a man of great worth and honour; and though his fortune was +not very considerable, he was extremely attentive to the education of +his children, of whom Barton (the third) was born in 1681. + +When about nine years of age, he was put under the tuition of the +famous Dr. Busby, head-master of Westminster school, under whom some +of the ablest men have been educated, that in the last and present +age have done honour to the nation. The sprightliness of Booth's parts +early recommended him to the notice of Dr. Busby: he had a strong +passion for learning, and a peculiar turn for Latin poetry, and by +studying the best authors in it, he fixed many of the finest passages +so firmly in his memory, that he was able to repeat them with such +propriety, and graceful action, with so fine a tone of voice, and +peculiar emphasis, that it was taken notice of by the whole school. + +In consequence of this happy talent, when, according to the custom of +the school, a Latin play was to be acted, a considerable part thereof +was given to young Booth, who drew by the melody of his voice, and +the gracefulness of his action, the applause of all the spectators, +a circumstance which first fired him with theatrical ambition, much +against the inclination of his father, who intended him for the +church, and was therefore careful of his education. This propension +in our young Roscius, recommended him still more to the favour of +Dr. Busby, who bestowed the most lavish encomiums upon him: Busby was +himself a great admirer of theatrical elocution, and admirably fitted +by nature for the stage; when he was young, he obtained great applause +in a part he performed in a play of Cartwright's, and from that moment +held theatrical accomplishments in the highest esteem. + +When Booth had reached the age of eighteen, and the time approached +when he was to have been sent to the university, he resolved to run +any risk, rather than enter upon a course of life inconsistent +with the liveliness of his temper, and the natural bent of his +inclinations. It happened that there was then in London one Mr. +Ashbury, who had been long master of a company at Dublin, with whom +young Booth became acquainted, and finding that under his direction +there was no danger of his getting a livelihood, he quitted all other +views, stole away from school, and went over to Ireland with Mr. +Ashbury in 1698.[B] + +He very soon distinguished himself on the stage at Dublin, where +he had great natural advantages over most of his cotemporaries, +especially in tragedy; he had a grave countenance, a good person, an +air of dignity, a melodious voice, and a very manly action. He spoke +justly, his cadence was grateful to the ear, and his pronunciation was +scholastically correct and proper. He so far insinuated himself into +the favour of English gentlemen in Ireland, and found his reputation +growing to so great a heighth, that he returned home in 1701, to make +a trial of his talents on the British stage. He accordingly applied to +lord Fitzharding, of the bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark, and +was by him recommended to Mr. Betterton, who took him under his care, +and gave him all the assistance in his power, of which Mr. Booth +greatly profited. + +Never were a tutor and pupil better met; the one was capable of giving +the best instructions in his own performance, and the other had a +promptness of conception, a violent propensity, and a great genius. +The first part Booth performed in London was Maximus in Valentinian, +a play of Beaumont and Fletcher's originally, but altered, and brought +upon the stage by the earl of Rochester. The reception he met with +exceeded his warmest hopes, and the favour of the town had a happy +effect upon him, in inspiring him with a proper degree of confidence +without vanity. The Ambitious Step-mother, a tragedy written by Mr. +Rowe, in which that author has thrown out more fire, and heat of +poetry, than in any other of his plays, was about this time introduced +upon the stage; the part of Artaban was assigned to Booth, in which he +raised his character to such a heighth, as to be reckoned only second +to his great master. + +In the year 1704 he married Miss Barkham, daughter to Sir William +Barkham of Norfolk, bart. who lived with him six years, and died +without issue. In the theatrical revolutions which happened in those +days, Mr. Booth, notwithstanding his great capacity, and reputation +with the town, had very little share. He adhered constantly to Mr. +Betterton, while he could be of any service to him, and when his tutor +retired from the management of the stage, he trusted to his merit, and +the taste of the public, in which he was never deceived. + +Mr. Booth was particularly turned for tragedy, he never could bear +those parts which had not strong passion to inspire him; and Mr. +Cibber observes, that he could not so well melt in the lover, as rage +in the jealous husband. Othello was his master-piece, but in all his +parts he was often subject to a kind of indolence, which some people +imagined he affected, to shew that even in his lazy fits he was +superior to every body upon the stage; _as if secure of all beholders +hearts, neglecting he could take them._[C] The late ingenious Mr. +Whitingham, who perfectly understood theatrical excellence, and +who was, beyond any man I ever knew, distinct, and accurate in his +relations of things, often told me, that such was the dignity of +Booth's appearance, such his theatrical ease, and gracefulness, that +had he only crossed the stage without uttering a word, the house would +be in a roar of applause. + +We come now to that period of time, when Mr. Booth's sole merit raised +him to the greatest height, and procured for him that reward he had +long deserved. The tragedy of Cato, which had been written in the year +1703, or at least four acts of it, was brought upon the stage in 1712, +chiefly on a political principle; the part of Cato was given to Booth, +for the managers were very well satisfied that nobody else could +perform it. As party prejudice never than higher than at that time, +the excellency of the play was distinguished by the surprizing +contests between both factions, which should applaud it most, so +the merit of the actor received the same marks of approbation, both +parties taking care to shew their satisfaction, by bestowing upon him, +most liberal presents, the particulars of which are already inserted +in the life of Addison. The run of Cato being over at London, the +managers thought fit to remove to Oxford in the summer, where the play +met with so extraordinary a reception, that they were forced to open +the doors at noon, and the house was quite full by one o'clock. The +same respect was paid it for three days together, and though the +universal applause it met with at London, surpassed any thing that had +been remembered of that kind, yet the tribute of praise it received +from this famous university, surpassed even that. Booth, whose +reputation was now at its heighth, took the advantage of it, and +making his application to lord Bolingbroke, then at the head of the +ministry, he procured a new licence, recalling all former ones, and +Mr. Booth's name was added to those of Cibber, Dogget, and Wilks. +Tho' none of the managers had occasion to be pleased with this act of +justice done to Booth's merit, at the expence of, what they deemed, +their property, yet none of them carried their resentment so high as +Mr. Dogget, who absolutely refused to accept of any consideration for +his share in the scenes and clothes; this obstinacy had however no +other effect, than depriving him of his share, which brought him in +1000 l. a year; though Mr. Cibber informs us, that this was only a +pretence, and that the true reason of quitting the stage, was, +his dislike to another of the managers, whose humour was become +insupportable. This person we conjecture to have been Mr. Wilks, who, +according to Cibber's account, was capricious in his temper, though +he had otherwise great merit as a player, and was a good man, morally +considered; some instances of the generosity and noble spirit of +Wilks, are taken notice of in the life of Farquhar. + +A few years after Mr. Booth rose to the dignity of manager, he married +the celebrated Miss Santlowe, who, from her first appearance as an +actress in the character of the Fair Quaker of Deal, to the time she +quitted the stage, had always received the strongest marks of public +applause, which were repeated when after a retreat of some years, she +appeared there again. By her prudence in managing the advantages +that arose to her from her reputation as an actress, and her great +diligence in her profession, she acquired a considerable fortune, +which was very useful to Mr. Booth, who, from the natural turn of +his temper, though he had a strict regard to justice, was not much +inclined to saving. + +During the few years they lived together, there was the greatest +harmony between them, and after the death of Booth, his disconsolate +widow, who is yet alive, quitted the stage, and devoted herself +entirely to a private course of life. By degrees the health of Mr. +Booth began to decline, so that it was impossible for him to continue +to act with so much diligence as usual, but at whatever time he was +able to return to the stage, the town demonstrated their respect +for him by crowding the house. Being attacked by a complication of +distempers, he paid the debt to nature May 10, 1733. A copy of his +Will was printed in the London Magazine for 1733, p. 126, in which +we find he testified his esteem for his wife, to whom he left all his +fortune, for reasons there assigned, which he declared amounted to no +more than two thirds of what he had received from her on the day of +marriage. His character as an actor, has been celebrated by the best +judges, and was never questioned by any. And here we cannot resist the +opportunity of shewing Mr. Booth in that full, and commanding light in +which he is drawn by the late ingenious Aaron Hill, esq; who had long +experience in the affairs of the stage, and could well distinguish the +true merits of an actor. His words are, + +'Two advantages distinguished him in the strongest light from the rest +of his fraternity: he had learning to understand perfectly what it +was his part to speak, and judgment to know how far it agreed, or +disagreed with his character. Hence arose a peculiar grace, which was +visible to every spectator, though few were at the pains of examining +into the cause of their pleasure. He could soften, and slide over, +with a kind of elegant negligence, the improprieties in the part he +acted, while, on the contrary, he would dwell with energy upon the +beauties, as if he exerted a latent spirit which had been kept back +for such an occasion, that he might alarm, awaken, and transport in +those places only, where the dignity of his own good sense could +be supported by that of his author. A little reflexion upon this +remarkable quality, will teach us to account for that manifest +languor which has sometimes been observed in his action, and which was +generally, though I think falsly, imputed to the natural indolence of +his temper. For the same reason, though in the customary round of +his business, he would condescend to some parts in comedy; he seldom +appeared in any of them with much advantage to his character. The +passions which he found in comedy, were not strong enough to excite +his fire, and what seemed want of qualification, was only the absence +of impression. He had a talent at discovering the passions where they +lay hid in some celebrated parts, by the injudicious practice of other +actors; when he had discovered he soon grew able to express them; and +his secret of his obtaining this great lesson of the theatre, was +an adaption of his look to his voice, by which artful imitation of +nature, the variations in the sound of his words, gave propriety to +every change in his countenance, so that it was Mr. Booth's peculiar +felicity to be heard and seen the same, whether as the _pleased,_ the +_grieved,_the _pitying,_the _reproachful,_or the _angry_. One would be +almost tempted to borrow the aid of a very bold figure, and to express +this excellence more significantly, beg permission to affirm, that the +blind might have seen him in his voice, and the deaf have heard him in +his visage. His gesture, or as it is commonly called his action, was +but the result, and necessary consequence of his dominion over his +voice and countenance; for having by a concurrence of two such causes, +impressed his imagination with such a stamp, and spirit of passion, he +ever obeyed the impulse by a kind of natural dependency, and relaxed, +or braced successively into all that fine expressiveness with which he +painted what he spoke, without restraint, or affectation.' + +But it was not only as a player that Mr. Booth excelled; he was a man +of letters also, and an author in more languages than one. He had a +taste for poetry which we have observed discovered itself when he was +very young, in translations of some Odes of Horace; and in his riper +years he wrote several songs, and other original poems, which did him +honour. He was also the author of a masque, or dramatic entertainment, +called Dido and Aeneas, which was very well received upon the stage, +but which however did not excite him to produce any thing of the +same kind afterwards. His master-piece was a Latin inscription to the +memory of a celebrated actor, Mr. William Smith, one of the greatest +men of his profession, and of whom Mr. Booth alway spoke in raptures. +It is a misfortune that we can give no particular account of the +person this excellent inscription referred to, but it is probable he +was of a good family, since he was a Barrister at Law of Gray's-Inn, +before he quitted that profession for the stage. + +The inscription is as follows, + + Scenicus eximius + Regnante Carolo secundo: + Bettertono Coaetaneus & Amicus, + Necnon propemodum Aequalis. + Haud ignobili stirpe oriundus, + Nec literarum rudis humaniorum, + Rem fenicam + Per multos feliciter annos administravit; + Justoque moderamine & morum suavitate, + Omnium intra Theatrum + Observantiam, extra Theatrum Laudem, + Ubique benevolentiam & amorem fibi conciliavit. + +In English thus; + + An excellent player + In the reign of Charles the Second; + The cotemporary, and friend of Betterton, and almost his equal. + Descended of no ignoble family, + Nor destitute of polite learning. + The business of the stage + He for many years happily managed, + And by his just conduct, and sweetness of manners + Obtained the respect of all within the theatre, + The applause of those without, + And the good will, and love of all mankind. + +Such the life and character of Mr. Booth, who deservedly stood very +high in the esteem of mankind, both on account of the pleasure which +he gave them, and the native goodness of heart which he possessed. +Whether considered as a private gentleman, a player, a scholar, or +a poet, Mr. Booth makes a very great figure, and his extraordinary +excellence in his own profession, while it renders his memory dear to +all men of taste, will ever secure him applause amongst those +happy few, who were born to instruct, to please, and reform their +countrymen. + + +[Footnote A: N.B. As Mr. Theophilus Cibber is publishing (in a work +entirely undertaken by himself) The Lives, and Characters of all our +Eminent Actors, and Actresses, from Shakespear, to the present time; +he leaves to the other gentlemen, concerned in this collection, the +accounts of some players who could not be omitted herein, as Poets.] + +[Footnote B: History of the English stage.] + +[Footnote C: Dryden's All for Love.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Dr. GEORGE SEWEL, + + +This ingenious gentleman was the eldest son of Mr. John Sewel, +treasurer, and chapter-clerk of the college of Windsor, in which +place our poet was born. He received his education at Eton school, was +afterwards sent to the university of Cambridge, and took the degree +of bachelor of physic at Peter-house College. He then passed over +to Leyden, and studied under the famous Boerhaave, and afterwards +returned to London, where for several years he practised as a +Physician. He had a strong propension for poetry, and has favoured +the world with many performances much applauded. In the year 1719 he +introduced upon the stage his tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, taken +from the historical account of that great man's fate. He was chiefly +concerned in writing the fifth volume of the Tatler, and the ninth +of the Spectator. He translated, with some other gentlemen, the +Metamorphoses of Ovid, with very great success, and rendered the Latin +poems of Mr. Addison into English. Dr. Sewel made an attempt, which he +had not leisure to execute, of translating Quillet's Callipedia, which +was afterwards done by Rowe. He is the author of several miscellanous +poems, of which the following is as accurate an account as we could +possibly obtain. On Conscience, Beauty, the Force of Music, Song of +Troilus, &c. dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle. + +To his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, upon his going into Germany +1712. This poem begins thus, + + Go, mighty prince, and those great nations see, + Which thy victorious arms made free; + View that fam'd column, where thy name's engrav'd, + Shall tell their children who their empire fav'd. + Point out that marble where thy worth is shewn + To every grateful country but thy own. + +A Description of the Field of Battle, after Caesar was Conqueror at +Pharsalia, from the Seventh Book of Lucan. + +The Patriot. + +Translations from Lucan, occasioned by the Tragedy of Cato. + +The Fifth Elegy of the First Book of Tibullus, translated, and +addressed to Delia. + +An Apology for Loving a Widow. + +The Fifth Psalm Paraphrased. + +A Poetical Epistle, written from Hampstead to Mr. Thornhill, upon Mr. +Addison's Cato. + +An Epistle to Mr. Addison on the Death of the Earl of Hallifax. This +poem begins thus, + + And shall great Hallifax resign to fate, + And not one bard upon his ashes wait? + Or is with him all inspiration fled, + And lye the muses with their patron dead? + Convince us, Addison, his spirit reigns, + Breathing again in thy immortal strains: + To thee the list'ning world impartial bends, + Since Hallifax and envy now are friends. + +Cupid's Proclamation, or a Defence of Women; a Poem from Chaucer. + +Dr. Sewel, in his state principles, was inclined to the cause of +the Tories, and takes every occasion to combat with the bishop of +Salisbury, who had so eminently appeared in the cause of the Whigs. + +The following is a list of his prose works, in which there are some +letters addressed to, and animadversions upon that eminent prelate's +works. + +The Clergy, and the Present Ministry defended; being a Letter to the +Bishop of Salisbury, occasioned by his Lordship's new Preface to his +Pastoral Case, 8vo. 1713, third Edition that year. In a fourth Edition +(same date) this is called Mr. Sewel's First Letter to the Bishop of +Salisbury, the Clergy, &c. + +A Second Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, upon the Publication of +his new Volume of Sermons, wherein his Lordship's Preface concerning +the Revolution, and the Case of the Lord Russel are examined, &c. 8vo. +1713. + +Remarks upon a Pamphlet entitled Observations upon the State of the +Nation 1712-13, third Edition; to which is added a Postscript to the +Vindicator of the Earl of Nottingham, 8vo. 1714. + +An Introduction to the Life and Writings of G----t Lord Bishop of +S----m, &c. being a Third Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, 8vo. +1716. + +A Vindication of the English Stage, exemplified in the Cato of Mr. +Addison. In a Letter to a Nobleman, 8vo. 1716. + +Schism destructive of the Government, both in Church and State; +being a Defence of the Bill intitled An Act to prevent the Growth of +Schism; wherein all the Objections against it, and particularly those +in 'Squire Steele's Letter are fully Refuted. Humbly offered to the +Consideration of the House of Lords, 8vo. 1714, second Edition. + +More News from Salisbury, viz. I. An Examination of some Parts of the +Bishop of Sarum's Sermon and Charge, &c. 8vo. 1714. + +The Reasons for writing against the Bishop of Salisbury, 8vo. 1714. + +The Life of Mr. John Philips, Author of the Poem on Cyder. + +Dr. Sewel died at Hampstead in Middlesex, where, in the latter part +of his life, he had practised physic, on the 8th of February 1726, +and was buried there. He seems to have been a man of an amiable +disposition, and to have possessed a very considerable genius. + + * * * * * + + + + +ANTHONY HAMMOND, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from a good family, of Somersham-Place, +in the county of Huntingdon, and was born in the year 1668[A]. When he +arrived at a proper age, he was chosen member of Parliament, and did +not remain long in the house before he distinguished himself as a +very eminent speaker. Having espoused the court interest, his zeal +and merit recommended him to very considerable public employments, +particularly that of being one of the commissioners of the royal navy, +which place he quitted in the year 1712. The ingenious Mr. Southern in +his dedication of his Innocent Adultery, to Mr. Hammond, speaks thus +of him. 'If generosity with friendship, learning with good sense, +true wit and humour, with good-nature, be accomplishments to qualify a +gentleman for a patron, I am sure I have hit right in Mr. Hammond.' + +Our author obliged the public with a Miscellany of Original Poems, by +the Most Eminent Hands; in which himself had no small share. In this +miscellany are several poetical performances of Mrs. Martha Fowkes, +a lady of exquisite taste in the belle accomplishments. As to Mr. +Hammond's own pieces, he acknowleges in his preface, that they were +written at very different times, and particularly owned by him, lest +they should afterwards be ascribed to other persons; as the Ode on +Solitude, was falsely ascribed to the earl of Roscommon, and other +pieces of his, were likewise given to other authors. + +This author wrote the Life of Walter Moyle Esq; prefixed to his +works.----Mr. Hammond died about the year 1726. + + +[Footnote A: Coxeter's Miscellaneous Notes.] + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. Mr. LAWRENCE EUSDEN. + + +This gentleman was descended from a very good family in the kingdom of +Leland, but received his education at Trinity college in Cambridge. +He was honoured with the encouragement of that eminent patron of the +poets the earl of Halifax, to whom he consecrated the first product of +his Muse. He enjoyed likewise the patronage of the duke of Newcastle, +who being lord chamberlain, at the death of Mr. Rowe, preferred him to +the Bays. + +Mr. Eusden was for some part of his life chaplain to Richard lord +Willoughby de Brook: In this peaceful situation of life, one would not +expect Mr. Eusden should have any enemies, either of the literary, or +any other sort. But we find he has had many, amongst whom Mr. Pope is +the most formidable both in power and keenness. In his Dunciad, Book +I. Line 101. where he represents Dulness taking a view of her sons, he +says + + She saw old Pryn, in restless Daniel shine, + And Eusden eke out Blackmore's endless line. + +Mr. Oldmixon likewise in his Art of Logic and Rhetoric, page 413, +affirms, 'That of all the Galimatias he ever met with, none comes up +to some verses of this poet, which have as much of the ridiculum and +the fustian in them, as can well be jumbled together, and are of that +sort of nonsense, which so perfectly confounds all ideas, that there +is no distinct one left in the mind. Further he says of him, that he +hath prophesy'd his own poetry shall be sweeter than Catullus, Ovid +and Tibullus; but we have little hope of the accomplishment of it from +what he hath lately published.' Upon which Mr. Oldmixon has not spared +a reflexion, that the placing the laurel on the head of one who wrote +such verses, will give posterity a very lively idea of the justice and +judgment of those who bestowed it. + +Mr. Oldmixon no doubt by this reflexion insinuates, that the laurel +would have better become his own brows than Eusden's; but it would +perhaps have been more decent for him to acquiesce in the opinion of +the duke of Buckingham (Sheffield) who in his Session of the Poets +thus mentions Eusden. + + --In rush'd Eusden, and cry'd, who shall have it, + But I the true Laureat to whom the king gave it? + Apollo begg'd pardon, and granted his claim, + But vow'd that till then, he ne'er heard of his name. + +The truth is, Mr. Eusden wrote an Epithalamium on the marriage of +his grace the duke of Newcastle, to the right honourable the lady +Henrietta Godolphin; which was considered as so great a compliment by +the duke, that in gratitude for it, he preferred him to the laurel. +Nor can I at present see how he could have made a better choice: We +shall have occasion to find, as we enumerate his writings, that he +was no inconsiderable versifier, and though perhaps he had not the +brightest parts; yet as we hear of no moral blemish imputed to him, +and as he was dignified with holy-orders, his grace acted a very +generous part, in providing for a man who had conferred an obligation +on him. The first rate poets were either of principles very different +from the government, or thought themselves too distinguished to +undergo the drudgery of an annual Ode; and in this case Eusden seems +to have had as fair a claim as another, at least a better than his +antagonist Oldmixon. He succeeded indeed a much greater poet than +himself, the ingenious Mr. Rowe, which might perhaps draw some +ridicule upon him. + +Mr. Cooke, in his Battle of the Poets, speaks thus of our author. + + Eusden, a laurel'd bard, by fortune rais'd + By very few was read, by fewer prais'd. + +A fate which some critics are of opinion must befall the very poet +himself, who is thus so ready to expose his brother. + +The chief of our author's poetical writings are these, + +To the lord Hallifax, occasioned by the translating into Latin his +lordship's Poem on the Battle of the Boyne. + +On the duke of Marlborough's victory at Oudenaid. + +A Letter to Mr. Addison. + +On the king's accession to the throne. +To the reverend doctor Bentley, on the opening of Trinity-College Chapel, +Cambridge. + +On a Lady, who is the most beautiful and witty when she is angry. + + This poem begins with these lines. + + + Long had I known the soft, inchanting wiles, + Which Cupid practised in Aurelia's smiles. + 'Till by degrees, like the fam'd Asian taught, + Safely I drank the sweet, tho' pois'nous draught. + Love vex'd to see his favours vainly shown, + The peevish Urchin murthered with a frown. + +Verses at the last public commencement at Cambridge, spoken by the +author. + +The Court of Venus, from Claudian. + +The Speech of Pluto to Proserpine. + +Hero and Leander, translated from the Greek of Musaeus. + + This Piece begins thus, + + + Sing Muse, the conscious torch, whose mighty flame, + (The shining signal of a brighter dame) + Thro' trackless waves, the bold Leander led, + To taste the dang'rous joys of Hero's bed: + Sing the stol'n bliss, in gloomy shades conceal'd, + And never to the blushing morn reveal'd. + +A Poem on the Marriage of his grace the duke of Newcastle to the +right honourable Henrietta Godolphin, which procured him, as we have +observed already, the place of laureat. The lord Roscommon's Essay on +translated verse, rendered into Latin. + +An Epistle to Sir Robert Walpole. + +Three Poems; I. On the death of the late king; II. On the Accession of +his present majesty. III. On the Queen. + +On the arrival of Prince Frederic. + +The origin of the Knights of the Bath, inscribed to the Duke of +Cumberland. + +An Ode for the Birth-Day, in Latin and English, printed at Cambridge. + +He died at his rectory at Conesby in Lincolnshire, the 27th of +September, 1730. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. MR. LAWRENCE EACHARD, + + +This Gentleman, who has been more distinguished as an historian than +a poet, was the son of a clergyman, who by the death of his elder +brother, became master of a good estate in Suffolk. + +He received his education at the university of Cambridge, entered into +holy-orders, and was presented to the living of Welton and Elkington +in Lincolnshire, where he spent above twenty years of his life; and +acquired a name by his writings, especially the History of England. +This history was attacked by Dr. Edmund Calamy, in a letter to the +author; in which, according to the Dr. the true principles of the +Revolution, the Whigs and the Dissenters are vindicated; and many +persons of distinction cleared from Mr. Eachard's aspersions. + +Mr. John Oldmixon, who was of very opposite principles to Eachard, +severely animadverted upon him in his Critical History of England, +during the reigns of the Stuarts; but as Oldmixon was a hireling, and +a man strongly biassed by party prejudices, little credit is due to +his testimony: Which is moreover accompanied with a perpetual torrent +of abuse. Mr. Eachard's general Ecclesiastical History, from the +nativity of Christ to the first establishment of Christianity by human +laws, under the emperor Constantine the Great, has been much esteemed. +Our author was in the year 1712 installed archdeacon of Stowe, and +prebend of Lincoln. He published a translation of Terence's Comedies, +translated by himself and others; but all revised and corrected by him +and Sir Roger L'Estrange: To which is prefixed the life of Terence. +Besides these, Mr. Eachard has translated three Comedies from Plautus, +viz. + + AMPHITRYON, + EPIDICUS. + RUDENS. + +With critical remarks upon each play. To which he has prefixed a +judicious parallel between Terence and Plautus; and for a clearer +decision of the point, that Terence was the more polite writer of +Comedy, he produces the first act of Plautus's Aulularia, and the +first act of his Miles Gloriosus, against the third act of Terence's +Eunuch. It ought to be observed (says Mr. Eachard) 'That Plautus was +somewhat poor, and made it his principal aim to please, and tickle +the common people; and since they were almost always delighted with +something new, strange, and unusual, the better to humour them, he was +not only frequently extravagant in his expressions, but likewise in +his characters too, and drew them often more vicious, more covetous, +and more foolish than they really were, and this so set the people a +gazing and wondering. With these sort of characters many of our modern +Comedies abound, which makes them too much degenerate into farce, +which seldom fails of pleasing the mob.' + +Mr. Eachard has, in justice to Mr. Dryden, given us some instances +of his improvement of Amphitryon, and concludes them with this just +remark in compliment to our nation; 'We find that many fine things of +the ancients, are like seeds, that when planted on English ground, by +a poet's skilful hand, thrive and produce excellent fruit.' + +These three plays are printed in a pocket-volume, dedicated to Sir +Charles Sedley; to which is prefixed a recommendatory copy of verses, +by Mr. Tate. + +Mr. Eachard died in the year 1730. + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN OLDMIXON, + + +Was descended from the ancient family of the Oldmixons, of Oldmixon +near Bridgewater in Somersetshire[A]. We have no account of the +education of this gentleman, nor the year in which he was born. The +first production we meet with of his was Amyntas, a pastoral, acted at +the Theatre-Royal, taken from the Amynta of Tasso. The preface informs +us, that it met with but ill success, for pastoral, though never +so well written, is not fit for a long entertainment on the English +Theatre: But the original pleased in Italy, where the performance of +the musical composer is generally more regarded than that of the poet. +The Prologue was written by Mr. Dennis. Mr. Oldmixon's next piece was +entitled the Grave, or Love's Paradise; an Opera represented at +the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, 1700. In the preface, the author +acquaints the critics, 'That this play is neither translation, nor +parody; that the story is intirely new; that 'twas at first intended +for a pastoral, tho' in the three last acts the dignity of the +character raised it into the form of a tragedy.' The scene a Province +of Italy, near the Gulph of Venice. The Epilogue was written by Mr. +Farquhar. + +Our author's next dramatic piece is entitled: The Governor of Cyprus, +a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, +dedicated to her grace the duchess of Bolton. + +Mr. Oldmixon, in a Prose Essay on Criticism, unjustly censures Mr. +Addison, whom also, in his imitation of Bouhour's Arts of Logic and +Rhetoric, he misrepresents in plain matter of fact: For in page 45 he +cites the Spectator, as abusing Dr. Swift by name, where there is not +the least hint of it; and in page 304 is so injurious as to suggest, +that Mr. Addison himself wrote that Tatler, Numb. XLIII. which says of +his own simile, 'That it is as great as ever entered into the mind of +man.' This simile is in Addison's poem, entitled the Campaign. Where, +says the author of the Letter, 'The simile of a ministering Angel, +sets forth the most sedate and the most active courage, engaged in +an uproar of nature, a confusion of elements, and a scene of divine +vengeance.' + + 'Twas then great Marlbro's mighty soul was prov'd, + That, in the shock of charging hosts unmov'd, + Amidst confusion, horror, and despair, + Examin'd all the dreadful scenes of war; + In peaceful thought, the field of death survey'd + To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid, + Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + So when an Angel by divine command, + With rising tempests shakes a guilty hand, + Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past, + Calm and serene, he drives the furious blast, + And, pleas'd th' Almighty's orders to perform, + Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm. + +That this letter could not be written by Mr. Addison, there is all the +evidence the nature of the thing will admit, to believe; for first, +Sir Richard Steele avow'd it to be his, and in the next place, it is +not probable that Mr. Addison himself had so high an opinion of this +simile, as to call it as great as ever entered into the thought of +man; for it has in reality no uncommon greatness in it. The image +occurs a thousand times in the book of Psalms; so that it has not +novelty to recommend it, and the manner of its being expressed, is no +way extraordinary. The high terms in which it is celebrated, is the +language of friendship, not of judgment. It is very probable Sir +Richard Steele, warm'd with a favourite subject, and zealous for the +fame of Addison, might express himself thus hyperbolically concerning +it; but Mr. Addison was too judicious a critic, to think or speak of +it in these terms, and was besides too cautious to run the risk of +doing it himself in so public a manner. In a word, Mr. Oldmixon was an +envious man, and we have seen with how little ground of resentment +he railed against Eusden, because that gentleman was preferred to the +Laurel. + +Mr. Oldmixon joined the general cry of the underling writers against +Mr. Pope; and wrote many letters in the Flying Post, with an intention +to reduce his reputation, with as little success as his other +antagonists had done. In his prose Essay on Criticism, and in the Arts +of Logic and Rhetoric, he frequently reflects on Pope, for which he +has received a place in his Dunciad. + +When that eminent satyrist in his second Book, line 270, represents +the Dunces diving for the Prize of Dulness, he in a particular manner +dignifies Oldmixon, for he makes him climb a lighter, that by leaping +from it, he may sink the deeper in the mud. + + In naked majesty Oldmixon stands, + And, Milo-like, surveys his arms and hands, + Then sighing thus: 'And am I now threescore? + 'Ah why, ye Gods! should two and two make 'four? + He said and climb'd a stranded lighter's height, + Shot to the black abyss, and plung'd down-right. + The Senior's judgment all the crowd admire, + Who but to sink the deeper, rose the higher. + +Mr. Oldmixon wrote a history of the Stuarts in folio, and a Critical +History of England, in two volumes octavo. The former of these +pieces was undertaken to blacken the family of the Stuarts. The most +impartial writers and candid critics, on both sides, have held this +work in contempt, for in every page there breathes a malevolent +spirit, a disposition to rail and calumniate: So far from observing +that neutrality and dispassionate evenness of temper, which should +be carefully attended to by every historian, he suffers himself to +be transported with anger: He reviles, wrests particular passages and +frequently draws forced conclusions. A history written in this spirit +has no great claim to a reader's faith. The reigns of the Stuarts +in England were no doubt chequer'd with many evils; and yet it is +certainly true, that a man who can fit deliberately down to search +for errors only, must have a strong propension to calumny, or at least +take delight in triumphing over the weakness of his fellow creatures, +which is surely no indication of a good heart. + +Mr. Oldmixon, being employ'd by bishop Kennet, in publishing the +Historians in his collection, he perverted Daniel's Chronicle in +numberless places. Yet this very man, in the preface to the first of +these, advanced a particular fact, to charge three eminent persons +of interpolating the lord Clarendon's History, which fact has been +disproved by the bishop of Rochester, Dr. Atterbury, then the only +survivor of them; and the particular part he pretended to be falsifed +produced since, after almost ninety years, in that noble author's own +hand. + +He was all his life a virulent Party-Writer, and received his reward +in a small part in the revenue at Liverpool, where he died in an +advanced age, but in what year we cannot learn. + +Mr. Oldmixon, besides the works we have mentioned, was author of a +volume of Poems, published in 1714. + +The Life of Arthur Maynwaring, Esq; prefixed to the works of that +author, by Mr. Oldmixon. + +England's Historical Epistles (Drayton's revived). + +The Life of queen Anne. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob's Lives of the Poets, p. 197.] + + * * * * * + + + + +LEONARD WELSTED, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from a very good family in +Leicestershire, and received the rudiments of his education in +Westminster school. We are informed by major Cleland, author of a +Panegyric on Mr. Pope, prefixed to the Dunciad, that he was a member +of both the universities. + +In a piece said to have been written by Mr. Welsted, called The +Characters of the Times, printed in 8vo. 1728, he gives this account +of himself; 'Mr. Welsted had in his youth raised so great expectations +of his future genius, that there was a kind of struggle between the +two universities, which should have the honour of his education; to +compound this, he civilly became a member of both, and after having +passed some time at the one, he removed to the other. From thence he +returned to town, where he became the darling expectation of all the +polite writers, whose encouragement he acknowledged in his occasional +poems, in a manner that will make no small part of the fame of his +protectors. It also appears from his works, that he was happy in +the patronage of the most illustrious characters of the present age. +Encouraged by such a combination in his favour, he published a book of +poems, some in the Ovidian, some in the Horatian manner, in both which +the most exquisite judges pronounced he even rivalled his masters. +His love verses have rescued that way of writing from contempt. In his +translations he has given us the very soul and spirit of his author. +His Odes; his Epistles; his Verses; his Love Tales; all are the most +perfect things in all poetry.' + +If this representation of our author's abilities were just, it would +seem no wonder, if the two universities should strive with each other +for the honour of his education, but it is certain the world have +not coincided with this opinion of Mr. Welsted; who, by the way, can +hardly be thought the author of such an extravagant self-approbation, +unless it be an irony, which does not seem improbable. + +Our author, however, does not appear to have been a mean poet; he had +certainly from nature an exceeding fine genius, but after he came to +town he became a votary to pleasure, and the applauses of his friends, +which taught him to overvalue his talents, perhaps slackened his +diligence, and by making him trust solely to nature, flight the +assistance of art. + +In the year 1718 he wrote the Triumvirate, or a Letter in Verse from +Palemon to Celia from Bath, which was meant as a satire against Mr. +Pope. He wrote federal other occasional pieces against this gentleman, +who, in recompence of his enmity, has mentioned him twice in his +Dunciad. In book ii. 1. 200 where he represents the poets flattering +their patrons with the fulsome strains of panegyric, in order to +procure from them that which they very much wanted, viz. money, he +shews Welsted as unsuccessful. + + But Welsted most the poet's healing balm, + Strives to extract from his soft giving palm; + Unlucky Welsted! thy unfeeling master, + The more thou ticklest, gripes his fist the faster. + +Mr. Welsted was likewise characterised in the Treatise of the Art of +Sinking, as a Didapper, and after as an Eel. He was likewise described +under the character of another animal, a Mole, by the author of the +following simile, which was handed about at the same time. + + Dear Welsted, mark in dirty hole + That painful animal a Mole: + Above ground never born to go, + What mighty stir it keeps below? + To make a molehill all this strife! + It digs, pukes, undermines for life. + How proud a little dirt to spread! + Conscious of nothing o'er its head. + 'Till lab'ring on, for want of eyes, + It blunders into light--and dies. + +But mentioning him once was not enough for Mr. Pope. He is again +celebrated in the third book, in that famous Parody upon Benham's +Cooper's Hill, + + O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream + My great example, as it is my theme; + Tho' deep, yet clear; tho' gentle, yet not dull; + Strong without rage; without o'er flowing full. + + Denham. + + + +Which Mr. Pope has thus parodied; + + Flow Welsted, flow; like thine inspirer, beer, + Tho' stale, not ripe; tho' thin, yet never clear; + So sweetly mawkish, and so smoothly dull; + Heady, not strong; and foaming, tho' not full. + +How far Mr. Pope's insinuation is true, that Mr. Welsted owed his +inspiration to beer, they who read his works may determine for +themselves. Poets who write satire often strain hard for ridiculous +circumstances, in order to expose their antagonists, and it will be +no violence to truth to say, that in search of ridicule, candour is +frequently lost. + +In the year 1726 Mr. Welsted brought upon the stage a comedy called +The Dissembled Wantons or My Son get Money. He met with the patronage +of the duke of Newcastle, who was a great encourager of polite +learning; and we find that our author had a very competent place in +the Ordnance-Office. + +His poetical works are chiefly these, + +The Duke of Marlborough's Arrival, a Poem printed in fol. 1709, +inscribed to the Right Hon the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. + +A Poem to the Memory of Mr. Philips, inscribed to Lord Bolingbroke, +printed in fol. 1710. + +A Discourse to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Walpole; to which is annexed +Proposals for Translating the whole Works of Horace, with a Specimen +of the Performance, viz. Lib. Ist. Ode 1, 3, 5 and 22, printed in 4to. +1727. + +An Ode to the Hon. Major General Wade, on Occasion of his disarming +the Highlands, imitated from Horace. + +To the Earl of Clare, on his being created Duke of Newcastle. An Ode +on the Birth-Day of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. To the +Princess, a Poem. Amintor and the Nightingale, a Song. These four were +printed together in 1716. + +Of False Fame, an Epistle to the Right Hon. the Earl of Pembroke, 8vo. +1732. + +A Letter to his Grace the Duke of Chandois. + +To the Duke of Buckingham, on his Essay on Poetry. + +Several small pieces in the Free Thinker. + +Epistles, Odes, &c. written on several Subjects; with a Disseration +concerning the Perfection of the English Language. + +Mr. Welsted has translated Longinus's Treatise on the Sublime. + + * * * * * + + + + +JAMES MORE SMYTH, Esq; + + +This gentleman was son of Arthur More, esq; one of the lords +commissioners of trade, in the reign of Queen Anne; his mother was the +daughter of Mr. Smyth, a man of considerable fortune, who left this +his grandson a handsome estate, on which account he obtained an Act of +Parliament to change his name to Smyth. + +Our author received his education at Oxford, and while he remained +at the university he wrote a comedy called The Rival Modes, his only +dramatic performance. This play was condemned in the representation, +but he printed it in 1727, with the following motto, which the author +of the Notes to the Dunciad, by way of irony, calls modest. + + Hic coestus, artemque repono. + +Upon the death of our author's grandfather, he enjoyed the place of +paymaster to the band of gentlemen-pensioners, in conjunction with his +younger brother, Arthur More; of this place his mother procured the +reversion from his late Majesty during his father's lifetime. Being a +man of a gay disposition, he insinuated himself into the favour of his +grace the duke of Wharton, and being, like him, destitute of prudence, +he joined with that volatile great man in writing a paper called the +Inquisitor, which breathed so much the spirit of Jacobitism, that the +publisher thought proper to sacrifice his profit to his safety, and +discontinue it. + +By using too much freedom with the character of Pope, he provoked that +gentleman, who with great spirit stigmatized him in his Dunciad. +In his second book Mr. Pope places before the eyes of the dunces +the phantom of a poet. He seems willing to give some account of the +possibility of dulness making a wit, which can be done no otherwise +than by chance. The lines which have relation to Mr. More are so +elegantly satyric, that it probably will not displease our readers to +find them inserted here. + + A poet's form she plac'd before their eyes, + And bad the nimblest racer seize the prize; + No meagre muse-rid mope, adult and thin, + In a dun night gown of his own loose skin, + But such a bulk as no twelve bards could raise, + Twelve starv'ling bards of these degenerate days. + All as a partridge plump, full-fed, and fair, + She form'd this image of well-bodied air, + With pert, slat eyes, she window'd well its head, + A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead, + And empty words she gave, and sounding strain, + But senseless, lifeless! idol void and vain! + Never was dash'd out at one lucky hit, + A fool so just a copy of a wit; + So like, that critics said, and courtiers swore, + A wit it was, and call'd the phantom More. + +Though these lines of Pope are sufficiently satirical, yet it seems +they very little affected Mr. More. A gentleman intimately acquainted +with him informs us, that he has heard Mr. More several times repeat +those lines, without discovering any chagrin; and he used to observe, +that he was now secure of being transmitted to posterity: an honour +which, says he, I could never have arrived at, but by Pope's means. +The cause of the quarrel between this gentleman and that great poet +seems to have been this. + +In a letter published in the Daily Journal March 18, 1728, written by +Mr. More, he has the following words, 'Upon reading the third volume +of Pope's Miscellanies, I found five lines which I thought excellent, +and happening to praise them, a gentleman produced a modern comedy, +the Rival Modes, published last year, where were the same verses to +a tittle. These gentlemen are undoubtedly the first plagiaries that +pretend to make a reputation, by stealing from a man's works in his +own life-time, and out of a public print.' But it is apparent from the +notes to the Dunciad, that Mr. More himself borrowed the lines from +Pope; for in a letter dated January 27, 1726, addressed to Mr. Pope, +he observes, 'That these verses which he had before given him leave to +insert in the Rival Modes, would be known for his, some copies being +got abroad. He desires, nevertheless, that since the lines in his +comedy have been read to several, Mr. Pope would not deprive it of +them.' + +As a proof of this circumstance, the testimony of lord Bolingbroke +is adduced, and the lady of Hugh Bethel, esq; to whom the verses were +originally addressed, who knew them to be Mr. Pope's long before the +Rival Modes was composed. + +Our author further charges Mr. Pope with being an enemy to the church +and state. 'The Memoirs of a Parish Clerk, says he, was a very dull, +and unjust abuse of the bishop of Sarum (who wrote in defence of our +religion and constitution) who has been dead many years.' 'This also, +continues the author of the Notes to the Dunciad, is likewise untrue, +it being known to divers, that these Memoirs were written at the +seat of the lord Harcourt in Oxfordshire, before the death of bishop +Burnet, and many years before the appearance of that history, of which +they are pretended to be an abuse. Most true it is that Mr. More had +such a design, and was himself the man who pressed Dr. Arbuthnot, and +Mr. Pope to assist him therein; and that he borrowed those Memoirs of +the latter, when that history came forth, with intent to turn them to +such abuse, but being able to obtain from Pope but one single hint, +and either changing his mind, or having more mind than ability, he +contented himself to keep the said Memoirs, and read them as his own +to all his acquaintance. A noble person there is, into whose +company Pope once chanced to introduce him, who well remembered the +conversation of Mr. More to have turned upon the contempt he had for +that reverend prelate, and how full he was of a design he declared +himself to have of exposing him; this noble person is the earl of +Peterborough.' + +Thus Mr. Pope was obliged to represent this gentleman as a plagiary, +or to pass for one himself. His case indeed, as the author of the +notes to the Dunciad observes, was like that of a man who, as he +was sitting in company, perceived his next neighbour had stolen his +handkerchief. 'Sir, said the thief, finding himself detected, do not +expose me, I did it for mere want; be so good but to take it privately +out of my pocket again, and say nothing.' The honest man did so, but +the other cried out, See, gentlemen! what a thief we have among us! +look, he is stealing my handkerchief.' The plagiarism of this person +gave occasion to the following epigram; + + More always smiles whenever he recites; + He smiles (you think) approving what he writes; + And yet in this no vanity is shown; + A modest man may like what's not his own. + +The smaller pieces which we have heard attributed to this author, are, +An Epigram on the Bridge at Blenheim, by Dr. Evans; Cosmelia, by Mr. +Pitt, Mr. Jones, &c. The Saw-Pit, a Simile, by a Friend; and some +unowned Letters, Advertisements, and Epigrams against Mr. Pope in +the Daily Journal. He died in the year 1734, and as he wrote but one +comedy unsuccessfully, and no other pieces of his meeting with any +applause, the reader will probably look upon him as a man of little +genius; he had a power however of rendering his conversation agreeable +by a facetious and gentleman-like manner, without any of the stiffness +of the scholar, or the usual petulance of a poet. He always lived in +affluent circumstances, and by mixing with genteel company, his habit +of elegance was never lost, a fate which too frequently happens to +those, who, notwithstanding the brightest parts, are excluded the +circle of politeness by the oppressions of poverty. In this light Mr. +Pope must have considered him, or he, who was one of the politest men +of the age, as well as the greatest poet, would never have introduced +him to the earl of Peterborough. It does not appear that Mr. More had +parts otherwise sufficient to entitle him to the notice of Pope, and +therefore he must have considered him only as a gentleman. Had he +possessed as much prudence, as politeness, he would have avoided +by all means incurring the displeasure of Pope, who, as he was the +warmest friend, was likewise a very powerful and implacable enemy. In +this controversy, however, it is evident enough that Mr. Moore was +the aggressor, and it is likewise certain that his punishment has been +equal to his offence. + +He died October 18, 1734, at Whister, near Isleworth in Middlesex, for +which county he was a justice of peace. + + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN DENNIS, + + +This celebrated critic was born in London in the year 1657, his father +being a Sadler, and an eminent citizen[A]. + +He received his early education at Harrow on the Hill, under the pious +and learned Dr. William Horn, having for his schoolfellows many young +noblemen, who afterwards made a considerable figure in the state. +He removed from Harrow to Caius College in Cambridge, where he was +admitted January 13, 1675, in the 18th year of his age. In due time +Mr. Dennis took the degree of bachelor of arts, and after quitting +the university he indulged a passion which he had entertained for +travelling, and set out for France and Italy. In the course of his +travels he, no doubt, made such observations upon the government and +genius of the people whom he visited, as enabled him to make a +just comparison between foreign states and his own country. In +all probability, while he was in France and Italy, he conceived an +abhorrence of despotic government, the effects of which he then had +an opportunity more intimately to discern; for he returned home still +more confirmed in Whig principles, by which his political conduct was +ever governed. + +Our author in his early years became acquainted with some of the +brightest geniuses which then illuminated the regions of wit, such as +Dryden, Wycherly, Congreve, and Southern. Their conversation was +in itself sufficient to divert his mind from the acquisition of any +profitable art, or the exercise of any profession. He ranked himself +amongst the wits, and from that moment held every attainment in +contempt, except what related to poetry, and taste. + +Mr. Dennis, by the instances of zeal which he gave for the Protestant +succession in the reign of King William, and Queen Anne, obtained the +patronage of the duke of Marlborough, who procured him the place +of one of the Queen's waiters in the Custom-house, worth 120 l. +per annum, which Mr. Dennis held for six years. During the time he +attended at the Custom-house, he lived so profusely, and managed +his affairs with so little economy, that in order to discharge some +pressing demands, he was obliged to dispose of his place. When the +earl of Hallifax, with whom he had the honour of being acquainted, +heard of Mr. Dennis's design, he sent for him, and in the most +friendly manner, expostulated with him upon the folly, and rashness +of disposing of his place, by which (says his lordship) you will +soon become a beggar. Mr. Dennis represented his exigences, and the +pressing demands that were then made upon him: which did not however +satisfy his lordship, who insisted if he did sell it, it should be +with some reversion to himself for the space of forty years, a term +which the earl had no notion Mr. Dennis could exceed. But he was +mistaken in his calculation upon our poet's constitution, who +out-lived the term of forty years stipulated when he sold his place, +and fulfilled in a very advanced age, what his lordship had prophesied +would befal him. This circumstance our author hints at in his +dedication of his poem on the Battle of Ramellies, to lord Hallifax, +'I have lately, says he, had very great obligations to your lordship, +you have been pleased to take some care of my fortune, at a time when +I most wanted it, and had the least reason to expect it from you.' +This poem on the Battle of Ramellies is a cold unspirited performance; +it has neither fire, nor elevation, and is the true poetical sister +of another poem of his, on the Battle of Blenheim, addressed to Queen +Anne, and for which the duke of Marlborough rewarded him, says Mr. +Coxeter, with a present of a hundred guineas. In these poems he +has introduced a kind of machinery; good and bad angels interest +themselves in the action, and his hero, the duke of Marlborough, +enjoys a large share of the celestial protection. + +Mr. Dennis had once contracted a friendship[B] with Sir Richard +Steele, whom he afterwards severely attacked. Sir Richard had promised +that he would take some opportunity of mentioning his works in public +with advantage, and endeavour to raise his reputation. When Sir +Richard engaged in a periodical paper, there was a fair occasion +of doing it, and accordingly in one of his Spectators he quotes the +following couplet, which he is pleased to call humorous, but which +however is a translation from Boileau. + + One fool lolls his tongue out at another, + And shakes his empty noddle at his brother. + +The citation of this couplet Mr. Dennis imagined, was rather meant to +affront him, than pay a compliment to his genius, as he could discover +nothing excellent in the lines, and if there was, they being only a +translation, in some measure abated the merit of them. Being fired with +resentment at this affront, he immediately, in a spirit of fury, wrote +a letter to the Spectator, in which he treated him with very little +ceremony, and informed him, that if he had been sincere in paying a +compliment to him, he should have chosen a quotation from his poem on +the Battle of Ramellies; he then points out a particular passage, +of which he himself had a very high opinion, and which we shall here +insert as a specimen of that performance. + +A coelestial spirit visits the duke of Marlborough the night before +the battle, and after he has said several other things to him, goes on +thus, + + A wondrous victory attends thy arms, + Great in itself, and in its sequel vast; + Whose ecchoing sound thro' all the West shall run, + Transporting the glad nations all around, + Who oft shall doubt, and oft suspend their joy, + And oft imagine all an empty dream; + The conqueror himself shall cry amaz'd, + 'Tis not our work, alas we did it not; + The hand of God, the hand of God is here! + For thee, so great shall be thy high renown, + That same shall think no music like thy name, + Around the circling globe it shall be spread, + And to the world's last ages shall endure; + And the most lofty, most aspiring man, + Shall want th' assurance in his secret prayers + To ask such high felicity and fame, + As Heav'n has freely granted thee; yet this + That seems so great, so glorious to thee now, + Would look how low, how vile to thy great mind, + If I could set before th' astonished eyes, + Th' excess of glory, and th' excess of bliss + That is prepar'd for thy expiring soul, + When thou arriv'st at everlasting day. + +The quotation by Mr. Dennis is longer, but we are persuaded the reader +will not be displeased that we do not take the trouble to transcribe +the whole, as it does not improve, but rather grows more languid. +How strangely are people deceived in their own productions! In the +language of sincerity we cannot discover a poetical conception, one +striking image, or one animated line in the above, and yet Mr. Dennis +observes to Sir Richard Steele, that these are the lines, by quoting +which, he would really have done him honour. + +But Mr. Dennis's resentment did not terminate here; he attempted to +expose a paper in the Spectator upon dramatic conduct, in which +the author endeavours to shew that a poet is not always obliged to +distribute poetical justice on this very reasonable account, that +good and evil happen alike to all men on this side the grave. To this +proposition our critic objects, 'that it is not only a very false, but +a dangerous assertion, that we neither know what men really are, nor +what they suffer. Besides, says he, let it be considered, that a man +is a creature, who is created immortal, and a creature consequently +that will find a compensation in futurity, for any seeming inequality +in his destiny here; but the creatures of a poetical creator, are +imaginary, and transitory; they have no longer duration than the +representation of their respective fables, and consequently if +they offend, they must be punished during that representation, and +therefore we are very far from pretending, that poetical justice is +an equal representation of the justice of the Almighty.' In support +of this opinion our critic produces the example of Euripides, and the +best poets amongst the ancients, who practised it, and the authority +of Aristole, who established the rule. But nature, or Shakespear, +which is another word for nature, is by no means in favour of this +equal distribution. No character can be represented in tragedy +absolutely perfect, as no such character exists; but a character which +possesses more virtues than vices, may be upon the whole amiable, and +yet with the strictest propriety may be made the chief sufferer in the +drama. If any passion strongly predominates in the heart of man, +it will often expose him to such snares, entangle him in such +difficulties, and oppress him with such wants, that in the very nature +of things, he must sink under the complicated weight of misery. This +may happen to a character extremely amiable, the passion which governs +him may be termed unhappy, but not guilty, or if it should partake the +nature of guilt, fallible creatures cannot always combat with success +against guilty passions. + +The drama being an imitation of nature, the poet causes a composition +of characters formed in his imagination to be represented by players; +these characters charm, or displease, not only for what they do; +during the representation of the fable, but we love, or hate them for +what they have done before their appearance; and we dread, or warmly +expect the consequences of their resolutions after they depart the +stage. The illusion would not be sufficiently strong, if we did not +suppose the dramatic persons equally accountable to the powers above +us, as we are ourselves. This Shakespear has taken care forcibly to +impress upon his audience, in making the ghost of the murthered king +of Denmark, charge his son not to touch his mother's life, but leave +her to heaven; and the reflexions of her own conscience to goad and +sting her. + +Mr. Dennis's reasoning, upon the whole amounts to this, that no +perfect character should suffer in the drama; to which it may be +answered, that no perfect character ever did suffer in the drama; +because no poet who draws from nature, ever introduced one, for this +very good reason, that there are none in existence. + +Mr. Dennis, who was restless in attacking those writers, who met with +success, levelled some more criticisms against the Spectators; and +amongst the rest endeavoured to expose Mr. Addison's Illustrations of +the Old Ballad, called Chevy Chace; of which we shall only say, +that he performed this talk more successfully than he executed his +Animadversions upon Poetical Justice. + +We have already taken notice of the warm attachment Mr. Dennis always +had to the Whig-Interest, and his particular zeal for the +Hanoverian succession. Ht wrote many letters and pamphlets, for the +administration of the earl of Godolphin, and the duke of Marlborough, +and never failed to lash the French with all the severity natural to +him. + +When the peace (which the Whigs reckoned the most inglorious that +ever was made) was about to be ratified, Mr. Dennis, who certainly +over-rated his importance, took it into his imagination, that when the +terms of peace should be stipulated, some persons, who had been +most active against the French, would be demanded by that nation as +hostages; and he imagined himself of importance enough to be made +choice of, but dreaded his being given up to the French, as the +greatest evil that could befall him. Under the influence of this +strong delusion, he actually waited on the duke of Marlborough, and +begg'd his grace's interposition, that he might not be sacrificed to +the French, for says he, 'I have always been their enemy.' To this +strange request, his grace very gravely replied, 'Do not fear, Mr. +Dennis, you shall not be given up to the French; I have been a +greater enemy to them than you, and you see I am not afraid of being +sacrificed, nor am in the least disturbed.' Mr. Dennis upon this +retired, well satisfied with his grace's answer, but there still +remained upon his spirits a dread of his becoming a prey to some of +the enemies of Great Britain. + +He soon after this retired into the country, to spend some time at a +friend's house. While he was walking one day by the sea side, he saw a +ship in full sail approaching towards the shore, which his distracted +imagination dictated, was a French ship sent to carry him off. He +hurried to the gentleman's house with the utmost precipitation, +upbraided him with treachery, as being privy to the attempts of the +French against his life, and without ceremony quitted his house, and +posted to London, as fast as he could. + +Mr. Dennis, who never cared to be an unconcerned spectator, when any +business of a public or important nature was in agitation, entered +the lists with the celebrated Mr. Sacheverel, who in the year 1702 +published at Oxford a piece called the Political Union, the purport +of which was to shew, that the Church and the State are invariably +connected, and that the one cannot subsist without the other. Mr. +Dennis in answer to this, in a letter to a member of parliament, with +much zeal, force of argument, and less ferocity than usual, endeavours +to overthrow the proposition, and shew the danger of priestcraft, both +to religion and government. + +In this letter he very sensibly observes, 'That since the very spirit +of the christian religion, is the spirit of union and charity, it +follows by consequence, that a spirit of division, is a spirit of +malice, and of the Devil. A true son of the church, is he who appears +most for union, who breathes nothing but charity; who neglects all +worldly greatness to bear his master's yoke; and, who has learned of +him to be meek and lowly of heart.' + +He shews that the moderate part of the Church of England are the +truest church; and that violent party which differs from the moderate +ought to be called Dissenters, because they are at a greater distance +from charity, which is the characteristic of a true church, than any +Dissenters. By which, says he, 'It appears that Mr. Sacheverel has +made a rod to whip himself, for if only the true Church of England +is to remain, and if the moderate part is the true church, the most +violent ought the least to be tolerated, because they differ from +charity; and consequently are more ready to disturb the public peace.' + +In 1703 he published proposals for putting a speedy end to the war, by +ruining the commerce of the French and Spaniards, and securing our own +without any additional expence to the nation. This was thought a very +judicious, and well designed plan. + +In 1706 our author published an Essay on the Italian Opera, in +which, with an irresistable force, he shews the extreme danger that a +generous nation is exposed to, by too much indulging effeminate +music. In the preface he quotes a passage from Boileau, in which that +satirist expresses himself with much severity against emasculating +diversions; and the Italian music in particular. + +He observes, 'That the modern Italians have the very same sun and soil +with the antient Romans, and yet are their manners directly opposite. +Their men are neither virtuous, wise, or valiant, and they who have +reason to know their women, never trust them out of their sight. 'Tis +impossible to give any reason for so great a difference between the +ancient Romans, and the modern Italians, but only luxury; and the +reigning luxury of modern Italy, is that soft and effeminate music, +which abounds in the Opera.' + +In this Essay Mr. Dennis remarks, that entertainments entirely made +up of music can never instruct the mind, nor promote one excellent +purpose in human nature. 'Perhaps, says he, the pride and vanity that +is in mankind, may determine the generality to give into music, at the +expence of poetry. Men love to enjoy their pleasures entirely, and not +to have them restrained by awe, or curbed by mortification. Now there +are but few judicious spectators at our dramatic representations, +since none can be so, but who with great endowments of nature have had +a very generous education; and the rest are frequently mortified, by +passing foolish judgments: But in music the case is vastly different; +to judge of that requires only use, and a fine ear, which the footman +oft has a great deal finer than his master. In short, a man without +common sense may very well judge of what a man writes without common +sense, and without common sense composes.' He then inquires what +the consequence will be if we banish poetry, which is, that taste, +politeness, erudition and public spirit will fall with it, and all for +a Song. The declension of poetry in Greece and Rome was soon followed +by that of liberty and empire; according to Roscommon in his Essay on +Translated Verse. + + True poets are the guardians of a state, + And when they fail, portend approaching fate: + For that which Rome to conquest did inspire, + Was not the Vestal, but the Muses fire; + Heav'n joins the blessings, no declining age + E'er felt the raptures of poetic rage. + +In 1711 Mr. Dennis published an Essay upon Public Spirit, being a +satire in prose, upon the Manners and Luxury of the Times, the chief +sources of our present Parties and Divisions. This is one of the most +finished performances of our author; the intention is laudable, and +the execution equal to the goodness of the design. He begins the +Essay, with a definition, of the love of our country, shews how +much the phrase has been prostituted, and how seldom understood, or +practised in its genuine sense. He then observes how destructive it is +to indulge an imitation of foreign fashions; that fashions are often +followed by the manners of a people from whom they are borrowed; as +in the beginning of king Charles the IId's reign. After the general +distraction which was immediately consequent upon the Restoration, +lord Halifax informs us, the people began to shake off their slavery +in point of dress, and to be ashamed of their servility in that +particular; 'and that they might look the more, says his lordship, +like a distinct people, they threw off their fashions, and put on +vests: The French did not like this independence, this slight shewn to +their taste, as they thought it portended no good to their politics, +considering that it is a natural introduction, first to make the world +their asses, that they may afterwards make them their slaves. +They sent over the duchess of Portsmouth, who, besides many other +commissions, bore one to laugh us out of our vests, which she +performed so effectually, that in a moment we were like so many +footmen, who had quitted their masters livery, we took it again, and +returned to our old service. So that the very time of doing this gave +a very critical advantage to France, since it looked like an evidence +or returning to their interests, as well as their fashions.' + +After giving this quotation from the marquis of Halifax, he proceeds +to inveigh against the various kinds of luxury, in which people of +fashion indulge themselves. + +He observes that luxury has in a particular manner been destructive +to the ladies: 'That artificial dainties raise in their constitutions +fierce ebullitions, and violent emotions, too rude for the delicate +texture of their fibres; and for half the year together, they +neither take any air, nor use any exercise to remove them. From hence +distempers of body and mind; from hence an infinity of irregular +desires, unlawful amours, intrigues, vapours, and whimsies, and all +the numerous, melancholy croud of deep hysterical symptoms; from +hence it comes to pass that the fruit of their bodies lie in them like +plants in hot-beds; from hence it proceeds that our British maids, who +in the time of our Henrys, were not held marriageable till turned +of twenty, are now become falling ripe at twelve, and forced to +prematureness, by the heat of adventitious fire. Nor has luxury only +changed our natures, but transformed our sexes: We have men that are +more soft, more languid, and more passive than women. On the other +side we have women, who, as it were in revenge, are masculine in their +desires, and masculine in their practices.' + +In a pretty advanced age Mr. Dennis, who then laboured under severe +necessities, published two volumes of Letters, by subscription, which +are by far the most entertaining part of his writings. They have more +sprightliness and force in them than, from reading his other works, +we would be disposed to imagine. They are addressed to persons +distinguished by their fortune, genius, and exalted station; the +duke of Marlborough, the Lord Lansdowne, earl of Godolphin, earl of +Halifax, Mr. Dryden, Mr. Prior, Mr. Wycherley, Henry Cromwel, Esq; +Walter Moyle, Esq; and Sir Richard Blackmore. He entitles them +Letters, Moral and Critical. The Critical are chiefly imployed upon +Mr. Addison's Cato, which he censures in some places with great +justice, and critical propriety: In other places he only discovers +spleen, and endeavours to burlesque noble passages, merely from +resentment to the author. + +There is likewise published amongst these letters, an enquiry into +the genius and writings of Shakespear. He contends for Shakespear's +ignorance of the ancients, and observes, that it would derogate +much from his glory to suppose him to have read, or understood them, +because if he had, his not practicing their art, and not restraining +the luxuriance of his imagination would be a reproach to him. After +bestowing the highest panegyric upon Shakespear, he says, 'That he +seems to have been the very original of our English tragical harmony; +that is the harmony of blank verse, diversified often by dissyllable +and trisyllable terminations. For that diversity distinguishes it from +heroic harmony, and bringing it nearer to common use, makes it more +proper to gain attention, and more fit for action, and dialogue. Such +verses we make when we are writing prose, we make such verse in common +conversation.' + +One of the reasons Mr. Dennis assigns for Shakespear's want of +learning, is, that Julius Cæsar, in the play which goes by his name, +makes but a third rate figure, and had he (says the author) consulted +the Latin writers, he could not have been guilty of such an error; but +this is far from being conclusive, which might us well be owing to +his having a contempt for Cæsar's character, and an enthusiastic +admiration for those of Brutus and Cassius. + +Another prose Essay of Mr. Dennis's, which does him very great honour, +is his Grounds of Criticism in Poetry. Amongst many masterly things, +which he there advances, is the following. 'The antient poets (says +he) derived that advantage which they have over the moderns, to the +constituting their subjects after a religious manner; and from the +precepts of Longinus, it appears that the greatest sublimity is to be +derived from religious ideas.' + +Mr. Dennis then observes, that one of the principal reasons, that has +made the modern poetry so contemptible, is that by divesting itself of +religion, it is fallen from its dignity, and its original nature and +excellence; and from the greatest production in the mind of man, it is +dwindled to an extravagant, and vain amusement. When subjects are in +themselves great, the ideas of the writer must likewise be great; and +nothing is in its nature so dignified as religion. This he illustrates +by many examples from Milton, who when he raises his voice to heaven, +and speaks the language of the divinity, then does he reach the true +sublime; but when he descends to the more trifling consideration of +human things, his wing is necessarily depressed, and his strains are +less transporting. We shall now take a view of Mr. Dennis, in that +part of his life and writings, in which he makes a less considerable +figure, by exposing himself to the resentment of one so much his +superior; and who, after a long provocation, at last, let loose his +rage against him, in a manner that no time can obliterate. Mr. Dennis +we have already observed, waged a perpetual war with successful +writers, except those few who were his friends; but never engaged with +so much fury, and less justice, against the writings of any poet, as +those of Mr. Pope. + +Some time after the death of Dryden, when Pope's reputation began to +grow, his friends who were sanguine in his interest, were imprudent +enough to make comparisons, and really assert, that Pope was the +greatest poet of the two: Dennis, who had made court to Dryden, and +was respected by him, heard this with indignation, and immediately +exerted all the criticism and force of which he was master, to reduce +the character of Pope. In this attempt he neither has succeeded, nor +did he pursue it like a gentleman. + +In his reflexions on Pope's Essay on Criticism, he uses the following +unmannerly epithets. 'A young squab, short gentleman, whose outward +form tho' it should be that of a downright monkey, would not differ +so much from human shape, as his unthinking, immaterial part does +from human understanding.--He is as stupid and as venomous as an +hunch-backed toad.--A book through which folly and ignorance, those +brethren so lame, and impotent, do ridiculously look very big, and +very dull, and strut, and hobble cheek by jowl, with their arms on +kimbo, being led, and supported, and bully-backed, by that blind +Hector impudence.' The reasons which our critic gives for this +extraordinary fury are equally ridiculous. 'I regard him (says he) as +an enemy, not so much to me, as to my king, to my country, and to my +religion. The epidemic madness of the times has given him reputation, +and reputation is power; and that has made him dangerous. Therefore +I look on it as my duty to king George, and to the liberties of my +country, more dear than life to me, of which I have now been 40 +years a constant assertor, &c. I look upon it as my duty I say to +do,--Reader observe what,--To pull the lion's skin from this little +ass, which popular error has thrown round him, and shew that this +little author, who has been lately so much in vogue, has neither sense +in his thoughts, nor English in his expressions. See his Remarks on +Homer, Pref. p. 2. and p. 91. + +Speaking of Mr. Pope's Windsor-Forrest, he says, 'It is a wretched +rhapsody, impudently writ in emulation of Cooper's-Hill. The author +of it is obscure, is ambiguous, is affected, is temerarious, is +barbarous.' + +After these provocations, it is no wonder that Pope should take an +opportunity of recording him in his Dunciad; and yet he had some +esteem for our author's learning and genius. Mr. Dennis put his name +to every thing he wrote against him, which Mr. Pope considered as +a circumstance of candour. He pitied him as a man subject to the +dominion of invidious passions, than which no severer sensations can +tear the heart of man. + +In the first Book of his Dunciad. line 103, he represents Dullness +taking a view of her sons; and thus mentions Dennis, + + She saw slow Philips creep like Tate's poor page, + And all the mighty mad in Dennis rage. + +He mentions him again slightly in his second Book, line 230, and in +his third Book, line 165, taking notice of a quarrel between him and +Mr. Gildon, he says, + + Ah Dennis! Gildon ah! what ill-starr'd rage + Divides a friendship long confirm'd by age? + Blockheads, with reason, wicked wits abhor, + But fool with fool, is barbr'ous civil war, + Embrace, embrace, my sons! be foes no more! + Nor glad vile poets, with true critic's gore. + +Our author gained little by his opposition to Pope, in which he must +either have violated his judgment, or been under the influence of the +strongest prejudice that ever blinded the eyes of any man; for not to +admire the writings of this excellent poet, is an argument of a total +deprivation of taste, which in other respects does not appear to be +the case of Mr. Dennis. + +We shall now take a view of our author in the light of a dramatist. +In the year 1697 a comedy of his was acted at the Theatre-Royal +in Drury-Lane, called A Plot and No Plot, dedicated to the Earl of +Sunderland. The scope of this piece is to ridicule the credulity and +principles of the Jacobites, the moral of which is this, 'That there +are in all parties, persons who find it their interest to deceive +the rest, and that one half of every faction makes a property in +fee-simple of the other, therefore we ought never to believe any thing +will, or will not be, because it is agreeable, or contrary to our +humours, but because it is in itself likely, or improbable. Credulity +in men, engaged in a party, proceeds oftner from pride than weakness, +and it is the hardest thing in the world to impose upon a humble man.' +In 1699 a tragedy called Rinaldo and Armida was acted at the Theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, dedicated to the Duke of Ormond. Scene the +top of a mountain in the Canaries. The hint of the chief characters +is owing to Tasso's Gierusalemme, but the manners of them being by our +author thought unequal in that great Italian, he has taken the liberty +to change them, and form his characters more agreeable to the subject. +The reasons for doing it are expressed in the preface and prologue to +the play. + +Our author's next tragedy was upon the subject of Iphigenia, daughter +to Agamemnon King of Argos, acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn +1704. Iphigenia was to have been sacrificed by her father, who was +deluded by the fraud of Calchas, who proclaimed throughout the Grecian +fleet, that the offended gods demanded of Agamemnon the sacrifice of +his daughter to Lucina, and till, that oblation was offered, the fleet +would remain wind-bound. Accordingly, under pretence of marrying +her to Achilles, she was betrayed from Argos, but her mother, +Clytemnestra, discovering the cheat, by a stratagem prevented its +execution, and effected her rescue without the knowledge of any one +but her husband Agamemnon. A Grecian virgin being sacrificed in her +place, Iphigenia is afterwards wrecked on the Coast of Scythia, and +made the Priestess of Diana. In five years time her brother Orestes, +and his friend Pylades, are wrecked on the same shore, but saved from +slaughter by the Queen of Scythia, because she loved Orestes. Orestes, +on the other hand, falls in love with the Priestess of Diana; they +attempt an escape, and to carry off the image of the Goddess, but are +prevented. The Queen then dooms Orestes to the altar, but Pylades, +from his great friendship, personates Orestes, and disconcerts the +design. The story and incidents of this play are interesting and +moving, but Mr. Dennis has not wrought the scenes much in the spirit +of a tragedian: This was a subject admirably suited for the talents +of Otway. The discovery of Orestes's being the brother of Iphigenia +is both surprizing and natural, and though the subject is not well +executed, yet is this by far the most affecting tragedy of our author; +it is almost impossible to read it without tears, though it abounds +with bombast. + +The fourth play introduced upon the stage by Mr. Dennis, 1704, was, a +tragedy called Liberty Asserted, dedicated to Anthony Henley, esq; +to whom he says he was indebted for the happy hint upon which it was +formed. Soon after this he wrote another tragedy upon the story of +Appius and Virginia, which Mr. Maynwaring, in a letter to Mr. Dennis, +calls one of our best modern tragedies; it is dedicated to Sidney Earl +of Godolphin. + +He altered Shakespear's Merry Wives of Windsor, and brought it on the +stage under the title of The Comical Gallant. Prefixed to this, is +a large account of Taste in Poetry, and the Causes of its Degeneracy +addressed to the Hon. George Granville, Esq; afterwards Lord +Lansdowne. + +Our author's next dramatic production was Coriolanus, the Invader +of his Country, or the Fatal Resentment, a Tragedy; altered from +Shakespear, and acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This piece +met with some opposition the first night; and on the fourth another +play was given out. The second night's audience was very small, though +the play was exceedingly well acted. The third night had not the +charges in money; the fourth was still worse, and then another play +was given out, not one place being taken in the boxes for any ensuing +night. The managers were therefore obliged to discontinue it. + +This usage Mr. Dennis highly resented; and in his dedication to the +duke of Newcastle, then lord chamberlain, he makes a formal complaint +against the managers. To this play Mr. Colley Cibber took the pains to +write an epilogue, which Mrs. Oldfield spoke with universal applause, +and for which poor peevish, jealous Dennis, abused them both. + +Mr. Dennis happened once to go to the play, when a tragedy was acted, +in which the machinery of thunder was introduced, a new artificial +method of producing which he had formerly communicated to the +managers. Incensed by this circumstance, he cried out in a transport +of resentment, 'That is my thunder by G--d; the villains will play my +thunder, but not my plays.' This gave an alarm to the pit, which +he soon explained. He was much subject to these kind of whimsical +transports, and suffered the fervor of his imagination often to subdue +the power of his reason; an instance of which we shall now relate. + +After he was worn out with age and poverty, he resided within the +verge of the court, to prevent danger from his creditors. One Saturday +night he happened to saunter to a public house, which he discovered in +a short time was out of the verge. He was sitting in an open drinking +room, and a man of a suspicious appearance happened to come in. There +was something about the man which denoted to Mr. Dennis that he was a +Bailiff: this struck him with a panic; he was afraid his liberty was +now at an end; he sat in the utmost solicitude, but durst not offer to +stir, lest he should be seized upon. After an hour or two had passed +in this painful anxiety, at last the clock struck twelve, when Mr. +Dennis, in an extasy, cried out, addressing himself to the suspected +person, 'Now sir, Bailiff, or no Bailiff, I don't care a farthing for +you, you have no power now.' The man was astonished at this behaviour, +and when it was explained to him, he was so much affronted with the +suspicion, that had not Mr. Dennis found his protection in age, he +would have smarted for his mistaken opinion of him. + +In the year 1705 a comedy of Mr. Dennis's called Gibraltar, or The +Spanish Adventure, was acted unsuccessfully at Drury-Lane Theatre. He +was also author of a masque called Orpheus and Euridice. + +Mr. Dennis, considered as a dramatic writer, makes not so good a +figure as in his critical works; he understood the rules of writing, +but it is not in the power of every one to carry their own theory into +execution. There is one error which he endeavoured to reform, very +material for the interest of dramatic poetry. He saw, with concern, +that love had got the entire possession of the tragic stage, contrary +to the authority of the ancients, and the example of Shakespear. He +resolved therefore to deviate a little from the reigning practice, and +not to make his heroes such whining slaves in their amours, which +not only debases the majesty of tragedy, but confounds most of the +principal characters, by making that passion the predominant quality +in all. But he did not think it safe at once to shew his principal +characters wholly exempt from it, lest so great and sudden a +transition should prove disagreeable. He rather chose to steer a +middle course, and make love appear violent, but yet to be subdued +by reason, and give way to the influence of some other more noble +passion; as in Rinaldo, to Glory; in Iphigenia, to Friendship; and +in Liberty Asserted, to the Public Good. He thought by these means an +audience might be entertained, and prepared for greater alterations, +whereby the dignity of tragedy might be supported, and its principal +characters justly distinguished. + +Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Dennis is +author of the following pieces, mostly in the Pindaric way. + +Upon our Victory at Sea, and burning the French Fleet at La Hogne in +1692. + +Part of the Te Deum Paraphrased, in Pindaric Verse. + +To Mr. Dryden, upon his Translation of the Third Book of Virgil's +Georgics. Pindaric Ode. + +A Pindaric Ode on the King, written in the beginning of August 1691; +occasioned by the Victory at Aghrim. + +To a Painter drawing a Lady's Picture, an Epigram. + +Prayer for the King's Safety in the Summer's Expedition in 1692, an +Epigram. + +The Court of Death, a Pindaric Poem; dedicated to the Memory of her +Most Sacred Majesty Queen Mary. + +The Passion of Byblis, made English from the Ninth Book of Ovid's +Metamorphosis. + +The Monument, a Poem; sacred to the Memory of the best, and greatest +of Kings, William III. + +Britannia Triumphans, or A Poem on the Battle of Blenheim; dedicated +to Queen Anne. + +On the Accession of King George to the Imperial Crown of Great +Britain. + +The following specimen, which is part of a Paraphrase on the Te Deum, +serves to shew, that Mr. Dennis wrote with more elegance in Pindaric +odes, than in blank verse. + + Now let us sing a loftier strain, + Now let us earth and earthly things disdain, + Now let our souls to Heaven repair, + Direct their most aspiring flight, + To fields of uncreated light, + And dare to draw empyreal air. + 'Tis done, O place divinely bright! + O Sons of God divinely fair! + O sight! unutterable sight! + O unconceivable delight! + O joy which only Gods can bear! + Heark how their blissful notes they raise, + And sing the Great Creator's praise! + How in extatic song they cry, + Lo we the glorious sons of light, + So great, so beautiful, so bright, + Lo we the brightest of created things, + Who are all flame, all force, all spirit, and all eye, + Are yet but vile, and nothing in thy sight! + Before thy feet O mighty King of kings, + O Maker of this bounteous all! + Thus lowly reverent we fall. + +After a life exposed to vicissitudes, habituated to many +disappointments, and embroiled in unsuccessful quarrels, Mr. Dennis +died on the 6th of January 1733, in the 77th year of his age. We have +observed that he outlived the reversion of his place, after which +he fell into great distress, and as he had all his life been making +enemies, by the ungovernable fury of his temper, he found few persons +disposed to relieve him. When he was near the close of his days, a +play was acted for his benefit. This favour was procured him by the +joint interest of Mr. Thomson, Mr. Martin, Mr. Mallet, and Mr. Pope. +The play was given by the company then acting at the little Theatre in +the Hay-market, under the direction of Mr. Mills sen. and Mr. Cibber +jun. the latter of whom spoke a prologue on the occasion, written by +Mr. Pope. + +Mr. Dennis was less happy in his temper, than his genius; he possessed +no inconsiderable erudition, which was joined to such natural parts, +as if accompanied with prudence, or politeness, might have raised him, +not only above want, but even to eminence. He was happy too in having +very powerful patrons, but what could be done for a man, who declared +war against all the world? Dennis has given evidence against himself +in the article of politeness; for in one of his letters he says, he +would not retire to a certain place in the country, lest he should be +disturbed in his studies by the ladies in the house: for, says he, +I am not over-fond of the conversation of women. But with all his +foibles, we cannot but consider him as a good critic, and a man of +genius. + +His perpetual misfortune was, that he aimed at the empire of wit, for +which nature had not sufficiently endowed him; and as his ambition +prompted him to obtain the crown by a furious opposition to all other +competitors, so, like Cæsar of old, his ambition overwhelmed him. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob's Lives of the Poets.] + +[Footnote B: Which friendship he ill repaid. Sir Richard once became +bail for Dennis, who hearing that Sir Richard was arrested on his +account, cried out; "'Sdeath! Why did not he keep out of the way, as I +did?"] + + * * * * * + + + + +G. GRANVILLE, L. LANSDOWNE, + + +Was descended from an illustrious family, which traced their ancestry +from Rollo, the first duke of Normandy. He was second son of Bernard +Granville, and grandson of the famous Sir Bevil Granville, killed +at the battle of Lansdowne 1643. This nobleman received the first +tincture of his education in France, under the tuition of Sir +William Ellis, a gentleman, who was eminent afterwards in many public +employments. + +When our author was but eleven years of age, he was sent to Trinity +College in Cambridge, where he remained five years, but at the age of +thirteen was admitted to the degree of master of arts, having, before +he was twelve years old, spoken a copy of English verses, of his own +composition, to the Duchess of York, when her Royal Highness paid a +visit to that university. + +At the time when the nation was embroiled by the public distractions, +occasioned by the efforts of King James II. to introduce Popery, +lord Lansdowne did not remain an unconcerned spectator. He had early +imbibed principles of loyalty, and as some of his forefathers had +fallen in the cause of Charles I. he thought it was his duty to +sacrifice his life also, for the interest of his Sovereign. However +mistaken he might be in this furious zeal for a Prince, the chief +scope of whose reign was to overthrow the law, and introduce absolute +dominion, yet he appears to be perfectly sincere. In a letter he wrote +to his father upon the expected approach of the Prince of Orange's +fleet, he expresses the most ardent desire to serve the King in +person[A]. This letter we shall insert, but beg our readers patience +to make a digression, which will justify what we have said concerning +James II. + +The genuine mark of a tyrant is cruelty, and it is with concern we +can produce an instance of the most inhuman barbarity in that Prince, +which ever stained the Annals of any reign. Cruelty should be the +badge of no party; it ought to be equally the abhorrence of all; and +whoever is tainted with it, should be set up to view, as a terror +to the world, as a monster, whom it is the interest of mankind to +destroy. + +After the suppression of Monmouth's rebellion, many of the unfortunate +persons engaged In it fled to London, and took shelter there, 'till +the Act of Indemnity should be published. They who afforded them +shelter, were either of the Monmouth faction, or induced from +principles of humanity, to administer to their safety: what would +become of the world, if our friends were always to forsake us in +distress? There lived then in London an amiable lady, attached to no +party, who enjoyed a large fortune, which she spent in the exercise of +the most extensive beneficence. She made it her business to visit the +Jails, and the prisoners who were most necessitous and deserving, +she relieved. Her house was an asylum for the poor; she lived but for +charity, and she had every hour the prayers of the widow and orphan +poured out to her. It happened that one of the rebels found shelter in +her house; she suffered him to be screened there; she fed and cloathed +him. The King had often declared that he would rather pardon those +who were found in arms against him, than the people who harboured, or +secretly encouraged them. This miscreant, who sometimes ventured out +at night to a public house, was informed, that the King had made +such a declaration, and it entered into his base heart to betray his +benefactress. He accordingly went before a magistrate, and lodged an +information, upon which the lady was secured, brought to a trial, and +upon the evidence of this ungrateful villain, cast for her life. She +suffered at a stake with the most resigned chearfulness, for when +a woman is convicted of treason, it seems, she is sentenced to be +burnt[B]. The reader will easily judge what sort of bowels that King +must have, who could permit such a punishment to take place upon +a woman so compleatly amiable, upon the evidence of a villain so +consummately infamous, and he will, we are persuaded, be of opinion +that had his Majesty possessed a thousand kingdoms, he deserved to +lose them all for this one act of genuine barbarity. + +Lord Lansdowne. who did not consider, or was not then capable of +discovering, the dangers to which this prince exposed his people, +wrote the following letter to his father, earnestly pressing him to +permit his entering voluntarily into king James's service. + +'SIR, + +'Your having no prospect of obtaining a commission for me, can no way +alter, or cool my desire at this important juncture, to venture my +life, in some manner or other, for my King and country. I cannot bear +to live under the reproach of lying obscure and idle in a country +retirement, when every man, who has the least sense of honour, +should be preparing for the field. You may remember, sir, with what +reluctance I submitted to your commands upon Monmouth's rebellion, +when no importunity could prevail with you to permit me to leave the +academy; I was too young to be hazarded; but give me leave to say, it +is glorious, at any age, to die for one's country; and the sooner, the +nobler sacrifice; I am now older by three years. My uncle Bath was not +so old, when he was left among the slain at the battle of Newberry, +nor you yourself, sir, when you made your escape from your Tutors, to +join your brother in the defence of Scilly. The same cause is now come +round about again. The King has been misled, let those who misled +him be answerable for it. Nobody can deny but he is sacred in his +own person, and it is every honest man's duty to defend it. You are +pleased to say it is yet doubtful, if the Hollanders are rash enough +to make such an attempt. But be that as it will, I beg leave to be +presented to his Majesty, as one, whose utmost ambition is to devote +his life to his service, and my country's, after the example of all my +ancestors. The gentry assembled at York, to agree upon the choice of +representatives for the county, have prepared an Address to assure his +Majesty they are ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes for him +upon this, and all other occasions, but at the some time they humbly +beseech him to give them such magistrates as may be agreeable to the +laws of the land, for at present there is no authority to which they +can legally submit. By what I can hear, every body wishes well to the +King, but would be glad his ministers were hanged. The winds continue +so contrary, that no landing can be so soon as was apprehended, +therefore I may hope, with your leave and assistance, to be in +readiness before any action can begin; I beseech you, sir, most +humbly, and most earnestly, to add this one act of indulgence more, +to so many testimonies I have so constantly received of your +goodness, and be pleased to believe me always with the utmost duty and +submission, + +'Yours, &c.' + +We are not told whether his father yielded to his importunity, or +whether he was presented to his Majesty; but if he really joined the +army, it was without danger to his person, for the revolution was +effected in England without one drop of blood. In the year 1690 Lord +Lansdowne wrote a copy of verses addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth +Higgins, in answer to a poetical Address sent him by that lady in +his retirement. The verses of the lady are very elegant, and are only +exceeded by the polite compliments his lordship wrote in answer to +them. They both deserve a place here, + + I. + + Why Granville is thy life to shades confin'd, + Thou whom the Gods design'd + In public to do credit to mankind? + Why sleeps the noble ardour of thy blood, + Which from thy ancestors so many ages past, + From Rollo down to Bevil flowed, + And then appeared again at last, + In thee when thy victorious lance + Bore the disputed prize from all the youth of France. + + II. + + In the first trials which are made for fame, + Those to whom fate success denies, + If taking council from their shame, + They modestly retreat are wise; + But why should you, who still succeed, + Whether with graceful art you lead + The fiery barb, or with a graceful motion tread + In shining balls where all agree + To give the highest praise to thee? + Such harmony in every motion's sound, + As art could ne'er express by any sound. + + III. + + So lov'd and prais'd whom all admire, + Why, why should you from courts and camps retire? + If Myra is unkind, if it can be + That any nymph can be unkind to thee; + If pensive made by love, you thus retire, + Awake your muse, and string your lyre; + Your tender song, and your melodious strain + Can never be address'd in vain; + She needs must love, and we shall have you back again. + +His lordship's Answer thus begins. + + Cease, tempting syren, cease thy flattering strain, + Sweet is thy charming song, but song in vain: + When the winds blow, and loud the tempests roar, + What fool would trust the waves, and quit the shore? + Early and vain into the world I came, + Big with false hopes and eager after fame: + Till looking round me, e'er the race began, + Madmen and giddy fools were all that ran. + Reclaimed betimes, I from the lists retire, + And thank the Gods, who my retreat inspire. + In happier times our ancestors were bred, + When virtue was the only path to tread. + Give me, ye Gods, but the same road to fame, + Whate'er my father's dar'd, I dare the same. + Changed is the scene, some baneful planet rules + An impious world contriv'd for knaves and fools. + +He concludes with the following lines + + Happy the man, of mortals happiest he, + Whose quiet mind of vain desires is free; + Whom neither hopes deceive, nor fears torment, + But lives at peace, within himself content, + In thought or act accountable to none + But to himself, and to the Gods alone. + O sweetness of content, seraphic joy! + Which nothing wants, and nothing can destroy. + Where dwells this peace, this freedom of the mind? + Where but in shades remote from human kind; + In flow'ry vales, where nymphs and shepherds meet, + But never comes within the palace-gate. + Farewel then cities, courts, and camps farewel, + Welcome ye groves, here let me ever dwell, + From care and bus'ness, and mankind remove, + All but the Muses, and inspiring love: + How sweet the morn, how gentle is the night! + How calm the evening, and the day how bright! + From thence, as from a hill, I view below + The crowded world, a mighty wood in shew, + Where several wand'rers travel day and night, + By different paths, and none are in the right. + +In 1696 his Comedy called the She Gallants was acted at the +Theatre-Royal[C] in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. He afterwards altered this +Comedy, and published it among his other works, under the title of +Once a Lover and Always a Lover, which, as he observes in the preface, +is a new building upon an old foundation. + +'It appeared first under the name of the She-Gallants, and by the +preface then prefixed to it, is said to have been the Child of a +Child. By taking it since under examination; so many years after, the +author flatters himself to have made a correct Comedy of it; he found +it regular to his hand; the scene constant to one place, the time not +exceeding the bounds prescribed, and the action entire. It remained +only to clear the ground, and to plant as it were fresh flowers in the +room of those which were grown into weeds or were faded by time; to +retouch and vary the characters; enliven the painting, retrench the +superfluous; and animate the action, where it appeared the young +author seemed to aim at more than he had strength to perform.' + +The same year also his Tragedy, intitled Heroic Love, was acted at the +Theatre. Mr. Gildon observes, 'that this Tragedy is written after the +manner of the antients, which is much more natural and easy, than that +of our modern Dramatists.' Though we cannot agree with Mr. Gildon, +that the antient model of Tragedy is so natural as the modern; yet +this piece shall have very great merit, since we find Mr. Dryden +addressing verses to the author upon this occasion, which begin thus, + + Auspicious poet, wert thou not my friend, + How could I envy, what I must commend! + But since 'tis nature's law, in love and wit, + That youth should reign, and with'ring age submit, + With less regret, those laurels I resign, + Which dying on my brow, revive on thine. + +Our author wrote also a dramatic poem, called the British +Enchanters[D], in the preface to which he observes, 'that it is the +first Essay of a very infant Muse, rather as a task at such hours +as were free from other exercises, than any way meant for public +entertainment. But Mr. Betterton having had a casual sight of it, many +years after it was written, begged it for the stage, where it met with +so favourable a reception as to have an uninterrupted run of upwards +of forty nights. To this Mr. Addison wrote the Epilogue.' Lord +Lansdowne altered Shakespear's Merchant of Venice, under the title of +the Jew of Venice, which was acted with applause, the profits of which +were designed for Mr. Dryden, but upon that poet's death were given to +his son. + +In 1702 he translated into English the second Olynthian of +Demosthpracticewas returned member for the county of Cornwall, in +the parliament which met in November 1710, and was soon after +made secretary of war, next comptroller of the houshold, and then +treasurer, and sworn one of the privy council. The year following he +was created baron Lansdowne of Biddeford in Devonshire[E]. + +In 1719 he made a speech in the house of lords against the practicee +of occasional conformity, which is printed among his works, and among +other things, he says this. 'I always understood the toleration to +be meant as an indulgence to tender consciences, not a licence for +hardened ones; and that the act to prevent occasional conformity was +designed only to correct a particular crime of particular men, in +which no sect of dissenters was included, but these followers of +Judas, which came to the Lord's-Supper, from no other end but to sell, +and betray him. This crime however palliated and defended, by so many +right reverend fathers in the church, is no less than making the God +of truth, as it were in person subservient to acts of hypocrisy; no +less than sacrificing the mystical Blood and Body of our Saviour to +worldly and sinister purposes, an impiety of the highest nature! which +in justice called for protection, and in charity for prevention. The +bare receiving the holy Eucharist, could never be intended simply as +a qualification for an office, but as an open declaration, an +undubitable proof of being, and remaining a sincere member of the +church. Whoever presumes to receive it with any other view profanes +it; and may be said to seek his promotion in this world, by eating and +drinking his own damnation in the next.' + +This accomplished nobleman died in February, Anno 1735. By his lady, +Mary, widow of Thomas Thynne, Esq; (father of Thomas lord viscount +Weymouth) and daughter of Edward Villiers, earl of Jersey, he had +issue, four daughters, Anne, Mary, Grace and Elizabeth. + +His lady died but a few days before him. + +Mr. Pope, with many other poets of the first eminence, have celebrated +lord Lansdowne, who seems to have been a good-natur'd agreeable +nobleman. The lustre of his station no doubt procured him more +incense, than the force of his genius would otherwise have attracted; +but he appears not to have been destitute of fine parts, which were +however rather elegantly polished, than, great in themselves. + +Lord Landsdowne likewise wrote a Masque, called Peleus and Thetis. +His lordship's works have been often printed both in quarto and in +duo-decimo. + + +[Footnote A: Gen. Dict. Art. Granville.] + +[Footnote B: See Burnet's History of his own Times.] + +[Footnote C: General Dictionary, ubi supra.] + +[Footnote D: It was called a Dramatic Opera, and was decorated at a +great expence, and intermixed with Songs, Dances, &c.] + +[Footnote E: Upon the accession of King George the 1st, the lord +Lansdowne was seized, and imprisoned in the Tower, upon an impeachment +of high treason; but was soon after honourably discharged, without +being brought to a trial.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN GAY, + + +This eminent Wit was descended of an ancient family in Devonshire, and +educated at the free-school of Barnstaple in the same county, under +the care of Mr. William Rayner, an excellent master[A]. + +Mr. Gay had a small fortune at his disposal, and was bred, says Jacob, +a Mercer in the Strand; but having a genius for high excellences, he +considered such an employment as a degradation to it, and relinquished +that occupation to reap the laurels of poetry. + +About the year 1712 he was made secretary to the duchess of Monmouth, +and continued in that station 'till he went over to Hanover, in the +beginning of the year 1714, with the earl of Clarendon, who was sent +there by Queen Anne; upon whose death he returned to England, and +lived in the highest esteem and friendship with persons of the first +quality and genius. Upon Mr. Gay's arrival from Hanover, we find among +Mr. Pope's letters one addressed to him dated September 23, 1714, +which begins thus, + +Dear GAY, + +'Welcome to your native soil! welcome to your friends, thrice welcome +to me! whether returned in glory, blessed with court-interest, the +love and familiarity of the great, and filled with agreeable hopes; +or melancholy with dejection, contemplative of the changes of fortune, +and doubtful for the future. Whether returned a triumphant Whig, or a +desponding Tory, equally all hail! equally beloved and welcome to me! +If happy, I am to share in your elevation; if unhappy, you have still +a warm corner in my heart, and a retreat at Binfield in the worst of +times at your service. If you are a Tory, or thought so by any man, I +know it can proceed from nothing but your gratitude to a few people, +who endeavoured to serve you, and whose politics were never your +concern. If you are a Whig, as I rather hope, and as I think your +principles and mine, as brother poets, had ever a bias to the side +of liberty, I know you will be an honest man, and an inoffensive one. +Upon the whole, I know you are incapable of being so much on either +side, as to be good for nothing. Therefore, once more, whatever you +are, or in whatever state you are, all hail!'[B] + +In 1724 his tragedy entitled the Captives, which he had the honour to +read in MS. to Queen Caroline, then Princess of Wales, was acted at +the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane. + +In 1726 he published his Fables, dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland, +and the year following he was offered the place of gentleman usher to +one of the youngest Princesses, which, by reason of some slight shewn +him at court, he thought proper to refuse. He wrote several works of +humour with great success, particularly The Shepherd's Week, Trivia, +The What d'ye Call It, and The Beggars Opera, which was acted at the +Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1728. The author of the Notes on this +line of the Dunciad, b. iii. I. 326. + + Gay dies unpensioned with a hundred friends; + +observes that this opera was a piece of satire, which hits all tastes +and degrees of men, from those of the highest quality to the very +rabble. "That verse of Horace + + Primores populi arripuit populumque tributim, + +could never be so justly applied as in this case. The vast success of +it was unprecedented, and almost incredible. What is related of the +wonderful effects of the ancient music, or tragedy, hardly came up +to it. Sophocles and Euripides were less followed and famous; it was +acted in London sixty three days uninterrupted, and renewed the next +season with equal applause. It spread into all the great towns of +England, was played in many places to the thirtieth and fortieth time; +at Bath and Bristol fifty. It made its progress into Wales, Scotland +and Ireland, where it was performed twenty-four days together. It was +lastly acted in Minorca. The fame of it was not confined to the author +only; the ladies carried about with them the favourite songs of it in +fans; and houses were furnished with it in screens. The girl who acted +Polly, 'till then obscure, became all at once the favourite of the +town, her pictures were engraved, and sold in great numbers; her life +written; books of letters and verses to her, published; and pamphlets +made even of her sayings and jests. Furthermore, it drove out of +England, for that season, the Italian Opera, which had carried all +before it for ten years; that idol of the nobility and the people, +which Mr. Dennis by the labours and outcries of a whole life, could +not overthrow, was demolished by a single stroke of this gentleman's +pen." + +Dr. Swift in his Intelligencer Numb. 3. has given us a vindication of +Mr. Gay, and the Beggars Opera; he observes, 'that though an evil taste +be very apt to prevail both in Dublin and in London; yet, there is a +point which whoever can rightly touch, will never fail of pleasing a +very great majority; so great that the dislikers, out of dullness, or +affectation, will be silent, and forced to fall in with the herd; the +point I mean is, what we call humour, which, in its perfection, is +allowed to be much preferable to wit, if it he not rather the most +useful, and agreeable species of it.----Now I take the comedy, or +farce (or whatever name the critic will allow it) called The Beggar's +Opera, to excel in this article of humour, and upon that merit to have +met with such prodigious success, both here and in England.' The dean +afterwards remarks, 'that an opinion obtained, that in this opera, +there appears to be some reflexions on courtiers and statesmen. It is +true indeed (says he) that Mr. Gay hath been somewhat singular in the +course of his fortunes, attending the court with a large stock of real +merit, a modest and agreeable conversation, a hundred promises, and +five hundred friends, hath failed of preferment, and upon a very +weighty reason; he lay under the suspicion of having written a Libel, +or Lampoon, against a great minister, it is true that great minister +was demonstratively convinced, and publickly owned his conviction, +that Mr. Gay was not the author, but having laid under the suspicion, +it seemed very just that he should suffer the punishment, because in +this most reformed age the virtues of a great minister are no more to +be suspected, than the chastity of Caesar's wife.' The dean then tells +us, that our author in this piece has, by a turn of humour entirely +new, placed vices of all kinds in the strongest, and most odious +light, and thereby done eminent service both to religion and morality. +'This appears from the unparalleled success he has met with; all +ranks, parties, and denominations of men, either crowding to see his +Opera, or reading it with delight in their closets; even ministers of +state, whom he is thought most to have offended, appearing frequently +at the Theatre, from a consciousness of their own innocence, and +to convince the world how unjust a parallel, malice, envy and +disaffection to the government have made.----In this happy performance +of Mr. Gay, all the characters are just, and none of them carried +beyond nature, or hardly beyond practice. It discovers the whole +system of that commonwealth, or that imperium in imperio of iniquity +established among us, by which, neither our lives, nor our properties +are secure, either in highways, or in public assemblies, or even in +our own houses; it shews the miserable lives and constant fate of +those abandoned wretches; for how small a price they sell their souls, +betrayed by their companions, receivers, and purchasers of those +thefts and robberies. This comedy contains likewise a satire, which +though it doth by no means affect the present age, yet might have been +useful in the former, and may possibly be so in ages to come, I mean +where the author takes occasion of comparing those common robbers of +the public, and their several stratagems of betraying, undermining, +and hanging each other, to the several acts of politicians in the time +of corruption. This comedy likewise exposes, with great justice, that +unnatural taste for Italian music among us, which is wholly unsuitable +to our Northern climate, and the genius of the people, whereby we +are overrun with Italian effeminacy. An old gentleman said to me many +years ago, when the practice of an unnatural vice grew so frequent in +London, that many were prosecuted for it; he was sure it would be +the forerunner of Italian operas and singers, and then we would want +nothing but stabbing, or poisoning, to make us perfect Italians. Upon +the whole I deliver my judgment; that nothing but servile attachment +to a party, affectation of singularity, lamentable dullness, mistaken +zeal, or studied hypocrisy, can have any objection against this +excellent moral performance of Mr. Gay[C].' + +The astonishing success of the Beggar's Opera induced our author to +add a second part, in which, however, he was disappointed, both in +profit and fame. His opera entitled Polly, designed as a sequel of the +former, was prohibited by the lord chamberlain from being represented +on the stage, when every thing was ready for the rehearsal of it, but +was soon after printed in 4to. to which the author had a very large +subscription. In the preface Mr. Gay gives a particular account of the +whole affair in the following manner; 'On Thursday December 12 (says +he) I received this answer from the chamberlain, that it should not +be allowed to be acted, but suppressed. This was told me in general +without any reasons assigned, or any charge against me of my having +given any particular offence. Since this prohibition I have been +told, that I am accused, in general terms, of having written many +disaffected libels, and seditious pamphlets. As it hath ever been my +utmost ambition (if that word may be used upon this occasion) to +lead a quiet and inoffensive life, I thought my innocence in this +particular would never have needed a justification; and as this +kind of writing is what I ever detested, and never practiced, I am +persuaded so groundless a calumny can never be believed, but by those +who do not know me. But when general aspersions of this sort have been +cast upon me, I think myself called upon to declare my principles, and +I do with the strictest truth affirm, that I am as loyal a subject, +and as firmly attached to the present happy establishment, as any of +those who have the greatest places or pensions. I have been informed +too, that in the following play I have been charged with writing +immoralities; that it is filled with slander and calumny against +particular great persons, and that Majesty itself is endeavoured to be +brought into ridicule and contempt. + +As I know that every one of these charges was in every point +absolutely false, and without the least grounds, at first I was not at +all affected by them; but when I found they were still insisted upon, +and that particular passages which were not in the play were quoted, +and propagated to support what had been suggested, I could no longer +bear to lye under those false accusations; so by printing it, I have +submitted, and given up all present views of profit, which might +accrue from the stage, which will undoubtedly be some satisfaction +to the worthy gentlemen, who have treated me with so much candour and +humanity, and represented me in such favourable colours. But as I am +conscious to myself, that my only intention was to lash in general the +reigning and fashionable vices, and to recommend, and set virtue in as +amiable a light as I could; to justify and vindicate my own character, +I thought myself obliged to print the opera without delay, in the +manner I have done.' The large subscription Mr. Gay had to print it, +amply recompens'd any loss he might receive from it's not being acted. +Tho' this was called the Sequel to the Beggar's Opera, it was allowed +by his best friends, scarce to be of a piece with the first part, +being in every particular, infinitely beneath it. + +Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Gay wrote +several poems, printed in London in 2 vol. 12mo. + +A Comedy called The Wife of Bath, first acted 1715, and afterwards +revived, altered, and represented at the Theatre Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. + +Three Hours after Marriage, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal, in +which he was assisted by Pope and Arbuthnot, but had the mortification +to see this piece very ill received, if not damned the first night. + +He wrote likewise Achilles, an Opera; acted at the Theatre in Covent +Garden. This was brought on the stage after his death, and the profits +were given to his Sisters. + +After experiencing many vicissitudes of fortune, and being for some +time chiefly supported by the liberality of the duke and duchess +of Queensberry, he died at their house in Burlington Gardens, of a +violent inflammatory fever, in December 1732, and was interred +in Westminster, by his noble benefactors just mentioned, with +the following epitaph written by Mr. Pope, who had the sincerest +friendship for him on account of his amiable qualities. + + 'Of manners gentle, of affections mild; + In wit a man, simplicity a child; + Above temptation in a low estate, + And uncorrupted even amongst the great; + A safe companion, and an easy friend, + Unblamed thro' life, lamented in thy end: + These are thy honours! not that here thy bust + Is mix'd with heroes, or with kings thy dust, + But that the worthy and the good shall say, + Striking their pensive bosoms--here lies GAY;' + +Then follows this farther inscription, + + Here lie the ashes of Mr. John Gay; + The warmest friend; + The most benevolent man: + Who maintained + Independency + In low circumstances of fortune; + Integrity + In the midst of a corrupt age; + And that equal serenity of mind, + Which conscious goodness alone can give + Thro' the whole course of his life. + + Favourite of the muses + He was led by them to every elegant art; + Refin'd in taste + And fraught with graces all his own: + In various kinds of poetry + Superior to many, + Inferior to none, + His works continue to inspire + what his example taught, + Contempt of folly, however adorned; + Detestation of vice, however dignified; + Reverence of virtue, however disgraced. + +Charles and Catherine, duke and duchess of Queensberry, who loved this +excellent man living, and regret him dead, have caused this monument +to be erected to his memory. + +Mr. Gay's moral character seems to have been very amiable. He was of +an affable, sweet disposition, generous in his temper, and pleasant +in his conversation. His chief failing was an excessive indolence, +without the least knowledge of economy; which often subjected him to +wants he needed not otherwise have experienced. Dean Swift in many +of his letters entreated him, while money was in his hands, to buy +an annuity, lest old age should overtake him unprepared; but Mr. Gay +never thought proper to comply with his advice, and chose rather to +throw himself upon patronage, than secure a competence, as the dean +wisely advised. As to his genius it would be superfluous to say any +thing here, his works are in the hands of every reader of taste, and +speak for themselves; we know not whether we can be justified in our +opinion, but we beg leave to observe, that of all Gay's performances, +his Pastorals seem to have the highest finishing; they are perfectly +Doric; the characters and dialogue are natural and rurally simple; the +language is admirably suited to the persons, who appear delightfully +rustic. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob.] + +[Footnote B: General Dictionary, Article Gay.] + +[Footnote C: Swift, ubi supra.] + + * * * * * + + + + +PHILIP Duke of WHARTON, + + +The unhappy nobleman, the memoirs of whose life we are now about to +relate, was endowed by nature with all those shining qualifications by +which a great man can be formed. He possessed a most extensive memory, +a strong and lively imagination, and quick and ready apprehension. + +By the immediate authority of his father, our noble author's studies +were confined to one particular branch of learning; with a view, no +doubt, that his son's uncommon genius might make the greater progress, +and shine with a superior lustre in that species of erudition he had +made choice of for him. On this account it was, that the earl his +father would not permit the young lord to go to public or private +schools, or to any college, or university, but had him carefully +instructed by domestic tutors; and as he gave an early display of the +most astonishing parts, the earl bent all his thoughts how to improve +them in the best manner, for his son's future advantage. + +As soon as this sprightly genius, had laid a sufficient foundation in +classical learning, he studied history, particularly that of his +own country, by which he was able to discern the principles of +the constitution, the revolutions it has undergone, the variety of +accidents by which it may be endangered, and the true policy by +which it can be preserved. While he thus read history, he became a +politician; and as he did not neglect other sciences, he acquired a +general knowledge both of life and things, before most other persons +of distinction begin to read, or think at all. + +By his not receiving an academical education, he escaped that +stiffness and moroseness of temper frequently contracted by those who +have been for some time condemned to a collegiate obscurity. Neither +had he the least tincture of a haughty superiority, arising from +the nobleness of his birth, and the lustre of his abilities. His +conversation was easy, pleasant, and instructive, always suited to his +company, of whatever quality, humour, or capacity they were. + +As it was the earl of Wharton's view, to qualify his son to fill +that high station, in which his birth would one day place him with +advantage to his country; his great care was to form him a compleat +orator. For this purpose some of the principal parts in the best +English Tragedies were assign'd him at times to study, particularly +those of Shakespear, which he used to repeat before a private +audience. Sometimes his father gave him speeches which had been +uttered in the house of peers, and which the young lord got by heart, +and delivered with all the graces of action and elocution; with so +much propriety of expression, emphasis of voice, and pronunciation +wherever it was requisite, as shewed his lordship was born for this +arduous province. Nor did the excellency of these performances receive +a small additional beauty from the gracefulness of his person, which +was at once soft and majestic. + +Thus endowed by nature to charm and persuade, what expectations might +not have been formed on him? A youth of a noble descent, who added to +that advantage the most astonishing parts ever man possessed, improved +by an uncommon and well regulated education. What pity is it, this +illustrious young man, born to have dictated to the senate, and +directed the business of a state, with the eyes of a people fixed upon +him, should fall so exceedingly short of those fair hopes, he had so +justly raised in every breath. He wanted one quality, without which +birth, fortune, and abilities, suffer a considerable diminution. That +quality is prudence; of which the duke of Wharton was so destitute, +that all his parts were lost to the world, and the world lost to him. + +The first prelude to his misfortunes, may justly be reckoned his +falling in love, and privately marrying a young lady, the daughter of +major general Holmes; a match by no means suited to his birth, fortune +and character; and far less to the ambitious views his father had of +disposing of him in such a marriage, as would have been a considerable +addition to the fortune and grandeur of his illustrious family. +However disappointed the earl of Wharton might be, in his son's +marrying beneath his quality; yet that amiable lady who became his +daughter-in-law deserved infinitely more felicity than she met with +by an alliance with his family; and the young lord was not so unhappy +through any misconduct of hers, as by the death of his father, which +this precipitate marriage is thought to have hastened. The duke being +so early freed from paternal restraints, plunged himself into those +numberless excesses, which became at last fatal to him; and he proved, +as Pope expresses it, + + A tyrant to the wife his heart approv'd; + A rebel to the very king he lov'd. + +The young lord in the beginning of the year 1716 indulged his desire +of travelling and finishing his education abroad; and as he was +designed to be instructed in the strictest Whig principles, Geneva was +judged a proper place for his residence. On his departure from England +for this purpose, he took the rout of Holland, and visited several +courts of Germany, and that of Hanover in particular. + +Though his lordship was now possessed of his family estate, as much as +a minor could be; yet his trustees very much limited his expences, +and made him too moderate remittances, for a person of his rank and +spirit. This gave him great uneasiness, and embarrassed him much in +his way of living, which ill suited with the profusion of his taste. +To remove these difficulties, he had recourse to mortgaging, and by +premiums and large interest paid to usurers, supplied his present +necessities, by rendering his affairs still worse. + +The unhappy divisions which reigned in England at the time this +young peer made his first entry into public life, rendered it almost +impossible for him to stand neuter, and on whatever side he should +declare himself, still there was danger. The world generally expected +he would follow the steps of his father, who was one of the first +English gentlemen who joined the prince of Orange, and continued firm +to the Revolution principles, and consequently approved the Hanoverian +succession, upon whose basis it was built. But whatever motives +influenced the young marquis (for king William had bestowed this title +on his father) he thought proper to join the contrary party. The cause +of his abandoning the principles of the Whigs is thought to be this. + +The marquis being arrived at Geneva, he conceived so great a disgust +at the dogmatical precepts of his governor, the restraints he +endeavoured to lay upon him, and the other instances of strict +discipline exercised in that meridian of Presbyterianism, that he fell +upon a scheme of avoiding these intolerable incumbrances; so, like +a torrent long confined within its bounds by strong banks, he broke +loose, and entered upon engagements, which, together with the natural +impetuosity of his temper, threw him into such inconveniencies, as +rendered the remaining part of his life unhappy. + +His lordship, as we have already observed, being very much disgusted +with his governor, left him at Geneva, and as if he had been flying +from a pestilence, set out post for Lyons, where he arrived about the +middle of October 1716. + +The author of the duke of Wharton's life has informed us, that the +reason of his lordship's leaving his governor so abruptly, was on +account of the freedom with which that gentleman treated him, a +circumstance very disgustful to a person of his quality. He took leave +of him in the following manner. + +His lordship somewhere in his travels had picked up a bear's cub, of +which he was very fond, and carried it about with him; but when he was +determined to abandon his tutor, he left the cub behind him, with the +following note addressed to him. + + 'Being no longer able to bear with your ill-usage, + I think proper to be gone from you; however, + that you may not want company, I have left you + the bear, as the most suitable companion in the + world, that could be picked out for you.' + +When the marquis was at Lyons he took a very strange step, little +expected from him. He wrote a letter to the Chevalier de St. +George, then residing at Avignon, to whom he presented a very fine +stone-horse. Upon receiving this present, the Chevalier sent a man of +quality to the marquis, who carried him privately to his court, where +he was received with the greatest marks of esteem, and had the title +of duke of Northumberland conferred upon him. He remained there +however but one day, and then returned post to Lyons; from whence he +set out for Paris. He likewise made a visit to the queen dowager of +England, consort to king James the IId. then residing at St. Germains, +to whom he paid his court, pursued the same rash measures as at +Avignon. + +During his stay at Paris, his winning address, and astonishing parts, +gained him the esteem and admiration of all British subjects of both +parties who happened to be there. The earl of Stair, then ambassador +at the court of France from the king of Great Britain, notwithstanding +all the reports to the marquis's disadvantage, thought proper to shew +some respect to the representative of so great a family, which had so +resolutely supported the present administration, especially as he was +a young man of such great personal accomplishments, both natural and +acquired, and blest with a genius so capable of serving his country +even in the most eminent station. + +These considerations induced lord Stair, who was a prudent, discerning +minister, to countenance the young marquis, give him frequent +invitations to his table, and to use him with distinguishing civility. +The earl was likewise in hopes, by these gentle measures, and this +insinuating behaviour, to win him to his party, which he had good +reason to think he hated. His excellency never failed to lay hold of +every opportunity, to give him some admonitions, which were not always +agreeable to the vivacity of his temper, and sometimes provoked him to +great indiscretions. Once in particular, the ambassador extolling the +merit, and noble behaviour of the marquis's father, added, 'That he +hoped he would follow so illustrious an example of fidelity to his +prince, and love to his country, by treading in the same steps.'--Upon +which the marquis immediately answered, 'That he thanked his +excellency for his good advice, and as his excellency had also a +worthy and deserving father, he hoped he would likewise copy so bright +an original and tread in all his steps.' This was a severe sarcasm, as +the ambassador's father had betrayed his master in a manner that was +quite shameful. He acted the same part in Scotland, which Sunderland +did in England. They pushed on king James the IId. to take violent and +unconstitutional measures, to make his ruin certain: They succeeded +in their scheme, and after the Revolution, boasted their conduct as +meritorious; but however necessary it might be for king William, upon +principles of policy to reward the betrayers, he had yet too good +a heart to approve the treachery.--But to return to the marquis, we +shall mention another of his juvenile fights, as an instance to what +extravagant and unaccountable excesses, the inconstancy of his temper +would sometimes transport him. + +A young English surgeon, who went to Paris, to improve himself in +his business, by observing the practice in the celebrated hospitals, +passing by the embassador's house on the 10th of June at night, took +the liberty to break his excellency's windows because there was no +bonfire before his door. Upon this outrage he was seized and committed +prisoner to Fort L'Eveque. This treatment of the young surgeon was +resented by the marquis; but he fought for no other satisfaction +than to break the ambassador's windows a second time. Accordingly his +lordship proposed it to an Irish lieutenant-general, in the service of +France, a gentleman of great honour and of the highest reputation for +abilities in military affairs, desiring his company and assistance +therein. The general could not help smiling at the extravagance of the +proposal, and with a great deal of good-nature advised his lordship +by all means not to make any such attempts; 'but if he was resolutely +bent upon it, he begg'd to be excused from being of the party, for it +was a method of making war to which he had never been accustomed.' +We might here enumerate more frolics of the same kind which he either +projected, or engaged in, but we chuse rather to omit them as they +reflect but little honour on the marquis.--We shall only observe, +that before he left France, an English gentleman of distinction +expostulating with him, for swerving so much from the principles of +his father and his whole family, his lordship answered, 'That he +had pawned his principles to Gordon the Pretender's banker for a +considerable sum; and till he could repay him, he must be a Jacobite, +but that when that was done he would again return to the Whigs.' + +About the latter end of December 1716, the marquis arrived in England, +where he did not remain long, till he set out for Ireland; in which +kingdom, on account of his extraordinary qualities, he had the honour +done him of being admitted, though under age, to take his seat in that +august assembly of the house of peers, to which he had a right as earl +of Rathfarnam, and marquis of Catherlough. Here he espoused a very +different interest from that which he had so lately embraced. He +distinguished himself on this occasion as a violent partizan for the +ministry; and acted in all other respects, as well in his private +as public capacity, with the warmest zeal for the government. The +speeches which he made in the house upon many occasions, uttered +with so much force of expression, and propriety of emphasis, were +an irrefutable demonstration of his abilities, and drew upon him the +admiration of both kingdoms. The marquis's arguments had very great +influence on which side of the question soever he happened to be.--No +nobleman, either in that or the English house of peers, ever acquitted +himself with greater reputation, or behaved with a more becoming +dignity than he did during this session of the Irish parliament. In +consequence of this zeal for the new government, shewn at a time when +they stood much in need of men of abilities, and so little expected +from the young marquis, the king who was no stranger to the most +refined rules of policy, created him a duke, the highest degree of a +subject. + +In the preamble to his patent, after a detail of the merit of his +father, and his services to the government are illustrated, his +lordship's behaviour in Ireland and his early endowments are thus +mentioned. + +'When we see the son of that great man, forming himself by so worthy +an example, and in every action exhibiting a lively resemblance of +his father; when we consider the eloquence he has exerted with so much +applause in the parliament of Ireland, and his turn and application, +even in early youth to the serious and weighty affairs of the public, +we willingly decree him honours which are neither superior to his +merits, nor earlier than the expectation of our good subjects.' + +As soon as the duke of Wharton came of age, he was introduced to the +house of lords in England, with the like blaze of reputation, and +raised jealousies in the breasts of the most consummately artful, and +best qualified in the house of peers. A little before the death of +lord Stanhope, his grace, who was constant in nothing but inconstancy, +again changed sides, opposed the court, and endeavoured to defeat all +the schemes of the ministry. + +He appeared one of the most forward and vigorous in the defence of the +bishop of Rochester, and in opposing the bill for inflicting pains and +penalties on that prelate. + +The judicious observations he made on the trial of the bishop, and the +manner in which he summed up and compared a long and perplexed kind +of evidence, with inimitable art and perspicuity, may be seen in the +duke's speech upon that extraordinary occasion, which is a lasting +proof of his amazing abilities in the legislative capacity, as well as +of his general knowledge of public business. + +He, however, did not confine this spirit of opposition to the house of +lords, but exerted it both in city and country, promoting in all kinds +of elections such persons as were supposed to be no fautors of the +court. Such was the hatred he now conceived to the ministry, and such +his desire of becoming eminent; that he even pushed himself into +the city of London; was invested with the rights and privileges of a +citizen, and was entered a member of the wax-chandler's company; by +virtue of which he appeared at all meetings, charmed all societies, +and voted in his own right upon all occasions. + +Notwithstanding his astonishing activity in opposition to the court, +he was not yet satisfied that he had done enough. He could not be in +all places, and in all companies at once. As much an orator as he was, +he could not talk to the whole nation, and therefore he printed his +thoughts twice a week, in a paper called the True-Briton, several +thousands of which being dispersed weekly, the duke was pleased to +find the whole kingdom giving attention to him, and admiring him as an +author, though they did not at all approve his reasoning. + +Those political papers, which were reckoned by some the standard +of good sense, and elegant writing, were collected together in his +life-time, and reprinted by his order, with a preface, in which he +gives his reasons for engaging in an undertaking so uncommon to a +person of his distinction. + +Here it will not be improper to remark, that notwithstanding all those +instances of the duke's zeal, his sincerity in opposing the ministry +was yet suspected, as his former behaviour was so very inconsistent +with it; but he never failed to justify himself throughout the +different and contrary courses of his conduct, pretending always to +have acted consistently with the honour and interest of the realm. But +he never was able in this particular to obtain the public judgment in +his favour. + +It is impossible to reconcile all the various actions of this +noble-man. He was certainly too much governed by whim and accident. +From this time forward, however, though he might deviate from the +strict rules of a moral life, he cannot be said to have done so with +respect to his politics. The same principles on which he set out, +he carried to his grave, with steadiness through all the events of +fortune, and underwent such necessities, as few of his quality ever +experienced, in a cause, the revival and success of which had long +been desperate, before he engaged in it. + +The duke's boundless profusion had by this time so burthened his +estate, that a decree of chancery took hold on it, and vested it in +the hands of trustees for the payment of his debts, but not without +making a provision of 1200 l. per annum for his subsistence. This +allowance not being sufficient to support his title with suitable +dignity at home, he proposed to go abroad for some years, 'till his +estate should clear itself of incumbrances. His friends, for his own +sake, were pleased with this resolution, and every body considered +this course as the most prudent, that in such circumstances could be +taken. But in this the world was deceived, for he went abroad from no +such prudent motive, oeconomy being a virtue of which he never had the +least notion in any part of his life. His business at Vienna was to +execute a private commission, not in favour of the English ministry, +nor did he ever shine to greater advantage, as to his personal +character, than at the Imperial court. + +From Vienna his grace made a tour to the court of Spain, where his +arrival alarmed the English minister so much, that two expresses were +sent from Madrid to London, upon the apprehension that his grace was +received there in the character of an ambassador, upon which the duke +received a summons under the Privy Seal to return home. His behaviour +on this occasion was a sufficient indication that he never designed to +return to England, whilst affairs remained in the same state, and +the administration in the same hands they then were in. This he often +declared from his going abroad the second time, which, no doubt, was +the occasion of his treating that solemn order with so much indignity, +and endeavouring to enflame the Spanish court, not only against the +person who delivered the warrant, but against the court of Great +Britain itself, for exercising an act of power, as he was pleased to +call it, within the jurisdiction of his Catholic Majesty. After this +he acted openly in the service of the Pretender, and appeared at his +court, where he was received with great marks of favour. + +While his grace was thus employed abroad, his duchess, who had been +neglected by him, died in England, on the 14th of April 1726, and left +no issue behind her. The lady's death gave the duke no great shock. +He was disencumbered of her and had now an opportunity of mending his +fortune by marriage. + +Soon after this, the duke fell violently in love with Mademoiselle +Obern, a beautiful young lady at the Spanish court, who was then one +of the maids of honour to the Queen of Spain. She was daughter of an +Irish colonel in that service, who being dead, her mother lived upon +a pension the King allowed her, so that this lady's fortune consisted +chiefly in her personal accomplishments. Many arguments were used by +their friends on both sides to dissuade them from the marriage. The +Queen of Spain, when the duke asked her consent, represented to him +in the most lively terms, that the consequence of the match would be +misery to both, and absolutely refused her consent. + +Having now no hopes of obtaining her, he fell into a violent +melancholy, which introduced a lingering fever, of which he languished +'till he was almost ready to drop into the ground. This circumstance +reaching her Majesty's ear, she was moved with his distress, and sent +him word to endeavour the recovery of his health, and as soon as he +was able to appear abroad, she would speak to him in a more favourable +manner, than at their last interview. The duke upon receiving this +news, imagined it the best way to take the advantage of the kind +disposition her Majesty was in; and summoning to his assistance his +little remaining strength, he threw himself at her Majesty's feet, and +begged of her either to give him Mademoiselle Obern, or not to order +him to live, assuring her, in the language of tragedy, that she was to +pronounce the sentence of his life, or death. The Queen consented, +but told him he would soon repent it, and the young lady being dazzled +with the lustre of a ducal title, and besides having a real value for +her lover, they were soon united by an indissoluble bond. + +After the solemnization of his marriage, he passed some time at Rome, +where he accepted of a blue garter, affected to appear with the title +of duke of Northumberland, and for awhile enjoyed the confidence of +the exiled Prince. But as he could not always keep himself within the +bounds of the Italian gravity, and having no employment to amuse his +active temper, he ran into his usual excesses, which giving offence, +it was thought proper for him to remove from that city for the +present, lest he should fall into actual disgrace. Accordingly the +duke quitted Rome, and went by sea to Barcelona, where hearing that +the trenches were opening before Gibraltar, he resolved upon a new +scene of life, which few suspected he would ever engage in. He wrote +a letter to the King of Spain, acquainting him, 'That he designed +to take up arms in his Majesty's service, and apprehending that his +forces were going to reduce the town of Gibraltar under his obedience, +he hoped he should have his permission to assist at the siege as a +volunteer.' + +This done, he went to the camp, taking his duchess along with him, +and was received with all the marks of respect due to his quality. +The Conde de la Torres, who commanded there, delivered him an obliging +letter from the King his master, thanking him for the honour he +intended him, by serving in his troops, and during that siege, +appointed him his aid-de-camp, by which, post the duke was to give an +account of all transactions to his Majesty himself, which obliged +him to be often in the trenches, and to expose his person to imminent +danger. During this siege want of courage was never imputed to him; on +the contrary, he was often guilty of the most imprudent rashness. One +evening he went close to the walls, near one of the posts of the town, +and threatened the soldiers of the garrison. They asked who he was? he +readily answered, the duke of Wharton; and though he appeared there as +an enemy, they suffered him to return to the trenches without firing +one shot at him. + +This siege was ended, and the duke received no other hurt, than a +wound in his foot by the bursting of a grenade, and when nothing more +was to be done in the camp, he went to court, where he was held in the +utmost respect by the principal nobility. The King likewise, as a +mark of his favour, was pleased to give him a commission of Colonel +Agregate (that was the term) to one of the Irish regiments, called +Hibernia, and commanded by the marquis de Castelar. + +Could the duke have been satisfied with that state of life, and +regulated his expences according to his income, he had it then in his +power to live, if not affluently, at least easily. But in a short time +he was for changing the scene of action; he grew weary of Madrid, and +set his heart on Rome. In consequence of this resolution, he wrote a +letter to the Chevalier de St. George, full of respect and submission, +expressing a desire of visiting his court; but the Chevalier returned +for answer, that he thought it more advisable for his grace to draw +near England, than make a tour to Rome, that he might be able to +accommodate matters with the government at home, and take some care +of his personal estate. The Chevalier very prudently judged, that so +wretched an oeconomist as the duke, would be too great a burden to a +person, whose finances were not in a much better condition than his +own. Be that as it may, the duke seemed resolved to follow his advice, +and accordingly set out for France, in company with his duchess, and +attended by two or three servants, arrived at Paris in May 1728. He +sent a letter to Mr. Walpole then embassador there, to let him know +he designed to visit him. That gentleman returned the duke a civil +answer, importing, 'that he should be glad to see his grace at his own +time, if he intended it a public visit; if a private one, they would +agree upon an hour, that should be most convenient.' The duke declared +that he would come publicly, which he did next day, and his discourse +with that minister was suitable to the usual gaiety of his temper; for +though he spoke of returning home, it was in such an undetermined way, +that Mr. Walpole could not guess his real intentions. He received the +duke however with his usual complaisance, and with a respect agreeable +to his quality, but was not a little surprized, when, at parting, his +grace told him, he was going to dine with the bishop of Rochester. Mr. +Walpole answered, 'That if he had a design of making that prelate a +visit, there was no manner of occasion for telling him of it.' Thus +they parted, and never again had another interview. + +The duke made little stay at Paris, but proceeded to Rouen in his +way, as some imagined, to England; but there he stopt, and took up +his residence, without reflecting in the least on the business that +brought him to France. He was so far from making any concession to the +government in order to make his peace, that he did not give himself +the least trouble about his personal estate, or any other concern in +England. The duke had about 600 l. in his possession, when he arrived +at Rouen, where more of his servants joined him from Spain. There he +formed his houshold, and made a calculation, in which there appeared +to be but one mistake, that is, he proportioned his expences, not +according to his income, but quality; and though every argument was +used to convince him of this error, at once so obvious and fatal, yet +he would hearken to no admonition while he had one crown left. + +At Rouen, as in every other place, the duke charmed all those who +conversed with him; he was warmly received by persons of the first +distinction in that province, with whom he took the diversion of +hunting twice a week, 'till some news arrived, which would have given +interruption to the mirth of any other man; but the alteration was +scarce to be perceived in him. + +This was a Bill of Indictment preferred against Philip duke of +Wharton, for high treason. The fact laid to his charge was, appearing +in arms before, and firing off cannon against, his Majesty's town of +Gibraltar. Here we cannot omit an anecdote, from which the reader +may draw what conclusion he pleases. During the time the proceedings +against the duke were at a stand in the long vacation, a gentleman +of character, intimately acquainted with the duke, and also with his +affairs in England; one who enjoyed the sunshine of court favour, and +was a Member of Parliament, went over to Rouen to visit his grace, in +company with another gentleman. These two visitants took a great deal +of pains to persuade him to submit to the government, and return to +his estate, which they assured him he might do, by writing a letter to +the King, or the ministry. This alone, without any other pretensions +to favour, was to re-establish him, and leave him the free enjoyment +of his estate, which, notwithstanding all the reductions, would +even then have yielded 6000 l. a year. This point they sollicited +incessantly, and their words of honour were given, to remove all +scruples his grace might have about the performance of the conditions. +Their interpositions were however in vain; he refused to submit to the +ministry, or write to the King, and thought it beneath him to ask a +favour. + +This conduct of the duke may be imputed, by some, to pride and +obstinacy, but a more natural construction is, that he was afraid of +treachery. He could not discover upon what motives, two persons whom +he looked upon as creatures of the court, would give themselves the +trouble to come to Rouen, in order to persuade him to act for his +own interest, unless they had some concealed views of such a nature, +perhaps, as would prove fatal to him, should he submit. + +He soon after this received advice from England, that his trustees +could remit him no more of his annuity, on account of the indictment +preferred against him. There was now a dreadful prospect before him; +his money was wasted; all future supplies cut off; and there was a +large family to support, without any hopes of relief. He began now to +feel the effects of the indictment, which he before held in so much +contempt; he complained of it as a rigorous proceeding, because it +laid him under a necessity of asking a favour, and receiving it in a +public manner, which he fancied neither consistent with his honour, +or reputation. Thus exasperated against the government, he wrote the +memorable paper which he contrived to get printed in Mist's Journal, +under the colour of an account of Mirevais and Sultan Ezref, which +contained severe reflexions on the administration. Mean time the +duke's credit at Rouen began to sink; he was attended every morning +with a considerable levee, consisting of the tradesmen of that city, +who came with importunate faces to demand payment of their bills, +which he discharged by quitting Rouen, leaving his horses and equipage +to be sold, and the money to be divided among them. The duke, before +this event, had thrown himself at the feet of the Chevalier de St. +George, as the only possible resource he had left. Accordingly he +wrote him a most moving letter, giving him a detail of his present +sufferings, very pathetically representing the distress to which he +was reduced, and humbly imploring his protection, with what little +assistance might be necessary to enable him to support such a burthen +of calamities, as he found otherwise too heavy to bear. + + * * * * * + +The duke having now returned to Paris, made a considerable reformation +in his houshold affairs, and placed himself in a private family, while +the duchess went to a relation's at St. Germains. In the mean while +the answer of the letter sent to Rome came in its proper time, in +which his imprudent conduct was represented; but at the same time was +touched with so light and delicate a hand, that it gave the duke +but little uneasiness. No hopes were given him, that he should be +gratified in his extravagancies, or flattered in his levities; on the +contrary he was told, 'That as his past conduct had not merited any +favour, nothing but his future behaviour could recommend him to it.' +The duke had sufficient penetration to discover by this hint, that he +was not likely to be abandoned, which was consolation enough to one +of his sanguine temper, in the then desperate situation of his +affairs.--The Chevalier de St. George soon after sent him 2000 l. +for his support, of which he was no sooner in possession, than he +squandered it away in a course of extravagance. In reality, money +seemed to be such a burthen to him, that he bent all his thoughts +to get rid of it as fast as possible; and he was as unwilling his +companions should be troubled with it as himself. As a proof of this +strange temper we shall quote one instance amongst many in the words +of the writer of his life, which will serve to shew the heedless +profusion of that unaccountable nobleman. + +'A young Irish lord of the duke's acquaintance, of a sweet obliging +and generous disposition, happening to be at St. Germains, at the time +his grace was paying a visit to his lady; the duke came to him one +night, with an air of business, and told his lordship that an affair +of importance called him instantly to Paris, in which no time was to +be lost, wherefore he begged the favour of his lordship's coach. The +young nobleman lent it very readily, but as the duke was stepping into +it, he added, that he should reckon it an additional obligation, if +his lordship would give him, his company: As the duke was alone, +the young lord either could not, or would not, refuse him. They went +together for Paris, where they arrived about midnight. The duke's +companion then supposing his grace's business might demand privacy, +offered to leave him and come again, when it should be finished; but +he assured his lordship it was not necessary; upon which they went +upon the following frolic together. The first thing to be done, was to +hire a coach and four horses; the next to find out the music belonging +to the Opera, six or eight of which his grace engaged at a set price: +The young lord could not imagine in what this would end; till they +returned to St. Germains, which was at five the next morning when the +duke marching directly with his troop to the castle, ordered them to +strike upon the stairs. Then the plot broke out into execution, being +no more than to serenade some young ladies, near whose apartments they +then were. + +'This piece of extravagant gallantry being over, the duke persuaded +the young lord to go about a mile off, to Poissy, where an English +gentleman 'of their acquaintance lived: His lordship consenting, the +duke took with him a pair of trumpets, and a kettle-drum, to give +the music a more martial air: But to this the Opera music made an +objection at first, because as they should be wanted that night +in their posts, they should forfeit half a louis d' or each, for +non-appearance. Half a louis d' or! says his grace, follow the duke +of Wharton, and all your forfeitures shall be paid. They did so, and +entered Poissy in such a musical manner, that they alarmed the whole +town, and their friend did not know whether he had best keep his +house, or fly for it; but the affair was soon explained, and the +musical troop was entertained by the gentleman their friend, in a very +handsome manner. This frolic being now finished, there was one thing +more absolutely necessary, viz. to discharge the reckoning, upon which +occasion the duke in a very laconic manner addressed himself to the +young lord.' My lord, says he, 'I have not one livre in my pocket, +wherefore I must desire you to pay these fellows, and I'll do as +much for you whenever I am able. Upon this his lordship with great +chearfulness, paid all demands, amounting to 25 louis d' ors.' + +It may seem a strange observation, but it is certainly true, that the +brute creation differs not more from the rational in many respects, +than a man from himself: That by suffering passions to usurp the +dominion of the soul, human nature is stript of its dignity, debased +to the beasts that perish, and still rendered more ignominious by the +complications of guilt. We have already seen the duke of Wharton set +up as the idol of an admiring people; an august senate listened to +the enchantments of his eloquence; a powerful ministry dreading his +resolutions; he was courted, flattered, feared; and obeyed. View him +now, and the scene is shifted. Observe him descending to the most +abject trifling, stooping to the meanest expedients, and the orator +and statesman transformed to the vagabond and the wanderer. + +No incident in this nobleman's life has been represented more to his +disadvantage, and is in itself more interesting than the following. +The account which is here inserted was sent to a friend by the duke's +express order. + +A Scots peer with whom both the duke, and the duchess lived in great +intimacy in Italy, happening to come to Paris, when the duke was +there, they renewed their acquaintance and friendship, and for some +time continued with mutual freedom, till the duke had reason to +believe from what he heard from others, that the peer had boasted +favours from the duchess of Wharton. + +This instance of wanton vanity, the duke could not help resenting, +though he often declared since the quarrel, that he never had the +least suspicion of the duchess's honour. He resolved therefore very +prudently to call the Scots lord to an account, without letting +him know it was for the duchess or so much as mentioning her name; +accordingly he took occasion to do it in this manner. + +It happened that the duke of Wharton and his lordship met at a lady's +whom they mutually visited, and the duke dropping his glove by chance, +his lordship took it up, and returned it to the duke; who thereupon +asked him if he would take it up in all it's forms? To which his +lordship answered, yes, my lord, in all its forms. + +Some days after, the duke gave a ball at St. Germains, to which he +invited the Scots nobleman, and some person indiscretely asked his +grace whether he had forbid the duchess's dancing with lord C----. +This gave the duke fresh reason to believe that the Scots peer had +been administring new grounds for his resentment, by the wantonness +of calumny. He dissembled his uneasiness for the present, and very +politely entertained the company till five o'clock in the morning, +when he went away without the ceremony of taking leave; and the next +news that was heard of him was from Paris, from whence he sent a +challenge to lord C----d, to follow him to Flanders. + +The challenge was delivered by his servant, and was to this effect: +'That his lordship might remember his saying he took up his glove in +all its forms, which upon mature reflexion, his grace looked upon to +be such an affront, as was not to be born, wherefore he desired his +lordship to meet him at Valenciennes, where he would expect him with a +friend and a pair of pistols; and on failure of his lordship's coming +his grace would post him, &c. + +The servant who delivered the letter, did not keep its contents a +secret; and lord C----d was taken into custody, when he was about +setting out to meet his grace. All that remained then for his lordship +to do, was to send a gentleman into Flanders, to acquaint the duke +with what happened to him. His grace upon seeing the gentleman, +imagining him to be his lordship's second, spoke to him in this +manner; 'Sir, I hope my lord will favour me so far as to let us use +pistols, because the wound I received in my foot before Gibraltar, +in some measure disables me from the sword.' Hereupon the gentleman +replied with some emotion, 'My lord duke, you might chuse what you +please; my lord C----d will fight you with any weapon, from a small +pin to a great cannon; but this is not the case, my lord is under an +arrest, by order of the duke of Berwick.' + +His grace being thus disappointed in the duel, and his money being +almost spent, he returned to Paris, and was also put under an arrest +till the affair was made up by the interposition of the duke of +Berwick, under whose cognizance it properly came as Marshal of France. + +The duke's behaviour on this occasion, so far from being reproachable, +seems to be the most manly action of his whole life. What man of +spirit would not resent the behaviour of another, who should boast +of favours from his wife, especially when in all probability he never +received any? + +His grace's conducting the quarrel, so as to save the reputation of +his duchess, by not so much as having her name called in question, was +at once prudent, and tender; for whether a lady is guilty or no, if +the least suspicion is once raised, there are detractors enough in +the world ready to fix the stain upon her. The Scots lord deserved the +severest treatment, for living in strict friendship with two persons +of quality, and then with an insidious cruelty endeavouring to sow +the seeds of eternal discord between them, and all to gratify a little +vanity: Than such a conduct nothing can be more reproachable. + +Not long after this adventure, a whim seized the duke of going into +a convent, in order to prepare for Easter; and while he was there, he +talked with so much force and energy upon all points of religion, that +the pious fathers beheld him with admiration. Mankind were for some +time in suspense, what would be the issue of this new course of life; +but he soon put an end to their speculations by appearing again in +the world, and running headlong into as wild courses of vice and +extravagance, as he had ever before done. He had for a companion, a +gentleman for whom he entertained a very high esteem; but one who +was as much an enemy as possible to such a licentious behaviour. In +another situation, our noble author would have found it a happiness +to be constantly attended by a person of his honour, probity, and good +sense; but the duke's strange and unaccountable conduct, rendered +the best endeavours to serve him ineffectual. In a letter which that +gentleman wrote to a friend in London, he concludes with a melancholy +representation of the duke's present circumstances; + +----'However, notwithstanding what I have suffered, and what my +brother 'madman' has done to undo himself, and every body who was so +unlucky as to have the least concern with him, I could not help being +sensibly moved on so extraordinary a vicissitude of fortune, to see a +great man fallen from that shining light, in which I have beheld him +in the house of lords, to such a degree of obscurity, that I have +beheld the meanest commoner here decline his company; and the Jew he +would sometimes fasten on, grow tired of it, for you know he is a +bad orator in his cups, and of late he has been seldom sober. A week +before he left Paris, he was so reduced, that he had not one single +crown at command, and was forced to thrust in with any acquaintance +for a lodging: Walsh and I have had him by turns, all to avoid a crowd +of duns, which he had of all sizes, from 1400 livres to 4, who hunted +him so close, that he was forced to retire to some of the neighbouring +villages for safety. I, sick as I was, hurried about Paris to get him +money, and to St. Germains to get him linen. I bought him one shirt +and a cravat, which, with 500 livres, his whole stock, he and his +duchess, attended by one servant, set out for Spain. All the news +I have heard of him since, is, that a day or two after he sent for +captain Brierly, and two or three of his domestics to follow him; but +none but the captain obeyed the summons. Where they are now I cannot +tell, but I fear they must be in great distress by this time, if he +has had no other supplies; and so ends my melancholy story.' + +In this deplorable situation did the duke leave Paris, an instance +indeed of the strange reverse of fortune, but for which he could not +blame the severity of providence, or the persecution of enemies, but +his own unbounded profusion, a slave to which he seems to have been +born. As a long journey did not very well suit with his grace's +finances, so he went for Orleans, thence fell down the river Loire +to Nantz in Britany, and there he stopt some time 'till he got +a remittance from Paris, which was squandered almost as soon as +received. At Nantz some of his ragged servants rejoined him, and +from thence he took shipping with them from Bilboa, as if he had been +carrying recruits to the Spanish regiment. From Bilboa he wrote a +humorous letter to a friend at Paris, such as his fancy, not his +circumstances, dictated, giving a whimsical account of his voyage, and +his manner of passing away his time. But at the end, as if he had +been a little affected with his late misconduct, he concludes thus, +'notwithstanding what the world may say of me, + + 'Be kind to my remains, and O! defend, + Against your judgment, your departed friend[A].' + +When the duke arrived at Bilboa, he had neither friends, money, +nor credit, more than what the reputation of his Spanish commission +procured him. Upon the strength of that he left his duchess and +servant there, and went to his regiment, where he was obliged to +support himself upon the pay of 18 pistoles a month, but could get no +relief for the poor lady and family he left behind him. The distress +of the duchess was inexpressible, nor is it easy to conceive what +would have been the consequence, if her unhappy circumstances had not +reached the ear of another exiled nobleman at Madrid, who could not +hear of her sufferings without relieving her. This generous exile, +touched with her calamities, sent her a hundred Spanish pistoles, +which relieved her grace from a kind of captivity, and enabled her to +come to Madrid, where she lived with her mother and grandmother, while +the duke attended his regiment. Not long after this, the duke's family +had a great loss in the death of his lady's mother, by which they were +deprived of a pension they before enjoyed from the crown of Spain; but +this was fortunately repaired by the interest of a nobleman at court, +who procured the duchess's two sisters to be minuted down for Maids of +Honour to the Queen of Spain, whenever a vacancy should happen, but +to enter immediately upon the salary of these places. Her Majesty +likewise took the duchess to attend her person. + +There have been many instances of people, who have sustained the +greatest shocks which adversity can inflict, through a whole life of +suffering, and yet at last have yielded to the influence of a trifling +evil: something like this was the case of the duke of Wharton, which +the following story will illustrate. + +He was in garrison at Barcelona, and coming from a ball one night, in +company with some ladies, a man in a masque, whom he did not know, +was guilty of some rudeness to him. The duke enquired who he was, +and being informed that he was valet de chambre to the marquis +de Risbourg, governour of Catalonia, he suffered himself to be +transported by the first motions of his passion, and caned him. The +fellow complained of this usage to his master, who at first took no +notice of it, imagining his grace would make some excuse to him for +such a procedure, but whether the duke thought it beneath his quality +to make any apology for beating a menial servant, who had been rude +to him, or would not do it upon another account, he spoke not a word +about it. The marquis resenting this behaviour, two days after ordered +the duke to prison. He obeyed, and went to Fort Montjuich: as soon as +he arrived there, the marquis sent him word, he might come out when he +pleased; the duke answered, he scorned to accept liberty at his hands, +and would not stir without an order from the court, imagining they +would highly condemn the governour's conduct; but the marquis had too +much credit with the minister, to suffer any diminution of his power +on that account; he received only a sharp rebuke, and the duke +had orders to repair to his quarters, without entering again into +Barcelona. This last mortification renewed the remembrance of all +his misfortunes; he sunk beneath this accident, and giving way to +melancholy, fell into a deep consumption. Had the duke maintained +his usual spirit, he would probably have challenged the marquis, and +revenged the affront of the servant upon the master, who had made the +quarrel his own, by resenting the valet's deserved correction. + +About the beginning of the year 1731 he declined so fast, being in his +quarters, at Lerida, that he had not the use of his limbs, so as to +move without assistance; but as he was free from pain, he did not +lose all his gaiety. He continued in this ill state of health for two +months, when he gained a little strength, and found some benefit +from a certain mineral water in the mountains of Catalonia; but his +constitution was too much spent to recover the shocks it had received. +He relapsed the May following at Terragana, whither he removed with +his regiment; and going to the above mentioned waters, the benefit +whereof he had already experienced, he fell into one of those fainting +fits, to which he had for some time been subject, in a small village, +and was utterly destitute of all the necessaries of life, 'till +some charitable fathers of a Bernardine convent, offered him what +assistance their house afforded. The duke accepted their kind +proposal, upon which they removed him to their convent, and +administered all the relief in their power. Under this hospitable +roof, after languishing a week, died the duke of Wharton, without one +friend, or acquaintance to close his eyes. His funeral was performed +in the same manner in which the fathers inter those of their own +fraternity. + +Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an adequate picture of the duke +of Wharton, a man whose life was as strongly chequered with +the vicissitudes of fortune, as his abilities were various and +astonishing. He is an instance of the great imbecility of intellectual +powers, when once they spurn the dictates of prudence, and the maxims +of life. With all the lustre of his understanding, when his fortune +was wasted, and his circumstances low, he fell into contempt; they +who formerly worshipped him, fled from him, and despised his wit when +attended with poverty. So true is it that, + + Want is the scorn of every wealthy fool, + And wit in rags is turn'd to ridicule. + +The duke of Wharton seems to have lived as if the world should be new +modelled for him; for he would conform to none of the rules, by which +the little happiness the world can yield, is to be attained. But we +shall not here enlarge on his character, as we can present it to the +reader, drawn in the most lively manner, by the masterly touches of +Pope, who in one of his familiar epistles, thus characterizes him. + + POPE's Epistle on the KNOWLEDGE + and CHARACTERS of MEN. + + + Wharton, the scorn and wonder of our days, + Whose darling passion was the lust of praise: + Born with whate'er could win it from the wise, + Women and fools must like him, or he dies; + Tho' wond'ring senates hung on all he spoke, + The club must hail him master of the joke. + Shall parts so various aim at nothing new? + He'll shine a Tully and a Wilmot too; + Then turns repentant, and his God adores, + With the same spirit that he drinks and whores; + Enough if all around him but admire, + And now the Punk applaud, and now the Friar. + Thus with each gift of nature and of art, + And wanting nothing but an honest heart; + Grown all to all, from no one vice exempt; + And most contemptible, to shun contempt; + His passion still to covet gen'ral praise, + His life, to forfeit it a thousand ways; + A constant bounty which no friend has made; + An angel tongue which no man can persuade; + A fool, with more of wit than half mankind, + Too rash for thought, for action too refin'd: + A tyrant to the wife his heart approves; + A rebel to the very King he loves; + He dies, sad out-cast of each church and state, + And, harder still! flagitious, yet not great. + Ask you why Wharton broke thro' ev'ry rule? + 'Twas all for fear the Knaves should call him Fool. + +Pope's Works, Vol. III. The duke is author of two volumes of poems, of +which we shall select the following as a specimen. + + The FEAR of DEATH. + + + Say, sov'reign queen of awful night, + Dread tyrant say! + Why parting throes this lab'ring frame distend, + Why dire convulsions rend, + And teeming horrors wreck th' astonish'd sight? + Why shrinks the trembling soul, + Why with amazement full + Pines at thy rule, and sickens at thy sway? + Why low'r the thunder of thy brow, + Why livid angers glow, + Mistaken phantom, say? + Far hence exert thy awful reign, + Where tutelary shrines and solemn busts + Inclose the hallow'd dust: + Where feeble tapers shed a gloomy ray, + And statues pity feign; + Where pale-ey'd griefs their wasting vigils keep, + There brood with sullen state, and nod with downy sleep. + Advance ye lurid ministers of death! + And swell the annals of her reign: + Crack every nerve, sluice every vein; + And choak the avenues of breath. + Freeze, freeze, ye purple tides! + Or scorch with seering flames, Æra's nature flows in tepid streams, + And life's meanders glide. + Let keen despair her icy progress make, + And slacken'd nerves their talk forsake; + Years damp the vital fire. + Yawn all ye horrors of the flood; + And curl your swelling surges higher. + Survey the road! + Where desolating storms, and vengeful fates, + The gawdy scene deface; + Ambition in its widest havock trace + Thro' widow'd cities, and unpeopl'd states. + And is this all! + Are these the threaten'd terrors of your reign? + O dream of fancy'd power! + Quit, quit, th' affected shew, + This pageantry of grief, and labour'd pomp of woe. + Draw the pleasing scene, + Where dreadful thunders never rowl, nor giddy tempests low'r. + Scenes delighting! + Peace inviting, + Passions sooth'd, and tumult dying; + Aera's rowling, + Fears controuling, + Always new, and always flying. + We dread we know not what, we fear we know not why, + Our cheated fancy shrinks, nor sees to die + Is but to slumber into immortality. + All reconciling name! + In space unbounded as in power; + Where fancy limits cannot frame; + Nor reason launch beyond the shore: + An equal state from all distinction free, + Spread like the wide expanse of vast immensity. + Seditious tumults there obey, + And feuds their zeal forget: + Debated empires own one common sway, + There learn'd disputes unite; + Nor crowded volumes the long war maintain: + There rival chiefs combine + To fill the gen'ral chorus of her reign. + So streams from either pole, + Thro' diff'rent tracks their wat'ry journies rowl; + Then in the blending ocean lose their name, + And with consenting waves and mingl'd tides forever flow the same. + + +[Footnote A: These two lines are taken from Dryden, who addressed them +to Congreve, when he recommended to him the care of his works.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Colonel CODRINGTON, + + +This gentleman was of the first rank of wit and gallantry. He received +his education at All Souls College in the university of Oxford, to +which he left a donation of 30,000 l. by his will, part of which was +to be appropriated for building a new library[A]. He was many years +governour of the Leeward Islands, where he died, but was buried at +Oxford. He is mentioned here, on account of some small pieces of +poetry, which he wrote with much elegance and politeness. Amongst +these pieces is an epilogue to Mr. Southern's tragedy called The Fate +of Capua, in which are the following verses; + + Wives still are wives, and he that will be billing, + Must not think cuckoldom deserves a killing. + What if the gentle creature had been kissing, + Nothing the good man married for was missing. + Had he the secret of her birth-right known, + 'Tis odds the faithful Annals would have shewn + The wives of half his race more lucky than his own. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + + * * * * * + + + + +EDWARD WARD, + + +A man of low extraction, and who never received any regular education. +He was an imitator of the famous Butler, and wrote his Reformation, a +poem, with an aim at the same kind of humour which has so remarkably +distinguished Hudibras. 'Of late years, says Mr. Jacob, he has kept a +public house in the city, but in a genteel way.' Ward was, in his +own droll manner, a violent antagonist to the Low Church Whigs and in +consequence, of this, drew to his house such people as had a mind +to indulge their spleen against the government, by retailing little +stories of treason. He was thought to be a man of strong natural +parts, and possessed a very agreeable pleasantry of temper. Ward was +much affronted when he read Mr. Jacob's account, in which he mentions +his keeping a public house in the city, and in a book called Apollo's +Maggot, declared this account to be a great falsity, protesting that +his public house was not in the City, but in Moorfields[A]. + +The chief of this author's pieces are, + +Hudibras Redivivus, a political Poem. + +Don Quixote, translated into Hudibrastic Verse. + +Ecclesiae & Fastio, a Dialogue between Bow-steeple Dragon, and the +Exchange Grasshopper. A Ramble through the Heavens, or The Revels of +the Gods. + +The Cavalcade, a Poem. + +Marriage Dialogues, or A Poetical Peep into the State of Matrimony. + +A Trip to Jamaica. + +The Sots Paradise, or The Humours of a Derby Alehouse. + +A Battle without Bloodshed, or Military Discipline Buffoon'd. + +All Men Mad, or England a Great Bedlam, 4to. 1704. + +The Double Welcome, a Poem to the Duke of Marlborough. + +Apollo's Maggot in his Cups, or The Whimsical Creation of a Little +Satirical Poet; a Lyric Ode, dedicated to Dickey Dickenson, the witty, +but deformed Governor of Scarborough Spaw, 8vo. 1729. + +The Ambitious Father, or The Politician's Advice to his Son; a Poem in +five Cantos, 1733, the last work he left finished. + + +Mr. Ward's works, if collected, would amount to five volumes in 8vo. +but he is most distinguished by his London Spy, a celebrated work in +prose. + + +[Footnote A: Notes on the Dunciad.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir ROGER L'ESTRANGE, + + +This gentleman was second son of Sir Hammon L'Estrange of Hunston in +Norfolk, knt. and was born anno 1617[A]. In the year 1644 Sir Roger +having obtained a commission from King Charles I. for reducing Lynne +in Norfolk, then in possession of the Parliament, his design was +discovered to colonel Walton the governour, and his person seized. +Upon the failing of this enterprize he was tried by a court-martial +at Guildhall, London, and condemned to lose his life as a spy, coming +from the King's quarters without drum, trumpet, or pass; but was +afterwards reprieved, and continued in Newgate several years. Sir +Roger in a work of his, called Truth and Loyalty Vindicated, has +informed us, that, when he received sentence of death, which was +pronounced against him by Dr. Mills, then judge advocate, and +afterwards chancellor to the bishop of Norwich, he was cast into +Newgate, where he was visited by Mr. Thorowgood and Mr. Arrowsmith, +two members of the assembly of divines, who kindly offered him their +utmost interest if he would make some petitionary acknowledgment, +and submit to take the covenant, which he refused. But that he +might obtain a reprieve, he wrote several letters to the earl of +Northumberland, the earl of Stamford, and others of the nobility, from +whom he received favours. In the House of Commons he was particularly +obliged to Sir John Corbet, and Sir Henry Cholmondley. He was +reprieved in order to a further hearing; but after almost thirty +months spent in vain endeavours, either to come to a hearing, or to +put himself into an exchangeable condition, he printed a state of his +case, as an Appeal from the Court-martial to the Parliament, dated at +Newgate in 1647. + +After almost four years imprisonment, with his keeper's privity, he +slipt into Kent, and then with much difficulty got beyond sea. About +the latter end of August 1653, upon the dissolution of the Long +Parliament, by Cromwel, he returned into England, and presently +acquainted the council, then sitting at Whitehall, that finding +himself within the Act of Indemnity, he thought it his duty to give +them notice of his return. Soon after this he was served with the +following order, + +Wednesday September 7, 1655, + +Ordered, + +That Roger L'Estrange be sent unto, to attend the committee of this +council for examination. + +JOHN THURLOE, Secretary. + +This order laid him under a necessity of attending for his discharge, +but perceiving his business to advance very slowly, and his father +at that time lying upon his death-bed, he was sollicitous to have his +discharge as much hastened as possible, that he might pay his duty to +his father, whom he had not seen for many years before. Mr. Strickland +was one of the commissioners appointed to examine him, and the person +from whom, in the judgment of his friends, he was to expect the least +favour. Mr. L'Estrange therefore to render him more propitious to his +purpose, paid him the compliment of a visit, telling him frankly +that he was returned upon the invitation of the Act of Indemnity; +and laying before him how much it concerned him, both in comfort +and interest, to see his dying father. Mr. Strickland, in place of +complying with Mr. L'Estrange's proposition, answered, that he would +find himself mistaken, and that his case was not included in that Act. +Mr. L'Estrange's reply to him was, 'that he might have been safe among +the Turks upon the same terms; and so he left him. From that time +matters beginning to look worse and worse, he considered it, as +his last expedient, to address Cromwel himself. After several +disappointments, for want of opportunity, he spoke to him at last +in the Cock-pit, and the sum of his desire was, either a speedy +examination, or that it might be deferred 'till he had seen his +father. Cromwel remonstrated against the restlessness of his party, +observed, 'that rigour was not his inclination, but that he was but +one man, and could do little by himself; and that Mr. L'Estrange's +party would do well to give some better testimony of their quiet, and +peaceable intentions.' Mr. L'Estrange told him, 'that every man was to +answer for his own actions, at his own peril;' and so Cromwel took +his leave. Some time after this Mr. L'Estrange was called, and Mr. +Strickland, with another gentleman, were his examiners; but the latter +pressed nothing against him. Mr. Strickland indeed insisted upon his +condemnation, and would have deprived him of the benefit of the Act of +Indemnity, telling him at last, 'that he had given no evidence of +the change of his mind, and consequently was not to be trusted.' +Mr. L'Estrange's final answer was to this effect, 'that it was his +interest to change his opinion, if he could, and that whenever he +found reason so to do, he would obey the sense of his own mind.' Some +few days after this he was discharged[B]. 'During the dependency of +this affair (says Mr. L'Estrange) I might well be seen at Whitehall, +but that I spake to Cromwel on any other business than this, that I +either sought, or pretended to, any privacy with him, or that I ever +spake to him after this time, I absolutely disown. Concerning the +story of the fiddle[C], this I suppose might be the rise of it: being +in St. James's Park, I heard an organ touched in a little low room +of one Mr. Henckson's; I went in, and found a private company of some +five or six persons. They desired me to take up a Viol, and bear a +part. I did so, and that part too, not much advance to the reputation +of my cunning. By and by, without the least colour of design, +or expectation, in comes Cromwel. He found us playing, and, as I +remember, so he left us.--As to bribing of his attendants, I disclaim +it. I never spake to Thurloe, but once in my life, and that was about +my discharge. Nor did I ever give bribe, little or great, in the +family.' + +The above declaration Sir Roger was obliged to make, as some of his +enemies wanted to turn those circumstances of favour he received from +the Oliverian government to his disadvantage, and prevent his rising +in court distinction. + +Sir Roger having little paternal fortune, and being a man rather +profuse than oeconomical, he had recourse to writing for bread. After +the restoration he set up a news-paper, which was continued 'till +the Gazette was first set on foot by Sir Joseph Williamson, under +secretary of state, for which, however, the government allowed Mr. +L'Estrange a consideration. Mr. Wood informs us, that our author +published his paper twice every week in 4to. under the title of The +Public Intelligence and News; the first of which came out August the +31st, 1663, and the other September the 3d, the same year. 'These +continued till the 9th of January 1665, at which time Mr. L'Estrange +desisted, because in the November before, there were other News-Papers +published twice every week, in half a sheet in folio. These were +called The Oxford Gazettes, and commenced the 7th of November, 1665, +the king and queen, with their courts being then at Oxford. These for +a little while were written by one Henry Muddeman; but when the court +removed to London, they were called the London Gazette. Soon after Mr. +Joseph Williamson, under secretary of State, procured the writing +of them for himself; and thereupon employed Charles Perrot, M.A. and +fellow of Oriel College in Oxford, who had a good command of his pen, +to do that office under him, and so he did, though not constantly, +till about 1671; after which time they were constantly written by +under secretaries, belonging to those that are principal, and do +continue so to this day.' + +Soon after the popish plot, when the Tories began to gain the +ascendant over the Whigs, Mr. L'Estrange became a zealous promoter of +the Tory interest. He set up a paper called the Observator, in which +he defended the court, and endeavoured to invalidate those evidences +which were given by Oates's party against the Jesuits. He likewise +wrote a pamphlet, in which he attempts to prove, that Sir Edmundbury +Godfrey's murther, for which so many suffered, and so great a flame +was raised in the nation, was really perpetrated by himself. He +attempts to shew that Sir Edmundbury was a melancholy enthusiastic +man; that he was weak in his undemanding, and absurd in his conduct. +The activity he discovered in Oates's plot, had raised him to such +reputation, that he was unable to bear it, and therefore the natural +enthusiasm of his temper prompted him to make himself a sacrifice, +from a view of advancing the Protestant cause, as he knew his murther +would be charged upon the Papists. + +Mr. L'Estrange's reasoning, being only conjectural, and very +improbable, is therefore far from conclusive: It is certain that there +never was a more intricate affair than this. We have read the trials +of all those who suffered for this murther, chiefly upon the evidence +of one Prance, and one Bedloe, who pretended to have been accomplices; +but their relation is so inconsistent; their characters so very +infamous, and their reward for being evidences supposed to be so +considerable, that the most candid enquirer after truth, can determine +nothing positively concerning it. All who suffered for the popish +plot, denied their knowledge of it; the four men who were executed, +as being the perpetrators persisted to the last in protesting their +innocence of it. After all, the murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey +is perhaps one of those secrets, which will ever remain so, till the +hearts of all men are laid open. + +The services, which Mr. L'Estrange rendered the court, procured him +the honour of knighthood; and he served as a member for Winchester, in +the parliament called by king James the IId. 1685. But things taking +quite a different turn in that prince's reign, in point of liberty +of conscience, to what most people expected, our author's Observators +were dropt, as not being suitable to the times. However he continued +licenser of the press 'till the accession of the prince of Orange to +the throne; in whose reign, on account of his Tory principles, and +his attachment to his late master, he met with some troubles. He was +suffered however to descend to the grave in peace, though he had in a +manner survived his understanding. He died December 12, 1705, in the +88th year of his age. + +[D]Besides his Observators, which make three volumes in folio, he +published a great number of poetical and other works. Winstanley, +in his Lives of the Poets, says, 'That those who shall consider the +number and greatness of his books, will admire he should ever write so +many; and those who have read them, considering the skill and method +they are written in, will admire he should write so well. Nor is he +less happy in verse than prose, which for elegance of language, and +quickness of invention, deservedly entitles him to the honour of a +poet.' + +The following are the titles of some of his works, viz. Collections in +Defence of the King. Toleration Discussed. Relapsed Apostate. Apology +for Protestants. Richard against Baxter. Tyranny and Popery. Growth +and Knavery. Reformed Catholic. Free-born Subjects. The Case Put. +Seasonable Memorials. Answer to the Appeal. L'Estrange no Papist; in +answer to a Libel, intitled L'Estrange a Papist, &c. with Notes and +Animadversions upon Miles Prance, Silver-Smith, cum multis aliis. The +Shammer Shamm'd. Account Cleared. Reformation Reformed. Dissenters +Sayings, in two Parts. Notes on Colledge, the Protestant Joiner. +Citizen and Bumpkin, in two Parts. Further Discovery in the Plot. +Discovery on Discovery. Narrative of the Plot. Zekiel and Ephraim. +Appeal to the King and Parliament. Papist in Masquerade. Answer to the +second Character of a Popish Successor. Confederations upon a Printed +Sheet intitled, The Speech of Lord Russel to the Sheriffs: Together +with the Paper delivered by him to them at the place of execution, +on July 1683. These pieces with many more, were printed in quarto; +besides which he wrote the following, viz. The History of the Plot in +Folio. Caveat to the Cavaliers. He translated into English Cicero's +Offices; Seneca's Mora's, Erasmus's Colloquies; Quevedo's Visions; +Bona's Guide to Eternity; Five Love Letters from a Nun to a Cavalier; +Josephus's Works; Aesop's Fables. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Gordon, author of the Independent Whig, and translator of Tacitus, +has very freely censured L'Estrange. He bestows very freely upon him +the epithet of a buffoon, an ignorant droll, &c.----He charges him +with having no knowledge of the Latin tongue; and says, he is unfit +to be read by any person of taste. That his stile is full of technical +terms, and of phrases picked up in the streets, from apprentices and +porters. + + * * * * * + +Sir Roger L'Estrange translated the third Book of Tacitus, an author +of whom Mr. Gordon made an entire translation. To raise the reputation +of his own performance, he has abused that of L'Estrange, in terms +very unfit for a gentleman to use, supposing the censure had been +true. Sir Roger's works indeed are often calculated for the meanest +capacities, and the phrase is consequently low; but a man must be +greatly under the influence of prejudice, who can discover no genius +in his writings; not an intimate acquaintance with the state of +parties, human life, and manners. + + * * * * * + +Sir Roger was but ill-rewarded by the Tories, for having been their +champion; the latter part of his life was clouded with poverty, +and though he descended in peace to the grave, free from political +turmoils, yet as he was bowed down with age and distress, he cannot be +said to have died in comfort. He had seen much of the world, examined +many characters, experienced the vicissitudes of fortune, and was as +well instructed as any man that ever lived, in the important lesson of +human life, viz. That all things are vanity. + + +[Footnote A: See Gen. Dict. Art. L'Estrange.] + +[Footnote B: Truth and Loyalty, ubi supra.] + +[Footnote C: Sir Roger L'Estrange was called, by way of derision, +Cromwell's Fidler.] + +[Footnote D: General Dictionary.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. EDMUND SMITH, + + +This distinguished poet was son of an eminent merchant, one Mr. Neal, +by a daughter of baron Lechemere[A]. Some misfortunes of his father, +which were soon followed by his death, occasioned our author's being +left very young in the care of a near relation (one who married Mr. +Neal's mother, whose name was Smith). + +This gentleman treated him with as much tenderness as if he had been +his own child, and placed him at Westminster-school, under the care +of Dr. Busby. After the death of his generous guardian (whose name +in gratitude he thought proper to assume) he was removed to Christ's +Church in Oxford, and was there by his aunt handsomely supported till +her death; after which he continued a member of that learned society, +till within five years of his own. Some time before his leaving +Christ-Church, he was sent for by his mother to Worcester, and +acknowledged by her as a legitimate son. We chuse to mention this +circumstance, in order to wipe off the aspersion which folly and +ignorance cast upon; his birth[B]. + +In honour to Mr. Smith it should be remembered, that when he stood a +candidate for one of the universities, at the Westminster election, he +so peculiarly distinguished himself by his conspicuous performances, +that there arose no small contention between the representative +electors of Trinity College in Cambridge, and Christ-Church College +in Oxon, which of those two illustrious societies should adopt him as +their own. But the electors of Trinity College having the preference +of choice that year, they resolutely elected him; but being invited +at the same time to Christ-Church, Mr. Smith chose to accept of a +studentship there. + +He passed through the exercises of the college, and the university, +with unusual applause; and tho' he often suffered his friends to call +him off from his retirement; yet his return to his studies was so much +the more passionate, and his love of reading and thinking being so +vehement, the habit grew upon him, and the series of meditation and +reflexion being kept up whole weeks together, he could better arrange +his ideas, and take in sundry parts of a science at one view without +interruption or confusion. Some of his acquaintance, who were +pleased to distinguish between the wit and the scholar, extoll'd him +altogether on account of the first of these excellencies; but others, +who were more candid, admired him as a prodigy in both. He had +acquired reputation in the schools, both as a philosopher and polemic +of extensive knowledge, and deep penetration, and went through all the +courses with a proper regard to the dignity, and importance of each +science. Mr. Smith had a long and perfect intimacy with all the Greek +and Latin Classics; with whom he had industriously compared whatever +was worth perusing in the French, Spanish, and Italian, and all the +celebrated writers in his own country. He considered the antients and +moderns, not as parties, or rivals for fame, but as architects upon +one and the same plan, the Art of Poetry. If he did not always commend +the compositions of others, it proceeded not from ill-nature (for that +was foreign to his temper) but a strict regard to justice would not +suffer him to call a few flowers elegantly adorned, without much art, +and less genius, by so distinguished a name as poetry. He was of Ben +Johnson's opinion, who could not admire, + + ----Verses, as smooth and soft as cream, + In which their was neither depth nor stream. + +Mr. Smith's Bodleian Oration, printed with his other works, though +taken from a remote and imperfect copy, has shewn the world, how great +a matter he was of Ciceronian Eloquence. Since Temple and Roscommon +(says Mr. Oldisworth) 'No man understood Horace better, especially +as to his happy diction, rolling numbers, beautiful imagery, and +alternate mixture of the soft and sublime. His friend Mr. Philips's +Ode to Mr. St. John, after the manner of Horace's Lusory, or Amatorian +Odes, is certainly a master-piece: But Mr. Smith's Pocockius is of the +sublimer kind; though like Waller's writings upon Cromwell, it wants +not the most delicate and surprizing turns, peculiar to the person +praised.' + +He was an excellent judge of humanity, and so good a historian, that +in familiar conversation, he would talk over the most memorable fads +in antiquity; the lives, actions, and characters of celebrated men, +with amazing facility and accuracy. As he had carefully read and +distinguished Thuanus's Works, so he was able to copy after him: And +his talent in this kind was so generally confess'd, that he was made +choice of by some great men, to write a history, which it was their +interest to have executed with the utmost art, and dexterity; but +this design was dropp'd, as Mr. Smith would not sacrifice truth to the +caprice, and interested views of a party. + + * * * * * + +Our author's Poem, condoling the death of Mr. Philips, is full of the +noblest beauties, and pays a just tribute to the venerable ashes of +that great man. Mr. Smith had contracted for Mr. Philips the most +perfect friendship, a passion of which he was very susceptible, and +whole laws he considered as sacred and inviolable. + + * * * * * + +In the year 1707 Mr. Smith's Tragedy called Phaedra and Hippolitus was +acted at the Theatre-Royal. This play was introduced upon the stage, +at a time when the Italian Opera so much engrossed the attention of +the polite world, that sense was sacrificed to sound. It was dress'd +and decorated, at an extraordinary expence:----and inimitably +perform'd in all its parts, by Betterton, Booth, Barry, and Oldfield. +Yet it brought but few, and slender audiences.----To say truth, +'twas a fine Poem; but not an extraordinary Play. Notwithstanding the +intrinsic merit of this piece, and the countenance it met with from +the most ingenious men of the age, yet it languished on the stage, +and was soon neglected. Mr. Addison wrote the Prologue, in which he +rallies the vitiated taste of the public, in preferring the unideal +entertainment of an Opera, to the genuine sense of a British Poet. + + The PROLOGUE. + + + Long has a race of Heroes fill'd the stage, + That rant by note, and thro' the gamut rage; + In songs, and airs, express their martial fire, + Combat in trills, and in a feuge expire; + While lull'd by sound, and undisturb'd by wit, + Calm and serene, you indolently fit; + And from the dull fatigue of thinking free, + Hear the facetious fiddle's rapartee; + Our home-spun authors must forsake the field, + And Shakespear to the soft Scarlatti yield. + To your new taste, the poet of this day, + Was by a friend advis'd to form his play; + Had Valentini musically coy, + Shun'd Phaedra's arms, and scorn'd the proffer'd joy, + It had not mov'd your wonder to have seen, + An Eunuch fly from an enamour'd queen. + How would it please, should me in English speak, + And could Hippolitus reply in Greek? + +We have been induced to transcribe these lines of Mr. Addison, in +order to have the pleasure of producing so great an authority in +favour of the English drama, when placed in contradistinction to an +entertainment, exhibited by Eunuchs and Fidlers, in a language, of +which the greatest part of the audience are ignorant; and from the +nature of which no moral instruction can be drawn. + +The chief excellence of this play certainly consists in the beauty and +harmony of the verification. The language is luxuriantly poetical. The +passion of Phaedra for her husband's son has been considered by some +critics as too unnatural to be shewn on the stage; and they have +observed that the poet would have written more successfully if he +had converted the son into a brother. Poetical justice is carefully +distributed; Phaedra and Lycon are justly made the sufferers, while +Hippolitus and Ismena escape the vengeance of Theseus. The play is not +destitute of the pathetic, tho' much more regard is paid to the purity +and elegance of the language, than a poet more acquainted with the +workings of the heart would have done. We shall give an example to +illustrate this observation. When Theseus reproaches Hippolitus for +his love to Ismena, and at the same time dooms him as the victim, of +his revenge and jealousy, he uses these words, + + Canst thou be only clear'd by disobedience, + And justified by crimes?--What! love my foe! + Love one descended from a race of tyrants, + Whose blood yet reeks on my avenging sword! + I'm curst each moment I delay thy fate: + Haste to the shades, and tell, the happy Pallas, + Ismena's flames, and let him taste such joys + As thou giv'st me; go tell applauding Minos, + The pious love you bore his daughter Phaedra; + Tell it the chatt'ring ghosts, and hissing furies, + Tell it the grinning fiends, till Hell found nothing + To thy pleas'd ears, but Phaedra and Ismena. + +We cannot suppose that a man wrought up to fury, by the flame of +jealousy, and a sense of afronted dignity, could be so particular in +giving his son directions how to behave in hell, and to whom he should +relate the story of his fate. When any passion violently overwhelms +the soul, the person who feels it, always speaks sententiously, avoids +repetitions, and is not capable of much recollection, at least of +making a minute detail of circumstances. In how few words, and with +greater force would Shakespear have conduced this speech of Theseus. +An example will prove it: when Othello is informed that Cassio is +slain, he replies, + + Had all his hairs been lives, + My great revenge had stomach for them all. + +When Phaedra is made acquainted with the ruin of Hyppolitus, the poet +makes her utter the following beautiful speech, which, however, is +liable to the same objection as the former, for it seems rather a +studied declamation, than an expression of the most agonizing throes +she is then supposed to experience. + + What's life? Oh all ye Gods! can life attone + For all the monstrous crimes by which 'tis bought? + Or can I live? when thou, O Soul of honour! + O early hero! by my crimes art ruin'd. + Perhaps even now, the great unhappy youth, + Falls by the sordid hands of butchering villains; + Now, now he bleeds, he dies,--O perjur'd traitor! + See his rich blood in purple torrents flows, + And nature sallies in unbidden groans; + Now mortal pangs distort his lovely form, + His rosy beauties fade, his starry eyes + Now darkling swim, and fix their closing beams; + Now in short gasps his lab'ring spirit heaves, + And weakly flutters on his falt'ring tongue, + And struggles into sound. Hear, monster hear, + With his last breath, he curses purjured Phaedra: + He summons Phaedra to the bar of Minos; + Thou too shalt there appear; to torture thee + Whole Hell shall be employ'd, and suff'ring Phaedra + Shall find some care to see thee still more wretched. + +No man had a juster notion of the difficulty of composing, than Mr. +Smith, and he sometimes would create greater difficulties than he +had reason to apprehend. Mr. Smith had, indeed, some defects in his +conduct, which those are more apt to remember, who could imitate him +in nothing else. Amongst the blemishes of an innocent kind, which +attended Mr. Smith, was his extreme carelessness in the particular of +dress; this oddity procured him the name of Captain Ragg. His person +was so well formed, and he possessed so much natural gracefulness, +that notwithstanding the disadvantage of his appearance, he was +called, by the Ladies, the Handsome Sloven. + +It is to be wondered at (says Mr. Oldisworth) that a man under +poverty, calamities, and disappointments, could make so many friends, +and those so truly valuable. He had, indeed, a noble idea of the +passion of friendship, in the success of which, consisted the +greatest, if not the only happiness of his Life. He was serene and +chearful under the dispensations of providence; he avoided having any +dealings with mankind in which he could not be just, and therefore +refused to embrace some opportunities of amending his fortune. + +Upon Mr. Smith's coming to town, no man was more surrounded by all +those who really had, or pretended to wit, or more courted by the +great men, who had then a power and opportunity of encouraging arts +and sciences. Mr. Smith's character grew upon his friends by intimacy, +and exceeded the strongest prepossessions which had been conceived in +his favour. A few years before his death, Mr. Smith engaged in some +considerable Undertakings; in all which he raised expectations in the +world, which he lived not to gratify. Mr. Oldisworth observes, that he +had seen about ten sheets of Pindar translated into English, which, he +says, exceeded any thing of that kind, he could ever hope for in our +language. He had drawn out a plan for a tragedy of Lady Jane Grey, and +had written several scenes of it: a subject afterwards nobly executed +by Mr. Rowe. His greatest undertaking was Longinus, which he executed +in a very masterly manner. He proposed a large addition to this work, +of notes and observations of his own, with an intire system of the +art of poetry in three books, under the title of Thoughts, Action, +and Figure; in this work he proposed to reform the art of Rhetoric, by +reducing that confused heap of Terms, with which a long succession +of Pedants had incumbered the world, to a very narrow compass; +comprehending all that was useful and ornamental in poetry under each +head, and chapter. He intended to make remarks upon all the ancients +and moderns, the Greek, Latin, English, French, Spanish, and Italian +poets, and to anamadvert upon their several beauties and defects. + +Mr. Smith died in the year 1710, in the 42d of his age, at the seat of +George Ducket esq; called Hartham, in Wiltshire; and was buried in the +parish church there. We shall give the character of this celebrated +poet in the words of Mr. Oldisworth:--"He had a quickness of +apprehension and vivacity of understanding, which easily took in, and +surmounted, the most knotty parts of mathematics and metaphysics. +His wit was prompt and flowing, yet solid and piercing; his taste +delicate, his head clear, and his manner of expressing his thoughts +perspicuous, and engaging; an eager, but generous, emulation grew +up in him, which push'd him upon striving to excel in every art and +science, that could make him a credit to his college: and it was his +happiness to have several cotemporaries, and fellow students, who +exercised and excited this virtue in themselves and others: his +judgment naturally good, soon ripened into an exquisite fineness, and +distinguishing sagacity, which as it was active and busy, so it +was vigorous and manly, keeping even pace with a rich and strong +imagination, always on the wing, and never tired with aspiring; there +are many of his first essays in oratory, in epigram, elegy and epic, +still handed about the university in manuscript, which shew a masterly +hand, and though maimed and injured by frequent transcribing, make +their way into our most celebrated miscellanies, where they mine with +uncommon lustre. As his parts were extraordinary, so he well knew how +to improve them; and not only to polish the diamond, but enchase it in +the most solid and durable metal. + +"Though he was an academic the greatest part of his life, yet he +contracted no sourness of temper, no tincture of pedantry, no itch of +disputation, or obstinate contention for the old, or new philosophy, +no assuming way of dictating to others, which are faults which some +are insensibly led into, who are constrained to dwell within the walls +of a private college." Thus far Mr. Oldisworth, who has drawn the +character of his deceased friend, with a laudable fondness. Mr. Smith, +no doubt, possessed the highest genius for poetry; but it is certain +he had mixed but too little in life. His language, however luxuriously +poetical, yet is far from being proper for the drama, and there is +too much of the poet in every speech he puts in the mouths of his +characters, which produces an uniformity, that nothing could teach him +to avoid, but a more general knowledge of real life and characters. +It is acknowledged that Mr. Smith was much inclined to intemperance, +though Mr. Oldisworth has glossed it over with the hand of a friend; +nor is it improbable, that this disposition sunk him in that vis +inertiae, which has been the bane of many of the brightest geniuses of +the world. Mr. Smith was, upon the whole, a good natured man, a great +poet, a finished scholar, and a discerning critic. + + +[Footnote A: See the Life and Character of Mr. Smith, by Mr. +Oldisworth, prefixed to his Phaedra and Hippolitus, edit. 1719.] + +[Footnote B: Oldisworth, ubi supra.] + + * * * * * + + + + +DANIEL DE FOE, + + +This gentleman acquired a very considerable name by his political and +poetical works; his early attachment to the revolution interest, and +the extraordinary zeal and ability with which he defended it. He +was bred, says Mr. Jacob, a Hosier, which profession he forsook, as +unworthy of him, and became one of the most enterprizing authors +this, or any other age, ever produced. The work by which he is most +distinguished, as a poet, is his True Born Englishman, a Satire, +occasioned by a poem entitled Foreigners, written by John Tutchin, +esq;[A]. This gentleman (Tutchin) was of the Monmouth faction, in the +reign of King Charles II. and when that unhappy prince made an attempt +upon his uncle's crown, Mr. Tutchin wrote a political piece in his +favour, for which, says Jacob, he was so severely handled by Judge +Jeffries, and his sentence was so very uncommon, and so rigorously +executed, that he petitioned King James to be hanged. + +Soon after the revolution, the people, who are restless in their +inclinations, and loath that, to-day, for which they would yesterday +have sacrificed their lives, began to be uneasy at the partiality +their new King discovered to his countrymen. The popular discontent +rose to such a heighth, that King William was obliged to dismiss +his Dutch guards, and though he died in possession of the crown of +England, yet it proved to him a crown of thorns, and he spent fewer +peaceful moments in his regal station, than before his head was +envisioned with an uneasy diadem. De Foe, who seems to have had a +very true notion of civil liberty, engaged the enemies of the new +government, and levelled the force of his satire against those, who +valued themselves for being true-born Englishmen. He exposes the +fallacy of that prepossession, by laying open the sources from whence +the English have sprung. 'Normans, Saxons, and Danes, says he, were +our forefathers; we are a mixed people; we have no genuine origin; and +why should not our neighbours be as good as we to derive from? and I +must add[B], that had we been an unmixed nation, I am of opinion, +it had been to our disadvantage: for to go no farther, we have three +nations about us clear from mixture of blood, as any in the world, and +I know not which of them we could wish ourselves to be like; I mean +the Scotch, Welsh, and Irish, and if I were to write a reverse to the +satire, I would examine all the nations of Europe, and prove, that +these nations which are the most mixed, are the best, and have least +of barbarism and brutality amongst them.' Mr. De Foe begins his satire +with the following lines, + + Wherever God erects a house of pray'r, + The devil always builds a chapel there: + And 'twill be found upon examination, + The latter has the largest congregation. + +After passing a general censure on the surrounding nations, Italy, +Germany, France, &c. he then takes a view of England, which he charges +with the black crime of ingratitude. He enumerates the several nations +from whence we are derived, Gauls, Saxons, Danes, Irish, Scots, &c. +and says, + + From this amphibious ill-born mob began + _That vain ill-natur'd thing,_ an Englishman. + +This satire, written in a rough unpolished manner, without art, or +regular plan, contains some very bold and masculine strokes against +the ridiculous vanity of valuing ourselves upon descent and pedigree. +In the conclusion he has the following strong, and we fear too just, +observation. + + Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate, + And see their offspring thus degenerate; + How we contend for birth, and names unknown, + And build on their past actions, not our own; + They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface, + And openly disown the vile degenerate race: + For fame of families is all a cheat, + 'Tis pers'nal virtue only makes us great. + +The next satire of any consequence which De Foe wrote, was entitled +Reformation of Manners, in which some private characters are severely +attacked. It is chiefly aimed at some persons, who being vested with +authority to suppress vice, yet rendered themselves a disgrace to +their country, encouraging wickedness by that very authority they have +to suppress it. + +Poetry was far from being the talent of De Foe. He wrote with more +perspicuity and strength in prose, and he seems to have understood, as +well as any man, the civil constitution of the kingdom, which indeed +was his chief study. + +In the first volume of his works there is a prose essay, which he +entitles The Original Power of the Collective Body of the People of +England, Examined and Asserted; this was intended to refute a very +ridiculous opinion, which politicians, more zealous than wise, had +industriously propagated, viz. 'That the representatives of the +people, i.e. the House of Commons had a right to enact whatever laws, +and enter into whatever measures they please, without any dependence +on, or even consulting the opinion of, their constituents; and that +the collective body of the people have no right to call them to an +account, or to take any cognizance of their conduct.' In answer to +which Mr. De Foe very sensibly observes, 'that it is possible for even +a House of Commons to be in the wrong. They may be misled by factions +and parties, and it is as ridiculous to suppose them infallible; as +to suppose the Pope of Rome, or the Popish conclave infallible, which +have more than once determined against one another. It is possible +(says he) for them to be bribed by pensions and places, and by either +of those extremes to betray their trust, and abuse the people who +entrust them; and if the people should have no redress in such a +case, then would the nation be in hazard of being ruined by their own +representatives. And it is a wonder to find it asserted in a certain +treatise, _That it is not to be supposed, that ever the House of +Commons can injure the people who entrust them._ There can be no +better way to demonstrate the possibility of a thing, than by proving +that it has been already; and we need go no further back than to the +reign of King Charles II. in which we have seen lists of 180 members, +who received private pensions from the court; and if any body should +ask whether that parliament preserved the ballance of power in the +three branches of our constitution, in the due distribution some have +mentioned? I am not afraid to answer in the negative. And why, even +to this day, are gentlemen so fond of spending their estates to sit +in the House, that ten thousand pounds have been spent at a time to be +chosen, and now that way of procuring elections is at an end, private +briberies, and clandestine contrivances are made use of to get into +the House? No man would give a groat to sit, where he cannot get +a groat himself for sitting, unless there were either parties to +gratify, profits to be made, or interest to support. In this case +it is plain a people may be ruined by their representatives, and the +first law of nature, self-preservation, give the people a right to +resent public encroachments upon their valuable liberties.' + +In the same volume is a tract entitled The Shortest Way with the +Dissenters, which contained reflexions against some ecclesiastics +in power, for breathing too much a spirit of perfection. He became +obnoxious to the ministry on this account, and was obliged to justify +himself by writing an explanation of it. Mr. De Foe in his preface to +the second volume of his works, collected by himself, takes occasion +to mention the severe hardships he laboured under, occasioned by +those Printers, more industrious than himself, who make a practice of +pirating every work attended with success. As an instance of this kind +of oppression, he mentions the True Born Englishman, by which, had he +enjoyed the full profit of his own labours, he must have gained near a +thousand pounds; for besides nine editions which passed under his own +inspection, this poem was twelve times pirated: but the insolence +of those fraudulent dealers did not stop here. A Printer of a bad +reputation collected a spurious and erroneous copy of several pieces +of De Foe, and entitled them The Works of the Author of the True Born +Englishman; and though he was then embroiled with the government for +one of the pamphlets which this collection contained, yet had this man +the impudence to print amongst them the same pamphlets, presuming so +far upon the partiality of the public resentment, that he should pass +with impunity for publishing that very thing for which the author +was to be prosecuted with the utmost severity. This, however, was an +irresistible testimony, that the resentment shewn to the author was on +some other, and less justifiable account, than the publication of that +book; so was it a severe satire on the unwariness of the ministry, +who had not eyes to discern their justice plainly exposed, and their +general proceedings bantered by a Printer, for publishing in defiance +of them that same book for which another man stood arraigned. + +Mr. De Foe, who possessed a resolute temper, and a most confirmed +fortitude of mind, was never awed by the threats of power, nor +deterred from speaking truth by the insolence of the great. Wherever +he found vice he lashed it, and frequently, as Pope says, he + + Dash'd the proud gam'ster from his gilded car, + Bar'd the mean breast that lurk'd beneath a star. + +For some vigorous attacks against the measures of a prevailing +party, which Mr. De Foe reckoned unconstitutional and unjust, he +was prosecuted, and received sentence to stand on the pillory; which +punishment he underwent. + +At the very time he was in the hands of the ministry, to shew the +invincible force of his mind, he wrote a Hymn to the Pillory, as a +kind of defiance of their power. 'The reader (says he)[C] is desired +to observe this poem was the author's declaration, even when in the +cruel hands of a merciless, as well as unjust ministry; that the +treatment he had from them was unjust, exorbitant, and consequently +illegal.' As the ministry did not think proper to prosecute him for +this fresh insult against them, that forbearance was construed a +confession of guilt in their former proceedings. + + * * * * * + +In the second volume of our author's works, is a piece entitled More +Reformation, a satire upon himself. We have already taken notice of +a satire of his called Reformation of Manners, in which some personal +characters are stigmatized, which drew much odium on Mr. De Foe. This +satire called More Reformation, is a kind of supplement to the former. +In the preface he complains of the severe usage he had met with, but, +says he, 'that the world may discern that I am not one of those who +practice what they reprove, I began this satire with owning in myself +those sins and misfortunes which I am no more exempted from, than +other men; and as I am far from pretending to be free from human +frailties, but forwarder to confess any of the errors of my life, +than any man can be to accuse me; I think myself in a better way to +reformation, than those who excuse their own faults by reckoning up +mine. + +'Some that have heard me complain of this hard usage, have told me, +there is something of a retaliation of providence in it, for my being +so very free with the character's of other men in a late satire called +The Reformation of Manners. To this I answer, first, in that satire, +or any other I ever wrote, I have always carefully avoided lashing any +man's private infirmities, as being too sensible of my own, but if +I have singled out any man by character, it has either been such, as +intending to reform others, and execute the laws against vice, +have been the greatest examples, and encouragers of it in their own +practice; or such as have been entrusted with the executive power of +justice, and having been called upon by the laws to reform us, have +been a public reproach to the magistracy of this nation, and ought to +be punished by the laws they have been protected by. + +'Secondly, I have never made any man's disasters, or misfortunes, the +subject of my satire. I never reproached any man for having his house +burnt, ships cast away, or his family ruined. I never lampooned a man +because he could not pay his debts, or for his being a cuckold. + +'Thirdly, I never reproached any man for his opinion in religion, or +esteemed him the worse for differing in judgment from me. + +'If therefore the scandalous treatment I have received is just on +me, for abusing others, I must ask such, who is the man? Where is the +character I have given that is not just? and where is the retaliation +of providence, that these men entitle themselves to in loading me with +falsities and lies, as a just punishment for my speaking truth. + +'But p-x on him, said a certain sober gentleman, he is a Whig, and +what need he have meddled with his own party, could not he have left +them out, there were characters enough on the other side? + +'Why really I must own, I know no Whig or Tory in vice; the vicious +and the virtuous are the only two parties I have to do with; if a +vicious, lewd, debauched magistrate happened to be a Whig, what then? +let him mend his manners, and he may be a Whig still, and if not, the +rest ought to be ashamed of him.' + +We have been induced to make this extract, as it seems to mew the +genius and spirit of the author in a more advantageous light, than we +could have otherwise done. Though he was a resolute asserter of Whig +principles, and a champion for the cause of liberty, yet was he never +blinded by party prejudice, but could discern designing, and selfish +men, and strip them of their disguises, though, joined with him in the +same political contests. + +In the conclusion of the Hymn to the Pillory, which is written with +great strength of expression, he assigns the reasons for his being +doomed to that ignominy. + + Thou Bugbear of the law stand up and speak, + Thy long misconstru'd silence break, + Tell us, who 'tis upon thy ridge stands there, + So full of fault, and yet so void of fear; + And from the paper in his hat. + Let all mankind be told for what. + + Tell them it was because he was too bold, + And told those truths which should not ha' been told. + Extol the justice of the land + Who punish what they will not understand; + Tell them that he stands there + For speaking what we would not hear; + And yet he might ha' been secure, + Had he said less, or would he ha' said more. + Tell them that it was his reward, + And worse is yet for him prepar'd, + Because his foolish virtue was so nice + As not to tell his friends, according to his friends advice. + + And thus he's an example made, + To make men of their honesty afraid, + That from the time to come they may + More willingly their friends betray, + Tell them the ministers that plac'd him here, + Are scandal to the times, + Are at a loss to find his guilt, + And can't commit his crimes. + +There are in the same volume many other poetical pieces, and +political, and polemical tracts, the greatest part of which are +written with great force of thought, though in an unpolished irregular +stile. The natural abilities of the author (for he was no scholar) +seem to have been very high. He had a great knowledge of men and +things, particularly what related to the government, and trade of +these kingdoms. He wrote many pamphlets on both, which were generally +well received, though his name was never prefixed. His imagination was +fertile, strong, and lively, as may be collected from his many works +of fancy, particularly his Robinson Crusoe, which was written in so +natural a manner, and with so many probable incidents, that, for some +time after its publication, it was judged by most people to be a +true story. It was indeed written upon a model entirely new, and +the success and esteem it met with, may be ascertained by the many +editions it has sold, and the sums of money which have been gained +by it. Nor was he lest remarkable in his writings of a serious and +religious turn, witness his Religious Courtship, and his Family +Instructor; both of which strongly inculcate the worship of God, the +relative duties of husbands, wives, parents, and children, not in +a dry dogmatic manner, but in a kind of dramatic way, which excites +curiosity, keeps the attention awake, and is extremely interesting, +and pathetic. + +We have already seen, that in his political capacity he was a declared +enemy to popery, and a bold defender of revolution principles. He was +held in much esteem by many great men, and though he never enjoyed any +regular pod under the government, yet he was frequently employed in +matters of trust and confidence, particularly in Scotland, where he +several times was sent on affairs of great importance, especially +those relative to the union of the kingdoms, of which he was one of +the negotiators. + +It is impossible to arrive at the knowledge of half the tracts and +pamphlets which were written by this laborious man, as his name is +not prefixed, and many of them being temporary, have perished like all +other productions of that kind, when the subjects upon which they were +written are forgot. His principal performances, perhaps, are these, + +A Plan of Commerce, an esteemed Work, in one large vol. 8vo. of which +a new edition was lately published. + +Memoirs of the Plague, published in 1665. + +Religious Courtship. + +Family Instructor. Two Volumes. + +History of Apparitions (under the name of Moreton.) + +Robinson Crusoe. Two Volumes. + +Political History of the Devil. + +History of Magic. + +Caledonia, a Poem in praise of Scotland. + +De Jure Divino, a Poem. + +English Tradesman, &c. + +History of Colonel Jack. + +Cleveland's Memoirs, &c. are also said to be his. Considered as a +poet, Daniel De Foe is not so eminent, as in a political light: he +has taken no pains in verification; his ideas are masculine, his +expressions coarse, and his numbers generally rough. He seems rather +to have studied to speak truth, by probing wounds to the bottom, than, +by embellishing his verification, to give it a more elegant keenness. +This, however, seems to have proceeded more from carelessness in that +particular, than want of ability: for the following lines in his True +Born Englishman, in which he makes Britannia rehearse the praises +of her hero, King William, are harmoniously beautiful, and elegantly +polished. + + BRITANNIA. + + + The fame of virtue 'tis for which I found, + And heroes with immortal triumphs crown'd. + Fame built on solid virtue swifter flies, + Than morning light can spread my eastern skies. + The gath'ring air returns the doubling sound, + And long repeating thunders force it round: + Ecchoes return from caverns of the deep; + Old Chaos dreamt on't in eternal sleep, + Time helps it forward to its latest urn, + From whence it never, never shall return; + Nothing is heard so far, or lasts so long; + 'Tis heard by ev'ry ear, and spoke by ev'ry tongue. + + My hero, with the sails of honour furl'd, + Rises like the great genius of the world. + By fate, and fame, wisely prepared to be + The soul of war, and life of victory. + He spreads the wings of virtue on the throne, + And every wind of glory fans them on. + Immortal trophies dwell upon his brow, + Fresh as the garlands he has won but now. + +What provocation De Foe had given to Pope we cannot determine, but +he has not escaped the lash of that gentleman's pen. Mr. Pope in his +second book of his Dunciad thus speaks of him; + + Earless on high flood unabash'd De Foe, + And Tutchin flagrant from the scourge below. + +It may be remarked that he has joined him with Tutchin, a man, whom +judge Jeffries had ordered to be so inhumanly whipt through the +market-towns, that, as we have already observed, he petitioned the +King to be hanged. This severity soured his temper, and after the +deposition and death of King James, he indulged his resentment in +insulting his memory. This may be the reason why Pope has stigmatized +him, and perhaps no better a one can be given for his attacking De +Foe, whom the author of the Notes to the Dunciad owns to have been a +man of parts. De Foe can never, with any propriety, be ranked amongst +the dunces; for whoever reads his works with candour and impartiality, +must be convinced that he was a man of the strongest natural powers, a +lively imagination, and solid judgment, which, joined with an unshaken +probity in his moral conduit, and an invincible integrity in his +political sphere, ought not only to screen him from the petulant +attacks of satire, but transmit his name with some degree of applause +to posterity. + +De Foe, who enjoyed always a competence, and was seldom subject to the +necessities of the poets, died at his house at Islington, in the +year 1731. He left behind him one son and one daughter. The latter +is married to Mr. Henry Baker, a gentleman well known in the +philosophical world. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob, vol. ii. p. 309.] + +[Footnote B: See Preface to the True Born Englishman.] + +[Footnote C: See Preface to vol. ii.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. ELIZABETH ROWE, + + +This lady was born at Ilchester in Somersetshire September 11, 1674, +being the eldest of three daughters of Mr. Walter Singer, a gentleman +of good family, and Mrs. Elizabeth Portnel, both persons of great +worth and piety. Her father was not a native of Ilchester, nor an +inhabitant, before his imprisonment there for non-conformity in +the reign of King Charles II. Mrs. Portnel, from a principle of +tenderness, visited those who suffered on that account, and by this +accident an acquaintance Commenced, which terminated in the nuptial +union. They who were acquainted with the lady, who is the subject +of this article, in her early, years, perhaps observed an uncommon +display of genius as prophetic of that bright day which afterwards +ensued. + +There is so great a similitude between painting and poetry, that it is +no ways surprising, a person, who possessed the latter of these graces +in so high a degree, should very easily discover an inclination to the +former, which has often the same admirers. Accordingly we find Mrs. +Rowe discover a taste for painting; she attempted to carry her taste +into execution, when she had hardly steadiness of hand sufficient to +guide the pencil. Her father perceiving her fondness for this art, was +at the expence of a matter to instruct her in it; and she never failed +to make it an amusement 'till her death. Every one acquainted with her +writings, and capable of relishing the melifluent flow of her numbers, +will naturally suppose, that she had a genius for music, particularly +that of a grave and solemn kind, as it was best suited to the grandeur +of her sentiments, and the sublimity of her devotion. But her most +prevailing propension was to poetry. This superior grace was indeed +the most favourite employment of her youth, and in her the most +distinguished excellence. So powerful was her genius in this way, that +her prose hath all the charms of verse without the fetters; the same +fire and elevation; the same richness of imagery, bold figures, and +flowing diction. + +It appears by a life of Mrs. Rowe, prefixed to the first volume of +her miscellaneous works, that in the year 1696, the 22d of her age, +a Collection of her Poems on various Occasions was published at the +desire of two of her friends, which we suppose did not contain all she +had by her, since the ingenious author of the preface, Mrs. Elizabeth +Johnson, gives the reader room to hope, that Mrs. Rowe might, in a +little while, be prevailed upon to oblige the world with a second +part, no way inferior to the former. + +Mrs. Rowe's Paraphrase on the 38th Chapter of Job was written at the +request of bishop Kenn, which gained her a great reputation. She +had no other tutor for the French and Italian languages, than the +honourable Mr. Thynne, son to the lord viscount Weymouth, and father +to the right honourable the countess of Hertford, who willingly took +the talk upon himself, and had the pleasure to see his fair scholar +improve so fast by his lessons, that in a few months she was able to +read Tasso's Jerusalem with ease. Her shining merit, with the charms +of her person and conversation, had procured her many admirers: among +others, the celebrated Mr. Prior made his addresses to her; so +that allowing for the double licence of the poet and the lover, the +concluding lines in his Answer to Mrs. Singer's Pastoral on Love and +Friendship, were not without foundation in truth; but Mr. Thomas Rowe, +a very ingenious and learned gentleman, was the person destined to +fill the arms of this amiable poetess. + +As this gentleman was a poet of no inconsiderable rank, a man of +learning and genius, we shall here give some account of him, in place +of assigning him a particular Article, as the incidents of his life +will be more naturally blended with that of his wife.----He was born +at London, April the 25th, 1687, the eldest son of the revd. Mr. Rowe: +who with a very accurate judgment, and a considerable stock of useful +learning, joined the talents in preaching and a most lively and +engaging manner in conversation. He was of a genteel descent, both +on his father's and mother's side; but he thought too justly to value +himself on such extrinsic circumstances. His superior genius, and +insatiable thirst after knowledge were conspicuous in his earliest +years. He commenced his acquaintance with the Classics at Epsom, while +his father resided there, and by the swift advances in this part of +learning, quickly became the delight of his master, who treated him +with very particular indulgence, in spight of the natural ruggedness +and severity of his temper. + +When his father removed to London, he accompanied him, and was placed +under the famous Dr. Walker, master of the Charter-House-School. His +exercises here never failed of being distinguished even among those +who had the approbation of that excellent master, who would fain have +persuaded his father to place him at one of our English universities; +but how honourably soever Mr. Rowe might think of the learning of +those noble feats of the Muses, yet not having the same advantageous +notions of their political principles, he chose to enter him in a +private academy in London, and some time before his death sent him to +Leyden: Here he studied Jeuriel's Antiquities, civil law, the Belles +Lettres, and experimental philosophy; and established a reputation +for capacity, application, and an obliging deportment, both among +the professors and students. He returned from that celebrated seat of +literature, with a great accession of knowledge, entirely incorrupt in +his morals, which he had preferred as inviolate, as he could have done +under the most vigilant eye, though left without any restraints but +those of his own virtue and prudence. + +The love of liberty had always been one of Mr. Rowe's darling +passions. He was very much confirmed therein, by his familiar +acquaintance with the history and noble authors of Greece and Rome, +whose very spirit was transferred into him: By residing so long at +a Republic, he had continual examples of the inestimable value of +freedom, as the parent of industry, and the universal source of social +happiness. Tyranny of every kind he sincerely detested; but most of +all ecclesiastical tyranny, deeming the slavery of the mind the most +abject and ignominious, and in its consequences more pernicious than +any other. + +He was a perfect matter of the Greek, Latin and French languages; and, +which is seldom known to happen, had at once such a prodigious memory, +and unexhaustible fund of wit, as would have singly been admired, and +much more united. These qualities, with an easy fluency of speech, a +frankness, and benevolence of disposition, and a communicative temper, +made his company much sollicited by all who knew him. He animated the +conversation, and instructed his companions by the acuteness of his +observations. + +He had formed a design to compile the lives of all the illustrious +persons of antiquity, omitted by Plutarch; and for this purpose +read the antient historians with great care. This design he in part +executed. Eight lives were published since his decease, in octavo, by +way of Supplement to that admired Biographer; in which though so young +a guide, he strikes out a way like one well acquainted with the dark +and intricate paths of antiquity. The stile is perfectly easy, yet +concise, and nervous: The reflections just, and such as might be +expected from a lover of truth and of mankind. + +Besides these Lives, he had finished for the press, the Life of +Thrasybulus, which being put into the hands of Sir Richard Steele, for +his revisal, was unhappily lost, and could never since be recovered. + +The famous Mr. Dacier, having translated Plutarch's Lives into French, +with Remarks Historical and Critical, the AbbĂ© Bellenger added in 1734 +a ninth tome to the other eight, consisting of the Life of Hannibal, +and Mr. Rowe's Lives made French by that learned AbbĂ©: In the Preface +to which version, he transcribes from, the Preface to the English +edition, the character of the author with visible approbation; and +observes, that the Lives were written with taste; though being a +posthumous work, the author had not put his last hand to it. + +Such is the character of Mr. Rowe, the husband of this amiable lady; +and when so accomplished a pair meet in conjugal bonds, what great +expectations may not be formed upon them! A friend of Mr. Rowe's upon +that occasion wrote the following beautiful Epigram, + + No more proud Gallia, bid the world revere + Thy learned pair, Le Fevre and Dacier: + Britain may boast, this happy day unites, + Two nobler minds, in Hymen's sacred rites. + What these have sung, while all th' inspiring nine, + Exalt the beauties of the verse divine, + Those (humble critics of th' immortal strain,) + Shall bound their fame to comment and explain. + +Mr. Rowe being at Bath, in the year 1709, was introduced into the +company of Miss Singer, who lived in a retirement not far from the +city. The idea he had conceived of her from report and her writings, +charmed him; but when he had seen and conversed with her, he felt +another kind of impression, and the esteem of her accomplishments was +heightened into the rapture of a lover. During the courtship, he wrote +a poetical Epistle to a friend, who was a neighbour of Mrs. Singer, +and acquainted with the family, in which were the following lines. + + Youth's liveliest bloom, a never-fading grace, + And more than beauty sparkles in her face. + How soon the willing heart, her empire feels? + Each look, each air, each melting action kills: + Yet the bright form creates no loose desires; + At once she gives and purifies our fires, + And passions chaste, as her own soul inspires. + Her soul, heav'n's noblest workmanship design'd, + To bless the ruined age, and succour lost mankind, + To prop abandon'd virtue's sinking cause, + And snatch from vice its undeserv'd applause. + +He married her in the year 1710, and Mrs. Rowe's exalted merit, and +amiable qualities, could not fail to inspire the most generous and +lading passion. Mr. Rowe knew how to value that treasure of wit, +softness and virtue, with which heaven had blessed him; and made it +his study to repay the felicity with which she crowned his life. The +esteem and tenderness he had for her is inexpressible, and possession +seems never to have abated the fondness and admiration of the lover; +a circumstance which seldom happens, but to those who are capable +of enjoying mental intercourse, and have a relish for the ideal +transports, as well as those of a less elevated nature. It was some +considerable time after his marriage, that he wrote to her a very +tender Ode, under the name of Delia, full of the warmed sentiments +of connubial friendship and affection. The following lines in it may +appear remarkable, as it pleased Heaven to dispose events, in a manner +so agreeable to the wishes expressed in them, + + ----So long may thy inspiring page, + And bright example bless the rising age; + Long in thy charming prison mayst thou stay, + Late, very late, ascend the well-known way, + And add new glories to the realms of day! + At least Heav'n will not sure, this prayer deny! + Short be my life's uncertain date, + And earlier long than thine, the destin'd hour of fate! + When e'er it comes, may'st thou be by, + Support my sinking frame, and teach me how to die; + Banish desponding nature's gloom, + Make me to hope a gentle doom, + And fix me all on joys to come. + With swimming eyes I'll gaze upon thy charms, + And clasp thee dying in my fainting arms; + Then gently leaning on thy breast; + Sink in soft slumbers to eternal rest. + The ghastly form shall have a pleasing air, + And all things smile, while Heav'n and thou art there. + +This part of the Ode which we have quoted, contains the most tender +breathings of affection, and has as much delicacy and softness in +it, as we remember ever to have seen in poetry. As Mr. Rowe had not a +robust constitution, so an intense application to study, beyond what +the delicacy of his frame could bear, might contribute to that ill +state of health which allayed the happiness of his married life, +during the greater part of it. In the latter end of the year 1714, his +weakness increased, and he seemed to labour under all the symptoms of +a consumption; which distemper, after it had confined him some months, +put a period to his most valuable life, at Hampstead, in 1715, when +he was but in the 28th year of his age. The exquisite grief and +affliction, which his amiable wife felt for the loss of so excellent a +husband, is not to be expressed. + +She wrote a beautiful Elegy on his death, and continued to the last +moments of her life, to express the highest veneration and affection +for his memory, and a particular regard and esteem for his relations. +This Elegy of Mrs. Rowe, on the death of her much lamented husband, we +shall here insert. + + An ELEGY, &c. + + + In what soft language shall my thoughts get free, + My dear Alexis, when I talk of thee? + Ye Muses, Graces, all ye gentle train, + Of weeping loves, O suit the pensive train! + But why should I implore your moving art? + 'Tis but to speak the dictates of my heart; + And all that knew the charming youth will join, + Their friendly sighs, and pious tears to mine; + For all that knew his merit, must confess, + In grief for him, there can be no excess. + His soul was form'd to act each glorious part + Of life, unstained with vanity, or art, + No thought within his gen'rous mind had birth, + But what he might have own'd to Heav'n and Earth. + Practis'd by him, each virtue grew more bright, + And shone with more than its own native light. + Whatever noble warmth could recommend + The just, the active, and the constant friend, + Was all his own----But Oh! a dearer name, + And softer ties my endless sorrow claim. + Lost in despair, distracted, and forlorn, + The lover I, and tender husband mourn. + Whate'er to such superior worth was due, + Whate'er excess the fondest passion knew; + I felt for thee, dear youth; my joy, my care, + My pray'rs themselves were thine, and only where + Thou waft concern'd, my virtue was sincere. + When e'er I begg'd for blessings on thy head, + Nothing was cold or formal that I said; + My warmest vows to Heav'n were made for thee, + And love still mingled with my piety. + O thou wast all my glory, all my pride! + Thro' life's uncertain paths my constant guide; + Regardless of the world, to gain thy praise + Was all that could my just ambition raise. + Why has my heart this fond engagement known? + Or why has Heav'n dissolved the tye so soon? + Why was the charming youth so form'd to move? + Or why was all my soul so turn'd for love? + But virtue here a vain defence had made, + Where so much worth and eloquence could plead. + For he could talk----'Twas extacy to hear, + 'Twas joy! 'twas harmony to every ear. + Eternal music dwelt upon his tongue, + Soft, and transporting as the Muses song; + List'ning to him my cares were charm'd to rest, + And love, and silent rapture fill'd my breast: + Unheeded the gay moments took their flight, + And time was only measur'd by delight. + I hear the lov'd, the melting accents still, + And still the kind, the tender transport feel. + Again I see the sprightly passions rise, + And life and pleasure sparkle in his eyes. + My fancy paints him now with ev'ry grace, + But ah! the dear delusion mocks my fond embrace; + The smiling vision takes its hasty flight, + And scenes of horror swim before my sight. + Grief and despair in all their terrors rise; + A dying lover pale and gasping lies, + Each dismal circumstance appears in view, + The fatal object is for ever new. + + * * * * * + + For thee all thoughts of pleasure I forego, + For thee my tears shall never cease to flow: + For thee at once I from the world retire, + To feed in silent shades a hopeless fire. + My bosom all thy image shall retain; + The full impression there shall still remain. + As thou hast taught my constant heart to prove; + The noblest height and elegance of love; + That sacred passion I to thee confine; + My spotless faith shall be for ever thine. + +After Mr. Rowe's decease, and as soon as her affairs would permit, +our authoress indulged her inconquerable inclination to solitude, by +retiring to Froome in Somersetshire, in the neighbourhood of which +place the greatest part of her estate lay. When she forsook the town, +she determined to return no more but to spend the remainder of her +life in absolute retirement; yet upon some few occasions she thought +it her duty to violate this resolution. In compliance with the +importunate request of the honourable Mrs. Thynne, she passed some +months with her at London, after the death of her daughter the lady +Brooke, and upon the decease of Mrs. Thynne herself, she could not +dispute the commands of the countess of Hertford, who earnestly +desired her company, to soften the severe affliction of the loss of so +excellent a mother, and once or twice more, the power which this lady +had over Mrs. Rowe, drew her, with an obliging kind of violence, +to spend a few months with her in the country. Yet, even on these +occasions she never quitted her retreat without sincere regret, and +always returned to it, as soon as she could with decency disengage +herself from the importunity of her noble friends. It was in this +recess that she composed the most celebrated of her works, in twenty +Letters from the Dead to the Living; the design of which is to impress +the notion of the soul's immortality, without which all virtue and +religion, with their temporal and eternal good conferences must fall +to the ground. + + * * * * * + +Some who pretend to have no scruples about the being of a God, have +yet doubts about their own eternal existence, though many authors have +established it, both by christian and moral proofs, beyond reasonable +contradiction. But since no means should be left untried, in a point +of such awful importance, a virtuous endeavour to make the mind +familiar with the thoughts of immortality, and contract as it were +unawares, an habitual persuasion of it, by writings built on that +foundation, and addressed to the affections, and imagination, cannot +be thought improper, either as a doctrine or amusement: Amusement, for +which the world makes so large a demand, and which generally speaking +is nothing but an art of forgetting that immortality, the form, +belief, and advantageous contemplation, of which this higher amusement +would recommend. + +In the year 1736, the importunity of some of Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance +who had seen the History of Joseph in MS. prevailed on her to print +it. The publication of this piece did not long precede the time of her +death, to prepare for which had been the great business of her life; +and it stole upon her according to her earnest wishes, in her +beloved recess. She was favoured with a very uncommon strength of +constitution, and had pass'd a long series of years with scarce any +indisposition, severe enough to confine her to bed.----But about half +a year before her decease, she was attacked with a distemper, which +seemed to herself as well as others, attended with danger. Tho' this +disorder found her mind not quite so serene and prepared to meet death +as usual; yet when by devout contemplation, she had fortified herself +against that fear and diffidence, from which the most exalted piety +does not always secure us in such an awful hour, she experienced such +divine satisfaction and transport, that she said with tears of joy, +she knew not that she ever felt the like in all her life, and she +repeated on this occasion Pope's beautiful soliloquy of the dying +Christian to his soul. + + An ELEGY, &c. + The dying CHRISTIAN to his Soul. + + + I. + + Vital spark of heav'nly flame! + Quit, oh quit this mortal frame; + Trembling, hoping, lingr'ing, flying; + Oh the pain, the bliss of dying! + Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, + And let me languish into life. + II. + + Hark! they whisper; Angels say, + Sister spirit, come away! + What is this absorbs me quite, + Steals my senses, shuts my sight, + Drowns my spirits, draws my breath? + Tell me, my soul, can this be death? + + III. + + The world recedes; it disappears! + Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears + With sounds seraphic ring; + Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! + O grave! where is thy victory? + O death! where is thy sting? + +She repeated the above, with an air of intense pleasure. She felt all +the elevated sentiments of pious extasy and triumph, which breath in +that exquisite piece of sacred poetry. After this threatening illness +she recovered her usual good state of health; and though at the time +of her decease she was pretty far advanced in years, yet her exact +temperance, and the calmness of her mind, undisturbed with uneasy +cares, and turbulent passions, encouraged her friends to hope a much +longer enjoyment of so valuable a life, than it pleased heaven to +allow them. On the day when she was seized with that distemper, which +in a few hours proved mortal, she seemed to those about her to be +in perfect health and vigour. In the evening about eight o'clock +she converted with a friend, with her usual vivacity, mixed with an +extraordinary chearfulness, and then retired to her chamber. About 10 +her servant hearing some noise in her mistress's room, ran instantly +into it, and found her fallen off the chair on the floor, speechless, +and in the agonies of death. She had the immediate assistance of a +physician and surgeon, but all the means used were without success, +and having given one groan she expired a few minutes before two +o'clock, on Sunday morning, February the 20th, 1736-7: Her disease was +judged to be an apoplexy. A pious book was found lying open by her, as +also some loose papers, on which she had written the following devout +ejaculations, + + O guide, and council, and protect my soul from sin! + O speak! and let me know thy heav'nly will. + Speak evidently to my list'ning soul! + O fill my soul with love, and light of peace, + And whisper heav'nly comfort to my soul! + O speak celestial spirit in the strain + Of love, and heav'nly pleasure to my soul. + +In her cabinet were found letters to several of her friends, which she +had ordered to be delivered to the persons to whom they were directed +immediately after her decease. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe lived in friendship with people of the first fashion and +distinction in life, by whom she was esteemed and respected. To +enumerate them would be needless; let it suffice to remark, that her +life was honoured with the intimacy, and her death lamented with the +tears, of the countess of Hertford. Many verses were published to +celebrate her memory, amongst which a copy written by Mrs. Elizabeth +Carter are the best. + + * * * * * + +Thus lived honoured, and died lamented, this excellent poetess, whose +beauty, though not her highest excellence, yet greatly contributed to +set off her other more important graces to advantage; and whose piety +will ever shine as a bright example to posterity, and teach them how +to heighten the natural gifts of understanding, by true and unaffected +devotion.----The conduct and behaviour of Mrs. Rowe might put some +of the present race of females to the blush, who rake the town for +infamous adventures to amuse the public. Their works will soon be +forgotten, and their memories when dead, will not be deemed exceeding +precious; but the works of Mrs. Rowe can never perish, while exalted +piety and genuine goodness have any existence in the world. Her memory +will be ever honoured, and her name dear to latest posterity. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe's Miscellaneous Works were published a few years ago at +London, in octavo, and her Devotions were revised and published by the +reverend Dr. Watts, under the title of Devout Exercises, to which +that worthy man wrote a preface; and while he removes some cavils that +wantonness and sensuality might make to the stile and manner of these +Devotions, he shews that they contain the most sublime sentiments, +the most refined breathings of the soul, and the most elevated and +coelestial piety. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance with persons of fashion had taught her all +the accomplishments of good-breeding, and elegance of behaviour, and +without formality or affectation she practised in the most distant +solitude, all the address and politeness of a court. + +She had the happiest command over her passions, and maintained a +constant calmness of temper, and sweetness of disposition, that could +not be ruffled by adverse accidents. She was in the utmost degree +an enemy to ill-natured satire and detraction; she was as much +unacquainted with envy, as if it had been impossible for so base +a passion to enter into the human mind. She had few equals in +conversation; her wit was lively, and she expressed her thoughts in +the most beautiful and flowing eloquence. + +When she entered into the married state, the highest esteem and most +tender affection appeared in her conduct to Mr. Rowe, and by the most +gentle and obliging manner, and the exercise of every social and +good natured virtue, she confirmed the empire she had gained over +his heart. In short, if the most cultivated understanding, if an +imagination lively and extensive, a character perfectly moral, and a +soul formed for the most exalted exercises of devotion, can render a +person amiable, Mrs. Rowe has a just claim to that epithet, as well as +to the admiration of the lovers of poetry and elegant composition. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. Dr. THOMAS YALDEN. + + +This Gentleman was born in the city of Exeter, and the youngest of +six sons of Mr. John Yalden of Sussex. He received his education at +a Grammar-school, belonging to Magdalen-College in Oxford. [A]In the +year 1690 he was admitted a commoner of Magdalen-Hall, under Mr. John +Fallen, who was esteemed an excellent tutor, and a very great +master of logic, and the following year he was chosen scholar of +Magdalen-College. Here he became a fellow-pupil with the celebrated +Mr. Addison and Dr. Henry Sacheverel, and early contracted a +particular friendship with those two gentlemen. This academical +affection Mr. Addison preserved not only abroad in his travels, but +also on his advancement to considerable employments at home, and kept +the same easy and free correspondence to the very last, as when their +fortunes were more on a level. This preservation of affection is +rendered more singular, by Mr. Yalden's having espoused a very +opposite interest to that of Mr. Addison, for he adhered to the +High-Church party, and was suspected of an attachment to an exiled +family, for which he afterwards was brought into very great trouble. + +In the year 1700 he was admitted actual and perpetual fellow of +Magdalen-College, and qualified himself the next year, by taking +orders, as the founder's statutes require. After his admission he +received two public marks of favour from that society: The first was +a presentation to a living in Warwickshire, consistent with his +fellowship; and the other, his being elected moral philosophy-reader, +an office for life, endowed with a handsome stipend and peculiar +privileges. + + * * * * * + +In 1706 he was received into the family of his noble and kind patron +the duke of Beaufort; with whom he was in very great favour, having in +many instances experienced his bounty and generosity. In the following +year he compleated his academical degrees, by commencing doctor in +divinity: He presented to the society their founder's picture in +full length, which now hangs up in the public-hall; and afterwards +he delivered in to the president a voluntary resignation of his +fellowship, and moral philosophy-lecture. He was afterwards preferred +to be rector of Chalten in Cleanville, two adjoining towns and +rectories in Hampshire. He was elected by the president and governors +of Bridewell, preacher of that hospital, upon the resignation of Dr. +Atterbury, afterwards lord bishop of Rochester. + + * * * * * + +Having mentioned this prelate, it will be proper here to observe, that +upon a suspicion of Dr. Yalden's being concerned with him in a plot +to restore the exiled family; and for which the bishop was afterwards +banished, he was seized upon by authority, and committed to prison. +When he was examined before the council, concerning his correspondence +and intimacy with Mr. Kelley the bishop's secretary; he did not deny +his knowledge of, and correspondence with, him, but still persisted +in averting, that no measures contrary to the constitution were ever +canvassed between them. There was found in his pocket book, a copy of +verses reflecting on the reigning family, and which might well bear +the construction of a libel; but when he was charged with them, he +denied that he ever composed such verses, or that the hand-writing was +his own, and asserted his innocence in every circumstance relating to +the plot. The verses in all probability were put into his pocket-book, +by the same person, who with so much dexterity placed a treasonable +paper in bishop Atterbury's close-stool, and then pretending to be the +discoverer of it, preferred it against his lordship, as an evidence of +his disaffection. The particulars of that memorable tryal are recorded +in the Life of Atterbury, written by the authors of Biographia +Britannica.--The heats raised by Atterbury's tryal subsiding, those +who were suspected of being concerned with him, as no evidence +appeared strong enough to convict them, were released. + +Dr. Yalden was still favoured with the patronage of the generous duke +of Beaufort, and his residence in that noble family recommended him +to the acquaintance of many of the first quality and character in the +kingdom, and as he was of a chearful temper, and of a pleasing and +instructive conversation, he retained their friendship and esteem till +his death, which happened the 16th of July, 1736, in the 66th year of +his age. + +His poetical works are chiefly these. + +On the Conquest of Namure; A Pindaric Ode, inscribed to his most +sacred and victorious majesty, folio 1695. + +The Temple of Fame; a Poem to the memory of the most illustrious +Prince, William Duke of Gloucester, folio 1700. On the late Queen's +Accession to the Throne, a Poem. + +Æsop at Court, or State Fables. + +An Essay on the Character on Sir Willoughby Ashton, a Poem. Fol. 1704. + +On the Mines of Sir Carbery Price, a Poem; occasioned by the +Mine-adventure Company. + +On the Death of Mr. John Partridge, Professor in Leather, and +Astrologer. + +Advice to a Lover. + +To Mr. Watson, on his Ephemeris on the Cælestial Motions, presented to +Queen Anne. + +Against Immoderate Grief. + +The Force of Jealousy. + +An Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, 1693, set to music by Dr. Purcel. + +A Hymn to the Morning in Praise of Light. + + * * * * * + +We shall extract the following stanza from this Hymn, as a specimen of +his poetry. + + Parent of day! whose beauteous beams of light + Spring from the darksome womb of night, + And midst their native horrors mow + Like gems adorning of the negro's brow. + Not Heaven's fair bow can equal thee, + In all its gawdy drapery: + Thou first essay of light, and pledge of day! + Rival of shade! eternal spring! still gay! + From thy bright unexhausted womb + The beauteous race of days and seasons come. + Thy beauty ages cannot wrong, + But 'spite of time, thou'rt ever young. + Thou art alone Heav'n's modest virgin light. + Whose face a veil of blushes hide from human sight. + At thy approach, nature erects her head; + The smiling universe is glad; + The drowsy earth and seas awake + And from thy beams new life and vigour take. + When thy more chearful rays appear, + Ev'n guilt and women cease to fear; + Horror, despair, and all the sons of night + Retire before thy beams, and take their hasty flight. + Thou risest in the fragrant east, + Like the fair Phoenix from her balmy nest; + But yet thy fading glories soon decay, + Thine's but a momentary stay; + Too soon thou'rt ravish'd from our fight, + Borne down the stream of day, and overwhelm'd with night. + Thy beams to thy own ruin haste, + They're fram'd too exquisite to last: + Thine is a glorious, but a short-liv'd state: + Pity so fair a birth should yield so soon to fate; + +Besides these pieces, this reverend gentleman has translated the +second book of Ovid's Art of Love, with several other occasional poems +and translations published in the third and fourth volumes of Tonson's +Miscellanies. + +The Medicine, a Tale in the second Volume of the Tatlers, and Mr. +Partridge's Appeal to the Learned World, or a Further Account of the +Manner of his Death, in Prose, are likewise written by him. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOSEPH MITCHEL, + + +This gentleman was the son of a Stone-cutter in Scotland, and was +born about the year 1684. He received an university education while +he remained in that kingdom, and having some views of improving his +fortune, repaired to the metropolis. We are not able to recover many +particulars concerning this poet, who was never sufficiently eminent +to excite much curiosity concerning him. By a dissipated imprudent +behaviour he rendered those, who were more intimately acquainted with +him, less sollicitous to preserve the circumstances of his life, which +were so little to his advantage. We find him enjoying the favour of +the earl of Stair, and Sir Robert Walpole, to whom he addresses some +of his poems. He received so many obligations from the latter, and was +so warm in his interest, that he obtained the epithet of Sir Robert +Walpole's Poet, and for a great part of his life had an entire +dependence on the bounty of that munificent statesman. Mr. Mitchel, +who was a slave to his pleasures, and governed by every gust of +irregular appetite, had many opportunities of experiencing the +dangerous folly of extravagance, and the many uneasy moments which it +occasions. Notwithstanding this, his conduct was never corrected, +even when the means of doing it were in his power. At a time when Mr. +Mitchel laboured under severe necessities, by the death of his wife's +uncle several thousand pounds devolved to him, of which he had no +sooner got possession, than he planned schemes of spending it, in +place of discharging the many debts he had contracted. This behaviour, +as it conveyed to his creditors no high idea of his honesty, so it +obliged him to be perpetually skulking, and must consequently have +embittered even those hours which he falsly dedidicated to pleasure; +for they who live under a perpetual dread of losing their liberty, can +enjoy no great comfort even in their most careless moments. + + +Of the many poems which Mr. Mitchel wrote, but few succeeded to any +degree, nor indeed much deserved it. At a time when the politicians +were engaged in settling the Land-Tax, and various opinions were +offered concerning the ability of that branch of the commonwealth, +so that a proper medium or standard might be fixed; he versified +the Totness Address, much about the time of his present Majesty's +accession to the throne; in which it is humourously proposed, that the +landed interest should pay twenty shillings in the pound. This poem +having a reference to a fashionable topic of conversation, was better +received than most of his other pieces. + + +There was likewise a poem of Mr. Mitchel's, called The Shoe-heel, +which was much read on account of the low humour it contains. He has +addressed to Dr. Watts a poem on the subject of Jonah in the Whale's +Belly. In the dedication he observes, 'That it was written for the +advancement of true virtue and reformation of manners; to raise an +emulation amongst our young poets to attempt divine composures, and +help to wipe off the censures which the numerous labours of the muses +are justly charged with. If (says he) it shall serve any of these +purposes, I shall be satisfied, though I gain no reputation by it +among those who read a new poem with no other view, than to pass a +judgment on the abilities of the author.' When the antagonists of Pope +were threatened with the publication of the Dunciad, Mr. Mitchel had +some suspicion that he himself was to be stigmatized in it: conscious +that he had never offended Mr. Pope, he took an opportunity to write +to him upon that subject. He informed him, that he had been an admirer +of his writings; that he declined all connexion with those men, who +combined to reduce his reputation, and that when no offence was given, +no resentment should be discovered. Mr. Pope, upon receiving this +letter from Mitchel, protesting his innocence as to any calumny +published against him, was so equitable as to strike him out of his +Dunciad, in which, by misrepresentation he had assigned him a place. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Mitchel lived in good correspondence with many of the most eminent +wits of the time, and was particularly honoured with the friendship of +Aaron Hill, esq; a gentleman of so amiable a disposition, that whoever +cultivated an intimacy with him, was sure to be a gainer. Once, +when Mr. Mitchel was in distress, Mr. Hill, who could not perhaps +conveniently relieve him by pecuniary assistance, gave him a higher +instance of friendship, than could be shewn by money. He wrote a +beautiful dramatic piece in two acts, called The Fatal Extravagant, in +which he exposed the hideous vice of gaming. This little dramatic +work is planned with such exquisite art, wrought up with so much +tenderness, and the scenes are so natural, interesting and moving, +that I know not if Mr. Hill has any where touched the passions with +so great a mastery. This play met the success it deserved, and +contributed to relieve Mr. Mitchel's necessities, who had honour +enough, however, to undeceive the world, and acknowledge his +obligations to Mr. Hill, by making mankind acquainted with the real +author of The Fatal Extravagant. As this was a favour never to be +forgotten, so we find Mr. Mitchel taking every proper occasion to +express his gratitude, and celebrate his patron. Amongst the first of +his poems, is An Ode, addressed to Mr. Hill, which is one of the best +of his compositions. The two last stanza's are as follow, + + Heedless of custom, and the vulgar breath, + I toil for glory in a path untrod, + Or where but few have dared to combat death, + And few unstaggering carry virtue's load. + Thy muse, O Hill, of living names, + My first respect, and chief attendance claims. + Sublimely fir'd, thou look'st disdainful down + On trifling subjects, and a vile renown. + In ev'ry verse, in ev'ry thought of thine, + There's heav'nly rapture and design. + Who can thy god-like Gideon view[A], + And not thy muse pursue, + Or wish, at least, such miracles to do? + + Sure in thy breast the ancient Hebrew fire + Reviv'd, glows hot, and blazes forth, + How strong, how fierce the flames aspire! + Of thy interior worth, + When burning worlds thou sett'st before our eyes[B], + And draw'st tremendous judgment from the flues! + O bear me on thy seraph wing, + And teach my weak obsequious muse to sing. + To thee I owe the little art I boast; + Thy heat first melted my co-genial frost. + Preserve the sparks thy breath did fan, + And by thy likeness form me into true poetic man. + +Mr. Mitchel died in the year 1738. He seems to have been a poet of the +third rate; he has seldom reached the sublime; his humour, in which he +more succeeded, is not strong enough to last; his verification holds a +state of mediocrity; he possessed but little invention, and if he was +not a bad rhimester, he cannot be denominated a fine poet, for there +are but few marks of genius in his writings. His poems were printed in +two vol. 8vo. in the year 1729. + +He wrote also, The Union of the Clans; or the Highland-Fair. A Scot's +Opera. 'Twas acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, about the year +1730; but did not succeed. + + +[Footnote A: An epic poem by Aaron Hill, esq;] + +[Footnote B: See The Judgment, a poem by Aaron Hill, esq;] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. John Ozell, + + +This gentleman added considerably to the republic of letters by his +numerous translations. He received the rudiments of his education from +Mr. Shaw, an excellent grammarian, master of the free school at Ashby +De la Zouch in Leicestershire: he finished his grammatical learning +under the revd. Mr. Mountford of Christ's Hospital, where having +attained the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues, he was designed to be +sent to the university of Cambridge, to be trained up for holy Orders. +But Mr. Ozell, who was averse to that confinement which he must expect +in a college life, chose to be sooner settled in the world, and be +placed in a public office of accounts, having previously qualified +himself by attaining a knowledge of arithmetic, and writing the +necessary hands. This choice of an occupation in our author, could no +other reasons be adduced, are sufficient to denominate him a little +tinctured with dulness, for no man of genius ever yet made choice of +spending his life behind a desk in a compting-house. + +He still retained, however, an inclination to erudition, contrary +to what might have been expected, and by much conversation with +travellers from abroad, made himself matter of most of the living +languages, especially the French, Italian, and Spanish, from all +which, as well as from the Latin and Greek, he has favoured the world +with a great[A] many translations, amongst which are the following +French plays; + +1. Britannicus and Alexander the Great, Two Tragedies from Racine. + +2. The Litigant, a Comedy of 3 Acts; Mandated from the French of M. +Racine, who took it from the Wasps of Aristophanes, 8vo. 1715. Scene +in a city of Lower Normandy. + +3. Manlius Capitolinus, a Tragedy from the French of M. La Fosse, +1715. When the earl of Portland was ambassador at the French court, +this play was acted at Paris threescore nights running; the subject is +related by Livy. This French author studied some time at Oxford, and, +upon his return home, applied himself to dramatic poetry, in which he +acquired great reputation. He died about the year 1713. + +4. The Cid, a Tragedy from Corneille. + +5. Cato of Utica, a Tragedy from M. Des Champs; acted at the Theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1716, dedicated to Count Volkra his Excellency +the Imperial Ambassador: to which is added a Parallel between this +Play and Mr. Addison's Cato. + +Besides these, Mr. Ozell has translated all Moliere's plays, which are +printed in 6 vol. 12mo. and likewise a collection of some of the best +Spanish and Italian plays, from Calderon, Aretin, Ricci, and Lopez de +Vega. Whether any of these plays, translated from the Spanish, were +ever printed, we cannot be positive. Mr. Ozell's translation of +Moliere is far from being excellent, for Moliere was an author to +whom none, but a genius like himself, could well do justice. His other +works are + +The History of Don Quixote, translated by several hands, published by +Peter Motteux; revised and compared with the best edition, printed at +Madrid, by Mr. Ozell, 5th edition, 1725. + +Reflexions on Learning, by M. de Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, made +English from the Paris Edition 12mo. 1718. + +Common Prayer not Common Sense, in several Places of the Portugueze, +Spanish, Italian, French, Latin, and Greek Translations of the English +Liturgy; Being a Specimen of the Manifold Omissions, &c. in all, or +most of the said Translations, some of which were printed at Oxford, +and the rest at Cambridge, or London, 1722. + +Vertot's Revolutions of Rome, translated by Mr. Ozell. + +Logic, or the Art of Thinking; from the French of M. Nicole, 1723. + +Mr. Ozell finished a Translation from the Portugueze, begun by Dr. +Geddes, of the most celebrated, popish, ecclesiastical Romance; being +the Life of Veronica of Milan, a book certified by the heads of +the university of Conimbra in Portugal, to be revised by the Angels, +and approved of by God. + + * * * * * + +These are the works of Mr. Ozell, who, if he did not possess any +genius, has not yet lived in, vain, for he has rendered into English +some very useful pieces, and if his translations are not elegant; they +are generally pretty just, and true to their original. + +Mr. Ozell is severely touched by Mr. Pope in the first book of the +Dunciad, on what account we cannot determine; perhaps that satyrist +has only introduced him to grace the train of his Dunces. Ozell was +incensed to the last degree by this usage, and in a paper called The +Weekly Medley, September 1729, he published the following strange +Advertisement[B]. 'As to my learning, this envious wretch knew, and +every body knows, that the whole bench of bishops, not long ago, were +pleased to give me a purse of guineas for discovering the erroneous +translations of the Common Prayer in Portugueze, Spanish, French, +Italian, &c. As for my genius, let Mr. Cleland shew better verses in +all Pope's works, than Ozell's version of Boileau's Lutrin, which the +late lord Hallifax was so well pleased with, that he complimented +him with leave to dedicate it to him, &c. &c. Let him shew better +and truer poetry in The Rape of the Lock, than in Ozell's Rape of the +Bucket, which, because an ingenious author happened to mention in the +same breath with Pope's, viz. + +'Let Ozell sing the Bucket, Pope the Lock, + +'the little gentleman had like to have run mad; and Mr. Toland and Mr. +Gildon publicly declared Ozell's Translation of Homer to be, as it was +prior, so likewise superior, to Pope's.----Surely, surely, every man +is free to deserve well of his country!' + +John Ozell. + + +This author died about the middle of October 1743, and was buried in +a vault of a church belonging to St. Mary Aldermanbury. He never +experienced any of the vicissitudes of fortune, which have been so +frequently the portion of his inspired brethren, for a person born in +the same county with him, and who owed particular obligations to his +family, left him a competent provision: besides, he had always enjoyed +good places. He was for some years auditor-general of the city and +Bridge accounts, and, to the time of his decease, auditor of the +accounts of St. Paul's Cathedral, and St. Thomas's Hospital. Though, +in reality, Ozell was a man of very little genius, yet Mr. Coxeter +asserts, that his conversation was surprizingly pleasing, and that he +had a pretty good knowledge of men and things. He possibly possessed +a large share of good nature, which, when joined with but a tolerable +understanding, will render the person, who is blessed with it, more +amiable, than the most flashy wit, and the highest genius without it. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + +[Footnote B: Notes on the Dunciad.] + + + + + +End of the Fourth Volume. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753), by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12014 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4dd8de6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12014 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12014) diff --git a/old/12014-8.txt b/old/12014-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ab9da3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12014-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11431 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and +Ireland (1753), by Theophilus Cibber + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) + Vol. IV + +Author: Theophilus Cibber + +Release Date: April 14, 2004 [EBook #12014] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS V4 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF + +THE + +POETS + +OF + +GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND. + + +By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. VOL. IV. + +MDCCLIII. VOLUME IV. + + +Contains the LIVES OF + + Motteux + Manley Mrs. + Needler + Hughes + Prior + Centlivre Mrs. + Brady + Stepney + Pack + Dawes Arch. York + Congreve + Vanbrugh + Steele + Marvel + Thomas Mrs. + Fenton + Booth + Sewel + Hammond + Eusden + Eachard + Oldmixon + Welsted + Smyth More + Dennis + Granville L. Lansdowne + Gay + Philip D. Wharton + Codrington + Ward + L'Estrange + Smith Edmund + De Foe + Rowe Mrs. + Yalden + Mitchel + Ozell + + * * * * * + +_Just Published,_ + +Dedicated to the Right Honourable PHILIP Earl of CHESTERFIELD. + +Correctly printed in a neat Pocket Volume (Price Bound Three +Shillings,) + +The Second Edition of + +LES MOEURS; or, MANNERS. Accurately Translated from the French. +Wherein the Principles of Morality, or Social Duties, viz. Piety, +Wisdom, Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, Temperance, Love, Friendship, +Humanity, &c. &c. are described in all their Branches; the Obligations +of them shewn to consist in our Nature, and the Enlargement of them +strongly enforc'd. Here Parents are taught, that, giving Birth to +a Child, scarcety entitles them to that honourable Name, without a +strict Discharge of Parental Duties; the Friend will find, there are a +thousand other Decorums, besides the doing of a Favour, to entitle him +to the tender Name of Friend; and the Good natur'd Man will find, +he ought to extend that Quality beyond the Bounds of his own +Neighbourhood or Party. + +The Whole wrote in a manner entirely New and Entertaining, and +enliven'd with real Characters, drawn from life, and fited to instill +the Principles of all Social Virtues into tender Minds. + +Printed for W. Johnston at the Golden-Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard. +THE LIVES OF THE POETS. + + * * * * * + + + + +PETER MOTTEAUX, + + +A French gentleman, born and educated at Rohan, in Normandy. He came +over into England, was a considerable trader, and resided here many +years. He is said to have possessed no inconsiderable share of wit, +and humour; and, besides a translation of Don Quixote, several Songs, +Prologues and Epilogues, together with a Poem on Tea, dedicated to +the Spectator, (see Vol. VII. Numb. 552) he is author of the following +dramatic pieces. + +1. Love's a Jest, a Comedy; acted at the new Theatre, in little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1696. In the two scenes, where love is made a +jest, some passages are taken from Italian writers. + +2. The Loves of Mars and Venus; a Masque set to Music, performed +at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1696; dedicated to colonel +Codrington. The story from Ovid. + +3. The Novelty, or every Act a Play; consisting of Pastoral, Comedy, +Masque, Tragedy, and Farce, after the Italian manner; acted at the +Theatre in little Lincoln's-Inn Fields 1697. + +The model of this play is formed upon Sir William Davenant's +Play-House to be let: But neither of them met with much success. + +4. Europe's Revels for the Peace, and his Majesty's Happy Return, a +Musical Interlude, performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, +1697. + +5. Beauty in Distress, a Tragedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1698. There is some poetry in this play; and in +the multiplicity of its incidents, he has followed the example of the +British Poets. Before this piece, there is prefixed a discourse on the +lawfulness or unlawfulness of plays; written originally in French, +by the learned father Cassaro, divinity professor at Paris; sent by a +friend to Mr. Motteaux. + +6. The Island Princess, or the Generous Portugueze; made into an +Opera, and performed at the Theatre-Royal 1701. The music by Mr. +Daniel Purcell, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Leveridge. The greatest part of the +play is taken from Fletcher's Island Princess. Scene the Spice Island. + +7. The Four Seasons, or Love in every Age; a musical Interlude, set to +Music by Mr. Jeremiah Clark; printed with the musical Entertainments +of the above Opera. 8. Britain's Happiness, a musical Interlude; +performed at both the Theatres, being part of the entertainment, +subscribed for by the nobility. Scene a prospect of Dover castle +and the sea. This Interlude was long before designed, only as an +introduction to an Opera; which if ever finished was to have been +called the Loves of Europe, every act shewing the manner of the +different nations in their addresses to the fair-sex; of which he has +informed us in his prefatory epistle. + +9. Thomyris Queen of Scythia, an Opera; translated from the Italian; +performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. + +10. The Temple of Love, a Pastoral Opera, from the Italian; performed +at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-market, by her majesty's servants, +1706. Scene Arcadia. Time of action, the same with that of the +representation. + +11. Love Dragoon'd, a Farce. + +This gentleman, who seems to have led a very comfortable life, his +circumstances being easy, was unfortunate in his death; for he lost +his life in a disorderly house, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, +not without suspicion of having been murthered; which accident +happened to him, on his birth day in the 58th year of his age, 1718. +His body was interred in his own parish church, being that of St. Mary +Ax, in the city of London. + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. MANLEY, + + +The celebrated authoress of the Atalantis, was born in Hampshire, in +one of those islands which formerly belonged to France, of which her +father Sir Roger Manley was governor; who afterwards enjoyed the same +post in other places in England. He was the second son of an ancient +family; the better part of his estate was ruined in the civil war by +his firm adherence to Charles I. He had not the satisfaction of +ever being taken notice of, nor was his loyalty acknowledged at the +restoration. The governor was a brave gallant man, of great honour and +integrity. + +He became a scholar in the midst of the camp, having left the +university at the age of sixteen, to follow the fortunes of Charles +I. His temper had too much of the Stoic in it to attend much to the +interest of his family. After a life spent in the civil and foreign +wars, he began to love ease and retirement, devoting himself to his +study, and the charge of his little post, without following the court; +his great virtue and modesty, debaring him from solliciting favours +from such persons as were then at the helm of affairs, his deserts +were buried, and forgotten. In this solitude he wrote several tracts +for his own amusement, particularly his Latin Commentaries of the +Civil Wars of England. He was likewise author of the first volume +of that admired work, the Turkish Spy. One Dr. Midgley, an ingenious +physician, related to the family by marriage, had the charge of +looking over his papers. Amongst them he found that manuscript, which +he reserved to his proper use, and by his own pen, and the assistance +of some others, continued the work till the eighth volume was +finished, without having the honesty to acknowledge the author of the +first. + +The governor likewise wrote the History of the Rebellion in England, +Scotland and Ireland; wherein the most material passages, battles, +sieges, policies, and stratagems of war, are impartially related +on both sides, from the year 1640, to the beheading of the duke of +Monmouth 1688, in three parts, printed in octavo, in the year 1691. + +His daughter, our authoress, received an education suitable to her +birth, and gave very early discoveries of a genius, not only above her +years, but much superior to what is usually to be found amongst her +own sex. She had the misfortune to lose her mother, while she was +yet an infant, a circumstance, which laid the foundation of many +calamities, which afterwards befell her. + +The brother of Sir Roger Manley, who was of principles very opposite +to his, joined with the Parliamentarian party; and after Charles I. +had suffered, he engaged with great zeal in the cause of those who +were for settling a new form of government, in which, however, they +were disappointed by the address of Cromwell, who found means +to transfer the government into his own hands, and in place of +instituting a republic, restored monarchy under another name, and +erected a tyranny as dangerous, perhaps, in its consequences, as +that which he had contributed to overthrow. During these heats and +divisions, Mr. Manley, who adhered to the most powerful party, was +fortunate enough to amass an estate, and purchased a title; but these, +upon the restoration, reverted back to the former possessor; so that +he was left with several small children unprovided for. The eldest of +these orphans, Sir Roger Manley took under his protection, bestowed +a very liberal education on him, and endeavoured to inspire his mind +with other principles, than those he had received from his father. +This young gentleman had very promising parts, but under the +appearance of an open simplicity, he concealed the most treacherous +hypocrisy. Sir Roger, who had a high opinion of his nephew's honour, +as well as of his great abilities, on his death-bed bequeathed to him +the care of our authoress, and her youngest sister. + +This man had from nature a very happy address, formed to win much upon +the hearts of unexperienced girls; and his two cousins respected him +greatly. He placed them at the house of an old, out-of-fashion aunt, +who had been a keen partizan of the royal cause during the civil wars; +she was full of the heroic stiffness of her own times, and would read +books of Chivalry, and Romances with her spectacles. + +This sort of conversation, much infected the mind of our poetess, +and fill'd her imagination with lovers, heroes, and princes; made +her think herself in an inchanted region, and that all the men who +approached her were knights errant. In a few years the old aunt died, +and left the two young ladies without any controul; which as soon as +their cousin Mr. Manley heard, he hasted into the country, to visit +them; appeared in deep mourning, as he said for the death of his wife; +upon which the young ladies congratulated him, as they knew his wife +was a woman of a most turbulent temper, and ill fitted to render the +conjugal life tolerable. + +This gentleman, who had seen a great deal of the world, and was +acquainted with all the artifices of seducing, lost no time in making +love to his cousin, who was no otherwise pleased with it, than as +it answered something to the character she had found in those books, +which had poisoned and deluded her dawning reason. Soon after these +protestations of love were made, the young lady fell into a fever, +which was like to prove fatal to her life. + +The lover and her sister never quitted the chamber for sixteen nights, +nor took any other repose than throwing themselves alternately upon a +little pallet in the same room. Having in her nature a great deal of +gratitude, and a very tender sense of benefits; she promised upon +her recovery to marry her guardian, which as soon as her health +was sufficiently restored, she performed in the presence of a maid +servant, her sister, and a gentleman who had married a relation. In a +word, she was married, possessed, and ruin'd. + +The husband of our poetess brought her to London, fixed her in a +remote quarter of it, forbad her to stir out of doors, or to receive +the visits of her sister, or any other relations, friends, or +acquaintance. This usage, she thought exceeding barbarous, and it +grieved her the more excessively, since she married him only because +she imagined he loved and doated on her to distraction; for as +his person was but ordinary, and his age disproportioned, being +twenty-years older than she, it could not be imagined that she was in +love with him.--She was very uneasy at being kept a prisoner; but +her husband's fondness and jealousy was made the pretence. She always +loved reading, to which she was now more than ever obliged, as so +much time lay upon her hands: Soon after she proved with child, and +so perpetually ill, that she implored her husband to let her enjoy the +company of her sister and friends. When he could have no relief from +her importunity (being assured that in seeing her relations, she must +discover his barbarous deceit) he thought it was best to be himself +the relator of his villany; he fell upon his knees before her, with so +much seeming confusion, distress and anguish, that she was at a loss +to know what could mould his stubborn heart to such contrition. At +last, with a thousand well counterfeited tears, and sighs, he stabb'd +her with the wounding relation of his wife's being still alive; and +with a hypocrite's pangs conjured her to have some mercy on a lost +man as he was, in an obstinate, inveterate passion, that had no +alternative but death, or possession. + +He urged, that could he have supported the pain of living without +her, he never would have made himself so great a villain; but when the +absolute question was, whether he should destroy himself, or betray +her, self-love had turned the ballance, though not without that +anguish to his soul, which had poisoned all his delights, and planted +daggers to stab his peace. That he had a thousand times started in +his sleep with guilty apprehensions; the form of her honoured father +perpetually haunting his troubled dreams, reproaching him as a traitor +to that trust which in his departing moments he had reposed in him; +representing to his tortured imagination the care he took of his +education, more like a father than an uncle, with which he had +rewarded him by effecting the perdition of his favourite daughter, who +was the lovely image of his benefactor. + +With this artful contrition he endeavoured to sooth his injured wife: +But what soothing could heal the wounds she had received? Horror! +amazement! sense of honour lost! the world's opinion! ten thousand +distresses crowded her distracted imagination, and she cast looks upon +the conscious traitor with horrible dismay! Her fortune was in his +hands, the greatest part of which was already lavished away in the +excesses of drinking and gaming. She was young, unacquainted with the +world; had never experienced necessity, and knew no arts of redressing +it; so that thus forlorn and distressed, to whom could she run for +refuge, even from want, and misery, but to the very traitor that had +undone her. She was acquainted with none that could or would espouse +her cause, a helpless, useless load of grief and melancholy! with +child! disgraced! her own relations either unable, or unwilling to +relieve her. + +Thus was she detained by unhappy circumstances, and his prevailing +arts to wear away three wretched years with him, in the same house, +though she most solemnly protests, and she has a right to be believed, +that no persuasion could ever again reconcile her to his impious arms. +Whenever she cast her eyes upon her son, it gave a mortal wound to her +peace: The circumstances of his birth glared full on her imagination; +she saw him, in future, upbraided with his father's treachery, and +his mother's misfortunes. Thus forsaken of all the world, in the +very morning of her life, when all things should have been gay, and +promising, she wore away three wretched years. Mean time her betrayer +had procured for himself a considerable employment; the duties of +which obliged him to go into the country where his first wife lived. +He took leave of his injured innocent, with much seeming tenderness; +and made the most sacred protestations, that he would not suffer her, +nor her child ever to want. + +He endeavoured to persuade her to accompany him into the country, and +to seduce, and quiet her conscience, shewed her a celebrated piece +written in defence of Polygamy, and Concubinage: When he was gone, +he soon relapsed into his former extravagances, forgot his promise +of providing for his child, and its mother; and inhumanly left them +a prey to indigence and oppression. The lady was only happy in being +released from the killing anguish, of every day having before her eyes +the object of her undoing. + +When she again came abroad into the world, she was looked upon with +cold indifference; that which had been her greatest misfortune, was +imputed to her as the most enormous guilt; and she was every +where sneered at, avoided, and despised. What pity is it, that an +unfortunate, as well as a false step, should damn a woman's fame! +In what respect was Mrs. Manley to blame? In what particular was she +guilty? to marry her cousin, who passionately professed love to her, +and who solemnly vowed himself a widower, could not be guilt; on +the other hand, it had prudence and gratitude for its basis. Her +continuing in the house with him after he had made the discovery, +cannot be guilt, for by doing so, she was prevented from being exposed +to such necessities as perhaps would have produced greater ruin. When +want and beggary stare a woman in the face, especially one accustomed +to the delicacies of life, then indeed is virtue in danger; and they +who escape must have more than human assistance. + +Our poetess now perceived, that together with her reputation, she had +lost all the esteem, that her conversation and abilities might have +else procured her; and she was reduced to the deplorable necessity of +associating with those whose fame was blasted by their indiscretion, +because the more sober and virtuous part of the sex did not care +to risk their own characters, by being in company with one so much +suspected, and against whom the appearance of guilt was too strong. + +Under this dilemma, it is difficult to point out any method of +behaviour, by which she would not be exposed to censure: If she had +still persisted in solitude, the ill-natured world would have imputed +to it a cause, which is not founded on virtue; besides, as the means +of support were now removed, by the perfidy of Mr. Manley, she must +have perished by this resolution. + +In this case, the reader will not be much surprized to find our +authoress, under the patronage of the duchess of Cleveland, a mistress +of king Charles the IId's, who was justly reckoned one of the most +celebrated beauties of that age. Mrs. Manley was paying a visit to +a lady of her grace's acquaintance, when she was introduced into the +favour of this royal courtezan; and as the duchess of Cleveland was +a woman of parts and genius, she could not but be charmed with the +sprightliness of her conversation. She was fond of new faces, and +immediately contracted the greatest intimacy with our poetess, and +gave her a general invitation to her table. The lady at whose house +the duchess became acquainted with Mrs. Manley, soon perceived her +indiscretion in bringing them together; for the love of novelty so far +prevailed on the duchess, that herself was immediately discarded, and +the affection formerly bestowed upon her, was lavished on Mrs. Manley. + +This procured our poetess an inveterate enemy; and the greatest blow +that was ever struck at her reputation, was by that woman, who had +been before her friend. She was not content to inform persons who +began to know and esteem Mrs. Manley, that her marriage was a +cheat; but even endeavoured to make the duchess jealous of her new +favourite's charms, in respect of Mr. Goodman the player, who at +that time had the honour of approaching her grace's person, with the +freedom of a gallant. + +As the duchess of Cleveland was a woman of a very fickle temper, +in six months time she began to be tired of Mrs. Manley. She was +quarrelsome, loquacious, fierce, excessively fond, or downright rude; +when she was disgusted with any person, she never failed to reproach +them, with all the bitterness of wit she was mistress of, with such +malice, and ill-nature, that she was hated, not only by all the world, +but by her own children and servants: The extremes of prodigality, +and covetousness, of love, and hatred, of dotage, and fondness, met +in her. A woman of this temper will be at no loss for the means of +effecting any one's ruin, and having now conceived an aversion to our +poetess, she was resolved to drive her from her house, with as much +reproach as possible; and accordingly gave out, that she had detected +Mrs. Manley in an intrigue with her own son, and as she did not care +to give encouragement to such amours, she thought proper to discharge +her. Whether or not there was any truth in this charge, it is +impossible for us to determine: But if Mrs. Manley's own word may be +taken, in such a case, she was perfectly innocent thereof. + +When our authoress was dismissed by the duchess, she was sollicited by +lieutenant-general Tidcomb, to pass some time with him at his country +seat; but she excused herself by telling him, she must be in love with +a man, before she could think of residing with him, which she could +not, without a violation of truth, profess for him. She told him her +love of solitude was improved, by her disgust of the world, and +since it was impossible for her to be public with reputation, she was +resolved to remain in it concealed. + +It was in this solitude she composed her first tragedy, which was much +more famous for the language, fire, and tenderness, than the conduct. +Mrs. Barry distinguished herself in it, and the author was often heard +to express great surprize, that a man of Mr. Betterton's grave sense, +and judgment, should think well enough of the productions of a young +woman, to bring it upon the stage, since she herself in a more mature +age could hardly bear to read it. But as the play succeeded, she +received such unbounded incense from admirers, that her apartment +was crowded with men of wit, and gaiety. There is a copy of verses +prefixed to her play, said to be written by a very great hand which +deserve notice. + + What! all our sex in one sad hour undone? + Lost are our arts, our learning, our renown + Since nature's tide of wit came rolling down. + Keen were your eyes we knew, and sure their darts; + Fire to our soul they send, and passion to our heart! + Needless was an addition to such arms, + When all mankind were vassals to your charms: + That hand but seen, gives wonder and desire, + Snow to the fight, but with its touches fire! + Who sees thy yielding Queen, and would not be + On any terms, the best, the happy he; + Entranc'd we fancy all is extasy. + Quote Ovid, now no more ye am'rous swains, + Delia, than Ovid has more moving strains. + Nature in her alone exceeds all art, + And nature sure does nearest touch the heart. + Oh! might I call the bright discoverer mine, + The whole fair sex unenvied I'd resign; + Give all my happy hours to Delia's charms, + She who by writing thus our wishes warms, + What worlds of love must circle in her arms? + +They who had a regard for Mrs. Manley could not but observe with +concern, that her conduct was such, as would soon issue in her ruin. +No language but flattery approached her ear; the Beaux told her, that +a woman of her wit, was not to be confined to the dull formalities of +her own sex, but had a right to assume the unreserved freedom of the +male, since all things were pardonable to a lady, who knew to give +laws to others, yet was not obliged to keep them herself. General +Tidcomb, who seems to have been her sincerest friend, took the +privilege of an old acquaintance to correct her ill taste, and the +wrong turn she gave her judgment, in admitting adulation from such +wretches, whose praise could reflect but little honour, and who would +be ready to boast of favours they never received, nor indeed ever +endeavoured to obtain. + +This salutary council was rejected; she told him, that she did not +think fit to reform a conduct, which she reckoned very innocent; +and still continued to receive the whispers of flatterers, 'till +experience taught her the folly of her behaviour, and she lived to +repent her indiscretion. + +Her virtue was now nodding, and she was ready to fall into the arms of +any gallant, like mellow fruit, without much trouble in the gathering. +Sir Thomas Skipwith, a character of gaiety of those times, and, who +it seems had theatrical connections, was recommended to her, as being +very able to promote her design in writing for the stage. This knight +was in the 50th year of his age, and in the 60th of his constitution, +when he was first introduced to her, and as he had been a long +practised gallant, he soon made addresses to her, and whether or no +this knight, who was more dangerous to a woman's reputation, than her +virtue, was favoured by her, the world was so much convinced of it, +that her character was now absolutely lost. Sir Thomas was a weak, +vain, conceited coxcomb, who delighted in boasting of his conquests +over women, and what was often owing to his fortune, and station in +life, he imputed to his address, and the elegance of his manner, of +both which he was totally destitute. He even published Mrs. Manley's +dishonour, and from that time our sprightly poetess was considered, by +the sober part of the sex, quite abandoned to all shame. + +When her affair with this superannuated knight was over, she soon +engaged in another intrigue, still more prejudicial to her character; +for it was with a married man, one Mr. Tilly, a gentleman of the Law; +with whom she lived a considerable time: while he underwent at +home many of those severe lectures, which the just provocation, and +jealousy of his wife taught her to read him. Mrs. Tilly at last died, +and our gallant was left at his freedom to marry the object of his +passion; but unluckily his finances were in such a situation, that he +was obliged to repair them by marrying a woman of fortune. This was a +cruel circumstance; for he really loved, and doated upon Mrs. Manley, +and had the felicity of a reciprocal passion. She agreed however, in +order to repair his fortune, that he should marry a rich young widow, +whom he soon won by the elegance of his address, while our authoress +retired into the country to spend her days in solitude and sorrow, and +bid an everlasting farewel to the pleasures of love and gallantry. +Mr. Tilly did not many years survive this reparation: his life was +rendered miserable at home by the jealousy of his young wife, who had +heard of his affair with Mrs. Manley; he lost his senses, and died in +a deplorable situation. + +During her retirement, our authoress, who had a most confirmed +aversion to the Whig ministry, wrote her Atalantis, which was meant as +a representation of the characters of some of those, who had effected +the Revolution. A warrant was granted from the secretary of state's +office, to seize the Printer and Publisher of these volumes. This +circumstance reduced the writer to a very troublesome dilemma; she +could not bear the thoughts that innocent people should suffer on her +account, and she judged it cruel to remain concealed, while they who +were only inferior instruments, were suffering for her. She consulted, +on this occasion, her best friend, general Tidcomb, who, after +rallying her for exposing people, who had never in particular injured +her, he advised her to go into France, and made her an offer of +his purse for that purpose. This advice she rejected, and came to +a determined resolution, that no person should ever suffer on her +account. The general asked her, how she should like to be confined in +Newgate? to which she answered, that she would rather lye in a prison, +after having discharged her conference, than riot in a palace under +its reproaches. The general upon this replied, that these things +sounded very heroic, but there was a great difference between real and +imaginary sufferings, 'that she had chosen to declare herself for the +Tories, a party, who never could keep their own, nor other people's +secrets, and were ever forgetful of such as served them; that the most +severe critics upon the Tory writings, were the Tories themselves, who +never considering the design, or honest intention of the author, would +examine the performance only, and that too with as much severity, +as they would an enemy's, and at the same time value themselves +upon being impartial against their friends. Then as to gratitude, +or generosity, the Tories did not approach to the Whigs, who never +suffered any man to go unrewarded, however dull, or insignificant, +provided he declared himself to be for them; whereas the Tories had no +general interest, and consequently no particular, each person refusing +to contribute towards the benefit of the whole; and if it should +happen, that she should perish, through want, in a Jail, they would +sooner condemn her folly, than pity her sufferings.' + +This did not deter our poetess from voluntarily preferring herself +before the Court of King's Bench, as the author of the Atalantis. + +When she was examined before the secretary (then lord Sunderland) +he was assiduous to know from whom she had got information of some +particulars, which they imagined were above her own intelligence. Her +defence was with much humility and sorrow, at the same time denying +that any persons were concerned with her, or that she had a farther +design than writing for her own amusement, and diversion in the +country, without intending particular reflexions, or characters; when +this was not believed, and the contrary urged against her by several +circumstances, she said, 'then it must be by inspiration, because +knowing her own innocence, she could account for it no other way.' The +secretary replied, 'that inspiration used to be upon a good account, +and her writings were stark naught.' She, with an air of penitence, +'acknowledged, that his lordship's observation might be true, but that +there were evil angels, as well as good, so that nevertheless what she +had wrote, might still be by inspiration.' + +In consequence of this examination, our authoress was close shut up +in a messenger's house, without being allowed pen, ink, and paper. +However her council sued out her Habeas Corpus at the King's-Bench +Bar, and she was admitted to bail. + +Whether those in power were ashamed to bring a woman to her trial, +for writing a few amorous trifles, or our laws were defective, as +was generally conjectured, because she had disguised her satire under +romantic names, and a feigned scene of action, she was discharged, +after several times exposing her in person, to cross the court before +the Bench of Judges, with her three attendants, the Printer, and two +Publishers. + +Not long after this a total change of the ministry ensued, +the statesmen to whom she had been obnoxious were removed, and +consequently all her fears upon that score dissipated; her native +gaiety, and good humour returned, and she again employed herself in +writing a tragedy for the stage, and resolved never more to deal in +politics, as being much out of the natural sphere of a woman, she was +persuaded it was folly in one in her station, to disoblige any party +by a pen, equally qualified to divert all. Being advanced to the +autumn of her charms, she conversed with the opposite sex, in a manner +very delicate, sensible, and agreeable, and when she felt that time +had left his impression upon her brow, she did not court praise and +flattery. The greatest genius's of the times conversed freely with +her, and gave her daily proofs of esteem, and friendship, except Sir +Richard Steele, with whom it seems she was at variance; and indeed Sir +Richard sufficiently exposed himself by his manner of taking revenge; +for he published to the world that it was his own fault he was not +happy with Mrs. Manley, for which omission he publickly, and gravely +asked her pardon. + +Those are the most material incidents in the life of our poetess; a +lady, who was born with high powers from nature, which were afterwards +cultivated by enjoying the brightest conversation; the early part of +her life was unfortunate, she fell a sacrifice to a seducer, who laid +the foundation for those errors she afterwards committed, and of those +sufferings she underwent; she had a high relish for the pleasures +of life; she was extremely susceptible of the passion of love, and +treated it with a peculiar vivacity. + +Her dramatic works are + +1. The Lover, or The Jealous Husband; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1696. +This play did not succeed in the representation. + +2. The Royal Mischief, a Tragedy; acted by his Majesty's Servants +in the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1696. This was exhibited with +general applause. + +3. Lucius, the First Christian King of Britain, a Tragedy; acted +at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane by his Majesty's Servants, and +dedicated to Sir Richard Steele. She has written several poems, and +we shall select, as a specimen, an Epistle to the Countess of Bristol, +which will shew how much she possessed the power of delicate numbers; +she has also in print a volume of Letters, the second edition of which +was published in 1713. She died July 11, 1724. + + To the Right Honourable the + Countess of BRISTOL. + + + Long had my mind, unknowing how to soar, + In humble prose been train'd, nor aim'd at more: + Near the fam'd sisters never durst aspire + To sound a verse, or touch the tuneful lyre. + 'Till Bristol's charms dissolv'd the native cold; + Bad me survey her eyes, and thence be bold. + Thee, lovely Bristol! thee! with pride I chuse, + The first, and only subject of my muse; + That durst transport me like the bird of Jove, + To face th' immortal source of light above! + Such are thy kindred beams-- + So blessings, with a bounteous hand they give, + So they create, and make creation live. + + When charming Felton, of a beauteous race, + Adorn'd in blooming youth, with ev'ry grace; + First saw the lovely Suffolk Swain her prize, + The noblest conquest of the brightest eyes! + How many wretched nymphs that union made, + What cold despair the warmest hearts invade! + What crouds of lovers, hopeless and undone, + Deplore those charms which brought their ruin on! + Rich in themselves--all excellence they find, + Wit! beauty! wisdom! and a constant mind! + No vain desires of change disturb their joy; + Such sweets, like bliss divine, can never cloy: + Fill'd with that spirit which great souls inflame, + Their wondrous offspring start to early fame. + In their young minds, immortal sparkles rise! + And all their mother flashes from their eyes! + From thence such scenes of beauty charm the sight, + We know not where o fix the strong delight! + Hervey's soft features--next, Eliza bright! + Anna just dawning, like Aurora's light! + With all the smiling train of Cupids round, + Fond little loves, with flowing graces crown'd. + + As some fair flowers, who all their bloom disclose, + The Spanish Jas'min, or the British Rose? + Arriv'd at full perfection, charm the sense, + Whilst the young blossoms gradual sweets dispense. + The eldest born, with almost equal pride; + The next appears in fainter colours dy'd: + New op'ning buds, as less in debt to time, + Wait to perform the promise of their prime! + All blest descendants of the beauteous tree, + What now their parent is, themselves shall be. + + Oh! could I paint the younger Hervey's mind, + Where wit and judgment, fire and taste refin'd + To match his face, with equal art are join'd: + Oh best belov'd of Jove! to thee alone, + What would enrich the whole, he gives to one! + + [A]In Titian's colours whilst Adonis glows, + See fairest Bristol more than Venus shows; + View well the valu'd piece, how nice each part; + Yet nature's hand surpasses Titian's art! + Such had his Venus and Adonis been, + The standard beauty had from thence been seen! + Whose arbitrary laws had fix'd the doom + To Hervey's form, and Bristol's ever bloom! + + [B]As once Kazeia, now Eliza warms + The kindred-fair bequeath'd her all her charms; + Such were her darts, so piercing and so strong, + Endow'd by Phoebus both, with tuneful song; + But far from thee Eliza be her doom; + Snatch'd hence by death, in all her beauty's bloom. + Long may'st thou live, adorning Bristol's name, + With future heroes to augment his fame. + + When haughty Niobe, with joy and pride, + Saw all her shining offspring grace her side; + She view'd their charms, exulting at each line, + And then oppos'd 'em to the race divine! + Enrag'd Latona urg'd the silver bow: + Immortal vengeance laid their beauties low. + No more a mother now--too much she mourn'd, + By grief incessant into marble turn'd. + + But lovely Bristol, with a pious mind, + Owns all her blessings are from Heav'n assign'd. + Her matchless Lord--her beauteous numerous race! + Her virtue, modesty, and ev'ry grace! + For these, devoutly, to the gods she bows, + And offers daily praise, and daily vows: + Phoebus, well-pleas'd, the sacrifice regards; + And thus the grateful mother's zeal rewards: + 'Beauty and wit, to all of Bristol's line! + But each in some peculiar grace shall shine! + Or to excel in courts, and please the fair! + Or Conquest gain thro' all the wat'ry war! + With harmony divine the ear to charm! + Or souls with more melodious numbers warm! + By wond'rous memory shall some excel + In awful senates, and in speaking well! + To hold Astræa's scales with equal hand, + And call back justice to that happy land! + To teach mankind how best the gods to praise! + To fix their minds in truth's unerring ways! + + 'Thus all her honours, Bristol's sons shall wear, + Whilst each his country's good shall make his chiefest care!' + + +[Footnote A: This is not designed as a parallel of the story, but the +painting from a piece of Titian's, at my lord Bristol's.] + +[Footnote B: A sister of lord Bristol's, who was a lady of most +extraordinary beauty.] + + * * * * * + + + + +HENRY NEEDLER, + + +This Poet was born at Harley in Surry, in the year 1690, and educated +at a private school at Ryegate in the same county[A]. He was removed +from thence in 1705, and in 1708 accepted a small place in a public +office; where he continued the remainder of his days. + +About this time contracting a friendship with a gentleman of a like +taste, who furnished him with proper books, he applied himself at +his intervals of leisure, to reading the dailies, and to the study +of logic, metaphysics, and the mathematics, with which last he was +peculiarly delighted. And in a few years by the force of his own happy +genius, and unwearied diligence, without the assistance of any master, +he acquired a considerable knowledge of the most difficult branches of +those useful and entertaining studies. + +By so close an application, he contracted a violent pain in his head, +which notwithstanding the best advice, daily encreased. This, and +other unfortunate circumstances concurring, so deeply affected him, +who had besides in his constitution a strong tincture of melancholy, +that he was at last brought under almost a total extinction of reason. +In this condition he fell into a fever; and as there were before +scarce any hopes of him, it may be said to have happily put an end to +the deplorable bondage of so bright a mind, on the 21st of December, +1718, in the 29th year of his age. He was buried in the church of +Friendsbury, near Rochester. + +Mr. Needler's life was influenced by the principles of sincere, +unaffected piety, and virtue. + +On all occasions (says Mr. Duncomb) 'he was a strenuous advocate for +universal toleration and forbearance in matters of religion; rightly +supposing that no service can be acceptable to the supreme Being, +unless it proceeds from the heart; and that force serves only to make +hypocrites, but adds no new lights to the understanding. He was +modest to a fault, entertaining the most humble opinion of his own +performances; and was always ready to do justice to those of others. +His affection for his friends indeed sometimes biassed his judgment, +and led him to the commending their writings beyond their merit.' + +In the volume of Mr. Needler's works, are printed some familiar +Letters, upon moral, and natural subjects. They are written with +elegance and taste; the heart of a good man may be traced in them +all, and equally abound with pious notions, as good sense, and +solid reasoning.--He seems to have been very much master of smooth +versification, his subjects are happily chosen, and there is a +philosophical air runs through all his writings; as an instance of +this, we shall present our readers with a copy of his verses addressed +to Sir Richard Blackmore, on his Poem, intitled The Creation. + + Dress'd in the charms of wit and fancy, long + The muse has pleas'd us with her syren song; + But weak of reason, and deprav'd of mind, + Too oft on vile, ignoble themes we find + The wanton muse her sacred art debase, + Forgetful of her birth, and heavenly race; + Too oft her flatt'ring songs to sin intice, + And in false colours deck delusive vice; + Too oft she condescends, in servile lays, + The undeserving rich and great to praise. + These beaten paths, thy loftier strains refuse + With just disdain, and nobler subjects chuse: + Fir'd with sublimer thoughts, thy daring soul + Wings her aspiring flight from Pole to Pole, + Observes the foot-steps of a pow'r divine, + Which in each part of nature's system shine; + Surveys the wonders of this beauteous frame, + And sings the sacred source, whence all things came. + + But Oh! what numbers shall I find to tell, + The mighty transports which my bosom swell, + Whilst, guided by thy tuneful voice, I stray + Thro' radiant worlds, and fields of native day, + Wasted from orb, to orb, unwearied fly + Thro' the blue regions of the yielding sky; + See how the spheres in stated courses roll, + And view the just composure of the whole! + + Such were the strains, by antient Orpheus sung. + To such, Mufæus' heav'nly lyre was strung; + Exalted truths, in learned verse they told, + And nature's deepest secrets did unfold. + How at th' eternal mind's omnisic call, + Yon starry arch, and this terrestrial ball, + The briny wave, the blazing source of light, + And the wane empress of the silent night, + Each in it's order rose and took its place, + And filled with recent forms the vacant space; + How rolling planets trace their destin'd way, + Nor in the wastes of pathless Æther stray; + How the pale moon, with silver beams adorn + Her chearful orb, and gilds her sharpened horns; + How the vast ocean's swelling tides obey + Her distant reign, and own her watr'y sway; + How erring floods, their circling course maintain, + Supplied by constant succours from the main; + Whilst to the sea, the refluent streams restore, + The liquid treasures which she lent before; + What dreadful veil obscures the solar light, + And Phæbe's darken'd face conceals from mortal sight. + Thy learned muse, I with like pleasure hear + The wonders of the lesser world declare, + Point out the various marks of skill divine, + Which thro' its complicated structure mine, + In tuneful verse, the vital current trace, + Thro' all the windings of its mazy race, + And tell hew the rich purple tide bestows, + Vigour, and kindly warmth where e'er it flows; + By what contrivance of mechanic art + The muscles, motions to the limbs impart; + How at th' imperial mind's impulsive nod, + Th' obedient spirits thro' the nervous road + Find thro' their fib'rous cells the ready way, + And the high dictates of the will obey; + From how exact and delicate a frame, + The channeled bones their nimble action claim; + With how much depth, and subtility of thought + The curious organ of the eye is wrought; + How from the brain their root the nerves derive, + And sense to ev'ry distant member give. + + Th' extensive knowledge you of men enjoy, + You to a double use of man employ; + Nor to the body, is your skill confin'd, + Of error's worse disease you heal the mind. + No longer shall the hardy atheist praise + Lucretius' piercing wit, and philosophic lays; + But by your lines convinc'd, and charm'd at once, + His impious tenets shall at length renounce, + At length to truth and eloquence shall yield, + Confess himself subdu'd, and wisely quit the field. + + +[Footnote A: See his Life prefixed to his works, by William Duncomb +Esq;] + + * * * * * + + + + +JOHN HUGHES, + + +William Duncomb, esq; has obliged the world with an entire edition of +this author's poetical and prose works, to which he has prefixed +some account of his life, written with candour and spirit. Upon his +authority we chiefly build the following narration; in which we shall +endeavour to do as much justice as possible to the memory of this +excellent poet. + +Our author was the son of a worthy citizen of London, and born at +Marlborough in the county of Wilts, on the 29th of January 1677; but +received the rudiments of his learning at private schools in London. + +In the earliest years of his youth, he applied himself with ardour to +the pursuit of the sister arts, poetry, drawing and music, in each of +which by turns, he made a considerable progress; but for the most part +pursued these and other polite studies, only as agreeable amusements, +under frequent confinement from indisposition, and a valetudinary +state of health. He had some time an employment in the office of +ordinance; and was secretary to two or three commissioners under the +great-seal, for purchasing lands for the better securing the docks and +harbours at Portsmouth, Chatham, and Harwich. + +In the year 1717 the lord chancellor Cowper, (to whom Mr. Hughes +was then but lately known) was pleased, without any previous +sollicitation, to make him his secretary for the commissions of the +peace, and to distinguish him with singular marks of his favour and +affection: And upon his lordship's laying down the great-seal, he was +at his particular recommendation, and with the ready concurrence of +his successor, continued in the same employment under the earl of +Macclesfield. + +He held this place to the time of his decease, which happened on the +17th of February 1719, the very night in which his tragedy, entitled +the Siege of Damascus, was first acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane. + +He was cut off by a consumption, after a painful life, at the age of +42, when he had just arrived at an agreeable competence, and advancing +in fame and fortune. So just is the beautiful reflexion of Milton in +his Lycidas; + + Fame is the spur, that the clear spirit doth raise, + (That last infirmity of noble mind) + To scorn delights, and live laborious days; + But the fair guerdon, when we hops to find, + And think to burst out into sudden blaze, + Comes the blind fury with th' abhorred shears, + And slits the thin-spun life.-- + +He was privately buried in the vault under the chancel of St. Andrew's +Church in Holborn. Mr. Hughes, as a testimony of gratitude to his +noble friend, and generous patron, earl Cowper, gave his lordship a +few weeks before he died, his picture drawn by Sir Godfrey Kneller, +which he himself had received from that masterly painter. The value +lord Cowper set upon it will be best shewn, by the letter he wrote +upon this occasion to Mr. Hughes. As such a testimony from so eminent +a person, was considered by himself as one of the highest honours he +was capable of receiving, we shall therefore insert it. + +24th Jan. 1719-20. + +'Sir, + +'I thank you for the most acceptable present of your picture, and +assure you that none of this age can set a higher value on it than I +do, and shall while I live, tho' I am sensible posterity will out-do +me in that particular.' + +I am with the greatest esteem, and sincerity + +Your most affectionate, and oblig'd humble servant + +COWPER. + +Mr. Hughes was happy in the acquaintance and friendship of several of +the greatest men, and most distinguished genius's of the age in which +he lived; particularly of the nobleman just now mentioned, the present +lord bishop of Winchester, lord chief baron Gilbert, Sir Godfrey +Kneller, Mr. Congreve, Mr. Addison, Sir Richard Steele, Mr. Southern, +Mr. Rowe, &c. and might have justly boasted in the words of Horace + + ----me + Cum magnis vixisse, invita fatebitu usque + Invidia.---- + +Having given this short account of his life, which perhaps is all +that is preserved any where concerning him; we shall now consider him, +first, as a poet, and then as a prose writer. + +The Triumph of Peace was the earliest poem he wrote of any length, +that appeared in public. It was written on occasion of the peace +of Ryswick, and printed in the year 1677. A learned gentleman at +Cambridge, in a letter to a friend of Mr. Hughes's, dated the 28th +of February 1697-8, gives the following account of the favourable +reception this poem met with there, upon its first publication. + +'I think I never heard a poem read with so much admiration, as the +Triumph of Peace was by our best critics here, nor a greater character +given to a young poet, at his first appearing; no, not even to Mr. +Congreve himself. So nobly elevated are his thoughts, his numbers so +harmonious, and his turns so fine and delicate, that we cry out with +Tully, on a like occasion, + + 'Nostræ spes altera Romæ!' + +The Court of Neptune, was written on king William's return from +Holland, two years after the peace, in 1699. This Poem was admired +for the verification, however, the musical flow of the numbers is its +least praise; it rather deserves to be valued for the propriety, and +boldness of the figures and metaphors, and the machinery. + +The following lines have been justly quoted as an instance of the +author's happy choice of metaphors. + + As when the golden god, who rules the day, + Drives down his flaming chariot to the sea, + And leaves the nations here, involved in night, + To distant regions he transports his light; + So William's rays by turns, two rations cheer, + And when he sets to them, he rises here. + +A friend of Mr. Hughes's soon after the publication of this poem, +complimented him upon the choice of his subject, and for the moral +sentiments contained in it. 'I am sure (says he) virtue is most for +the interest of mankind; and those poets have ever obtained the most +honour in the world, who have made that the end and design of their +works. A wanton Sappho, or Anacreon, among the ancients, never had the +same applause, as a Pindar, or Alexis; nor in the judgment of Horace +did they deserve it. In the opinion of all posterity, a lewd and +debauch'd Ovid, did justly submit to the worth of a Virgil; and, in +future ages, a Dryden will never be compared to Milton. In all times, +and in all places of the world, the moral poets have been ever the +greatest; and as much superior to others in wit, as in virtue. Nor +does this seem difficult to be accounted for, since the dignity of +their subjects naturally raised their ideas, and gave a grandeur to +their sentiments.' + +The House of Nassau, a Pindaric Ode (printed in 1702) was occasioned +by the death of king William. 'In Pindaric and Lyric Poetry (says +Mr. Duncomb) our author's genius shines in its full lustre. Tho' he +enjoyed all that fire of imagination, and divine enthusiasm, for which +some of the ancient poets are so deservedly admired, yet did his fancy +never run away with his reason, but was always guided by superior +judgment; and the music of his verse is exquisite.' + +The Translation of the third Ode of the third Book of Horace, and +the Paraphrase of the twenty-second Ode, of the first book, were both +written when he was very young; and the latter of them was his first +poetical Essay, which appeared in print. Mr. Hughes, in a private +letter sent to one of his friends, gives it as his opinion, that the +Odes of Horace, are fitter to be paraphrased, than translated. + +The Tenth Book of Lucan, was translated by Mr. Hughes, long before Mr. +Rowe undertook that author. The occasion of it was this: Mr. Tonson +the bookseller, sollicited a translation of Lucan, by several hands. +Mr. Hughes performed his part, but others failing in their promises, +the design was dropp'd; and Mr. Rowe was afterwards prevailed upon to +undertake the whole, which he performed with great success. + +In the year 1709 Mr. Hughes obliged the publick, with an elegant +translation of Moliere's celebrated Comedy, the Misantrope. This has +been since reprinted, with the other plays of that admirable author, +translated by Mr. Ozell; but care is taken to distinguish this +particular play. + +In the year 1712 his Opera of Calypso and Telemachus, was performed at +the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market. Perhaps it may be worth while +to mention here, one circumstance concerning this Opera, as it relates +to the History of Music in England, and discovers the great partiality +shewn at that time to Opera's performed in Italian. After many such +had been encouraged by large subscriptions, this, originally written, +and set in English, after the Italian manner, was prepared with the +usual expence of scenes and decorations; and being much crowded and +applauded at the rehearsals, a subscription was obtained for it as +usual. + +This alarmed the whole Italian band, who, apprehending that their +profession would suffer thereby, procured an order from the duke of +Shrewsbury, then lord chamberlain, the day before the performing of +this Opera, to take off the subscription for it, and to open the house +at the lowest prices, or not at all. This was designed to sink it, but +failed of its end. It was performed, formed, though under such +great discouragement; and was revived afterwards at the theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Mr. Addison, in the Spectator, Numb. 405, +speaking of the just applause given this opera, by Signior Nicolini +(who he says was the greatest performer in dramatic music, that +perhaps ever appeared upon a stage) has these words, + +'The town is highly obliged to that excellent artist, for having shewn +us the Italian music in its perfection, as well as for that generous +approbation he gave to an Opera of our own country, in which Mr. +Galliard the composer endeavoured to do justice to the beauty of the +words, by following that noble example which has been set him by the +greatest foreign masters of that art.' + +The Ode to the Creator of the World, occasioned by the fragments of +Orpheus, was printed in the year 1713, at the particular instance of +Mr. Addison; and is mentioned with applause in the Spectator. This, +and the Extasy, (published since the death of the author) are justly +esteemed two of the noblest Odes in our language. The seventh Stanza +of the last mentioned piece, is so sublimely excellent, that it would +be denying ourselves, and our poetical readers, a pleasure not to +transcribe it. The whole of this Ode is beautifully heightened, and +poetically conceived. It furnished a hint to a living Poet to write +what he entitles the Excursion, which tho' it has very great merit, +yet falls infinitely short of this animated Ode of Mr. Hughes. + +After having represented the natural and artificial calamities to +which man is doomed, he proceeds, + + But why do I delay my flight? + Or on such gloomy objects gaze? + I go to realms serene, with ever-living light. + Haste, clouds and whirlwinds, haste a raptured bard to raise; + Mount me sublime along the shining way, + Where planets, in pure streams of Aether driven, + Swim thro' the blue expanse of heav'n. + And lo! th' obsequious clouds and winds obey! + And lo! again the nations downward fly; + And wide-stretch'd kingdoms perish from my eye. + Heav'n! what bright visions now arise! + What op'ning worlds my ravish'd sense surprize! + I pass Cerulian gulphs, and now behold + New solid globes; their weight self-ballanc'd, bear + Unprop'd amidst the fluid air, + And all, around the central Sun, incircling eddies roll'd. + Unequal in their course, see they advance + And form the planetary dance! + Here the pale Moon, whom the same laws ordain + T' obey the earth, and rule the main; + Here spots no more in shadowy streaks appear; + But lakes instead, and groves of trees, + The wand'ring muse, transported sees, + And their tall heads discover'd mountains rear. + And now once more, I downward cast my sight, + When lo! the earth, a larger moon displays, + Far off, amidst the heav'ns, her silver face, + And to her sister moons by turns gives light! + Her seas are shadowy spots, her land a milky white. + +The author of an Essay on Criticism, printed in the year 1728, informs +us, that the Tragedy of Cato being brought upon the stage in 1713 was +owing to Mr. Hughes. The circumstances recorded by this author are so +remarkable, that they deserve to be related; and as they serve to shew +the high opinion Mr. Addison entertained of our author's abilities as +a Poet, I shall therefore transcribe his own words.-- + +'It has been often said by good judges, that Cato was no proper +subject for a dramatic poem: That the character of a stoic +philosopher, is inconsistent with the hurry and tumult of action, +and passions which are the soul of tragedy. That the ingenious author +miscarried in the plan of his work, but supported it by the dignity, +the purity, the beauty, and justness of the sentiments. This was so +much the opinion of Mr. Maynwaring, who was generally allowed to be +the best critic of our time; that he was against bringing the play +upon the stage, and it lay by unfinished many years. That it was +play'd at last was owing to Mr. Hughes. He had read the four acts +which were finished, and really thought it would be of service to +the public, to have it represented at the latter end of queen +Anne's reign, when the spirit of liberty was likely to be lost. He +endeavoured to bring Mr. Addison into his opinion, which he did, and +consented it should be acted if Mr. Hughes would write the last act; +and he offered him the scenery for his assistance, excusing his +not finishing it himself, upon account of some other avocations. He +press'd Mr. Hughes to do it so earnestly, that he was prevailed upon, +and set about it. But, a week after, seeing Mr. Addison again, with +an intention to communicate to him what he thought of it, he was +agreeably surprized at his producing some papers, where near half of +the act was written by the author himself, who took fire at the hint, +that it would be serviceable; and, upon a second reflexion, went +through with the fifth act, not that he was diffident of Mr. Hughes's +abilities; but knowing that no man could have so perfect a notion of +his design as himself, who had been so long, and so carefully thinking +of it. I was told this by Mr. Hughes, and I tell it to shew, that it +was not for the love-scenes, that Mr. Addison consented to have his +Tragedy acted, but to support public spirit; which in the opinion of +the author was then declining.' + +In the year 1720 the Siege of Damascus was acted at the Theatre-Royal +in Drury-Lane, with universal applause. His present majesty honoured +it with his presence, and the late queen distinguished it with marks +of favour. + +Mr. Hughes drew up the dedication of this Tragedy to the late Earl +Cowper, about ten days before he died. It is indeed surprising, that +he should be able to form a piece so finely turned, and at such +an hour; when death was just before him, and he was too weak to +transcribe it himself. + +Mr. Pope, in a letter to Mr. Hughes's brother, written soon after his +death, in answer to one received from him, with the printed copy of +the play, has the following pathetic passage. + +'I read over again your brother's play, with more concern and sorrow, +than I ever felt in the reading any Tragedy. The real loss of a good +man may be called a distress to the world, and ought to affect us +more, than any feigned distress, how well drawn soever. I am glad +of an occasion of giving you under my hand this testimony, both how +excellent I think this work to be, and how excellent I thought the +author.' + +It is generally allowed that the characters in this play are finely +varied and distinguished; that the sentiments are just, and +well adapted to the characters; that it abounds with beautiful +descriptions, apt allusions to the manners, and opinions of the times +where the scene is laid, and with noble morals; that the diction is +pure, unaffected, and sublime; and that the plot is conducted in a +simple and clear manner. + +Some critics have objected, that there is not a sufficient ground +and foundation, for the distress in the fourth and fifth acts. That +Phocyas only assists the enemy to take Damascus a few days sooner, +than it must unavoidably have fallen into the hands of the Saracens +by a capitulation, which was far from dishonourable. If Phocyas is +guilty, his guilt must consist in this only, that he performed the +same action from a sense of his own wrong, and to preserve the idol +of his soul from violation, and death, which he might have performed +laudably, upon better principles. But this (say they) seems not +sufficient ground for those strong and stinging reproaches he casts +upon himself, nor for Eudocia's rejecting him with so much severity. +It would have been a better ground of distress, considering the +frailty of human nature, and the violent temptations he lay under; if +he had been at last prevailed upon to profess himself a Mahometan: For +then his remorse, and self-condemnation, would have been natural, his +punishment just, and the character of Eudocia placed in a more amiable +light. In answer to these objections, and in order to do justice to +the judgment of Mr. Hughes, we must observe, that he formed his play +according to the plan here recommended: but, over-persuaded by some +friends, he altered it as it now stands. + +When our author was but in the nineteenth year of his age, he wrote +a Tragedy, entitled, Amalasont Queen of the Goths, which displays +a fertile genius, and a masterly invention. Besides these poetical +productions Mr. Hughes is author of several works in prose, +particularly, The Advices from Parnassus, and the Poetical Touchstone +of Trajano Boccalini, translated by several hands, were printed +in folio 1706. This translation was revised and corrected, and the +preface to it was written by Mr. Hughes. + +Fontenelle's Dialogues of the Dead, translated by our author; with two +original Dialogues, published in the year 1708. The greatest part of +this had lain by him for six years. + +Fontenelle's Discourse concerning the ancients, and moderns, are +printed with his conversations with a Lady, on the Plurality of +Worlds, translated by Glanville. + +The History of the Revolutions in Portugal, written in French, by +Monsieur L'Abbé de Vertot, was translated by Mr. Hughes. + +The Translation of the Letters of Abelard and Heloise, was done by Mr. +Hughes; upon which Mr. Pope has built his beautiful Epistle of Heloise +to Abelard. + +As Mr. Hughes was an occasional contributor to the Tatler, Spectator, +and Guardian, the reader perhaps may be curious to know more +particularly what share he had in those papers, which are so justly +admired in all places in the world, where taste and genius have +visited. As it is the highest honour to have had any concern in +works like these, so it would be most injurious to the memory of this +excellent genius, not to particularize his share in them. + +In the Tatler he writ, + + Vol. II. Numb. 64. A Letter signed Josiah Couplet. + Numb. 73. A Letter against Gamesters, + signed William Trusty. + +Mr. Tickell alludes to this Letter, in a Copy of Verses addressed to +the Spectator, Vol. VII. No. 532. + + From Felon Gamesters, the raw squire is free, + And Briton owes her rescued oaks to thee. + + Numb. 113. The Inventory of a Beau. + + In the Spectator. + + Vol. I. Numb. 33. A Letter on the Art of improving + beauty. + Numb. 53. A Second Letter on the same + subject. + Numb. 66. Two Letters concerning fine + breeding. + + Vol. II. Numb. 91. The History of Honoria, or + the Rival Mother. + Numb. 104. A Letter on Riding-Habits for + Ladies. + Numb. 141. Remarks on a Comedy, intitled + the Lancashire-Witches. + + Vol. III. Numb. 210. On the immortality of the + Soul. + Numb. 220. A Letter concerning expedients + for Wit. + Numb. 230. All, except the last Letter. + Numb. 231. A Letter on the awe of appearing + before public assemblies. + Numb. 237. On Divine Providence. + + Vol. IV. Numb. 252. A Letter on the Eloquence of + Tears, and fainting fits. + Numb. 302. The Character of Emilia. + Numb. 311. A Letter from the Father of + a great Fortune. + + Vol. V. Numb. 57. A Picture of Virtue in Distress. + Vol. VII. Numb. 525. On Conjugal Love. + Numb. 537. On the Dignity of Human + Nature. + Numb. 541. Rules for Pronunciation and + Action, chiefly collected from Cicero. + +Vol. VII. Numb. 554. On the Improvement of the Genius, illustrated +in the characters of Lord Bacon, Mr. Boyle, Sir Isaac Newton, and +Leonardo da Vinci.--We have not been able to learn, what papers in +the Guardian were written by him, besides Number 37, Vol. I. which +contains Remarks on the Tragedy of Othello. + +In the year 1715 Mr. Hughes published a very accurate edition of the +works of our famous poet Edmund Spenser, in six volumes, 12mo. to +this edition are prefixed the Life of Spenser; an Essay on Allegorical +poetry; Remarks on the Fairy Queen; on the Shepherd's Calendar, and +other writings of Spenser; and a Glossary explaining the Old and +obsolete Words. + +In 1718 he published a piece called Charon, or The Ferry-Boat, a +Vision. This, and Mr. Walsh's Æsculapius, or Hospital of Fools, are +perhaps two of the finest dialogues we have in English, as well as the +most lively imitations of Lucian. + +Sir Richard Steele, in a paper called The Theatre, No. 15. has paid a +tribute to the memory of Mr. Hughes, with which as it illustrates his +amiable character, we shall conclude his life. + +'I last night (says he) saw the Siege of Damascus, and had the +mortification to hear this evening that Mr. Hughes, the author of it, +departed this life within some few hours after his play was acted, +with universal applause. This melancholy circumstance recalled into +my thought a speech in the tragedy, which very much affected the +whole audience, and was attended to with the greatest, and most solemn +instance of approbation, and awful silence.' The incidents of the +play plunge a heroic character into the last extremity; and he is +admonished by a tyrant commander to expect no mercy, unless he changes +the Christian religion for the Mahometan. The words with which the +Turkish general makes his exit from his prisoner are, + + Farewel, and think of death. + +Upon which the captive breaks into the following soliloquy, + + Farewel! and think of death!--was it not so? + Do murtherers then, preach morality? + But how to think of what the living know not, + And the dead cannot, or else may not tell! + What art thou? O thou great mysterious terror! + The way to thee, we know; diseases, famine, + Sword, fire, and all thy ever open gates, + That day and night stand ready to receive us. + But what, beyond them? who will draw that veil? + Yet death's not there.----No, 'tis a point of time; + The verge 'twixt mortal, and immortal Being. + It mocks our thought----On this side all is life; + And when we've reach'd it, in that very instant, + 'Tis past the thinking of----O if it be + The pangs, the throes, the agonizing struggle, + When soul and body part, sure I have felt it! + And there's no more to fear. + +'The gentleman (continues Sir Richard) to whose memory I devote this +paper, may be the emulation of more persons of different talents, +than any one I have ever known. His head, hand, or heart, was always +employed in something worthy imitation; his pencil, his bow (string) +or his pen, each of which he used in a masterly manner, were always +directed to raise, and entertain his own mind, or that of others, to a +more chearful prosecution of what is noble and virtuous. Peace be with +thy remains, thou amiable spirit! but I talk in the language of our +weakness, that is flown to the regions of immortality, and relieved +from the aking engine and painful instrument of anguish and sorrow, +in which for many tedious years he panted with a lively hope for his +present condition.' We shall consign the trunk, in which he was so +long imprisoned, to common earth, with all that is due to the merit of +its inhabitant[A]. + +[Footnote A: There are several copies of verses written to the memory +of Mr. Hughes, prefixed to Mr. Duncomb's edition of his poems, of +which one by a lady who has withheld her name, deserves particular +distinction.] + + * * * * * + + + + +MATTHEW PRIOR, Esq; + + +This celebrated poet was the son of Mr. George Prior, citizen of +London, who was by profession a Joiner. Our author was born in 1664. +His father dying when he was very young, left him to the care of an +uncle, a Vintner near Charing-Cross, who discharged the trust that was +reposed in him, with a tenderness truly paternal, as Mr. Prior always +acknowledged with the highest professions of gratitude. He received +part of his education at Westminster school, where he distinguished +himself to great advantage, but was afterwards taken home by his +uncle in order to be bred up to his trade. Notwithstanding this mean +employment, to which Mr. Prior seemed now doomed, yet at his leisure +hours he prosecuted his study of the classics, and especially his +favourite Horace, by which means he was soon taken notice of, by the +polite company, who resorted to his uncle's house. It happened one +day, that the earl of Dorset being at his Tavern, which he often +frequented with several gentlemen of rank, the discourse turned upon +the Odes of Horace; and the company being divided in their sentiments +about a passage in that poet, one of the gentlemen said, I find we are +not like to agree in our criticisms, but, if I am not mistaken, there +is a young fellow in the house, who is able to set us all right: upon +which he named Prior, who was immediately sent for, and desired to +give his opinion of Horace's meaning in the Ode under consideration; +this he did with great modesty, and so much to the satisfaction of +the company, that the earl of Dorset, from that moment, determined to +remove him from the station in which he was, to one more suited to his +genius; and accordingly procured him to be sent to St. John's College +in Cambridge, where he took his degree in 1686, and afterwards became +fellow of the College. + +During his residence in the university, he contracted an intimate +friendship with Charles Montague, esq; afterwards earl of Hallifax, +in conjunction with whom he wrote a very humorous piece, entitled The +Hind and Panther transversed to the story of the Country Mouse, and +the City Mouse, printed 1687 in 4to. in answer to Mr. Dryden's Hind +and the Panther, published the year before. + +Upon the revolution Mr. Prior was brought to court by his great patron +the earl of Dorset, by whose interest he was introduced to public +employment, and in the year 1690 was made secretary to the earl +of Berkley, plenipotentiary to King William and Queen Mary at the +Congress at the Hague. + +In this station he acquitted himself so well, that he was afterwards +appointed secretary to the earls of Pembroke, and Jersey, and Sir +Joseph Williamson, ambassadors, and plenipotentiaries, at the treaty +of Ryswick 1697, as he was likewise in 1698 to the earl of Portland, +ambassador to the court of France. While he was in that kingdom, one +of the officers of the French King's houshold, shewing him the royal +apartments, and curiosities at Versailles, especially the paintings of +Le Brun, wherein the victories of Lewis XIV. are described, asked him, +whether King William's actions are to be seen in his palace? 'No Sir, +replied Mr. Prior, the monuments of my master's actions are to be seen +every where, but in his own house.' + +In the year 1697 Mr. Prior was made secretary of state for Ireland, +and in 1700 was created master of arts by Mandamus, and appointed +one of the lords commissioners of trade and plantations, upon the +resignation of Mr. Locke. He was also Member of Parliament for +East-Grimstead in Sussex. In 1710 he was supposed to have had a share +in writing the Examiner, and particularly a Criticism in it upon a +Poem of Dr. Garth to the earl of Godolphin, taken notice of in the +life of Garth. + +About this time, when Godolphin was defeated by Oxford, and the Tories +who had long been eclipsed by the lustre of Marlborough, began again +to hold up their heads, Mr. Prior and Dr. Garth espoused opposite +interests; Mr. Prior wrote for, and Garth against the court. The Dr. +was so far honest, that he did not desert his patron in distress; and +notwithstanding the cloud which then hung upon the party, he addressed +verses to him, which, however they may fail in the poetry, bear strong +the marks of gratitude, and honour. + +While Mr. Prior was thus very early initiated in public business, and +continued in the hurry of affairs for many years, it must appear not +a little surprizing, that he should find sufficient opportunities to +cultivate his poetical talents, to the amazing heights he raised them. +In his preface to his poems, he says, that poetry was only the product +of his leisure hours; that he had commonly business enough upon his +hands, and, as he modestly adds, was only a poet by accident; but we +must take the liberty of differing from him in the last particular, +for Mr. Prior seems to have received from the muses, at his nativity, +all the graces they could well bestow on their greatest favourite. + +We must not omit one instance in Mr. Prior's conduct, which will +appear very remarkable: he was chosen a member of that Parliament +which impeached the Partition Treaty, to which he himself had been +secretary; and though his share in that transaction was consequently +very considerable, yet he joined in the impeachment upon an honest +principle of conviction, that exceptionable measures attended it. + +The lord Bolingbroke, who, notwithstanding many exceptions made both +to his conduct, and sentiments in other instances, yet must be allowed +to be an accomplished judge of fine talents, entertained the highest +esteem for Mr. Prior, on account of his shining abilities. This noble +lord, in a letter dated September 10, 1712, addressed to Mr. Prior, +while he was the Queen's minister, and plenipotentiary at the court of +France, pays him the following compliment; 'For God's sake, Matt. hide +the nakedness of thy country, and give the best turn thy fertile brain +will furnish thee with, to the blunders of thy countrymen, who are not +much better politicians, than the French are poets.' His lordship thus +concludes his epistle; 'It is near three o'clock in the morning, I +have been hard at work all day, and am not yet enough recovered to +bear much fatigue; excuse therefore the confusedness of this scroll, +which is only from Harry to Matt, and not from the secretary to the +minister. Adieu, my pen is ready to drop out of my hand, it being now +three o'clock in the morning; believe that no man loves you better, or +is more faithfully yours, &c. + +'BOLINGBROKE.' + +There are several other letters from Bolingbroke to Prior, which, were +it necessary, we might insert as evidences of his esteem for him; but +Mr. Prior was in every respect so great a man, that the esteem even of +lord Bolingbroke cannot add much to the lustre of his reputation, +both as a statesman, and a poet. Mr. Prior is represented by those who +knew, and have wrote concerning him, as a gentleman, who united the +elegance and politeness of a court, with the scholar, and the man of +genius. This representation, in general, may be just, yet it holds +almost invariably true, that they who have risen from low life, still +retain some traces of their original. No cultivation, no genius, it +seems, is able entirely to surmount this: There was one particular in +which Mr. Prior verified the old proverb. + +The same woman who could charm the waiter in a tavern, still +maintained her dominion over the embassador at France. The Chloe of +Prior, it seems, was a woman in this station of life; but he never +forsook her in the heighth of his reputation. Hence we may observe, +that associations with women are the most lasting of all, and +that when an eminent station raises a man above many other acts of +condescension, a mistress will maintain her influence, charm away the +pride of greatness, and make the hero who fights, and the patriot +who speaks, for the liberty of his country, a slave to her. One would +imagine however, that this woman, who was a Butcher's wife, must +either have been very handsome, or have had something about her +superior to people of her rank: but it seems the case was otherwise, +and no better reason can be given for Mr. Prior's attachment to her, +but that she was his taste. Her husband suffered their intrigue to go +on unmolested; for he was proud even of such a connexion as this, with +so great a man as Prior; a singular instance of good nature. + +In the year 1715 Mr. Prior was recalled from France, and upon his +arrival was taken up by a warrant from the House of Commons; shortly +after which, he underwent a very strict examination by a Committee of +the Privy Council. His political friend, lord Bolingbroke, foreseeing +a storm, took shelter in France, and secured Harry, but left poor +Matt. in the lurch. + +On the 10th of June Robert Walpole, esq; moved the House against +him, and on the 17th Mr. Prior was ordered into close custody, and no +person was admitted to see him without leave from the Speaker. For +the particulars of this procedure of the Parliament, both against Mr. +Prior, and many others concerned in the public transactions of the +preceding reign, we refer to the histories of that time. In the year +1717 an Act of Grace was passed in favour of those who had opposed +the Hanoverian succession, as well as those who had been in open +rebellion, but Mr. Prior was excepted out of it. At the close of this +year, however, he was discharged from his confinement, and retired to +spend the residue of his days at Downhall in Essex. + +The severe usage which Mr. Prior met with, perhaps was the occasion of +the following beautiful lines, addressed to his Chloe; + + From public noise, and factious strife, + From all the busy ills of life, + Take me, my Chloe, to thy breast; + And lull my wearied soul to rest: + For ever, in this humble cell, + Let thee and I, my fair one, dwell; + None enter else, but Love----and he + Shall bar the door, and keep the key. + + To painted roofs, and shining spires + (Uneasy feats of high desires) + Let the unthinking many croud, + That dare be covetous, and proud; + In golden bondage let them wait, + And barter happiness for state: + But oh! my Chloe when thy swain + Desires to see a court again; + May Heav'n around his destin'd head + The choicest of his curses shed, + To sum up all the rage of fate. + In the two things I dread, and hate, + May'st thou be false, and I be great. + +In July 1721, within two months of his death, Mr. Prior published the +following beautiful little tale on the falshood of mankind, entitled +The Conversation, and applied it to the truth, honour, and justice of +his grace the duke of Dorset. + + The CONVERSATION. A Tale. + + + It always has been thought discreet + To know the company you meet; + And sure, there may be secret danger + In talking much before a stranger. + Agreed: what then? then drink your ale; + I'll pledge you, and repeat my tale. + + No matter where the scene is fix'd, + The persons were but odly mix'd, + When sober Damon thus began: + (And Damon is a clever man) + + I now grow old; but still from youth, + Have held for modesty and truth, + The men, who by these sea-marks steer, + In life's great voyage, never err; + Upon this point I dare defy + The world; I pause for a reply. + + Sir, either is a good assistant, + Said one, who sat a little distant: + Truth decks our speeches, and our books, + And modesty adorns our looks: + But farther progress we must take; + Not only born to look and speak, + The man must act. The Stagyrite + Says thus, and says extremely right; + Strict justice is the sovereign guide, + That o'er our actions should preside; + This queen of virtue is confess'd + To regulate and bind the rest. + Thrice happy, if you can but find + Her equal balance poise your mind: + All diff'rent graces soon will enter, + Like lines concurrent to their center. + + 'Twas thus, in short, these two went on, + With yea and nay, and pro and con, + Thro' many points divinely dark, + And Waterland assaulting Clarke; + 'Till, in theology half lost, + Damon took up the Evening-Post; + Confounded Spain, compos'd the North, + And deep in politics held forth. + + Methinks, we're in the like condition, + As at the treaty of partition; + That stroke, for all King William's care, + Begat another tedious war. + Matthew, who knew the whole intrigue, + Ne'er much approv'd that mystic league; + In the vile Utrecht treaty too, + Poor man! he found enough to do. + Sometimes to me he did apply; + But downright Dunstable was I, + And told him where they were mistaken, + And counsell'd him to save his bacon: + But (pass his politics and prose) + I never herded with his foes; + Nay, in his verses, as a friend, + I still found something to commend. + Sir, I excus'd his Nut-brown maid; + Whate'er severer critics said: + Too far, I own, the girl was try'd: + The women all were on my side. + For Alma I return'd him thanks, + I lik'd her with her little pranks; + Indeed, poor Solomon, in rhime, + Was much too grave to be sublime. + Pindar and Damon scorn transition, + So on he ran a new division; + 'Till, out of breath, he turn'd to spit: + (Chance often helps us more than wit) + T'other that lucky moment took, + Just nick'd the time, broke in, and spoke. + + Of all the gifts the gods afford + (If we may take old Tully's word) + The greatest is a friend, whose love + Knows how to praise, and when reprove; + From such a treasure never part, + But hang the jewel on your heart: + And pray, sir (it delights me) tell; + You know this author mighty well-- + Know him! d'ye question it? ods fish! + Sir, does a beggar know his dish? + I lov'd him, as I told you, I + Advis'd him--here a stander-by + Twitch'd Damon gently by the cloke, + And thus unwilling silence broke: + Damon, 'tis time we should retire, + The man you talk with is Matt. Prior. + + Patron, thro' life, and from thy birth my friend, + Dorset, to thee this fable let me send: + With Damon's lightness weigh thy solid worth; + The foil is known to set the diamond forth: + Let the feign'd tale this real moral give, + How many Damons, how few Dorsets live! + +Mr. Prior, after the fatigue of a length of years past in various +services of action, was desirous of spending the remainder of his days +in rural tranquility, which the greatest men of all ages have been +fond of enjoying: he was so happy as to succeed in his wish, living a +very retired, and contemplative life, at Downhall in Essex, and found, +as he expressed himself, a more solid, and innocent satisfaction among +woods, and meadows, than he had enjoyed in the hurry, and tumults +of the world, the courts of Princes, or the conducting foreign +negotiations; and where as he melodiously sings, + + The remnant of his days he safely past, + Nor found they lagg'd too slow, nor flew too fast; + He made his wish with his estate comply, + Joyful to live, yet not afraid to die. + +This great man died on the 18th of September, 1721, at Wimple in +Cambridgshire, the seat of the earl of Oxford, with whose friendship +he had been honoured for some years. The death of so distinguished a +person was justly esteemed an irreparable loss to the polite world, +and his memory will be ever dear to those, who have any relish for the +muses in their softer charms. Some of the latter part of his life was +employed in collecting materials for an History of the Transactions of +his own Times, but his death unfortunately deprived the world of what +the touches of so masterly a hand, would have made exceeding valuable. + +Mr. Prior, by the suffrage of all men of taste, holds the first rank +in poetry, for the delicacy of his numbers, the wittiness of his +turns, the acuteness of his remarks, and, in one performance, for the +amazing force of his sentiments. The stile of our author is likewise +so pure, that our language knows no higher authority, and there is an +air of original in his minutest performances. + +It would be superfluous to give any detail of his poems, they are in +the hands of all who love poetry, and have been as often admired, as +read. The performance however, for which he is most distinguished, is +his Solomon; a Poem in three Books, the first on Knowledge, the second +on Pleasure, and the third on Power. We know few poems to which this +is second, and it justly established his reputation as one of the best +writers of his age. + +This sublime work begins thus, + + Ye sons of men, with just regard attend, + Observe the preacher, and believe the friend, + Whose serious muse inspires him to explain, + That all we act, and all we think is vain: + That in this pilgrimage of seventy years, + O'er rocks of perils, and thro' vales of tears + Destin'd to march, our doubtful steps we tend, + Tir'd of the toil, yet fearful of its end: + That from the womb, we take our fatal shares, + Of follies, fashions, labours, tumults, cares; + And at approach of death shall only know, + The truths which from these pensive numbers flow, + That we pursue false joy, and suffer real woe. + +After an enquiry into, and an excellent description of the various +operations, and effects of nature, the system of the heavens, &c. and +not being fully informed of them, the first Book concludes, + + How narrow limits were to wisdom given? + Earth she surveys; she thence would measure Heav'n: + Thro' mists obscure, now wings her tedious way; + Now wanders dazl'd, with too bright a day; + And from the summit of a pathless coast + Sees infinite, and in that sight is lost. + +In the second Book the uncertainty, disappointment, and vexation +attending pleasure in general, are admirably described; and in the +character of Solomon is sufficiently shewn, that nothing debases +majesty, or indeed any man, more than ungovernable passion. + + When thus the gath'ring storms of wretched love + In my swoln bosom, with long war had strove; + At length they broke their bounds; at length their force + Bore down whatever met its stronger course: + Laid all the civil bounds of manhood waste. + And scatter'd ruin, as the torrent past. + +The third Book treats particularly of the trouble and instability +of greatness and power, considers man through the several stages and +conditions of life, and has excellent reasoning upon life and death. +On the last are these lines; + + Cure of the miser's wish, and cowards fear, + Death only shews us, what we knew was near. + With courage therefore view the 'pointed hour; + Dread not death's anger, but expect its power; + Nor nature's laws, with fruitless sorrow mourn; + But die, O mortal man! for thou wast born. + +The poet has likewise these similies on life; + + As smoke that rises from the kindling fires + Is seen this moment, and the next expires: + As empty clouds by rising winds are tost, + Their fleeting forms no sooner found than lost: + So vanishes our state; so pass our days; + So life but opens now, and now decays; + The cradle, and the tomb, alas! so nigh; + To live is scarce distinguished from to die. + +We shall conclude this account of Mr. Prior's life with the following +copy of verses, written on his Death by Robert Ingram, esq; which is a +very successful imitation of Mr. Prior's manner. + + 1. + + Mat. Prior!--(and we must submit) + Is at his journey's end; + In whom the world has lost a wit, + And I, what's more, a friend. + + 2. + + Who vainly hopes long here to stay, + May see with weeping eyes; + Not only nature posts away, + But e'en good nature dies! + 3. + + Should grave ones count these praises light, + To such it may be said: + A man, in this lamented wight, + Of business too is dead. + + 4. + + From ancestors, as might a fool! + He trac'd no high-fetch'd stem; + But gloriously revers'd the rule, + By dignifying them. + + 5. + + O! gentle Cambridge! sadly say, + Why fates are so unkind + To snatch thy giant sons away, + Whilst pigmies stay behind? + + 6. + + Horace and he were call'd, in haste, + From this vile earth to heav'n; + The cruel year not fully past, + Ætatis, fifty seven. + + 7. + + So, on the tops of Lebanon, + Tall cedars felt the sword, + To grace, by care of Solomon, + The temple of the Lord. + + 8. + + A tomb amidst the learned may + The western abbey give! + Like theirs, his ashes must decay, + Like theirs, his fame shall live. + 9. + + Close, carver, by some well cut books, + Let a thin busto tell, + In spite of plump and pamper'd looks, + How scantly sense can dwell! + + 10. + + No epitaph of tedious length + Should overcharge the stone; + Since loftiest verse would lose its strength, + In mentioning his own. + + 11. + + At once! and not verbosely tame, + Some brave Laconic pen + Should smartly touch his ample name, + In form of--O rare Ben! + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. SUSANNA CENTLIVRE, + + +This lady was daughter of one Mr. Freeman, of Holbeack in +Lincolnshire. There was formerly an estate in the family of her +father, but being a Dissenter, and a zealous parliamentarian, he was +so very much persecuted at the restoration, that he was laid under a +necessity to fly into Ireland, and his estate was confiscated; nor was +the family of our authoress's mother free from the severity of those +times, they being likewise parliamentarians. Her education was in the +country, and her father dying when she was but three years of age, +and her mother not living 'till she was twelve, the improvements our +poetess made were merely by her own industry and application. She was +married before the age of fifteen, to a nephew of Sir Stephen Fox. +This gentleman living with her but a year, she afterwards married Mr. +Carrol, an officer in the army, and survived him likewise in the space +of a year and a half. She afterwards married Mr. Joseph Centlivre, +yeoman of the mouth to his late Majesty. She gave early discoveries of +a genius for poetry, and Mr. Jacob in his Lives of the Poets tells us, +that she composed a song before she was seven years old. She is +the author of fifteen plays; her talent is comedy, particularly the +contrivance of the plots, and incidents. Sir Richard Steele, in one of +his Tatlers, speaking of the Busy Body, thus recommends it. 'The plot, +and incidents of the play, are laid with that subtilty, and spirit, +which is peculiar to females of wit, and is very seldom well performed +by those of the other sex, in whom craft in love is an act of +invention, and not as with women, the effect of nature, and instinct'. + +She died December 1, 1723; the author of the Political State thus +characterizes her. 'Mrs. Centlivre, from a mean parentage and +education, after several gay adventures (over which we shall draw +a veil) she had, at last, so well improved her natural genius by +reading, and good conversation, as to attempt to write for the stage, +in which sh had as good success as any of her sex before her. Her +first dramatic performance was a Tragi-Comedy, called The Perjured +Husband, but the plays which gained her most reputation were, two +Comedies, the Gamester, and the Busy Body. She wrote also several +copies of verses on divers subjects, and occasions, and many ingenious +letters, entitled Letters of Wit, Politics, and Morality, which I +collected, and published about 21 years ago[A].' + +Her dramatic works are, + +1. The Perjured Husband, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1702, +dedicated to the late Duke of Bedford. Scene Venice. + +2. The Beau's Duel, or a Soldier for the Ladies, a Comedy; acted at +the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1703; a Criticism was written +upon this play in the Post-Angel for August. 3. The Stolen Heiress, or +The Salamancha Doctor Out-plotted; a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincolns-Inn-Fields 1704. The scene Palermo. + +4. The Gamester, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields +1704, dedicated to George Earl of Huntingdon. This play is an improved +translation of one of the same title in French. The prologue was +written by Mr. Rowe. + +5. The Basset Table, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane, dedicated to Arthur Lord Altham, 4to. 1706. + +6. Love's Contrivance, or Le Medicin Malgre lui; a Comedy; acted +at Drury-Lane 1705, dedicated to the Earl of Dorset. This is a +translation from Moliere. + +7. Love at a Venture, a Comedy; acted at Bath, 4to. 1706, dedicated to +the Duke of Beaufort. + +8. The Busy Body, acted at the Theatre-Royal 1708, dedicated to Lord +Somers. This play was acted with very great applause. + +9. Marplot, or the Second Part of the Busy Body; acted at the +Theatre-Royal 1709, dedicated to the Earl of Portland. + +10. The Perplex'd Lovers, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1710, +dedicated to Sir Henry Furnace. + +11. The Platonic Lady, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1711. 12. +The Man's Bewitch'd, or The Devil to do about Her; a Comedy; acted +at the Theatre in the Haymarket 1712, dedicated to the Duke of +Devonshire. + +13. The Wonder, a Woman keeps a Secret, a Comedy; acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This play was acted with success. + +14. The Cruel Gift, or The Royal Resentment; a Tragedy; acted at the +Theatre-Royal 1716, for the story of this play consult Sigismonda and +Guiscarda, a Novel of Boccace. + +15. A Bold Stroke for a Wife, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1717, dedicated to the Duke of Wharton. Besides +these plays Mrs. Centlivre has written three Farces; Bickerstaff's +Burying, or Work for the Upholders. The Gotham Election. A Wife well +Managed. + + +[Footnote A: See Bayer's Political State, vol. xxvi. p.670.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Dr. NICHOLAS BRADY, + + +This revd. gentleman was son of Nicholas Brady, an officer in the +King's army, in the rebellion 1641, being lineally descended from Hugh +Brady, the first Protestant bishop of Mieath[A]. He was born at Bandon +in the county of Cork, on the 28th of October 1659, and educated +in that county till he was 12 years of age, when he was removed +to Westminster school, and from thence elected student of Christ's +Church, Oxford. After continuing there about four years, he went to +Dublin, where his father resided, at which university he immediately +commenced bachelor of arts. When he was of due standing, his Diploma +for the degree of doctor of divinity was, on account of his uncommon +merit, presented to him from that university, while he was in +England, and brought over by Dr. Pratt, then senior travelling-fellow, +afterwards provost of that college. His first ecclesiastical +preferment was to a prebend, in the Cathedral of St. Barry's in the +city of Cork, to which he was collared by bishop Wettenhal, to whom +he was domestic chaplain. He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, +and suffered for it in consequence of his zeal. In 1690, when the +troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with King James's +general, Mac Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of Bandon town, +after three several orders given by that Prince to destroy it. The +same year, having been deputed by the people of Bandon, he went +over to England to petition the Parliament, for a redress of some +grievances they had suffered, while King James was in Ireland. During +his stay here, and to the time of his death, he was in the highest +esteem among all ranks of persons in this kingdom, for his eminent +attachment to the true interest of his country. Having quitted +his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London, where he, being +celebrated for his abilities in the pulpit, was elected minister of +St. Catherine-Cree Church, and lecturer of St. Michael's Woodstreet. +He afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry, and Stratford upon +Avon in Warwickshire, and at length, rector of Clapham in the county +above-mentioned; which last, together with Richmond, he held to the +time of his death. He was also chaplain to the duke of Ormond's troop +of Horse-guards, as he was to their Majesties King William, and Queen +Anne. He died on the 20th of May 1726, in the 67th year of his age, +leaving behind him the reputation of a good man; he was of a most +obliging, sweet, affable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent +preacher, and no inconsiderable poet. + +His compositions in poetry are chiefly these, + +1. A New Version of the Psalms of David, performed by him, in +conjunction with Mr. Tate, soon after he settled in London; now sung +in most churches of England, and Ireland, instead of that obsolete +and ridiculous Version made by Sternhold, and Hopkins, in the reign of +King Edward VI. As the 104th Psalm is esteemed one of the most sublime +in the whole book, we shall present the reader with the two first +Parts of his Version of that Psalm as a specimen. There have not been +less than forty different Versions, and Paraphrases of this Psalm, by +poets of very considerable eminence, who seem to have vied with one +another for the superiority. Of all these attempts, if we may trust +our own judgment, none have succeeded so happily as Mr. Blackclock, a +young gentleman now resident at Dumfries in Scotland. This Paraphrase +is the more extraordinary, as the author of it has been blind from +his cradle, and now labours under that calamity; it carries in it such +elevated strains of poetry, such picturesque descriptions, and such a +mellifluent flow of numbers, that we are persuaded, the reader cannot +be displeased at finding it inserted here. + +Dr. Brady also translated the Æneid of Virgil, which were published +by subscription in four volumes octavo, the last of which came out in +1726, a little before the author's death. + +He also published in his life-time three Volumes of Sermons in 8vo. +each consisting of 14, all printed in London; the first in 1704, the +second in 1706, and the third in 1713. After the Dr's. death, his +eldest son, who is now a clergyman, published three other Volumes of +his father's Sermons, each also consisting of 14, printed in London +1730, 8vo. Amongst his sermons there is one preached on St. Cecilia's +day, in vindication of Church-music, first printed in 1697, in 4to. + + PSALM CIV. + + + 1. Bless God my soul; thou, Lord alone, + Possessest empire without bounds: + With honour thou art crown'd, thy throne + Eternal Majesty surrounds. + 2. With light thou dost thy self enrobe, + And glory for a garment take; + Heav'n's curtain stretch'd beyond the globe, + The canopy of state to make. + + 3. God builds on liquid air, and forms + His palace-chambers in the skies: + The clouds his chariots are, and storms + The swift-wing'd steeds with which he flies. + 4. As bright as flame, as swift as wind + His ministers Heav'ns palace fill; + To have their sundry tasks assign'd, + All proud to serve their Sovereign's will. + + 5., 6. Earth on her center fix'd he set, + Her face with waters over spread; + Not proudest mountains dar'd as yet + To lift above the waves their head! + 7. But when thy awful face appear'd, + Th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled + When once thy thunder's voice they heard, + And by their haste confess'd their dread. + + 8. Thence up by secret tracts they creep, + And gushing from the mountain's side, + Thro' vallies travel to the deep; + Appointed to receive their tide. + 9. There hast thou fix'd the ocean's mounds, + The threat'ning surges to repel: + That they no more o'erpass their bounds, + Nor to a second deluge swell. + PART II. + + 10. Yet, thence in smaller parties drawn, + The sea recovers her lost hills: + And starting springs from every lawn, + Surprize the vales with plenteous rills. + 11. The fields tame beasts are thither led + Weary with labour, faint with drought, + And asses on wild mountains bred, + Have sense to find these currents out. + + 12. There shady trees from scorching beams, + Yield shelter to the feather'd throng: + They drink, and to the bounteous streams + Return the tribute of their song. + 13. His rains from heav'n parch'd hills recruit, + That soon transmit the liquid store: + 'Till earth is burthen'd with her fruit, + And nature's lap can hold no more. + + 14. Grass for our cattle to devour, + He makes the growth of every field: + Herbs, for man's use, of various pow'r, + That either food or physic yield. + 15. With cluster'd grapes he crowns the vine + To cheer man's heart oppress'd with cares: + Gives oil that makes his face to shine. + And corn that wasted strength repairs. + + PSALM CIV. imitated by THOMAS BLACKCLOCK. + + Arise my soul! on wings seraphic rise! + And praise th' Almighty sov'reign of the skies! + In whom alone essential glory shines, + Which not the Heav'n of Heav'ns, nor boundless space confines! + When darkness rul'd with universal sway, + He spoke, and kindled up the blaze of day; + First fairest offspring of th' omnific word! + Which like a garment cloath'd it's sovereign lord. + He stretch'd the blue expanse, from pole to pole, + And spread circumfluent æther round the whole. + Of liquid air he bad the columns rise, + Which prop the starry concave of the skies. + Soon as he bids, impetuous whirlwinds fly, + To bear his sounding chariot thro' the sky: + Impetuous whirlwinds the command obey, + Sustain his flight, and sweep th' aerial way. + Fraught with his mandates from the realms on high, + Unnumber'd hosts of radiant heralds fly; + From orb to orb, with progress unconfin'd, + As lightn'ing swift, resistless as the wind. + His word in air this pondr'ous ball sustain'd. + "Be fixt, he said."--And fix'd the ball remain'd. + Heav'n, air, and sea, tho' all their stores combine. + Shake not its base, nor break the law divine. + At thy almighty voice, old ocean raves, + Wakes all his force, and gathers all his waves; + Nature lies mantled in a watry robe, + And shoreless ocean roils around the globe; + O'er highest hills, the higher surges rise, + Mix with the clouds, and leave the vaulted skies. + But when in thunder, the rebuke was giv'n, + That shook th' eternal firmament of heav'n, + The dread rebuke, the frighted waves obey, + They fled, confus'd, along th' appointed way, + Impetuous rushing to the place decreed, + Climb the steep hill, and sweep the humble mead: + And now reluctant in their bounds subside; + Th' eternal bounds restrain the raging tide: + Yet still tumultuous with incessant roar, + It shakes the caverns, and assaults the shore. + By him, from mountains, cloth'd in livid snow, + Thro' verdant vales, the mazy fountains flow. + Here the wild horse, unconscious of the rein, + That revels boundless, o'er the wide champaign, + Imbibes the silver stream, with heat opprest + To cool the fervour of his glowing breast. + Here verdant boughs adorn'd with summer's pride, + Spread their broad shadows o'er the silver tide: + While, gently perching on the leafy spray, + Each feather'd songster tunes his various lay: + And while thy praise, they symphonize around, + Creation ecchoes to the grateful sound. + Wide o'er the heav'ns the various bow he bends. + Its tincture brightens, and its arch extends: + At the glad sign, aërial conduits flow, + The hills relent, the meads rejoice below: + By genial fervour, and prolific rain, + Gay vegetation cloaths the fertile plain; + Nature profusely good, with bliss o'er-flows, + And still she's pregnant, tho' she still bestows: + Here verdant pastures, far extended lie, + And yield the grazing herd a rich supply! + Luxuriant waving in the wanton air, + Here golden grain rewards the peasant's care! + Here vines mature, in purple clusters glow, + And heav'n above, diffuses heav'n below! + Erect and tall, here mountain cedars rise, + High o'er the clouds, and emulate the skies! + Here the winged crowds, that skim the air, + with artful toil, their little dams prepare, + Here, hatch their young, and nurse their rising care! + Up the steep-hill ascends the nimble doe, + While timid conies scour the plains below; + Or in the pendent rocks elude the scenting foe. + He bade the silver majesty of night, + Revolve her circle, and increase her light. + But if one moment thou thy face should'st hide, + Thy glory clouded, or thy smiles denied, + Then widow'd nature veils her mournful eyes, + And vents her grief, in universal cries! + Then gloomy death, with all his meagre train; + Wide o'er the nations spreads his iron reign! + Sea, earth, and air, the bounteous ravage mourn, + And all their hosts to native dust return! + Again thy glorious quickning influence shed, + The glad creation rears its drooping head: + New rising forms, thy potent smiles obey, + And life re-kindles at the genial ray; + United thanks replenish'd nature pays, + And heaven and earth resound their Maker's praise. + + When time shall in eternity be lost, + And hoary nature languish into dust, + Forever young, thy glories shall remain, + Vast as thy being, endless as thy reign! + Thou from the realms of everlasting day, + See'st all thy works, at one immense survey! + Pleas'd at one view, the whole to comprehend, + Part join'd to part, concurring to one end. + If thou to earth, but turn'st thy wrathful eyes, + Her basis trembles, and her offspring dies. + Thou smit'st the hills, and at th' almighty blow, + Their summits kindle, and their entrails glow. + While this immortal spark of heav'nly flame, + Distends my breast, and animates my frame, + To thee my ardent praises shall be born, + On the first breeze, that wakes the blushing morn: + The latest star shall hear the pleasing sound, + And nature, in full choir shall join around! + When full of thee, my soul excursive flies, + Thro' earth, air, ocean or thy regal skies, + From world, to world, new wonders still I find! + And all the Godhead bursts upon my mind! + When, wing'd with whirlwinds, vice shall take her flight, + To the wide bosom of eternal night, + To thee my soul shall endless praises pay; + Join! men and angels! join th' exalted day! + Assign'd a province to each rolling sphere, + And taught the sun to regulate the year. + At his command wide hov'ring o'er the plain, + Primæval night resumes her gloomy reign. + Then from their dens impatient of delay, + The savage monsters bend their speedy way, + Howl thro' the spacious waste and chase the frighted prey. + Here walks the shaggy monarch of the wood, + Taught from thy providence to ask his food: + To thee O Father! to thy bounteous skies, + He rears his main, and rolls his glaring eyes. + He roars, the desarts tremble wide around! + And repercusive hills repeat the sound. + Now purple gems, the eastern skies adorn, + And joyful nature hails th' opening morn; + The rovers conscious of approaching day, + Fly to their shelters, and forget their prey. + Laborious man, with moderate slumber blest, + Springs chearful to his toil, from downy rest; + Till grateful ev'ning with her silver train, + Bid labour cease, and ease the weary swain! + Hail, sovereign Goodness! All productive mind! + On all thy works, thyself inscribed we find! + How various all! how variously endow'd! + How great their number! and each part how good! + How perfect then must the great parent shine! + Who with one act of energy divine, + Laid the vast plan, and finish'd the design. + Where e'er the pleasing search my thoughts pursue, + Unbounded goodness opens to my view. + Nor does our world alone, its influence share; + Exhaustless bounty, and unwearied care, + Extend thro' all th' infinitude of space, + And circle nature with a kind embrace. + The wavy kingdoms of the deep below, + Thy power, thy wisdom, and thy goodness shew, + Here various beings without number stray, + Croud the profound, or on the surface play. + Leviathan here, the mightiest of the train, + Enormous! sails incumbent o'er the main. + All these thy watchful providence supplies; + To thee alone, they turn their waiting eyes. + For them thou open'st thy exhaustless store, + Till the capacious wish can grasp no more. + + +[Footnote A: Biograph. Brit. Art, Brady.] + + * * * * * + + + + +GEORGE STEPNEY, Esq; + + +This poet was descended of the family of the Stepneys of Pindigrast in +Pembrokeshire, but born in Westminster in the year 1693. He received +the rudiments of his education in Westminster school, and after making +some progress in literature there, he was removed to Trinity College +in Cambridge, where he was cotemporary with Charles Montague, esq; +afterwards earl of Halifax; and being of the same college with him, +a very strict friendship was contracted between them. To this lucky +accident of being early known to Mr. Montague, was owing all the +preferment Mr. Stepney afterwards enjoyed; for he seems not to have +had parts sufficient to have risen to any distinction, without the +immediate patronage of so great a man, as the lord Hallifax. When +Stepney first set out in life, he was perhaps attached to the Tory +interest, for one of the first poems he wrote, was an Address to +king James the Second, on his Accession to the Throne. In this little +piece, in which there is as little poetry, he compares that monarch to +Hercules, but with what propriety let the reader judge. Soon after +the accession of James II. when Monmouth's rebellion broke out, the +university of Cambridge, to demonstrate their zeal for the King, +thought proper to burn the picture of that rash Prince, who had +formerly been their chancellor. Upon this occasion Stepney wrote some +good verses, in answer to this question; + + ----Sed quid + Turba Remi? sequitur fortunam, ut semper + et odit damnatos. + +Upon the revolution he embraced another interest, and procured himself +to be nominated for several foreign embassies. In the year 1692 he +went to the elector of Brandenburgh's court in quality of envoy, and, +in the year following, to the Imperial court in the same character. In +1694 he was sent to the elector of Saxony, and two years after to the +electors of Mentz, Cologn, &c. and the congress at Francfort. He was +employed in several other embassies, and in the year 1706 Queen Anne +sent him envoy to the States General. He was very successful in his +negotiations, which occasioned his constant employment in the most +weighty affairs. At his leisure hours he composed several other pieces +of poetry besides those already mentioned; which are chiefly these, + + An Epistle to the Earl of Hallifax, on his Majesty's + Voyage to Holland. + + A Translation of the Eighth Satire of Juvenal. + + To the Earl of Carlisle upon the Death of his + Son. + + Some Imitations of Horace's Odes. + + The Austrian Eagle. + + The Nature of Dreams. + + A Poem to the Memory of Queen Mary. + +These performances are not very long, nor are the subjects upon +which they are written very considerable. It seems probable that the +eminence to which Stepney rose, must have been more owing to some +personal kindness lord Hallifax had for him, than to his merit as a +writer. In raising Stepney, his lordship might act as the friend +of the man, but not as a patron of the poet. Friendship, in many +respects, participates of the nature of love; it begins, we know +not how, it strengthens by imperceptible degrees, and grows into an +established firmness. Such might be the regard lord Hallifax had for +Stepney, but we may venture to assert, from his lordship's exquisite +taste in poetry, that he never could highly admire the pretty trifles +which compose the works of this author; and which are printed amongst +the works of the Minor Poets, published some years ago by Mr. Tonson +in two volumes 12mo.[A] + +Our author died at Chelsea in the year 1707, and was buried in +Westminster-Abbey, where a fine monument is erected over him, with the +following inscription upon the pedestal; + + H.S.E. + + GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger, + + viz. + + Ob Ingenii acumen, + Literarum Scientiam, + Morum Suavitatem, + Rerum Usum, + Virorum Amplissimorum Consuetudinem, + Linguæ, Styli ac Vitæ Elegantiam, + Praeclara Officia cum Britanniæ; tum Europæ Praestita, + Suâ ætate multum celebratus, + Apud Posteros semper celebrandus; + Plurimas Legationes obiit + Ea Fide, Diligentiâ, & Felicitate, + Ut Augustissimorum Principum + GULIELMI & ANNÆ + Spem in illo repositam + Nunquam sesellerit, + Haud raro superavit. + Post longum honorum Cursum + Brevi Temporis spatio confectum, + Cum Naturæ parvæ Fama satis vixerat, + Animam ad altiora aspirantem placide efflavit. + + On the left hand. + + G.S. + + Ex Equestri Familia STEPNEIORUM, + De PENDEGRAST, in Comitatu + PEMBROCHIENSI ORIENDUS, + WESTMONASTERII natus est, A.D. 1663. + Electus in Collegium + Sancti PETRI WESTMONAST. A, 1676. + Sanctæ TRINITATIS CANTAB. 1682. + Consiliariorum quibus Commercii + Cura commissa est 1697. + CHELSEIÆ mortuus, & Comitante + Magna Procerum + Frequentiâ huc elatus, 1707. + +On the right hand is a particular account of all his employments +abroad. + +As a specimen of Mr. Stepney's poetry, we shall quote the following +lines on the Nature of Dreams, + + At dead of night imperial reason sleeps, + And fancy with her train loose revels keeps: + Then airy phantoms a mixt scene display, + Of what we heard, or saw, or wish'd by day; + For memory those images retains + Which passion form'd, and still the strongest reigns, + Huntsmen renew the chase they lately run; + And generals fight again their battles won. + Spectres and furies haunt the murth'rers dreams; + Grants, or disgraces, are the courtiers themes. + The miser spies a thief, or some new hoard, + The cit's a knight, the sycophant a lord. + Thus fancy's in the wild distraction lost + With what we most abhor, or covet most. + But of all passions that our dreams controul, + Love prints the deepest image in the soul; + For vigorous fancy, and warm blood dispense + Pleasures so lively, that they rival sense. + Such are the transports of a willing maid, + Not yet by time and place to act betray'd. + Whom spies, or some faint virtue force to fly + That scene of joy, which yet she dies to try. + 'Till fancy bawds, and by mysterious charms + Brings the dear object to her longing arms; + Unguarded then she melts, acts fierce delight, + And curses the returns of envious light. + In such bless'd dreams Biblis enjoys a flame; + Which waking she detests, and dares not name. + Ixion gives a loose to his wild love, + And in his airy visions cuckolds Jove. + Honours and state before this phantom fall; + For sleep, like death its image, equals all. + +Our author likewise wrote some political pieces in prose, particularly +an Essay on the present Interest of England, 1701. To which are added, +The Proceedings of the House of Commons in 1677, upon the French +King's Progress in Flanders. This piece is reprinted in Cogan's +Collection of Tracts, called Lord Somers's Collection. + + +[Footnote A: And likewise of another work of the same kind, in two +volumes also, published by one Cogan.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Major RICHARDSON PACK, + + +This gentleman was the son of John Pack, of Stocke-Ash in Suffolk, +esq; who in the year 1697 was high sheriff of that county. He had +his early education at a private country school, and was removed from +thence to Merchant Taylor's, where he received his first taste of +letters; for he always reckoned that time which he spent at the former +school as lost, since he had only contracted bad habits, and was +obliged to unlearn what had been taught him there. + +At the age of sixteen he was removed to St. John's College in Oxford. +About eighteen his father entered him of the Middle Temple, designing +him for the profession of the Law; and by the peculiar indulgence +of the treasurer, and benchers of that honourable society, he was at +eight Terms standing admitted barrister, when he had not much exceeded +the age of 20. But a sedentary studious life agreeing as ill with his +health, as a formal one with his inclinations, he did not long +pursue those studies. After some wavering in his thoughts, he at last +determined his views to the army, as being better suited to the gaiety +of his temper, and the sprightliness of his genius, and where he hoped +to meet with more freedom, as well as more action. His first command +was that of a company of foot in March 1705. In November 1710 the +regiment in which he served was one of those two of English foot, that +were with the marshal Staremberg at the battle of Villa Viciosa, the +day after general Stanhope, and the troops under his command were +taken at Brighuega[A], where the major being killed, and our author's +behaviour being equal to the occasion on which he acted, his grace the +duke of Argyle confirmed his pretensions to that vacancy, by giving +him the commission of the deceased major, immediately on his arrival +in Spain. It was this accident which first introduced our gallant +soldier to the acquaintance of that truly noble and excellent person, +with whose protection and patronage he was honoured during the +remaining part of his life. + +The ambition he had to celebrate his grace's heroic virtues (at a +time when there subsisted a jealousy between him and the duke of +Marlborough, and it was fashionable by a certain party to traduce him) +gave birth to some of the best of his performances. + +What other pieces the major has written in verse, are, for the most +part, the unlaboured result of friendship, or love; and the amusement +of those few solitary intervals in a life that seldom wanted either +serious business, or social pleasures, of one kind or other, entirely +to fill up the circle. They are all published in one volume, together +with a translation of the Life of Miltiades and Cymon, from Cornelius +Nepos; the first edition was in 1725. + +The most considerable of them are the following, + + 1. The Muse's Choice, or the Progress of Wit. + + 2. On Friendship. To Colonel Stanhope. + + 3. To Mr. Addison, occasioned by the news of + the victory obtained over the Rebels in Scotland, + by his Grace the Duke of Argyle. + + 4. To Lady Catherine Manners. + + 5. The Lovers Parting. + + 6. The Retreat. + + 7. An Epistle from a Half-pay Officer in the + Country, to his Friend in Town. + + 8. Upon Religious Solitude; occasioned by + reading the Inscription on the Tomb of Casimir + King of Poland, who abdicated his Crown, and + spent the remainder of his life in the Abbey of + St. Germains, near Paris, where he lies interred. + + 9. A Pastoral in Imitation of Virgil's Second + Eclogue. + + 10. The 2d, 3d, and 4th Elegies of the Fourth + Book of Tibullus. + + 11. Elegy. Sylvia to Amintor, in Imitation of + Ovid. After Sylvia is enjoyed, she gives this Advice + to her sex. + + Trust not the slight defence of female pride. + Nor in your boasted honour much confide; + So still the motion, and so smooth the dart, + It steals unfelt into the heedless heart. + +A Prologue to the Tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, and an Epilogue +to Mr. Southern's Spartan Dame. In the former he has the following +beautiful lines on Ambition; + + Ambition is a mistress few enjoy! + False to our hopes, and to our wishes coy; + The bold she bafflles, and defeats the strong; + And all are ruined who pursue her long; + Yet so bewitching are her fatal charms, + We think it heav'n to die within her arms. + +Major Pack obliged the world with some Memoirs of the Life of Mr. +Wycherley, which are prefixed to Theobald's edition of that author. +Mr. Jacob mentions a piece of his which he saw in MS. entitled +Religion and Philosophy, which, says he, with his other works, +demonstrate the author to be a polite writer, and a man of wit and +gallantry. + +This amiable gentleman died at Aberdeen in Scotland, in the month of +September 1728, colonel Montague's regiment, in which he was then a +major, being quartered there. + + +[Footnote A: Vide Jacob's Lives.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir WILLIAM DAWES, Baronet (Archbishop of YORK,) + + +This revd. prelate was descended from an ancient, and honourable +family in the county of Essex; he was educated at Merchant-Taylor's +school, London, and from thence elected to St. John's College in +Oxford, of which he was afterwards fellow. + +He was the youngest of four brothers, three of whom dying young, the +title, and estate of the family fell to him. As soon as he had taken +his first degree in arts, and upon the family estate devolving to him, +he resigned his fellowship, and left Oxford. For some time he gave his +attention to the affairs of his estate, but finding his inclination +lead him more to study, than rural affairs, he entered into holy +orders. Sir William did not long remain in the church without +preferment; his fortune, and family assisted him to rise; for it often +happens that these advantages will do much more for a man, as well in +the ecclesiastical, as in other classes of life, than the brightest +parts without them. Before he was promoted to the mitre, he was made +master of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, chaplain to Queen Anne, and +dean of Bocking. + +In the year 1708 he was consecrated bishop of Chester, and in 1713 +was translated to the archbishopric of York. While he was at the +university, before he went into orders, he wrote the Anatomy of +Atheism, a Poem, dedicated to Sir George Darcy Bart. printed in the +year 1701, 8vo. + +The design of this piece, as his lordship declares in the preface, +'is to expose the folly of those men, who are arrived at that pitch of +impudence and prophaneness, that they think it a piece of wit to +deny the Being of a God, and to laugh at that which they cannot argue +against.' Such characters are well described in the following lines, + + See then our Atheist all the world oppose, + And like Drawcansir make all men his foes. + See with what fancy pride he does pretend, + His miser father's notions to amend, + Huffs Plutarch, Plato, Pliny, Seneca, + And bids even Cicero himself give way. + Tells all the world, they follow a false light, + And he alone, of all mankind is right. + Thus, like a madman, who when all alone, + Thinks himself King, and every chair a throne, + Drunk with conceit, and foolish impudence, + He prides himself in his abounding sense. + +This prelate is said to have united the gentleman, and the divine, +which both shone out with equal lustre in him. He was esteemed in his +time a very popular preacher; his piety was great, and conspicuous; +his charity and benevolence equalled by few, and his good nature, and +humanity the most extensive. + +Our author died in the 53d year of his age, April 30, 1724. We have +no account of any other of his grace's poetical works, probably the +business of his high station diverted his mind from the amusements of +poetry. + +The archbishop has written several sermons upon the Eternity of Hell +Torments, a doctrine which he has laboured to vindicate; also sermons +upon various other subjects. + + * * * * * + + + + +WILLIAM CONGREVE, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from the ancient house of Congreve in +Staffordshire, but authors differ as to the place of his birth; some +contend that he was born in Ireland[A], others that he drew his first +breath at the village of Bardsa, near Leeds in Yorkshire, which was +the estate of a near relation of his by his mother's side. Mr. Jacob, +in his preface to the Lives of the Poets, has informed us, that he +had the advice and assistance of Mr. Congreve in that work, who +communicated to him many particulars of the lives of cotemporary +writers, as well as of himself, and as Mr. Congreve can hardly be +thought ignorant of the place of his own birth, and Mr. Jacob has +asserted it to be in England, no room is left to doubt of it. The +learned antiquary of Ireland, Sir James Ware, has reckoned our author +amongst his own country worthies, from the relation of Southern; but +Mr. Congreve's own account, if Jacob may be relied on, is more than +equal to that of Southern, who possibly might be mistaken. + +About the year 1671, or 1672, our author was born, and his father +carried him, when a child, into Ireland, where he then had a command +in the army, but afterwards was entrusted with the management of a +considerable estate, belonging to the noble family of Burlington, +which fixed his residence there[B]. Mr. Congreve received the first +tincture of letters in the great school of Kilkenny, and, according +to common report, gave early proofs of a poetical genius; his first +attempt in poetry was a copy of verses on the death of his master's +Magpye. + +He went from the school of Kilkenny to the university of Dublin, where +under the direction of Dr. George Ash, he acquired a general knowledge +of the classics. His father, who was desirous that his studies should +be directed to a profitable employment, sent him over to England +a little after the revolution, and placed him as a student in the +Middle-Temple. But the severe study of the Law was so ill adapted to +the sprightly genius of Congreve, that he never attempted to reconcile +himself to a way of life, for which he had the greatest aversion. But +however he disappointed his friends with respect to the proficiency +they expected him to make in the Law; yet it is certain he was not +negligent in those studies to which his genius led him. + +Mr. Congreve's first performance, written when but a youth of +seventeen, was a Novel, dedicated to Mrs. Katherine Leveson, which +gave proof, not only of a great vivacity of wit, but also a fluency of +stile, and a solid judgment. He was conscious that young men in their +early productions generally aimed at a florid stile, and enthusiastic +descriptions, without any regard to the plot, fable, or subserviency +of the parts; for this reason he formed a new model, and gave an +example how works of that kind should be written. He pursued a regular +plan, observed a general moral, and carried on a connexion, as well as +distinction, between his characters. + +This performance is entitled Incognita, or Love and Duty Reconciled; +it has been asserted that this is a real history, and though the scene +is laid in Italy, the adventures happened in England; it is not our +business to enter into the secret history of this entertaining piece, +or to attempt giving the reader a key to what the writer took so much +pains to conceal. It appears from this piece, that Mr. Congreve aimed +at perfection from the very beginning, and his design in writing this +novel, was to shew, how novels ought to be written. Let us hear what +he says himself, and from thence we shall entertain a higher opinion +of his abilities, than could possibly be raised by the warmest +commendations. After very judiciously observing, that there is the +same relation between romances and novels as between tragedy and +comedy, he proceeds thus: 'Since all traditions must indisputably give +glace to the drama, and since there is no possibility of giving that +life to the writing, or repetition of a story, which it has in the +action; I resolved in another beauty to imitate dramatic writing, +namely, in the design, contexture, and result in the plot. I have +not observed it before in a novel. Some I have seen begin with an +unexpected accident which has been the only surprizing part of +the story, cause enough to make the sequel look flat, tedious, and +insipid; for 'tis but reasonable the reader should expect, if not to +rise, at least to keep upon a level in the entertainment, for so he +may be kept on, in hopes, that some time, or other, it may mend; but +the other is such a baulk to a man, 'tis carrying him up stairs to +shew him the dining room, and afterwards force him to make a meal in +the kitchen. This I have not only endeavoured to avoid, but also have +used a method for the contrary purpose. The design of this novel +is obvious, after the first meeting of Aurelian and Hippolito, with +Incognita, and Leonora; the difficulty is in bringing it to pass, +maugre all apparent obstacles within the compass of two days. How many +probable casualties intervene, in opposition to the main design, viz. +of marrying two couple so oddly engaged in an intricate amour, I leave +the reader at his leisure to consider; as also whether every obstacle +does not, in the progress of the story, act as subservient to that +purpose, which at first it seems to oppose. In a comedy this would +be called the unity of action, here it may pretend to no more than +an unity of contrivance. The scene is continued in Florence from the +commencement of the amour, and the time from first to last, is but +three days.' + +Soon after Mr. Congreve's return to England, he amused himself, during +a slow recovery from a fit of sickness, with writing a comedy. Captain +Southern, in conjunction with Mr. Dryden, and Arthur Manwayring, esq; +revised this performance, which was the Old Batchelor; of which Mr. +Dryden said, he never saw such a first play in his life, adding, that +the author not being acquainted with the stage, or the town, it would +be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little assistance. Mr. +Thomas Davenant, who had then the direction of the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane, had so high a sense of the merit of the piece, and was +so charmed with the author's conversation, that he granted him the +freedom of the house before his play came on, which, according to +the maxims of theatrical government, was not only an unusual, but an +unprecedented favour. In 1693 the Old Batchelor was acted before a +numerous, and polite audience. The play was received with such general +applause, that Mr. Congreve was then considered as a prop to the +declining stage, and a rising genius in dramatic poetry. It was this +play, and the singular success which attended it upon the stage, that +introduced our author to the acquaintance of the earl of Hallifax, who +was then the professed patron of men of wit; and who, being desirous +to raise a man of so promising a genius, above the necessity of too +hasty productions, made him one of the commissioners for licensing +Hackney coaches. The earl bestowed upon him soon after a place in the +Pipe-Office, and gave him likewise a post in the Custom-House, to the +value of 600 l. per annum. + +In the following year Mr. Congreve brought upon the stage the Double +Dealer, which met not with so good a reception as the former. + +Mr. Congreve has informed us in the dedication of this play, to +Charles Montague, esq; that he was very assiduous to learn from the +critics what objections could be found to it; but, says he, 'I have +heard nothing to provoke an answer. That which looks most like an +objection, does not relate in particular to this play, but to all; or +most that ever have been written, and that is soliloquy; therefore +I will answer it, not only for my own sake, but to save others the +trouble to whom it may be hereafter objected. I grant, that for a man +to talk to himself, appears absurd, and unnatural, and indeed it is +so in most cases, but the circumstances which may attend the occasion, +makes great alteration. It often happens to a man to have designs, +which require him to himself, and in their nature cannot admit of +a confident. Such for certain is all villainy, and other less +mischievous intentions may be very improper to be communicated to a +second person. In such a case, therefore the audience must observe, +whether the person upon the stage takes any notice of them at all, or +no: for if he supposes any one to be by,[C] when he talks to himself, +it is monstrous and ridiculous to the last degree; nay not only +in this case, but in any part of a play, if there is expressed any +knowledge of an audience it is insufferable. But otherwise, when a man +in a soliloquy reasons with himself, and pro's and con's, and weighs +all his designs, we ought not to imagine that this man either talks to +us, or to himself; he is only thinking, and thinking such matter, +as it were inexcusable folly in him to speak. But, because we are +concealed spectators of the plot in agitation, and the poet finds it +necessary to let us know the whole mystery of his contrivance, he is +willing to inform us of this person's thoughts, and to that end is +forced to make use of the expedient of speech, no other, or better way +being yet invented for the communication of thought.' + +Towards the close of the same year Queen Mary died. Upon that occasion +Mr. Congreve produced an elegiac Pastoral, a composition which the +admirers of this poet have extolled in the most lavish terms of +admiration, but which seems not to merit the incense it obtained. + +When Mr. Betterton opened the new house at Lincoln's-Inn, Congreve +took part with him, and gave him his celebrated comedy of Love for +Love, then introduced upon the stage, with the most extraordinary +success. This comedy, with some more of our author's, was smartly +criticised by the ingenious Mr. Collier, as containing lessons of +immorality, and a representation of loose characters, which can never, +in his opinion, appear on a stage without corrupting the audience. + +Messrs. Congreve, Dennis, and Dryden, engaged in a vigorous defence +of the English stage, and endeavoured to shew the necessity of such +characters being introduced in order to be exposed, and laughed at. To +all their defences Mr. Collier replied, and managed the point with so +much learning, wit, and keenness, that in the opinion of many, he had +the better of his antagonists, especially Mr. Congrove, whose +comedies it must be owned, though they are admirably written, and the +characters strongly marked, are so loose, that they have given great +offence: and surely we pay too dear for pleasure, when we have it at +the expence of morality. + +The same year he distinguished himself in another kind of poetry, viz. +an irregular Ode on the taking Namure, which the critics have allowed +to contain fine sentiments, gracefully expressed. His reputation as +a comic poet being sufficiently established, he was desirous of +extending his fame, by producing a tragedy. It has been alledged, that +some, who were jealous of his growing reputation, put him upon this +task, in order, as they imagined, to diminish it, for he seemed to be +of too gay and lively a disposition for tragedy, and in all likelihood +would miscarry in the attempt. However, + +In 1697, after the expectation of the town had been much raised, the +Mourning Bride appeared on the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields: +few plays ever excited so great an ardour of expectation as this, +and very few ever succeeded to such an extravagant degree. There is +something new in the management of the plot; after moving the passions +of the audience to the greatest commiseration, he brings off his +principal characters, punishes the guilty, and makes the play conclude +happily. + +The controversy we have just now mentioned, was thought to have +occasioned a dislike in Mr. Congreve towards the stage; yet he +afterwards produced another comedy called The Way of the World, which +was so just a picture of the world, that, as an author prettily says, + + The world could not bear it. + +The reception this play met with, compleated our author's disgust to +the theatre; upon which Mr. Dennis, who was a warm friend to Congreve, +made this fine observation, 'that Mr. Congreve quitted the stage +early, and that comedy left it with him.' + +It is said that when Congreve found his play met with but indifferent +success, he came in a passion on the stage, and desired the audience +to save themselves the trouble of shewing their dislike; for he never +intended to write again for the Theatre, nor submit his works to the +censure of impotent critics. In this particular he kept his word with +them, and as if he had foreseen the fate of his play, he took an ample +revenge, in his Epilogue, of the race of Little Snarlers, who excited +by envy, and supported by false ideas of their own importance, dared +to constitute themselves judges of wit, without any just pretensions +to it. This play has long ago triumphed over its enemies, and is now +in great esteem amongst the best judges of Theatrical Entertainments. + +Though Mr. Congreve quitted the stage, yet did not he give up the +cause of poetry; for on the death of the marquis of Blandford, the +only son of the duke of Marlborough, which happened in 1705, we find +him composing a pastoral to soften the grief of that illustrious +family, which he addressed to the lord treasurer Godolphin. + +About the same time, the extraordinary success of the duke of +Marlborough's arms, furnished him with materials for an Ode to Queen +Anne. In another Pindaric Ode he celebrates the lord Godolphin; taking +occasion from that nobleman's delight in horse-racing to imitate +the Greek Poet in his favourite manner of writing, by an elegant +digression; to which he added a criticism on that species of poetry. + +As in the early part of his life, Mr. Congreve had received favours +from people of a less exalted station, so of these he was highly +sensible, and never let slip any opportunity of shewing his gratitude. +He wrote an Epilogue to his old friend Southern's Tragedy of Oroonoko; +and Mr. Dryden has acknowledged his assistance in the translation +of Virgil: He contributed by his Version of the eleventh Satire +of Juvenal, to the translation of that poet, published also by Mr. +Dryden, to whom Mr. Congreve wrote a copy of Verses on his Translation +of Persius. He wrote likewise a Prologue for a Play of Mr. Charles +Dryden's, full of kindness for that young gentleman, and of respect +for his father. + +But the noblest testimony he gave of his filial regard to the memory +of his poetical father, Mr. John Dryden, was the Panegyric he wrote +upon his works, contained in the dedication of Dryden's plays to the +duke of Newcastle. + +Mr. Congreve translated the third Book of Ovid's Art of Love; some +favourite passages from the Iliad, and writ some Epigrams, in all +which he was not unsuccessful, though at the same time he has been +exceeded by his cotemporaries in the same attempts. + +The author of the elegant Letters, not long ago published under the +name of Fitz Osborne, has taken some pains to set before his readers; +the version of those parts of Homer, translated by our author, and +the same passages by Pope and Tickell, in which comparison the palm is +very deservedly yielded to Pope. + +Our author wrote a Satire called Doris, celebrated by Sir Richard +Steele, who was a warm friend to Mr. Congreve. He also wrote the +Judgment of Paris, a Masque; and the Opera of Semele; of these, the +former was acted with great applause, and the latter is finely set +to music by Mr. Eccles. The last of his Poetical Works, is his Art of +Pleasing, addressed to Sir Richard Temple, the late viscount Cobham. +He has written many Prose Epistles, dispersed in the works of other +writers, and his Essay on Humour in Comedy, published in a Collection +of Dennis's Letters, is an entertaining, and correct piece of +criticism: All his other Letters are written with a great deal of wit +and spirit, a fine flow of language; and are so happily intermixt with +a lively and inoffensive raillery, that it is impossible not to be +pleased with them at the first reading: we may be satisfied from the +perusal of them, that his conversation must have been very engaging, +and therefore we need not wonder that he was caressed by the greatest +men of his time, or that they courted his friendship by every act of +kindness in their power. + +It is said of Mr. Congreve, that he was a particular favourite with +the ladies, some of whom were of the first distinction. He indulged +none of those reveries, and affected absences so peculiar to men of +wit: He was sprightly as well as elegant in his manner, and so much +the favourite of Henrietta duchess of Marlborough, that even after +his death, she caused an image of him to be every day placed at her +toilet-table, to which she would talk as to the living Mr. Congreve, +with all the freedom of the most polite and unreserved conversation. +Mrs. Bracegirdle likewise had the highest veneration for our author, +and joined with her Grace in a boundless profusion of sorrow upon his +death. Some think, he had made a better figure in his Last Will, had +he remembered his friendship he professed for Mrs. Bracegirdle, whose +admirable performance added spirit to his dramatic pieces; but he +forgot her, and gratified his vanity by chusing to make a rich duchess +his sole legatee, and executrix. + +Mr. Congreve was the son of fortune, as well as of the muses. He was +early preferred to an affluent situation, and no change of ministry +ever affected him, nor was he ever removed from any post he enjoyed, +except to a better. + +His place in the custom-house, and his office of secretary in Jamaica, +are said to have brought him in upwards of 1200 l. a year; and he was +so far an oeconomist, as to raise from thence a competent estate. No +man of his learning ever pass'd thro' life with more ease, or less +envy; and as in the dawn of his reputation he was very dear to the +greatest wits of his time, so during his whole life he preserved the +utmost respect of, and received continual marks of esteem from, men +of genius and letters, without ever being involved, in any of their +quarrels, or drawing upon himself the least mark of distaste, or, even +dissatisfaction. The greatest part of the last twenty years of his +life were spent in ease and retirement, and he gave himself no trouble +about reputation. When the celebrated Voltaire was in England, he +waited upon Congreve, and pass'd some compliments upon him, as to the +reputation and merit of his works; Congreve thanked him, but at +the same time told that ingenious foreigner, he did not chuse to be +considered as an author, but only as a private gentleman, and in that +light expected to be visited. Voltaire answered, 'That if he had never +been any thing but a private gentleman, in all probability, he had +never been troubled with that visit.' + +Mr. Voltaire upon this occasion observes, that he was not a little +disgusted with so unseasonable a piece of vanity:--This was indeed the +highest instance of it, that perhaps can be produced. A man who owed +to his wit and writings the reputation, as well as the fortune, he +acquired, pretending to divest himself of human nature to such a +degree, as to have no consciousness of his own merit, was the most +absurd piece of vanity that ever entered into the heart of man; and +of all vanity, that is the greatest which masks itself under the +appearance of the opposite quality. + +Towards the close of his life, he was much troubled with the gout; +and for this reason, in the summer of the year 1728, he made a tour to +Bath, for the benefit of the waters, where he had the misfortune to be +overturned in his chariot, from which time he complained of a pain in +his side, which was supposed to arise from some inward bruise. Upon +his return to London, he perceived his health gradually decline, which +he bore with fortitude and resignation. + +On January the 19th, 1728-9, he yielded his last breath, about five +o'clock in the morning, at his house in Surrey-street in the Strand, +in the fifty-seventh year of his age. On the sunday following, January +26, his corpse lay in state in the Jerusalem-Chamber, from whence the +same evening, between the hours of nine and ten, it was carried with +great decency and solemnity to Henry the VIIth's Chapel; and after the +funeral service was performed, it was interred in the Abbey. The pall +was supported by the duke of Bridgewater, earl of Godolphin, lord +Cobham, lord Wilmington, the honourable George Berkley, Esq; and +Brigadier-general Churchill; and colonel Congreve followed his corpse +as chief mourner; some time after, a neat and elegant monument was +erected to his memory, by Henrietta duchess of Marlborough. + +Mr. Congreve's reputation is so extensive, and his works so generally +read, that any specimen of his poetry may be deemed superfluous. But +finding an epistle of our author's in the Biographia Brittannica, not +inserted in his works, it may not be improper to give it a place here. +It is addressed to the lord viscount Cobham, and the ingenious authors +inform us, that they copied it from a MS. very correct. + +As in this poem there is a visible allusion to the measures, which the +writer thought were too complaisant to the French, it is evident it +must have been penned but a very small time before his death. + + Of improving the present time. + + + Sincerest critic of my prose, or rhyme. + Tell how thy pleasing Stowe employs thy time. + Say, Cobham, what amuses thy retreat? + Or stratagems of war, or schemes of state? + Dost thou recall to mind, with joy or grief, + Great Marlbro's actions? that immortal chief, + Whose highest trophy, rais'd in each campaign, + More than suffic'd to signalize a reign. + Does thy remembrance rising, warm thy heart + With glory past, where thou thyself had'st part; + Or do'st thou grieve indignant, now to see + The fruitless end of all thy victory! + To see th' audacious foe, so late subdu'd, + Dispute those terms for which so long they su'd, + As if Britannia now were sunk so low, + To beg that peace she wanted to bestow. + Be far, that guilt! be never known that shame! + That England should retract her rightful claim! + Or ceasing to be dreaded and ador'd, + Stain with her pen the lustre of her sword. + Or dost thou give the winds, a-far to blow, + Each vexing thought, and heart-devouring woe, + And fix thy mind alone on rural scenes, + To turn the levell'd lawns to liquid plains; + To raise the creeping rills from humble beds, + And force the latent springs to lift their heads; + On watry columns capitals to rear, + That mix their flowing curls with upper air? + Or dost thou, weary grown, late works neglect, + No temples, statues, obelisks erect; + But catch the morning breeze from fragrant meads. + Or shun the noon-tide ray in wholesome shades; + Or lowly walk along the mazy wood, + To meditate on all that's wise and good: + For nature, bountiful, in thee has join'd, + A person pleasing, with a worthy mind, + Not giv'n the form alone, but means and art, + To draw the eye, or to allure the heart. + Poor were the praise, in fortune to excel, + Yet want the way to use that fortune well. + While thus adorn'd, while thus with virtue crown'd, + At home in peace; abroad, in arms renown'd; + Graceful in form, and winning in address, + While well you think, what aptly you express; + With health, with honour, with a fair estate, + A table free, and elegantly neat. + What can be added more to mortal bliss? + What can he want that stands possest of this? + What can the fondest wishing mother more, + Of heav'n attentive, for her son implore? + And yet, a happiness remains unknown, + Or to philosophy reveal'd alone; + A precept which, unpractis'd, renders vain + Thy flowing hopes, and pleasure turns to pain. + Shou'd hope and fear thy heart alternate tear, + Or love, or hate, or rage, or anxious care, + Whatever passions may thy mind infest, + (Where is that mind which passions ne'er molest?) + Amidst the pangs of such intestine strife, + Still think the present day the last of life; + Defer not 'till to-morrow to be wise, + To-morrow's sun to thee may never rise; + Or shou'd to-morrow chance to chear thy sight, + With her enliv'ning, and unlook'd-for light. + How grateful will appear her dawning rays! + Its favours unexpected doubly please. + Who thus can think, and who such thoughts pursues, + Content may keep his life, or calmly lose. + All proofs of this, thou may'st thyself receive, + When leisure from affairs will give thee leave. + Come, see thy friend retir'd, without regret, + Forgetting care, or striving to forget, + In easy contemplation, soothing time + With morals much, and now and then with rhyme; + Not so robust in body as in mind, + And always undejected, tho' declin'd; + Not wond'ring at the world's new wicked ways, + Compar'd with those of our fore-father's days: + For virtue now is neither more or less, + And vice is only vary'd in the dress: + Believe it, men have ever been the same, + And OVID'S GOLDEN AGE is but a dream. + +We shall conclude the life of this eminent wit, with the testimony +of Mr. Pope in his favour, from the close of his postscript to the +translation of Homer: It is in every respect so honourable, that +it would be injurious to Mr. Congreve to omit it.--His words +are--'Instead of endeavouring to raise a vain monument to myself, let +me leave behind me a memorial of my friendship with one of the most +valuable men, as well as the finest writers of my age and country. +One who has tried, and knows by his own experience, how hard an +undertaking it is to do justice to Homer, and one who I'm sure +sincerely rejoices with me at the period of my labours. To him +therefore, having brought this long work to a conclusion, I desire to +dedicate it, and have the honour and satisfaction of placing together +in this manner, the names of Mr. Congreve and of + +A. POPE. + + +[Footnote A: General Dictionary.] + +[Footnote B: Wilson's Memoirs of Congreve.] + +[Footnote C: Yet Maskwell purposely talks to himself, designing to be +overheard by Lord Touchwood; undoubtedly an error in the conduit, and +want of art in the author. This he seems here to forget, or would not +remember it.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir JOHN VANBRUGH, + + +This Gentleman was descended from an antient family in Cheshire, which +came originally from France; though by the name it would appear to be +of Dutch extraction. He received a very liberal education, and became +eminent for his poetry, and skill in architecture, to both which +he discovered an early propension. It is somewhat remarkable in +the History of Poetry, that when the spirit of Tragedy, in a great +measure, declined, when Otway and Lee were dead, and Dryden was +approaching to old age, that Comedy should then begin to flourish; at +an Æra, which one would not have expected to prove auspicious to the +cause of mirth. + +Much about the same time rose Mr. Congreve, and Sir John Vanbrugh; +who, without any invidious reflection on the genius of others, gave +a new life to the stage, and restored it to reputation, which before +their appearance had been for some time sinking. Happy would it have +been for the world, and some advantage to the memory of those comic +writers, if they had discovered their wit, without any mixture of +that licentiousness, which while it pleased, tended to corrupt +the audience. The first step our author made into life, was in the +character of an ensign in the army. He was possessed of a very ready +wit, and an agreeable elocution. He happened somewhere in his winter +quarters, to contract an acquaintance with Sir Thomas Skipwith, +and received a particular obligation from him. He had very early +discovered a taste for dramatic writing, to improve which he made +some attempts in that way, and had the draft or out-lines of two plays +lying by him, at the time his acquaintance commenced with Sir Thomas. +This gentleman possessed a large share in a Theatrical Patent, though +he very little concerned himself in the conduct of it; but that +he might not appear altogether remiss, he thought to procure some +advantage to the stage, by having our author's play, called the +Relapse, to be acted upon it. In this he was not disappointed, for +the Relapse succeeded beyond the warmest expectation, and raised +Vanbrugh's name very high amongst the writers for the stage. + +Tho' this play met with greater applause, than the author expected, +yet it was not without its enemies. These were people of the graver +sort, who blamed the looseness of the scenes, and the unguarded +freedom of the dialect. These complaints induced Vanbrugh to make some +observations upon them in his preface, which he thus begins, 'To go +about to excuse half the defects this abortive brat is come into the +world with, would be to provoke the town with a long useless preface, +when 'tis, I doubt, sufficiently sour'd already, by a tedious play. + +'I do therefore, with all the humility of a repenting sinner, confess +it wants every thing--but length, and in that I hope the severest +critics will be pleased to acknowledge, I have not been wanting. But +my modesty will sure attone for every thing, when the world shall know +it is so great, I am even to this day insensible of those two shining +graces, in the play (which some part of the town is pleased to +compliment me with) blasphemy and bawdy. For my part I cannot find +them out; if there were any obscene expressions upon the stage, +here they are in print; for I have dealt fairly, I have not sunk a +syllable, that could be ranged under that head, and yet I believe with +a steady faith, there is not one woman of real reputation in town, but +when she has read it impartially over in her closet, will find it so +innocent, she'll think it no affront to her prayer book, to lay it +upon the same shelf.' + +Being encouraged by the success of the Relapse, he yielded to the +sollicitation of lord Hallifax, who had read some of the loose sheets +of his Provok'd Wife, to finish that piece; and after throwing +them into a proper form, gave the play to the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Though Sir John had a greater inclination to +serve the other company, yet the request of lord Hallifax, so eminent +a patron of the poets, could not be resisted. Sir Thomas Skipwith was +not offended at so reasonable a compliance, and the Provok'd Wife was +acted 1698, with success. Some critics likewise objected against this, +as a loose performance; and that it taught the married women how to +revenge themselves on their husbands, who should offend them. + +The play has indeed this moral, that such husbands as resemble Sir +John Brute, may expect that neglected beauty, and abused virtue, may +be provoked to yield to the motives of revenge, and that the forcible +sollicitations of an agreeable person, who not only demonstrates +a value, but a passion for what the possessor slights, may be +sufficiently prevalent with an injured wife to forfeit her honour. + +Though this event may often fall out, that the brutality of a husband +produces the infidelity of a wife, yet it need not be shewn upon the +stage; women are not generally so tame in their natures, as to bear +neglect with patience, and the natural resentments of the human +heart will without any other monitor point out the method of revenge. +Besides, every husband ought not to be deemed a brute, because a too +delicate, or ceremonious wife, shall, in the abundance of her caprice, +bestow upon him that appellation. Many women who have beheld this +representation, may have been stimulated to imitate lady Brute in her +method of revenge, without having suffered her provocation. This play +verifies the observation of Mr. Pope, + + That Van wants grace, who never wanted wit. + +The next play which Sir John Vanbrugh introduced upon the stage +was Aesop, a Comedy; in two Parts, acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane 1698. This was originally written in French, by Mr. +Boursart, about six years before; but the scenes of Sir Polidorus +Hogstye, the Players, the Senator, and the Beau, were added by our +author. This performance contains a great deal of general satire, +and useful morality; notwithstanding which, it met with but a cold +reception from the audience, and its run terminated in about 8 or 9 +days. This seemed the more surprising to men of taste, as the French +comedy from which it was taken, was played to crowded audiences for +a month together. Sir John has rather improved upon the original by +adding new scenes, than suffered it to be diminished in a translation, +but the French and the English. taste was in that particular very +different. We cannot better account for the ill success of this +excellent piece, than in the words of Mr. Cibber's Apology for his own +Life, when speaking of this play, he has the following observation; +'The character that delivers precepts of wisdom, is, in some sort, +severe upon the auditor, for shewing him one wiser than himself; but +when folly is his object, he applauds himself for being wiser than the +coxcomb he laughs at, and who is not more pleased with an occasion to +commend, than to accuse himself?' + +Sir John Vanbrugh, it is said, had great facility in writing, and is +not a little to be admired for the spirit, ease, and readiness, +with which he produced his plays. Notwithstanding his extraordinary +expedition, there is a clear and lively simplicity in his wit, that +is equally distant from the pedantry of learning, and the lowness of +scurrility. As the face of a fine lady, with her hair undressed, may +appear in the morning in its brightest glow of beauty; such were the +productions of Vanbrugh, adorned with only the negligent graces of +nature. + +Mr. Cibber observes, that there is something so catching to the ear, +so easy to the memory in all he wrote, that it was observed by the +actors of his time, that the stile of no author whatsoever gave the +memory less trouble than that of Sir John Vanbrugh, which he himself +has confirmed by a pleasing experience. His wit and humour was so +little laboured, that his most entertaining scenes seemed to be +no more than his common conversation committed to paper. As his +conceptions were so full of life and humour, it is not much to be +wondered at, if his muse should be sometimes too warm to wait the slow +pace of judgment, or to endure the drudgery of forming a regular Fable +to them. + +That Sir John was capable of a great force of thinking, appears +abundantly clear from that scene between Aesop and a country +gentleman, who comes to complain of the bad conduct of those in power. +The dialogue is at once sensible and animated. Aesop shews him what +he reckoned the oppressions of the administration, flowed from the +prejudices of ignorance, contemplated through the medium of popular +discontent. In the interview between the Beau and the Philosopher, +there is the following pretty fable. The Beau observes to Aesop, 'It +is very well; it is very well, old spark; I say it is very well; +because I han't a pair of plod shoes, and a dirty shirt, you think +a woman won't venture upon me for husband.--Why now to shew you, old +father, how little you philosophers know the ladies.--I'll tell you an +adventure of a friend of mine.' + + A Band, a Bob-wig and a Feather + Attack'd a lady's heart together, + The band in a most learned plea, + Made up of deep philosophy, + Told her, if she would please to wed + A reverend beard, and take instead + Of vigorous youth, + Old solemn truth, + With books, and morals into bed, + How happy she would be. + + The Bob, he talk'd of management, + What wond'rous blessings Heav'n sent + On care, and pains, and industry; + And truly he must be so free, + To own he thought your airy beaux, + With powdered wigs, and dancing shoes, + Were good for nothing (mend his soul) + But prate and talk, and play the fool. + + He said, 'twas wealth gave joy, and mirth, + And that to be the dearest wife, + Of one who laboured all his life, + To make a mine of gold his own, + And not spend sixpence when he'd done + Was Heaven upon earth. + + When these two blades had done, d'ye see. + The Feather (as it might be me) + Steps out sir from behind the skreen. + With such an air and such a mien, + Look you, old gentleman, in short, + He quickly spoil'd the statesman's sport. + + It prov'd such sunshine weather, + That you must know at the first beck + The lady leapt about his neck, + And off they went together. + +The reputation which Sir John gained by his comedies was rewarded +with, greater advantages, than what arise from the usual profits of +writing for the stage. He was appointed Clarencieux King at Arms, a +place which he some time held, and at last disposed of. In August 1716 +he was appointed surveyor of the works at Greenwich Hospital; he was +likewise made comptroller-general of his Majesty's works, and surveyor +of the gardens and waters, the profits of which places, collectively +considered, must amount to a very considerable sum. In some part +of our author's life (for we cannot justly ascertain the time) he +gratified an inclination of visiting France. As curiosity no doubt +induced him to pass over to that country, he lost no time in making +such observations as could enable him to discern the spirit, and +genius of that polite people. His taste for architecture excited him +to take a survey of the fortifications in that kingdom; but the ardour +of his curiosity drew him into a snare, out of which he found +great difficulty to escape. When he was one day surveying some +fortifications with the strictest attention, he was taken notice of +by an Engineer, secured by authority, and then carried prisoner to +the Bastile in Paris. The French were confirmed in suspicions of his +design, by several plans being found in his possession at the time +he was seized upon; but as the French, except in cases of Heresy, +use their prisoners with gentleness and humanity, Sir John found +his confinement so endurable, that he amus'd himself in drawing rude +draughts of some comedies. This circumstance raising curiosity in +Paris, several of the noblesse visited him in the Bastile, when Sir +John, who spoke their language with fluency and elegance, insinuated +himself into their favour by the vivacity of his wit, and the +peculiarity of his humour. He gained so much upon their affections, +that they represented him to the French King in an innocent light, and +by that means procured his liberty some days before the sollicitation +came from: England. + +Sir John Vanbrugh formed a project of building a stately theatre +in the Hay-market, for which: he had interest enough, to raise +a subscription of thirty persons of quality at 100 l. each, in +consideration whereof, every subscriber for his own life, should be +admitted to whatever entertainments should be publickly performed +there, without farther payment for entrance. + +On the first stone that was laid in this theatre, were inscribed the +words LITTLE WHIG, as a compliment to a lady of extraordinary beauty, +then the celebrated toast, and pride of that party. In the year 1706 +when this house was finished, Mr. Betterton and his copartners put +themselves under the direction of Sir John Vanbrugh and Mr. Congreve; +imagining that the conduct of two such eminent authors would restore +their ruined affairs; but they found their expectations were too +sanguine, for though Sir John was an expeditious writer, yet Mr. +Congreve was too judicious to let any thing come unfinished out of his +hands; besides, every proper convenience of a good theatre had +been sacrificed to shew the audience a vast triumphal piece of +architecture, in which plays, by means of the spaciousness of the +dome, could not be successfully represented, because the actors could +not be distinctly heard. + +Not long before this time the Italian Opera began to steal into +England, but in as rude a disguise, and as unlike itself as possible; +notwithstanding which the new monster pleaded, though it had neither +grace, melody, nor action to recommend it. To strike in therefore with +the prevailing fashion, Vanbrugh and Congreve opened their New Theatre +in the Hay-market, with a translated Opera, set to Italian music, +called The Triumph of Love, but it met with a cold reception, being +performed only three days, to thin houses. + +Immediately upon the failure of the Opera, Vanbrugh produced his +comedy called The Confederacy, greatly improved from the Bourgois a la +mode of Dancour. The success of this play was not equal to its merit; +for it is written in, an uncommon vein of humour, and abounds with +the most lively strokes of raillery. The prospects of gain from this +theatre were so very unpromising, that Congreve, in a few months, +gave up his share and interest in the government wholly to Sir John +Vanbrugh; who being now sole proprietor of the house, was under a +necessity to exert himself in its support. As he had a happier talent +for throwing the English spirit into his translations of French plays, +than any former author who had borrowed from them, he, in the same +season, gave the public three more of that kind, viz. + +1. The Cuckold in Conceit, from the Cocu imaginaire of Moliere. + +2. Squire Treelooby, from his Monsieur de Pourceaugnac. + +3. The Mistake, from the Depit Amoureux of the same Author[A]. + +However well executed these pieces were, yet they came to the ear in +the same undistinguished utterance, by which almost all their plays +had equally suffered; for as few could plainly hear, it was not likely +a great many would applaud. + +In this situation it appears, that nothing but the union of the two +companies could restore the stage to its former reputation. + +Sir John Vanbrugh therefore, tired of theatrical management, thought +of disposing of his whole farm to some industrious tenant, that might +put it into better condition. It was to Mr. Owen Swiny, that in the +exigence of his affairs, he made an offer of his actors under such +agreements of salary as might be made with them; and of his house, +cloaths, and scenes, with the Queen's license to employ them, upon +payment of the casual rent of five pounds every acting day, and not +to exceed 700 l. per annum. With this proposal Mr. Swiny complied, and +governed that stage till another great theatrical revolution. + +There are two plays of our author not yet mentioned, viz. The False +Friend, a Comedy; acted in 1698, and A Journey to London, a Comedy; +which he left unfinished. This last piece was finished by Mr. Cibber +to a very great advantage, and now is one of the best comedies in our +language. Mr. Cibber, in his prologue, takes particular notice of our +author's virtuous intention in composing this piece, which, he says, +was to make some amends for those loose scenes, which in the fire of +his youth he had with more regard to applause, than virtue, exhibited +to the public: but this design will be best understood by inserting +the prologue. + + PROLOGUE. + + + This play took birth from principles of truth, + To make amends for errors past, of youth. + A bard that's now no more, in riper days, + Conscious review'd the licence of his plays: + And tho' applause his wanton muse had fir'd, + Himself condemn'd what sensual minds admir'd. + At length he own'd that plays should let you see + Not only what you are, but ought to be: + Though vice was natural, 'twas never meant, + The stage should shew it, but for punishment! + Warm with that thought his muse once more took flame, + Resolv'd to bring licentious life to shame. + Such was the piece, his latest pen design'd', + But left no traces of his plan behind. + Luxurious scenes, unprun'd, or half contriv'd; + Yet, through the mass, his native fire surviv'd: + Rough as rich oar, in mines the treasure lay, + Yet still 'twas rich, and forms at length a play. + In which the bold compiler boasts no merit, + But that his pains have sav'd you scenes of spirit. + Not scenes that would a noisy joy impart, + But such as hush the mind, and warm the heart. + From praise of hands, no sure account he draws, + But fix'd attention is, sincere applause. + If then (for hard you'll own the task) his art + Can to those Embrion scenes new life impart; + The living proudly would exclude his lays, + And to the buried bard resign the praise. + +Sir John indeed appears to have been often sensible of the immorality +of his scenes; for in the year 1725 when the company of comedians was +called upon, in a manner that could not be resisted, to revive the +Provok'd Wife, the author, who was conscious how justly it was exposed +to censure, thought proper to substitute a new scene in the fourth +act, in place of another, in which, in the wantonness of his wit +and humour, he had made a Rake talk like a Rake, in the habit of a +Clergyman. To avoid which offence, he put the same Debauchee into the +Undress of a Woman of Quality; for the character of a fine lady, it +seems, is not reckoned so indelibly sacred, as that of a Churchman. +Whatever follies he exposed in the petticoat kept him at least clear +of his former imputed prophaneness, and appeared now to the audience +innocently ridiculous. + +This ingenious dramatist died of a quinsey at his house in Whitehall, +on the 26th of March 1726. He was a man of a lively imagination, of +a facetious, and engaging humour, and as he lived esteemed by all his +acquaintance, so he died without leaving ons enemy to reproach his +memory; a felicity which few men of public employments, or possessed +of so distinguished a genius, ever enjoyed. He has left behind +him monuments of fame, which can never perish but with taste and +politeness. + + +[Footnote A: The two first were never printed from Sir John's +manuscript.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir RICHARD STEELE, Knt. + + +This celebrated genius was born in Ireland. His father being a +counsellor at law, and private secretary to James duke of Ormond, he +went over with his grace to that kingdom, when he was raised to the +dignity of lord lieutenant[A]. Our author when but very young, came +over into England; and was educated at the Charter-House school +in London, where Mr. Addison was his school-fellow, and where they +contracted a friendship which continued firm till the death of that +great man. + +His inclination leading him to the army, he rode for some time +privately in the guards; in which station, as he himself tells us, in +his Apology for his Writings, he first became an author, a way of +life in which the irregularities of youth are considered as a kind of +recommendation. + +Mr. Steele was born with the most violent propension to pleasure, and +at the same time was master of so much good sense, as to be able +to discern the extreme folly of licentious courses, their moral +unfitness, and the many calamities they naturally produce. He +maintained a perpetual struggle between reason and appetite. He +frequently fell into indulgencies, which cost him many a pang of +remorse, and under the conviction of the danger of a vicious life, +he wrote his Christian Hero, with a design to fix upon his own mind a +strong impression of virtue and religion. But this secret admonition +to his conscience he judged too weak, and therefore in the year 1701 +printed the book with his name prefixed, in hopes that a standing +evidence against himself in the eyes of the world, might the more +forcibly induce him to lay a restraint upon his desires, and make him +ashamed of vice, so contrary to his own sense and conviction. + +This piece was the first of any note, and is esteem'd by some as one +of the best of Mr. Steele's works; he gained great reputation by it, +and recommended himself to the regard of all pious and good men. But +while he grew in the esteem of the religious and worthy, he sunk in +the opinion of his old companions in gaiety: He was reckoned by them +to have degenerated from the gay, sprightly companion, to the dull +disagreeable pedant, and they measured the least levity of his words +and actions with the character of a Christian Hero. Thus he found +himself slighted, instead of being encouraged for his declarations +as to religion; but happily those who held him in contempt for his +defence of piety and goodness were characters, with whom to be at +variance is virtue. But Mr. Steele, who could not be content with the +suffrage of the Good only, without the concurrence of the Gay, set +about recovering the favour of the latter by innocent means: He +introduced a Comedy on the stage, called Grief A-la-Mode, in which, +tho' full of incidents that move laughter, and inspire chearfulness, +virtue and vice appear just as they ought to do. This play was acted +at the Theatre in Drury Lane 1702, and as nothing can make the town +so fond of a man, as a successful play; so this, with some other +particulars enlarged on to his advantage, recommended him to king +William, and his name to be provided for was in the last table-book +worn by his majesty. He had before this time procured a captain's +commission in the lord Lucas's regiment, by the interest of lord +Cutts, to whom he dedicated his Christian Hero, and who likewise +appointed him his secretary: His next appearance as a writer, was in +the office of Gazetteer, in which he observes in the same apology for +himself, he worked faithfully, according to order, without ever erring +against the rule observed by all ministers, to keep that paper very +innocent, and insipid. The reproaches he heard every Gazette-day +against the writer of it, inspired him with a fortitude of being +remarkably negligent of what people said, which he did not deserve. In +endeavouring to acquire this negligence, he certainly acted a prudent +part, and gained the most important and leading advantage, with which, +every author should set out. + +Whoever writes for the public, is sure to draw down envy on himself +from some quarter or other, and they who are resolved never to be +pleased, consider him as too assuming, and discover their resentment +by contempt. How miserable is the state of an author! It is his +misfortune in common with the fair sex, + + To please too little, or to please too much. + +If he happens to be a successful writer, his friends who become then +proud of his acquaintance, flatter him, and by soothing his vanity +teach him to overrate his importance, and while he grasps at universal +fame, he loses by too vigorous an effort, what he had acquired by +diligence and application: If he pleases too little, that is, if his +works are not read, he is in a fair way of being a great loser by his +attempt to please. Mr. Steele still continued to write plays. In the +year 1703 his Comedy, entitled the Tender Husband, or the Accomplished +Fools, was acted at the Theatre in Drury-Lane; as his Comedy of +the Lying-Lovers, or the Ladies Friendship, was likewise the year +following, both with success; so that his reputation was now fully +established. + +In the year 1709 he began the Taller, the first of which was published +on Tuesday April the 12th, and the last on Tuesday January the 2d, +1710-11. This paper greatly increasing his fame, he was preferred to +be one of the commissioners of the stamp office. Upon laying down the +Tatler, he set up, in concert with Mr. Addison, the Spectator, which +was continued from March the 1st, 1710-11, to December the 6th 1712; +and resumed June 18th 1714. and continued till December the 20th, the +same year. + +The Guardian was likewise published by them, in 1713, and in the +October of the same year, Mr. Steele began a political paper, entitled +the Englishman. + +In the Spectator, Mr. Steele's papers are marked with the letter T. +and in them are contained the most picturesque descriptions of low +life, of which he was perfect matter. Humour was his talent, though +not so much confined to that cast of writing to be incapable of +painting very tender scenes; witness his Conscious Lovers, which never +fails to draw tears; and in some of his Spectators he has written in +so feeling a manner, that none can read them without emotion. + +He had a strong inclination to find out the humours of low life, and +to make himself master of them. When he was at Edinburgh, as one of +the commissioners on the forfeited estates, he one day made a very +splendid feast, and while his servants were surprized at the great +preparations, and were expecting every moment to carry out his +invitations to the company for whom they imagined it was prepared, he +commanded them to go out to the street, and pick up whatever beggars, +and poor people they saw, and invite them to his house: The servants +obeyed, and Sir Richard soon saw himself at the head of 40 or 50 +beggars, together with some poor decay'd tradesmen. After dinner he +plied them with punch and wine, and when the frolic was ended, he +declared, that besides the pleasure of feeding so many hungry persons, +he had learned from them humour enough for a good comedy. + +Our author was a man of the highest benevolence; he celebrates a +generous action with a warmth that is only peculiar to a good heart; +and however he may be blamed for want of oeconomy, &c. yet was he +the most agreeable, and if we may be allowed the expression, the most +innocent rake, that ever trod the rounds of indulgence. + +He wrote several poetical pieces, particularly the Englishman's thanks +to the duke of Marlborough, printed in 1711; a letter to Sir Miles +Wharton, concerning Occasional Peers, dated March 5th, 1713. The +Guardian of August the 7th, 1713; and the importance of Dunkirk +considered, in defence of that Guardian, in a letter to the bailiff +of Stockbridge: The French Faith represented in the present state of +Dunkirk: The Crisis, a Letter to a Member of Parliament, concerning +the bill to prevent the present Growth of Schism, dated May 28, 1714; +and his Apology for himself and his Writings. + +These pieces shew how much he was displeased with the last measures +of Queen Anne, and were written to combat the Tory ministry; to oppose +which he set about procuring a seat in Parliament; for which purpose +he resigned his place of commissioner of the stamp-office, in June +1713, in a letter to the earl of Oxford, lord high treasurer, and was +chosen member of the House of Commons, for the Borough of Stockbridge. +But he did not long enjoy his seat in that house before he was +expelled, on the 18th of March 1713, for writing the Englishman, being +the close of the paper so called; and the Crisis[B]. + +In 1714 he published the Romish Ecclesiastical History of late years, +and a paper intitled The Lover; the first of which appeared Thursday +February 25, 1714, and another intitled the Reader, which began on +Thursday April 22, the same year. In the sixth Number of this last +paper, he gave an account of his design of writing the History of +the Duke of Marlborough, from proper materials in his custody: the +relation to commence from the date of his grace's commission, as +captain-general, and plenipotentiary; and to end with the expiration +of these commissions. But this noble design he lived not to execute, +and the materials were afterwards returned to the duchess of +Marlborough, who left them to Mr. Mallet, with a handsome gratuity for +the execution of Sir Richard's design. + +Soon after the accession of king George the 1st to the throne, Mr. +Steele was appointed surveyor of the royal stables at Hampton-Court, +and governor of the royal company of Comedians, by a patent, dated +January 19, 1714-15. He was likewise put into the commission of the +peace for the county of Middlesex; and in April 1715 received the +honour of knighthood from his majesty. In the first parliament of that +king, he was chosen for Borough-brigg in Yorkshire; and after the +suppressing the Rebellion in the North, was appointed one of the +commissioners of the forfeited estates in Scotland, where he received +from several of the nobility and gentry of that part of the united +kingdom the most distinguishing marks of respect. He contracted a +friendship while in Scotland, with one Hart, a Presbyterian minister +in Edinburgh, whom he afterwards honoured with his correspondence: +This Hart he used merrily to stile the Hangman of the Gospel, for +though he was a facetious good-natur'd man, yet he had fallen into a +peculiar way of preaching what he called the Terrors of the Law, and +denounced anathemas from the pulpit without reserve. + +Sir Richard held frequent conversations with Hart, and other +ministers, concerning the restoration of episcopacy, the antient +church-government of that nation, and often observed that it was pity, +when the two kingdoms were united in language, in dress, in politics, +and in all essential points, even in religion, should yet be divided +in the ecclesiastical administration, which still serves to maintain a +kind of alienation between the people. He found many of the Scots +well disposed towards prelacy; but the generality, who were taught +to contemplate the church of England, with as much horror as that of +Rome, could not soon be prevailed upon to return to it. + +Sir Richard wished well to the interests of religion, and as he +imagined that Union would promote it, he had some thoughts of +proposing it at court, but the times were unfavourable. The +Presbyterians had lately appeared active against the rebels, and were +not to be disobliged; but such is now the good understanding between +the episcopal and presbyterian parties, that a few concessions on the +one side, and not many advances on the other, possibly might produce +an amicable coalition, as it is chiefly in form, rather than in +articles of religion, in which they differ. + +In the year 1715 he published an account of the state of the Roman +Catholic Religion throughout the World, translated from an Italian +manuscript, with a dedication to the Pope, giving him a very +particular account of the state of religion amongst the Protestants, +and several other matters of importance, relating to Great-Britain; +but this dedication is supposed to be written by another very eminent +hand, more conversant in subjects of that nature than Sir Richard. + +The same year our author published a Letter from the earl of Marr to +the king, before his majesty's arrival in England; with some remarks +on my lord's subsequent conduct; and the year following a second +volume of the Englishman, and in 1718 an account of a Fish-Pool, which +was a project of his for bringing fish to market alive, for which he +obtained a patent. + +In 1719 he published a pamphlet called the Spinster, and a Letter +to the Earl of Oxford, concerning the Bill of Peerage, which bill he +opposed in the House of Commons. Some time after, he wrote against the +South-Sea-Scheme; his Crisis of posterity; and another piece intitled, +A Nation a Family; and on Saturday January the 2d, 1719-20, he began +a paper called the Theatre, during the course of which his patent of +governor of the Royal Company of Comedians, being suspended by his +majesty, he published, The State of the Case. + +In the year 1722, he brought his Conscious Lovers on the stage, with +prodigious success. This is the last and most finished of all Sir +Richard's Comedies, and 'tis doubtful if there is upon the stage, any +more instructing; that tends to convey a finer moral, or is better +conducted in its design. We have already observed, that it is +impossible to witness the tender scenes of this Comedy without +emotion; that is, no man of feeling and humanity, who has experienced +the délicate solicitudes of love and affection, can do it. Sir Richard +has told us, that when one of the players told Mr. Wilks, that there +was a General weeping for Indiana; he politely observed, that he +would not fight the worse for that; and indeed what a noble school +of morality would the stage be, if all those who write for it would +observe such delicate chastity; they would then inforce an honourable +and virtuous deportment, by the most insinuating and easy means; +they would so allure the audience by the amiable form of goodness +represented in her native loveliness, that he who could resist her +charms, must be something more than wicked. + +When Sir Richard finished this Comedy, the parts of Tom and Phillis +were not then in it: He read it to Mr. Cibber, who candidly told him, +that though he liked his play upon the whole, both in the cast of the +characters and execution of them; yet, that it was rather too grave +for an English audience, who want generally to laugh at a Comedy, and +without which in their opinion, the end is not answered. Mr. Cibber +then proposed the addition of some comic characters, with which Sir +Richard agreed, and saw the propriety and force of the observation. +This comedy (at Sir Richard's request) received many additions from, +and were greatly improved by Mr. Cibber.--Our author dedicated this +work to the king, who made him a present of 500 l. + +Some years before his death, he grew paralytic, and retired to his +seat at Langunner, near Caermarthen in Wales, where he died September +the 1st, 1729; and was privately interred according to his own desire, +in the church of Caermarthen. + +Besides his writings above-mentionened, he began on Saturday the 17th +of December, a weekly paper in quarto, called the Town-Talk, in a +letter to a lady in the country; and another, intitled the Tea-Table: +He had likewise planned a comedy which he intended to call The School +of Action.--As Sir Richard was beloved when living, so his loss was +sincerely regretted at his death. He was a man of undissembled, and +extensive benevolence; a friend to the friendless, and as far as his +circumstances would permit, the father of every orphan: His works +are chaste, and manly, he himself admired virtue, and he drew her as +lovely as she is: of his works it may be said, as Sir George Lyttleton +in his prologue to Coriolanus observes of Thomson, that there are not +in them + + One corrupted, one immoral thought, + A line which dying he could wish to blot. + +He was a stranger to the most distant appearance of envy or +malevolence, never jealous of any man's growing reputation, and so far +from arrogating any praise to himself, from his conjunction with Mr. +Addison, that he was the first who desired him to distinguish his +papers in the Spectator, and after the death of that great man was a +faithful executor of his fame, notwithstanding an aspersion which Mr. +Tickell was so unjust to throw upon him. Sir Richard's greatest error +was want of oeconomy, as appears from the two following instances +related by the elegant writer of Mr. Savage's Life, to whom that +gentleman communicated them. + +'Savage was once desired by Sir Richard, with an air of the utmost +importance, to come very early to his house the next morning. Mr. +Savage came as he had promised, found the chariot at the door, and +Sir Richard waiting for him ready to go out. What was intended, and +whither they were to go, Savage could not conjecture, and was not +willing to inquire, but immediately seated himself with Sir Richard: +The coachman was ordered to drive, and they hurried with the utmost +expedition to Hyde-Park Corner, where they stopped at a petty tavern, +and retired to a private room. Sir Richard then informed him, that +he intended to publish a pamphlet, and that he desired him to come +thither, that he might write for him. They soon sat down to the work, +Sir Richard dictated, and Savage wrote, till the dinner which had been +ordered, was put upon the table. Savage was surprised at the meanness +of the entertainment, and after some hesitation, ventured to ask for +wine, which Sir Richard, not without reluctance ordered to be brought. +They then finished their dinner, and proceeded in their pamphlet, +which they concluded in the afternoon. Mr. Savage then imagined his +task over, and expected that Sir Richard would call for the reckoning +and return home; but his expectations deceived him, for Sir Richard +told him he was without money and that the pamphlet must be sold +before the dinner could be paid for; and Savage was therefore obliged +to go and offer their new production to sale for two guineas, which +with some difficulty he obtained. Sir Richard then returned home, +having retired that day only to avoid his creditors, and composed the +pamphlet only to discharge his reckoning.' As Savage has said nothing +to the contrary, it is reasonable to conjecture that he had Sir +Richard's permission to use his name to the Bookseller, to whom he +made an offer of it for two guineas, otherwise it is very improbable +that the pamphlet should be sold at all in so short a time. + +The other instance is equally uncommon with the former: Sir Richard +having incited to his house a great number of persons of the +first quality, they were surprized at the number of liveries which +surrounded the table; and after dinner, when wine and mirth had +set them free from the observation of rigid ceremony, one of them +enquired of Sir Richard, how such an expensive train of domestics +could be consistent with his fortune? Sir Richard frankly confessed, +that they were fellows of whom he would very willingly be rid. And +being then asked why he did not discharge them; he declared that they +were Bailiffs who had introduced themselves with an execution, and +whom, since he could not send them away, he had thought it convenient +to imbellish with liveries, that they might do him credit whilst they +staid. + +His friends were diverted with the expedient, and by paying the debt, +discharged the attendance, having obliged Sir Richard to promise that +they should never find him again graced with a retinue of the same +kind. + +He married to his first wife a gentlewoman of Barbadoes, with whom he +had a valuable Plantation there on the death of her brother, who was +taken by the French at Sea as he was coming to England, and died in +France. This wife dying without issue, he married Mary, the daughter +of Jonathan Scurlock of Langunnoc in Carmarthanshire, esq; by whom he +had one son, Eugene, who died young: of his two daughters, one only is +living; which lady became sole heiress to a handsome estate in Wales. +She was married, when young, to the hon. John Trevor, esq; one of the +judges of the principality of Wales; who since, by the death of his +brother, has taken his seat in the House of Lords, as Baron Trevor, +&c. + + +[Footnote A: General Dictionary, vol. ix, p. 395.] + +[Footnote B: His expulsion was owing to the spleen of the then +prevailing party; what they design'd as a disgrace, prov'd an honour +to him.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ANDREW MARVEL, Esq;[A] + + +This ingenious gentleman was the son of Mr. Andrew Marvel, Minister +and Schoolmaster of Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire, and was born in +that town in the year 1620[B]. He was admitted into Trinity College +in Cambridge December 14, 1633, where he had not been long before his +studies were interrupted by the following accident: + +Some Jesuits with whom he familiarly conversed, observing in him a +genius beyond his years, used their utmost efforts to proselyte him +to their faith, which they imagined they could more easily accomplish +while he was yet young. They so far succeeded as to seduce him +from the college, and carry him to London, where, after some months +absence, his father found him in a Bookseller's shop, and prevailed +upon him to return to the college. + +He afterwards pursued his studies with the most indefatigable +application, and in the year 1638, took the degree of bachelor of +arts, and the same year was admitted scholar of the house, that is, +of the foundation at Trinity College[C]. We have no farther account of +him for several years after this, only that he travelled through +the most polite parts of the world, but in what quality we are not +certain, unless in that of secretary to the embassy at Constantinople. + +While our author was in France, he wrote his poem entitled Cuidam, qui +legendo Scripturam, descripsit Formam, Sapientiam, Sortemque Authoris. +Illustrissimo Viro Domino Lanceloto Josepho de Maniban Grammatomanti. + +The person to whom he addresses these verses was an Abbot, famous +for entering into the qualities of those whom he had never seen, and +prognosticating their good, or bad fortune from an inspection of their +hand-writing. + +During the troubles of the Republic we find him tutor to one Mr. +Dutton, a young gentleman; as appears from an original letter of his +to Oliver Cromwel. This letter sent to so extraordinary a person by +a man of Mr. Marvel's consequence, may excite the reader's curiosity, +with which, he shall be gratified. It carries in it much of that +stiffness and pedantry peculiar to the times, and is very different +from the usual stile of our author. + + +'May it please your LORDSHIP, + +'It might perhaps seem fit for me to seek out words to give your +excellence thanks for myself. But indeed the only civility, which it +is fit for me to practise with so eminent a person, is to obey +you, and to perform honestly this work which you have set me about. +Therefore I shall use the time that your lordship is pleased to allow +me for writing, only to that purpose for which you have given me it, +that is to render you some account of Mr. Dutton. I have taken care +to examine him several times in the presence of Mr. Oxenbridge[D], as +those who weigh and tell over money, before some witnesses e'er they +take charge of it; for I thought that there might be possibly some +lightness in the coin, or error in the telling, which hereafter I +might be bound to make good. Therefore Mr. Oxenbridge is the best to +make your excellence an impartial relation thereof; I shall only say, +that I shall strive according to my best understanding to increase +whatsoever talent he may have already. Truly he is of a gentle, and +waxen disposition; and, God be praised, I cannot say that he hath +brought with him any evil impression; and I hope to set nothing upon +his spirit, but what shall be of a good sculpture. He hath in him two +things, which make youth most easily to be managed, modesty, which is +the bridle to vice, and emulation, which is the spur to virtue. And +the care which your excellency is pleased to take of him, is no small +encouragement, and shall be represented to him; but above all, I shall +labour to make him sensible of his duty to God, for then we begin to +serve faithfully, when we consider that he is our master; and in this +both he and I owe infinitely to your lordship, for having placed in so +godly a family as that of Mr. Oxenbridge, whose doctrine and +example are like a book and a map, not only instructing the ear, but +demonstrating to the eye which way we ought to travel. I shall upon +occasion henceforward inform your excellency of any particularities +in our little affairs. I have no more at present but to give thanks to +God for your lordship, and to beg grace of him, to approve myself. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Marvel's first appearance in public business at home, was, in +being assistant to Milton as Latin secretary to the Protector. He +himself tells us, in a piece called The Rehearsal Transposed, that +he never had any, not the remotest relation to public matters, nor +correspondence with the persons then predominant, until the year 1657, +when indeed, says he, 'I entered into an employment, for which I +was not altogether improper, and which I considered to be the most +innocent, and inoffensive towards his Majesty's affairs of any in that +usurped, and irregular government, to which all men were then exposed; +and this I accordingly discharged, without disobliging any one person, +there having been opportunities, and endeavours since his Majesty's +happy return, to have discovered, had it been otherwise.' + +A little before the Restoration, he was chosen by his native +town, Kingston upon Hull, to sit in that Parliament which began at +Westminster April 25, 1660, and again after the Restoration for that +which began at the same place May 8, 1661. In this station our author +discharged his trust with the utmost fidelity, and always shewed a +peculiar regard for those he represented; for he constantly sent the +particulars of every proceeding in the House, to the heads of the town +for which he was elected; and to those accounts he always joined +his own opinion. This respectful behaviour gained so much on their +affections, that they allowed him an honourable pension to his death, +all which time he continued in Parliament. Mr. Marvel was not endowed +with the gift of eloquence, for he seldom spoke in the house; but was +however capable of forming an excellent judgment of things, and was so +acute a discerner of characters, that his opinion was greatly valued, +and he had a powerful influence over many of the Members without +doors. Prince Rupert particularly esteemed him, and whenever he voted +agreeable to the sentiments of Mr. Marvel, it was a saying of the +opposite party, he has been with his tutor. The intimacy between this +illustrious foreigner, and our author was so great, that when it was +unsafe for the latter to have it known where he lived, on account of +some mischief which was threatened him, the prince would frequently +visit him in a disguised habit. Mr. Marvel was often in such danger of +assassination, that he was obliged to have his letters directed to him +in another name, to prevent any discovery that way. He made himself +obnoxious to the government, both by his actions, and writings; and +notwithstanding his proceedings were all contrary to his private +interest, nothing could ever make his resolution, of which the +following is a notable instance, and transmits our author's name with +lustre to posterity. + +One night he was entertained by the King, who had often been delighted +with his company: his Majesty next day sent the lord treasurer Danby +to find out his lodging; Mr. Marvel, then rented a room up two pair of +stairs, in a little court in the Strand, and was writing when the lord +treasurer opened the door abruptly upon him. Surprized at the sight +of so unexpected a visitor, Mr. Marvel told his lordship, that he +believed he had mistaken his way; the lord Danby replied, not now I +have found Mr. Marvel: telling him that he came with a message from +his Majesty, which was to know what he could do to serve him? his +answer was, in his usual facetious manner, that it was not in his +Majesty's power to serve him: but coming to a serious explanation of +his meaning, he told the lord treasurer, that he well knew the nature +of courts, and that whoever is distinguished by a Prince's favour, is +certainly expected to vote in his interest. The lord Danby told him, +that his Majesty had only a just sense of his merits, in regard to +which alone, he desired to know whether there was any place at +court he could be pleased with. These offers, though, urged with +the greatest earnestness, had no effect upon him; he told the lord +treasurer, that he could not accept it with honour, for he must either +be ungrateful to the King by voting against him, or betray his country +by giving his voice against its interest, at least what he reckoned +so. The only favour therefore which he begged of his Majesty, was, +that he would esteem him as dutiful a subject as any he had, and +more in his proper interest in rejecting his offers, than if he had +embraced them. The lord Danby finding no arguments would prevail, told +him, the King had ordered a thousand pounds for him, which he hoped he +would accept, 'till he could think what farther to ask of his Majesty. +This last temptation was refused with the same stedfastness of mind as +the first. + +The reader must have already taken notice that Mr. Marvel's chief +support was the pension allowed him by his constituents, that his +lodgings, were mean, and consequently his circumstances at this time +could not be affluent. His resisting these temptations therefore in +such a situation, was perhaps one of the most heroic instances of +patriotism the Annals of England can furnish. But his conduct will be +still heightened into a more amiable light, when it is related, that +as soon as the lord treasurer had taken his leave, he was obliged to +send to a friend to borrow a guinea. As the most powerful allurements +of riches, and honour, could never seduce him to relinquish the +interest of his country, so not even the most immense dangers could +deter him from pursuing it. In a private letter to a friend from +Highgate, in which he mentions the insuperable hatred of his foes to +him, and their design of murthering him, he has these words; Praeterea +magis eccidere metuo quam occidi, non quod vitam tanti aestimem, sed +ne imparatus moriar, i.e., 'Besides, I am more apprehensive of killing, +than being killed, not that I value life so much, but that I may not +die unprepared.' Mr. Marvel did not remain an unconcerned member of +the state, when he saw encroachments made upon it both by the civil, +and ecclesiastical powers. He saw that some of the bishops had formed +an idea of protestantism very different from the true one, and +were making such advances towards popery, as would soon issue in a +reconciliation. Amongst these ecclesiastics, none was so forward +as Dr. Samuel Parker, who published at London 1672 in 8vo. bishop +Bramhal's Vindication of himself, and the Episcopal Clergy, from the +Presbyterian charge of Popery, as it is managed by Mr. Baxter in his +Treatise on the Grotian Religion. Dr. Parker likewise preached up +the doctrine of Non-resistance, which slavish principle is admirably +calculated to prepare the people for receiving any yoke. Marvel, whose +talent consisted in drollery, more than in serious reasoning, took +his own method of exposing those opinions. He wrote a piece called +The Rehearsal Transposed, in which he very successfully ridiculed Dr. +Parker. This ludicrous essay met with several answers, some serious, +and others humorous; we shall not here enumerate all the Rejoinders, +Replies, and Animad-versions upon it. Wood himself confesses, who was +an avowed enemy to Marvel, 'that Dr. Parker judged it more prudent +rather to lay down the cudgels, than to enter the lists again, with an +untowardly combatant, so hugely well versed, and experienced, in +the then newly refined art of sporting, and jeering buffoonery.' +And bishop Burnet tells us in the History of his own Time, 'That +Dr. Parker, after he had for some years entertained the nation with +several virulent books, was attacked by the liveliest droll of +the age, who wrote in a burlesque stile, but with so peculiar, and +entertaining a conduct, that from the King down to the tradesman, his +book was read with great pleasure. This not only humbled Parker, but +the whole party, for the author of The Rehearsal Transposed, had all +the men of wit on his side.' Dr. Swift likewise in his Apology for +the Tale of a Tub, speaking of the usual fate of common answerers to +books, and how short-lived their labours are, observes, 'That there is +indeed an exception, when any great genius thinks it worth his while +to expose a foolish piece; so we still read Marvel's answer to Parker +with pleasure, though the book it answers be sunk long ago.' + +The next controversy in which we find Mr. Marvel engaged, was with +an antagonist of the pious Dr. Croft, bishop of Hereford, who wrote a +discourse entitled The Naked Truth, or A True State of the Primitive +Church: By an humble Moderator. Dr. Turner, fellow of St. John's +College, wrote Animadversions upon this book; Mr. Marvel's answer to +these Animadversions, was entitled Mr. Smirk, or The Divine in Mode; +being certain Annotations upon the Animadversions on The Naked Truth, +together with a Short Historical Essay concerning General Councils, +Creeds, and Impositions in Matters of Religion, printed 1676. + +Our author's next work was An Account of the Growth of Popery, and +Arbitrary Government in England; more particularly from the long +prorogation of November 1675, ending February 15, 1676, 'till the +meeting of Parliament July 15, 1677, printed in folio 1678. Our author +in a letter dated June 10, 1678, wrote thus; 'There came out about +Christmas last here, a large book concerning the Growth of Popery, +and Arbitrary Government. There have been great rewards offered in +private, and considerable, in the Gazette, to any, who would inform of +the author, and Printer, but not yet discovered. Three or four printed +books since have described (as near as was proper to go, the man being +a member of Parliament) Mr. Marvel to be the author, but if he had, he +surely could not have escaped being questioned in Parliament, or 'Some +other place.' This book was so offensive to the court at that time, +that an order was published in these words, + +'Whereas there have been lately printed, and published several +seditious, and scandalous libels against the proceedings of both +Houses of Parliament, and other his Majesty's Courts of Justice, +to the dishonour of his Majesty's government, and the hazard of the +public peace, these are to give notice, that what person soever shall +discover unto one of the secretaries of state, the printer, publisher, +author, or hander to the press of any of the said libels, so that +full evidence may be made thereof to a Jury, without mentioning the +informer, especially one libel, entitled An Account of the Growth +of Popery; and another called A Reasonable Argument to all the Grand +Juries, &c. the discoverer shall be rewarded as follows; he shall +have fifty pounds for such discovery as aforesaid, of the printer or +publisher of it from the press, and for the hander of it to the press, +one hundred pounds.' + +Mr. Marvel begins this book with a panegyric on the constitution of +the English government, shewing how happy the people are under such +wholesome laws, which if faithfully observed, must make a people +happy, and a monarch great. He observes, that the king and the subject +are equally under the laws; and that the former is no longer king than +he continues to obey them. 'So that, says he, the kings of England, +are in nothing inferior to other princes, save in being more abridg'd +from injuring their own subjects, but have as large a field as any of +external felicity, wherein to exercise their own virtue, and to reward +and encourage it in others. In short there is nothing that comes +nearer the divine perfection, than when the monarch, as with us, +enjoys a capacity of doing all the good imaginable to mankind, under a +disability of all that is evil.' + +After slightly tracing popery from earlier times, he begins with the +Dutch war in 1665; but dwells most upon the proceedings at Rome, from +November 1675, to July 1677. He relates the occasion of the Dutch war, +shews that the papists, and the French in particular, were the true +springs of all our councils; and draws the following picture of +popery. + +'It is such a thing, as cannot but for want of a word to express it, +be called a religion; nor is it to be mentioned with that civility, +which is otherwise decent to be used in speaking of the differences of +human opinions about divine matters; were it either open Juadism, +or plain Turkery, or, there is yet a certain Bona Fides in the most +extravagant belief, and the sincerity of an erroneous profession may +render it more pardonable: But this is a compound of all the three, +an extract of whatever is most ridiculous or impious in them, +incorporated with more peculiar absurdities of its own, in which those +were deficient; and all this deliberately contrived, and knowingly +carried on, by the solid imposture of priests, under the name of +Christianity.' + +This great man died, not without strong suspicions of being poisoned, +August 16, 1678, in the 58th year of his age, and was interred in the +church of St. Giles's in the Fields; and in the year 1688 the town of +Kingston upon Hull contributed a sum of money to erect a monument over +him, in St. Giles's church, for which an epitaph was composed by an +able hand; but the minister of that church, piously forbad both the +inscription and monument to be placed there. + +Mr. Wood tells us, that in his conversation, he was very modest, and +of few words; and Mr. Cooke observes, 'that he was very reserved among +people he did not very well know; but a most delightful, and improving +companion amongst his friends.' + +In the year 1680, his miscellaneous poems were published, to which +is prefixed this advertisement. 'These are to certify every ingenious +reader, that all these poems, as also the other things in this book +contained, are printed according to the exact copies of my late dear +husband, under his own hand writing, both found since his death, among +his other papers. + +Witness my hand, + +MARY MARVEL. + +But Mr. Cooke informs us, 'that these were published with a mercenary +view; and indeed not at all to the honour of the deceased, by a woman +with whom he lodged, who hoped by this stratagem to share in what he +left behind him.' + +He was never married, and the same gentleman observes in another +place, that in the editions of 1681, there are such gross errors, +especially in the Latin Poems, as make several lines unintelligible; +and that in the volume of Poems on Affairs of State, the same mistakes +are as frequent; and in those, some pieces are attributed to our +author, which he never wrote. Most of his Poems printed in Dryden's +Miscellanies are so imperfect, that whole stanzas are omitted in many +places. + +These Mr. Cooke has restored in his edition of the works of Andrew +Marvel, Esq; printed at London 1725, in two volumes, and corrected +such faults as in either of the two former editions obscure the sense: +in this edition are also added, some poems from original manuscripts. +Great care has likewise been taken by Mr. Cooke, to retrench such +pieces as he was sure were not genuine. + +Mr. Marvel, considered as a statesman, makes a more conspicuous +figure than any of the age in which he lived, the proceeding, or the +subsequent: He possessed the first quality of a statesman, that is, +inviolable integrity, and a heart so confirmed against corruption, +that neither indigence, a love of pomp or even dangers the most +formidable, could move his settled purpose, to pursue in every +respect, the interest of his country. + +That Marvel understood the true interest of his country, is abundantly +clear, from the great reverence paid to his opinion, by such persons +as were most able to discern, and most disposed to promote its +welfare. He has succeeded to a miracle in the droll way of writing; +and when he assumes a severity, and writes seriously his arguments and +notions are far removed from imbecility. + +As a poet, I cannot better delineate his character than in the words +of Mr. Cooke, 'There are few of his poems (says he) that have not +something very pleasing in them, and some he must be allowed to have +excelled in; most of them seem to be the effect of a lively genius, +and manly sense, but at the same time seem to want that correctness +he was capable of making. His most finished pieces are upon Milton's +Paradise Lost, and upon Blood's stealing the crown; the latter of +which is very satirical.' + + On BLOOD's stealing the Crown. + + + When daring Blood, his rent to have regain'd, + Upon the English diadem distrain'd; + He chose the cassoc, circingle, and gown, + The fittest mask for one that robs the crown: + But his lay-pity underneath prevail'd, + And, while he sav'd the keeper's life, he fail'd. + With the priest's vestment had he but put on + The prelate's cruelty, the crown had gone. + +'In his state Poems, is contained much of the secret history of +king Charles the IId, in which time they were all written. They +were composed on various occasions, and chiefly to expose a corrupt +ministry, and the violence of those who were for persecuting all who +differed from them in opinion. He has several Poems in Latin, some +of which he translated into English, and one in Greek. They have each +their proper merit; he discovers a great facility in writing the Latin +tongue. There are some small pieces of his in prose, which ought not +to escape observation. From his letter to Sir John Trott, there seems +to have been a friendly correspondence between him and that gentleman. +By his Familiar Letters, we may easily judge what part of his works +are laboured, and what not. But of all his pieces in Prose, the King's +Mock-Speech to both Houses of Parliament, has most of spirit, and +humour. As it will furnish the best specimen of Mr. Marvel's genius +for drollery, as well as the character of that prince and ministry, we +shall here insert it, as a performance of the most exquisite humour we +have ever seen. + + His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both + Houses of Parliament. + + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + 'I told you, at our last meeting, the winter was + the fittest time for business, and truly I thought + so, till my lord treasurer assured me the spring was + the best season for sallads and subsidies. I hope + therefore, that April will not prove so unnatural a + month, as not to afford some kind showers on my + parched exchequer, which gapes for want of them. + Some of you, perhaps, will think it dangerous to + make me too rich; but I do not fear it; for I promise + you faithfully, whatever you give me I will + always want; and although in other things my + word may be thought a slender authority, yet in + that, you may rely on me, I will never break it. + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + I can bear my straits with patience; but my lord + treasurer does protest to me, that the revenue, as it + now stands, will not serve him and me too. One + of us must suffer for it, if you do not help me. I + must speak freely to you, I am under bad circumstances, + for besides my harlots in service, my Reformado + Concubines lie heavy upon me. I have a + passable good estate, I confess, but, God's-fish, I + have a great charge upon't. Here's my lord treasurer + can tell, that all the money designed for next + summer's guards must, of necessity, be applyed to + the next year's cradles and swadling-cloths. What + shall we do for ships then? I hint this only to you, + it being your business, not mine. I know, by experience, + I can live without ships. I lived ten years + abroad without, and never had my health better in + my life; but how you will be without, I leave to + yourselves to judge, and therefore hint this only by + the by: I do not insist upon it. There's another + thing I must press more earnestly, and that is this: + It seems, a good part of my revenue will expire in + two or three years, except you will be pleased to + continue it. I have to say for't; pray why did you + give me so much as you have done, unless you resolve + to give as fast as I call for it? The nation + hates you already for giving so much, and I'll hate + you too, if you do not give me more. So that if + you stick not to me, you must not have a friend in + England. On the other hand, if you will give me + the revenue I desire, I shall be able to do those + things for your religion and liberty, that I have had + long in my thoughts, but cannot effect them without + a little more money to carry me through. + Therefore look to't, and take notice, that if you + do not make me rich enough to undo you, it shall + lie at your doors. For my part, I wash my hands + on't. But that I may gain your good opinion, the + best way is to acquaint you what I have done to deserve + it, out of my royal care for your religion and + your property. For the first, my proclamation is a + true picture of my mind. He that cannot, as in a + glass, see my zeal for the church of England, does + not deserve any farther satisfaction, for I declare + him willful, abominable, and not good. Some + may, perhaps, be startled, and cry, how comes + this sudden change? To which I answer, I am a + changling, and that's sufficient, I think. But to + convince men farther, that I mean what I say, there + are these arguments. + + First, I tell you so, and you know I never break + my word. + + Secondly, my lord treasurer says so, and he never + told a lye in his life. + + Thirdly, my lord Lauderdale will undertake it + for me; and I should be loath, by any art of mine, + he should forfeit the credit he has with you. + + If you desire more instances of my zeal, I have + them for you. For example, I have converted my + natural sons from Popery; and I may say, without + vanity, it was my own work, so much the more + peculiarly mine than the begetting them. 'Twould + do one's heart good to hear how prettily George can + read already in the Psalter. They are all fine children, + God bless 'em, and so like me in their understandings! + But, as I was saying, I have, to please + you, given a pension to your favourite, my lord + Lauderdale; not so much that I thought he wanted + it, as that you would take it kindly. I have made + Carwel duchess of Portsmouth, and marry'd her + sister to the earl of Pembroke. I have, at my brother's + request, lent my lord Inchequin into Barbary, + to settle the Protestant religion among the Moors, + and an English interest at Tangier. I have made + Crew bishop of Durham, and, at the first word of + my lady Portsmouth, Prideaux bishop of Chichester. + I know not, for my part, what factious men would + have; but this I am sure of, my predecessors never + did any thing like this, to gain the good-will of their + subjects. So much for your religion, and now for + your property. My behaviour to the bankers is + a public instance; and the proceedings between + Mrs. Hyde and Mrs. Sutton, for private ones, are + such convincing evidences, that it will be needless + to say any more to't. + + I must now acquaint you, that, by my lord treasurer's + advice, I made a considerable retrenchment + upon my expences in candies and charcoal, and do + not intend to stop there, but will, with your help, + look into the late embezzlements of my dripping-pans + and kitchenstuff; of which, by the way, upon + my conscience, neither my lord treasurer, nor my + lord Lauderdale, are guilty. I tell you my opinion; + but if you should find them dabling in that business, + I tell you plainly, I leave 'em to you; for, I would + have the world to know, I am not a man to be + cheated. + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + I desire you to believe me as you have found me; + and I do solemnly promise you, that whatsoever + you give me shall be specially managed with the + same conduct, trust, sincerity, and prudence, that + I have ever practiced, since my happy restoration.' + +In order to shew the versification of Mr. Marvel, we shall add a +beautiful dialogue between the resolved soul, and created pleasure. It +is written with a true spirit of poetry, the numbers are various, +and harmonious, and is one of the best pieces, in the serious way, of +which he is author. + + A DIALOGUE between the Resolved SOUL + and Created PLEASURE. + + + Courage, my Soul, now learn to weild + The weight of thine immortal shield. + Close on thy head thy helmet bright; + Ballance thy sword against the fight. + See where an army, strong as fair, + With silken banners spreads the air. + Now, if thou be'st that thing divine, + In this day's combat let it shine; + And shew that nature wants an art + To conquer one resolved heart. + + PLEASURE. + + Welcome the creation's guest, + Lord of earth, and heaven's heir; + Lay aside that warlike crest, + And of nature's banquet share: + Where the Souls of fruits and flow'rs, + Stand prepar'd to heighten yours. + + SOUL. + + I sup above, and cannot stay, + To bait so long upon the way. + + PLEASURE. + + On these downy pillows lye, + Whose soft plumes will thither fly: + On these roses, strew'd so plain + Lest one leaf thy side should strain. + SOUL. + + My gentler rest is on a thought, + Conscious of doing what I ought. + + PLEASURE. + + If thou be'st with perfumes pleas'd, + Such as oft the gods appeas'd, + Thou in fragrant clouds shalt show + Like another god below. + + SOUL. + + A Soul that knows not to presume, + Is heaven's, and its own, perfume. + + PLEASURE. + + Every thing does seem to vye + Which should first attract thine eye; + But since none deserves that grace, + In this crystal view thy face. + + SOUL. + + When the creator's skill is priz'd, + The rest is all but earth disguis'd. + + PLEASURE. + + Hark how music then prepares, + For thy stay, these charming airs; + Which the posting winds recall, + And suspend the river's fall. + SOUL. + + Had I but any time to lose, + On this I would it all dispose. + Cease Tempter. None can chain a mind, + Whom this sweet cordage cannot bind. + + CHORUS. + + Earth cannot shew so brave a sight, + As when a single Soul does fence + The batt'ry of alluring sense, + And Heaven views it with delight. + Then persevere; for still new charges sound; + And if thou overcom'st thou shalt be crown'd. + + PLEASURE. + + All that's costly, fair, and sweet, + Which scatteringly doth shine, + Shall within one beauty meet, + And she be only thine. + + SOUL. + + If things of sight such heavens be, + What heavens are those we cannot see? + + PLEASURE. + + Wheresoe'er thy foot shall go + The minted gold shall lye; + Till thou purchase all below, + And want new worlds to buy. + + SOUL. + + Wer't not for price who'd value gold? + And that's worth nought that can be sold. + + PLEASURE. + + Wilt thou all the glory have + That war or peace commend? + Half the world shall be thy slave, + The other half thy friend. + + SOUL. + + What friends, if to my self untrue? + What slaves, unless I captive you? + + PLEASURE. + + Thou shalt know each hidden cause; + And see the future time: + Try what depth the centre draws; + And then to heaven climb. + + SOUL. + + None thither mounts by the degree + Of knowledge, but humility. + + CHORUS. + + Triumph, triumph, victorious Soul; + The world has not one pleasure more; + The rest does lye beyond the pole, + And is thine everlasting store. + +We shall conclude the life of Mr. Marvel, by presenting the reader +with that epitaph, which was intended to be inscribed upon his tomb, +in which his character is drawn in a very masterly manner. + + Near this place + Lieth the body of ANDREW MARVEL, Esq; + A man so endowed by nature, + So improved by education, study, and travel, + So consummated, by experience and learning; + That joining the most peculiar graces of wit + With a singular penetration and strength of judgment, + And exercising all these in the whole course of his life, + With unalterable steadiness in the ways of virtue, + He became the ornament and example of his age, + Beloved by good men, fear'd by bad, admired by all, + Tho' imitated, alas! by few; + And scarce paralleled by any. + But a tombstone can neither contain his character, + Nor is marble necessary to transmit it to posterity. + It is engraved in the minds of this generation, + And will be always legible in his inimitable writings. + Nevertheless + He having served near twenty-years successively in + parliament, + And that, with such wisdom, integrity, dexterity, + and courage, + As became a true patriot, + The town of Kingiton upon Hull, + From whence he was constantly deputed to that + Assembly, + Lamenting in his death the public loss, + Have erected this monument of their grief and + gratitude, + 1688. + + He died in the 58th year of his age + On the 16th day of August 1678. + + Heu fragile humanum genus! heu terrestria vana! + Heu quem spectatum continet urna virum! + + +[Footnote A: A disappointment occasioned our throwing this life out +of the chronlogical order. But we hope the candid reader will pardon +a fault of this kind: we only wish he may find nothing of more +consequence to accuse us of.] + +[Footnote B: Cook's Life of Andrew Marvel, Esq; prefixed to the first +volume of Mr. Marvel's Works, London 1726.] + +[Footnote C: Life ubi supri.] + +[Footnote D: Mr. John Oxenbridge, who was made fellow of Eton College +curing the civil war, but ejected at the Restoration; he died in New +England, and was a very enthusiastic person.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. ELIZABETH THOMAS, + + +This lady, who is known in the world by the poetial name of Corinna, +seems to have been born for misfortunes; her very bitterest enemies +could never brand her with any real crime, and yet her whole life +has been one continued scene of misery[A]. The family from which she +sprung was of a rank in life beneath envy, and above contempt. She was +the child of an ancient, and infirm parent, who gave her life when +he was dying himself, and to whose unhappy constitution she was sole +heiress. From her very birth, which happened 1675, she was afflicted +with fevers and defluxions, and being over-nursed, her constitution +was so delicate and tender, that had she not been of a gay +disposition, and possessed a vigorous mind, she must have been more +unhappy than she actually was. Her father dying when she was scarce +two years old, and her mother not knowing his real circumstances, as +he was supposed from the splendour of his manner of life to be very +rich, some inconveniencies were incurred, in bestowing upon him a +pompous funeral, which in those times was fashionable. The mother of +our poetess, in the bloom of eighteen, was condemned to the arms of +this man, upwards of 60, upon the supposition of his being wealthy, +but in which she was soon miserably deceived. When the grief, which +so young a wife may be supposed to feel for an aged husband, had +subsided, she began to enquire into the state of his affairs, and +found to her unspeakable mortification, that he died not worth one +thousand pounds in the world. As Mrs. Thomas was a woman of good +sense, and a high spirit, she disposed of two houses her husband kept, +one in town, the other in the county of Essex, and retired into a +private, but decent country lodging. The chambers in the Temple her +husband possessed, she sold to her brother for 450 l. which, with her +husband's books of accounts, she lodged in her trustee's hands, who +being soon after burnt out by the fire in the paper buildings in the +temple (which broke out with such violence in the dead of night, that +he saved nothing but his life) she lost considerably. Not being +able to make out any bill, she could form no regular demand, and was +obliged to be determined by the honour of her husband's clients, who +though persons of the first fashion, behaved with very little honour +to her. The deceased had the reputation of a judicious lawyer, and +an accomplished gentleman, but who was too honest to thrive in his +profession, and had too much humanity ever to become rich. Of all +his clients, but one lady behaved with any appearance of honesty. The +countess dowager of Wentworth having then lost her only daughter the +lady Harriot (who was reputed the mistress of the duke of Monmouth) +told Mrs. Thomas, 'that she knew she had a large reckoning with the +deceased, but, says she, as you know not what to demand, so I know +not what to pay; come, madam, I will do better for you than a random +reckoning, I have now no child, and have taken a fancy to your +daughter; give me the girl, I will breed her as my own, and provide +for her as such when I die.' The widow thank'd her ladyship, but with +a little too much warmth replied, 'she would not part with her child +on any terms;' which the countess resented to such a degree, that she +would never see her more, and dying in a few years, left 1500 l. per +annum inheritance, at Stepney, to her chambermaid. + +Thus were misfortunes early entailed upon this lady. A proposal which +would have made her opulent for life, was defeated by the unreasonable +fondness of her mother, who lived to suffer its dismal consequences, +by tasting the bitterest distresses. We have already observed, that +Mrs. Thomas thought proper to retire to the country with her daughter. +The house where she boarded was an eminent Cloth-worker's in the +county of Surry, but the people of the house proved very disagreeable. +The lady had no conversation to divert her; the landlord was an +illiterate man, and the rest of the family brutish, and unmannerly. +At last Mrs. Thomas attracted the notice of Dr. Glysson, who observing +her at church very splendidly dressed, sollicited her acquaintance. He +was a valuable piece of antiquity, being then, 1684, in the hundredth +year of his age. His person was tall, his bones very large, his hair +like snow, a venerable aspect, and a complexion, which might shame +the bloom of fifteen. He enjoyed a sound judgment, and a memory so +tenacious, and clear, that his company was very engaging. His visits +greatly alleviated the solitude of this lady. The last visit he +made to Mrs. Thomas, he drew on, with much attention, a pair of +rich Spanish leather gloves, embost on the backs, and tops with gold +embroidery, and fringed round with gold plate. The lady could not help +expressing her curiosity, to know the history of those gloves, which +he seemed to touch with so much respect. He answered, 'I do respect +them, for the last time I had the honour of approaching my mistress, +Queen Elizabeth, she pulled them from her own Royal hands, saying, +here Glysson, wear them for my sake. I have done so with veneration, +and never drew them on, but when I had a mind to honour those whom +I visit, as I now do you; and since you love the memory of my Royal +mistress, take them, and preserve them carefully when I am gone.' The +Dr. then went home, and died in a few days. + +This gentleman's death left her again without a companion, and an +uneasiness hung upon her, visible to the people of the house; who +guessing the cause to proceed from solitude, recommended to her +acquaintance another Physician, of a different cast from the former. +He was denominated by them a conjurer, and was said to be capable +of raising the devil. This circumstance diverted Mrs. Thomas, who +imagined, that the man whom they called a conjurer, must have more +sense than they understood. The Dr. was invited to visit her, and +appeared in a greasy black Grogram, which he called his Scholar's +Coat, a long beard, and other marks of a philosophical negligence. +He brought all his little mathematical trinkets, and played over his +tricks for the diversion of the lady, whom, by a private whisper, he +let into the secrets as he performed them, that she might see there +was nothing of magic in the case. The two most remarkable articles of +his performance were, first lighting a candle at a glass of cold water +(performed by touching the brim before with phosphorus, a chymical +fire which is preserved in water and burns there) and next reading +the smallest print by a candle of six in the pound, at a hundred yards +distance in the open air, and darkest night. This was performed by a +large concave-glass, with a deep pointed focus, quick-silvered on the +backside and set in tin, with a socket for a candle, sconce fashion, +and hung up against a wall. While the flame of the candle was +diametrically opposite to the centre, the rays equally diverging, gave +so powerful a light as is scarce credible; but on the least variation +from the focus, the charm ceased. The lady discerning in this man a +genius which might be improved to better purposes than deceiving +the country people, desired him not to hide his talents, but to push +himself in the world by the abilities of which he seemed possessed. +'Madam, said he, I am now a fiddle to asses, but I am finishing a +great work which will make those asses fiddle to me.' She then asked +what that work might be? He replied, 'his life was at stake if it took +air, but he found her a lady of such uncommon candour, and good sense, +that he should make no difficulty in committing his life and hope +to her keeping.' All women are naturally fond of being trusted with +secrets; this was Mrs. Thomas's failing: the Dr. found it out, and +made her pay dear for her curiosity. 'I have been, continued he, many +years in search of the Philosopher's Stone, and long master of the +smaragdine-table of Hermes Trismegistus; the green and red dragons of +Raymond Lully have also been obedient to me, and the illustrious sages +themselves deign to visit me; yet is it but since I had the honour to +be known to your ladyship, that I have been so fortunate as to obtain +the grand secret of projection. I transmuted some lead I pulled off +my window last night into this bit of gold.' Pleased with the sight of +this, and having a natural propension to the study, the lady snatched +it out of the philosopher's hand, and asked him why he had not +made more? He replied, 'it was all the lead I could find.' She then +commanded her daughter to bring a parcel of lead which lay in the +closet, and giving it to the Chymist, desired him to transmute it into +gold on the morrow. He undertook it, and the next day brought her an +ingot which weighed two ounces, which with the utmost solemnity he +avowed was the very individual lead she gave him, transmuted to gold. + +She began now to engage him in serious discourse; and finding by his +replies, that he wanted money to make more powder, she enquired how +much would make a stock that would maintain itself? He replied, one +fifty pounds after nine months would produce a million. She then +begged the ingot of him, which he protested had been transmuted +from lead, and flushed with the hopes of success, hurried to town to +examine whether the ingot was true gold, which proved fine beyond the +standard. The lady now fully convinced of the truth of the empyric's +declaration, took fifty pounds out of the hands of a Banker, and +entrusted him with it. + +The only difficulty which remained, was, how to carry on the work +without suspicion, it being strictly prohibited at that time. He was +therefore resolved to take a little house in another county, at a few +miles distance from London, where he was to build a public laboratory, +as a professed Chymist, and deal in such medicines as were most +vendible, by the sale of which to the apothecaries, the expence of the +house was to be defrayed during the operation. The widow was accounted +the housekeeper, and the Dr. and his man boarded with her; to which +she added this precaution, that the laboratory, with the two lodging +rooms over it, in which the Dr. and his man lay, was a different +wing of the building from that where she and her little daughter, and +maid-servant resided; and as she knew some time must elapse before any +profit could be expected, she managed with the utmost frugality. The +Dr. mean time acted the part of a tutor to miss, in Arithmetic, Latin, +and Mathematics, to which she discovered the strongest propensity. All +things being properly disposed for the grand operation, the vitriol +furnace was set to work, which requiring the most intense heat +for several days, unhappily set fire to the house; the stairs were +consumed in an instant, and as it surprized them all in their first +sleep, it was a happy circumstance that no life perished. This unlucky +accident was 300 l. loss to Mrs. Thomas: yet still the grand project +was in a fair way of succeeding in the other wing of the building. But +one misfortune is often followed by another. The next Sunday evening, +while she was reading to, and instructing her little family, a sudden, +and a violent report, like a discharge of cannon was heard; the house +being timber, rocked like a cradle, and the family were all thrown +from their chairs on the ground. They looked with the greatest +amazement on each other, not guessing the cause, when the operator +pretending to revive, fell to stamping, tearing his hair, and raving +like a madman, crying out undone, undone, lost and undone for ever. +He ran directly to the Athanor, when unlocking the door, he found +the machine split quite in two, the eggs broke, and that precious +amalgamum which they contained was scattered like sand among the +ashes. Mrs. Thomas's eyes were now sufficiently opened to discern the +imposture, and, with a very serene countenance, told the empyric, that +accidents will happen, but means might be fallen upon to repair this +fatal disappointment. The Dr. observing her so serene, imagined +she would grant him more money to compleat his scheme, but she soon +disappointed his expectation, by ordering him to be gone, and made +him a present of five guineas, left his desperate circumstances should +induce him to take some violent means of providing for himself. + +Whether deluded by a real hope of finding out the Philosopher's Stone, +or from an innate principle of villainy, cannot be determined, but he +did not yet cease his pursuit, and still indulged the golden delusion. +He now found means to work upon the credulity of an old miser, +who, upon the strength of his pretensions, gave him his daughter +in marriage, and embarked all his hoarded treasure, which was very +considerable, in the same chimerical adventure. In a word, the miser's +stock was also lost, the empyric himself, and the daughter reduced to +beggary. This unhappy affair broke the miser's heart, who did not many +weeks survive the loss of his cash. The Dr. also put a miserable +end to his life by drinking poison, and left his wife with two young +children in a state of beggary. But to return to Mrs. Thomas. + +The poor lady suffered on this occasion a great deal of inward +anguish; she was ashamed of having reduced her fortune, and +impoverished her child by listening to the insinuations of a madman. +Time and patience at last overcame it; and when her health, which by +this accident had been impaired, was restored to her, she began +to stir amongst her husband's great clients. She took a house in +Bloomsbury, and by means of good economy, and an elegant appearance, +was supposed to be better in the world than she really was. Her +husband's clients received her like one risen from the dead: They came +to visit her, and promised to serve her. At last the duke of Montague +advised her to let lodgings, which way of life she declined, as her +talents were not suited for dealing with ordinary lodgers; but added +she, 'if I knew any family who desired such a conveniency, I would +readily accommodate them.' I take you at your word, replied the duke, +'I will become your sole tenant: Nay don't smile, for I am in earnest, +I love a little freedom more than I can enjoy at home, and I may come +sometimes and eat a bit of mutton, with four or five honest fellows, +whose company I delight in.' The bargain was bound, and proved matter +of fact, though on a deeper scheme than drinking a bottle: And his +lordship was to pass in the house for Mr. Freeman of Hertfordshire. + +In a few days he ordered a dinner for his beloved friends, Jack and +Tom, Will and Ned, good honest country-fellows, as his grace called +them. They came at the time appointed; but how surprized was the +widow, when she saw the duke of Devonshire, the lords Buckingham, and +Dorset, and a certain viscount, with Sir William Dutton Colt, under +these feign'd names. After several times meeting at this lady's house, +the noble persons, who had a high opinion of her integrity, entrusted +her with the grand secret, which was nothing less than the project for +the Revolution. + +Tho' these meetings were held as private as possible, yet suspicions +arose, and Mrs. Thomas's house was narrowly watched; but the +messengers, who were no enemies to the cause, betrayed their trust, +and suffered the noblemen to meet unmolested, or at least without any +dread of apprehension. + +The Revolution being effected, and the state came more settled, that +place of rendezvous was quitted: The noblemen took leave of the lady, +with promises of obtaining a pension, or some place in the houshold +for her, as her zeal in that cause highly merited; besides she had a +very good claim to some appointment, having been ruined by shutting up +the Excheqner. But alas! court promises proved an aerial foundation, +and these noble peers never thought of her more. The duke of Montague +indeed made offers of service, and being captain of the band of +pensioners, she asked him to admit Mr. Gwynnet, a gentleman who had +made love to her daughter, into such a post. This he promised, but +upon these terms, that her daughter should ask him for it. The widow +thanked him, and not suspecting that any design was covered under this +offer, concluded herself sure of success: But how amazed was she to +find her daughter (whom she had bred in the most passive subjection) +and who had never discovered the least instance of disobedience, +absolutely refuse to ask any such favour of his grace. She could be +prevailed upon neither by flattery, nor threatning, and continuing +still obstinate in her resolution; her mother obliged her to explain +herself, upon the point of her refusal. She told her then, that the +duke of Montague had already made an attack upon her, that his designs +were dishonourable; and that if she submitted to ask his grace one +favour, he would reckon himself secure of another in return, which he +would endeavour to accomplish by the basest means. This explanation +was too satisfactory; Who does not see the meanness of such an +ungenerous conduct? He had made use of the mother as a tool, for +carrying on political designs; he found her in distress, and as a +recompence for her service, and under the pretence of mending her +fortune, attempted the virtue of her daughter, and would provide for +her, on no other terms, but at the price of her child's innocence. + +In the mean time, the young Corinna, a poetical name given her by Mr. +Dryden, continued to improve her mind by reading the politest authors: +Such extraordinary advances had she made, that upon her sending some +poems to Mr. Dryden, entreating his perusal, and impartial sentiments +thereon, he was pleased to write her the following letter. + + Fair CORINNA, + + 'I have sent your two poems back again, after + having kept them so long from you: They were + I thought too good to be a woman's; some of my + friends to whom I read them, were of the same + opinion. It is not very gallant I must confess to + say this of the fair sex; but, most certain it is, + they generally write with more softness than + strength. On the contrary, you want neither + vigour in your thoughts, nor force in your expression, + nor harmony in your numbers; and me-thinks, + I find much of Orinda in your manner, + (to whom I had the honour to be related, and + also to be known) but I am so taken up with my + own studies, that I have not leisure to descend to + particulars, being in the mean time, the fair + Corinna's + + Most humble, and + + Most faithful servant + Nov. 12, 1699. JOHN DRYDEN. + +Our amiable poetess, in a letter to Dr. Talbot, Bishop of Durham, has +given some farther particulars of her life. We have already seen that +she was addressed upon honourable terms, by Mr. Gwynnet, of the +Middle Temple, son of a gentleman in Gloucestershire. Upon his +first discovering his passion to Corinna, she had honour enough to +remonstrate to him the inequality of their fortune, as her affairs +were then in a very perplexed situation. This objection was soon +surmounted by a lover, especially as his father had given him +possession of the greatest part of his estate, and leave to please +himself. Mr. Gwynnet no sooner obtained this, than he came to London, +and claimed Corinna's promise of marriage: But her mother being then +in a very weak condition, she could not abandon her in that distress, +to die among strangers. She therefore told Mr. Gwynnet, that as she +had not thought sixteen years long in waiting for him, he could not +think six months long in expectation of her. He replied, with a deep +sigh, 'Six months at this time, my Corinna, is more than sixteen years +have been; you put it off now, and God will put it off for ever.'--It +proved as he had foretold; he next day went into the country, made his +will, sickened, and died April the 16th, 1711, leaving his Corinna the +bequest of six-hundred pounds; and adds she, 'Sorrow has been my food +ever since.' + +Had she providentially married him, she had been secure from the +insults of poverty; but her duty to her parent was more prevalent than +considerations of convenience. After the death of her lover, she was +barbarously used: His brother, stifled the will, which compelled her +to have recourse to law; he smothered the old gentleman's conveyance +deed, by which he was enabled to make a bequest, and offered a large +sum of money to any person, who would undertake to blacken Corinna's +character; but wicked as the world is, he found none so compleatly +abandoned, as to perjure themselves for the sake of his bribe. At last +to shew her respect to the memory of her deceased lover, she consented +to an accommodation with his brother, to receive 200 l. down, and +200 l. at the year's end. The first payment was made, and distributed +instantly amongst her mother's creditors; but when the other became +due, he bid her defiance, stood suit on his own bond, and held out +four terms. He carried it from one court to another, till at last +it was brought to the bar of the House of Lords; and as that is +a tribunal, where the chicanery of lawyers can have no weight, he +thought proper to pay the money without a hearing: The gentlemen +of the long-robe had made her sign an instrument, that they should +receive the money and pay themselves: After they had laid their cruel +hands upon it, of the 200 l. the poor distressed lady received but +13 l. 16 s. which reduced her to the necessity of absconding from her +creditors, and starving in an obscure corner, till she was betrayed by +a false friend, and hurried to jail. + +Besides all the other calamities of Corinna, she had ever a bad state +of health, occasioned by an accident too curious to be omitted. + +In the year 1730 her case was given into the college of physicians, +and was reckoned a very surprizing one. It is as follows. + +'In April 1711 the patient swallowed the middle bone of the wing of +a large fowl, being above three inches long; she had the end in +her mouth, and speaking hastily it went forcibly down in the act of +inspiration. After the first surprize, feeling no pain she thought no +more of it; in a few days after, she complained what she eat or drank +lay like a stone in her stomach, and little or nothing pass'd through +her. After three weeks obstruction, she fell into a most violent +bloody flux, attended with a continual pain at the pit of her stomach, +convulsions, and swooning fits; nor had she any ease but while her +stomach was distended with liquids, such as small beer, or gruel: +She continued in this misery, with some little intervals, till the +Christmass following, when she was seized with a malignant fever, and +the convulsions encreased to so high a degree, that she crowed like a +cock, and barked like a dog, to the affrightment of all who saw her, +as well as herself. Dr. Colebatch being called to her relief, and +seeing the almost incredible quantity of blood she voided, said it +was impossible she could live, having voided all her bowels. He was +however prevailed with to use means, which he said could only be by +fetching off the inner coat of her stomach, by a very strong vomit; +he did so, and she brought the hair-veel in rolls, fresh and bleeding; +this dislodged the bone, which split length ways, one half pass'd off +by siege, black as jet, the cartilaginous part at each end consumed, +and sharp on each side as a razor; the other part is still lodged +within her. In this raw and extream weak condition, he put her into a +salivation, unknown to her mother or herself, to carry off the other +part, which shocked them to such a degree, that they sent for Dr. +Garth, who with much difficulty, and against his judgment, was +prevailed on to take it off, and using a healing galenical method, +she began to recover so much strength as to be turned in her bed, +and receive nourishment: But she soon after was seized with the Iliac +Passion, and for eleven days, her excrements came upwards, and no +passage could be forced through her, till one day by Dr. Garth, +with quick-silver. After a few weeks it returned again, and the same +medicine repeated, upon which she recovered, and for some months was +brought to be in a tolerable state of health, only the region of +the spleen much swelled; and at some times, when the bone moved +outwards, as it visibly did to sight and touch, was very painful.--In +July 1713, on taking too strong a purge, a large imposthume bag came +away by stool, on which it was supposed, the cystus, which the bone +had worked for itself, being come away, the bone was voided also; but +her pains continued so extraordinary, she willingly submitted to the +decree of four surgeons, who agreed to make an incision in the left +side of the abdomen, and extract the bone; but one of the surgeons +utterly rejecting the operation, as impracticable, the bone being +lodged in the colon, sent her to Bath, where she found some relief by +pumping, and continued tolerably well for some years, even to bear the +fatigue of an eight years suit at law, with an unjust executor; save +that in over-walking, and sudden passion, she used to be pained, but +not violent; and once or twice in a year a discharge of clean gall, +with some portions of a skin, like thin kid leather, tinged with gall, +which she felt break from the place, and leave her sore within; but +the bone never made any attempt out-wards after the first three years. +Being deprived of a competent fortune, by cross accidents, she has +suffered all the extremities of a close imprisonment, if want of all +the necessaries of life, and lying on the boards for two-years may +be termed such, during which time she never felt the bone. But on her +recovering liberty, and beginning to use exercise, her stomach, and +belly, and head swelled to a monstrous degree, and she was judged in a +galloping dropsy; but no proper medicines taking place, she was given +over as incurable, when nature unexpectedly helped itself, and in +twelve hours time by stool, and vomit, she voided about five gallons +of dirty looking water, which greatly relieved her for some days, but +gathered again as the swelling returned, and always abounded with +a hectic, or suffocating asthma in her stomach, and either a canine +appetite or loathing. She has lately voided several extraneous +membranes different from the former, and so frequent, that it keeps +her very low, some of which she has preserved in spirits, and humbly +implores your honours judgment thereon.' + +Under all these calamities, of which the above is a just +representation, did poor Corinna labour; and it is difficult to +produce a life crouded with greater evils. The small fortune which her +father left her, by the imprudence of her mother, was soon squandered: +She no sooner began to taste of life, than an attempt was made upon +her innocence. When she was about being happy in the arms of her +amiable lover Mr. Gwynnet, he was snatched from her by an immature +fate. Amongst her other misfortunes, she laboured under the +displeasure of Mr. Pope, whose poetical majesty she had innocently +offended, and who has taken care to place her in his Dunciad. Mr. Pope +had once vouchsafed to visit her, in company with Henry Cromwel, +Esq; whose letters by some accident fell into her hands, with some of +Pope's answers. As soon as that gentleman died, Mr. Curl found means +to wheedle them from her, and immediately committed them to the press. +This so enraged Pope, that tho' the lady was very little to blame, yet +he never forgave her. + +Not many months after our poetess had been released from her gloomy +habitation, she took a small lodging in Fleet street, where she died +on the 3d of February 1730, in the 56th year of her age, and was two +days after decently interred in the church of St. Bride's. + +Corinna, considered as an authoress, is of the second rate, she had +not so much wit as Mrs. Behn, or Mrs. Manley, nor had so happy a power +of intellectual painting; but her poetry is soft and delicate, her +letters sprightly and entertaining. Her Poems were published after her +death, by Curl; and two volumes of Letters which pass'd between her +and Mr. Gwynnet. We shall select as a specimen of her poetry, an Ode +addressed to the duchess of Somerset, on her birth-day. + + An ODE, &c. + + + I. + + Great, good, and fair, permit an humble muse, + To lay her duteous homage at your feet: + Such homage heav'n itself does not refuse, + But praise, and pray'rs admits, as odours sweet. + + II. + + Blest be forever this auspicious day, + Which gave to such transcendent virtue birth: + May each revolving year new joys display, + Joys great as can supported be on earth. + + III. + + True heiress of the Finch and Hatton line, + Formed by your matchless parents equal care + (The greatest statesman he, yet best divine, + She bright example of all goodness here). + + IV. + + And now incircled in the dearest tye, + To godlike Seymour, of connubial love; + Seymour illustrious prince, whose family + Did heretofore the kingly race improve. + + V. + + Adorns the nation still, and guards the throne, + In noble Somerset, whose generous breast, + Concenters all his ancestors in one, + That were in church, and state, and arms profest. + VI. + + Yet 'midst the plaudits of a grateful land, + His heaven-born soul reviews his pristine state; + And in obedience to divine command, + Numberless poor are feasted at his gate. + + VII. + + Thrice happy greatness, true philosophy, + That does so well the use of riches know, + And can by charity transpire the sky, + Encompass'd round with splendour here below. + + VIII. + + O may posterity from such a pair, + Enjoy a progeny almost divine, + Great as their fire, and as their mother fair, + And good as both, till last extent of time. + + +[Footnote A: See the Memoirs of Mrs. Thomas's Life, prefixed to a +volume of Letters between her and Mr. Gwynnet; the only account that +is preserved concerning her.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ELIJAH FENTON, + + +This worthy gentleman was born at Shelton, near Newcastle under the +Line, in Staffordshire[A]. In this county, though there are several +families of the name of Fenton, yet they are all branches from one +flock, which is a very antient and opulent family: Our author's mother +being immediately descended from one Mare, an officer in William the +Conqueror's army. + +Our poet was the youngest of twelve children, and was intended by his +parents for the ministry: He was sent to the university of Cambridge, +where he embraced the principles very opposite to the government, by +which he became disqualified for entering into holy orders. We find +him soon after his quitting the university, secretary to the earl of +Orrery, but how long he remained in that station we cannot ascertain. +After he quitted the service of this noble peer, it was his custom to +perform a visit annually to his eldest brother's house in the country, +who possessed an estate of 1000 l. per annum. He was caressed in the +country, by all his relations, to whom he endeared himself, by his +affable and genteel behaviour. Mr. Fenton was a man of the most tender +humanity, and discovered it upon every proper occasion: A gentleman +resident in that county, who has transmitted to us some account of Mr. +Fenton, has given us the following instance of his humane disposition. + +He had a great number of sisters, some of whom were less happy in +their marriages than others; one in particular was exposed to many +misfortunes, by the indiscretion and extravagance of her husband. It +is the custom of some people to make very great distinctions between +their rich and poor relations; Mr. Fenton's brother was of this stamp, +and it seems treated his unfortunate sister with less ceremony than +the rest. One day, while Mr. Fenton, was at his brother's house, he +observed the family going to dinner without this sister, who was in +town, and had as good a right to an invitation, as any of the rest who +dined there as a compliment to him. He could not help discovering his +displeasure at so unnatural a distinction, and would not sit down to +table till she was sent for, and in consequence of this slight shewn +her by the rest of the family, Mr. Fenton treated her with more +tenderness and complaisance than any of his sisters. + +Our author carried through life a very fair reputation, he was beloved +and esteemed by Mr. Pope, who honoured him with a beautiful +epitaph. Mr. Fenton after a life of ease and tranquility, died at +East-Hampstead-Park, near Oakingham, the 13th of July 1730, much +regretted by all men of taste, not being obnoxious to the resentment +even of his brother writers. + +In the year 1723, Mr. Fenton introduced upon the stage his Tragedy of +Mariamne, built upon the story related of her in the third volume of +the Spectator, Numb. 171, which the ingenious author collected out of +Josephus. As this story so fully displays the nature of the passion of +jealousy, and discovers so extraordinary a character as that of Herod, +we shall here insert it, after which we shall consider with what +success Mr. Fenton has managed the plot. In a former paper, the author +having treated the passion of jealousy in various lights, and marked +its progress through the human mind, concludes his animadversions with +this story, which he says may serve as an example to whatever can be +said on that subject. + + 'Mariamne had all the charms that beauty, + birth, wit, and youth could give a woman, and + Herod all the love that such charms are able to raise + in a warm and amorous disposition. In the midst of + his fondness for Mariamne, he put her brother + to death, as he did her father not many years + after. The barbarity of the action was represented + to Mark Anthony, who immediately summoned + Herod into Egypt, to answer for the crime + that was laid to his charge: Herod attributed the + summons to Anthony's desire of Mariamne, whom + therefore before his departure, he gave into the custody + of his uncle Joseph, with private orders to + put her to death, if any such violence was offered + to himself. This Joseph was much delighted + with Mariamne's conversation, and endeavoured + with all his art and rhetoric to set out the excess + of Herod's passion for her; but when he still + found her cold and incredulous, he inconsiderately + told her, as a certain instance of her lord's affection, + the private orders he had left behind him, which + plainly shewed, according to Joseph's interpretation, + that he could neither live nor die without + her. This barbarous instance of a wild unreasonable + passion quite put out for a time those little + remains of affection, she still had for her lord: + Her thoughts were so wholly taken up with the + cruelty of his orders, that she could not consider + the kindness which produced them; and therefore + represented him in her imagination, rather + under the frightful idea of a murderer, than a + lover. + + 'Herod was at length acquitted, and dismiss'd + by Mark Anthony, when his soul was all in flames + for his Mariamne; but before their meeting he was + not a little alarmed at the report he had heard + of his uncle's conversation and familiarity with + her in his absence. This therefore was the first + discourse he entertained her with, in which she + found it no easy matter to quiet his suspicions. + But at last he appeared so well satisfied of her + innocence; that from reproaches, and wranglings, + he fell to tears and embraces. Both of them + wept very tenderly at their reconciliation and + Herod pour'd out his whole soul to her in the + warmest protestations of love and constancy; when, + amidst all his sighs and languishings, she asked + him, whether the private orders he left with his + uncle Joseph were an instance of such an enflamed + affection? The jealous king was immediately + roused at so unexpected a question, and concluded + his uncle must have been too familiar with her, + before he would have discovered such a secret. + In short he put his uncle to death, and very difficultly + prevailed on himself to spare Mariamne. + + 'After this he was forced on a second journey + into Egypt, when he committed his lady to the + care of Sohemus, with the same private orders he + had before given his uncle, if any mischief befel + himself: In the meantime Mariamne had so won + upon Sohemus, by her presents and obliging behaviour, + that she drew all the secret from him, + with which Herod had entrusted him; so that + after his return, when he flew to her, with all the + transports of joy and love, she received him coldly + with sighs and tears, and all the marks of indifference + and aversion. This reception so stirred up + his indignation, that he had certainly slain her + with his own hands, had not he feared he himself + should become the greater sufferer by it. It + was not long after this, when he had another + violent return of love upon him; Mariamne was + therefore sent for to him, whom he endeavoured + to soften and reconcile with all possible conjugal + caresses, and endearments; but she declined his + embraces, and answered all his fondness, with bitter + invectives for the death of her father and + her brother. + + 'This behaviour so incensed Herod, that he + very hardly refrained from striking her; when + in the heat of their quarrel, there came in a + witness, suborned by some of Mariamne's enemies, + who accused her to the king of a design + to poison him. Herod was now prepared to hear + any thing in her prejudice, and immediately ordered + her servant to be stretched upon the rack; + who in the extremity of his tortures confest, that + his mistresses aversion to the king arose from + something Sohemus had told her; but as for any + design of poisoning, he utterly disowned the least + knowledge of it. This confession quickly proved + fatal to Sohemus, who now lay under the same + suspicions and sentence, that Joseph had before + him, on the like occasion. Nor would Herod + rest here; but accused her with great vehemence + of a design upon his life, and by his authority + with the judges had her publickly condemned + and executed. + + 'Herod soon after her decease grew melancholy + and dejected, retiring from the public administration + of affairs, into a solitary forest, and there + abandoned himself to all the black considerations, + which naturally arise from a passion made up of + love, remorse, pity and despair. He used to rave + for his Mariamne, and to call upon her in his distracted + fits; and in all probability, would have + soon followed her, had not his thoughts been + seasonably called off from so sad an object, by + public storms, which at that time very nearly + threatened him.' + +Mr. Fenton in the conduct of this design, has shewn himself a very +great master of stage propriety. He has softened the character of +Herod, well knowing that so cruel a tyrant as the story makes him, +could not be born upon the English stage. He has altered the character +of Sohemus, from an honest confident, to a crafty enterprising +statesman, who to raise his master to the throne of Judea, murthered +the natural heir. He has introduced in his drama, a character under +the name of Salome, the king's sister, who bore an implacable hatred +to Mariamne; and who in league with Sohemus pursues her revenge, at no +less a price than that of her brother's and the queen's life. + +After the wars, which had subsided between Cæsar and Anthony, had +subsided, and the world fell to the share of the former; Herod is +represented as having just returned from Rome, where, as an hostage +to the emperor, he has stipulated to send his younger son there, and +Flaminius, a noble Roman accompanies him into Jewry, to carry off the +young prince. The day in which this dramatic action begins, is upon a +grand festival, appointed in honour of Herod's safe return from Rome, +and being still permitted to enjoy his kingdom. The hard condition of +sending the prince to Rome, greatly affects the heart of the queen, +whom the poet has drawn a most tender mother. This throws a cloud over +the ceremony, and furnishes an opportunity for Sohemus and Salome, to +set their infernal engines at work; who, in conjunction with Sameas +the king's cup bearer, contrive to poison the king and queen at the +feast. But the poisoned cup is first tasted by Hazeroth, a young lord +related to the queen, and the sudden effect which it has upon him +discovers the villainy. + +The queen's absence from the feast proves a fatal circumstance, and +as managed by Sohemus, fixes the appearance of guilt upon her. While +Herod was absent at Rome, Sohemus made addresses to Arsinoe, a Roman +lady, confidant to Mariamne; to whom in the ardour of his passion he +revealed the secret entrusted to him by Herod, of putting Mariamne +to death, in case he by any calamitous accident should lose his life. +Arsinoe from a motive of affection communicated this to Mariamne; as +an instance of the violent passion which Herod had for her. This she +did immediately before her departure for Rome, with Flaminius the +Roman envoy, who proved to be the lord of her wishes, whom she +imagined to have been killed in fighting against Mark Anthony. +Mariamne thrown into this imminent danger, orders Arsinoe to be +intercepted, whose return clears up her innocence, as she declares +that no correspondence had ever been carried on between the queen and +Sohemus, of whom he was now jealous, as Mariamne had upbraided him +with his cruel resolutions of putting her to death, entrusted to that +minister. Herod is satisfied of her innocence, by the evidence of +Arsinoe; but as he had before given the cruel orders for patting the +queen to death, she, to prevent the execution of such barbarity, drank +poison. The Queen is conducted in by the high priest in the agonies +of death, which gives such a shock to Herod, that not able to survive +her, he dies in the sight of the audience. + +Sohemus, who knew what tortures would be reserved for him, kills +himself, after having sacrificed Sameas, by whose treachery the plot +was discovered, and who in his falling stabs Salome to the heart, as +the last effort of his revenge. + +As the plan of this play is regular, simple, and interesting, so +are the sentiments no less masterly, and the characters graphically +distinguished. It contains likewise many beautiful strokes of poetry. + +When Narbal, a lord of the queen's party, gives an account to +Flaminius the Roman general, of the queen's parting with her son; he +says, + + ----A while she stood, + Transform'd by grief to marble, and appear'd + Her own pale monument; + +Flaminius consistent with his character as a soldier, answers, + + Give me, ye gods! the harmony of war, + The trumpet's clangor, and the clash of arms, + That concert animates the glowing breast, + To rush on death; but when our ear is pierc'd + With the sad notes which mournful beauty yields; + Our manhood melts in symphathising tears. + +The character of Sameas the king's cup-bearer, is one of the most +villainous ever shewn upon a stage; and the poet makes Sohemus, in +order to give the audience a true idea of him, and to prepare them for +those barbarities he is to execute, relate the following instance of +his cruelty. + + ----Along the shore + He walk'd one evening, when the clam'rous rage + Of tempests wreck'd a ship: The crew were sunk, + The master only reach'd the neighb'ring strand, + Born by a floating fragment; but so weak + With combating the storm, his tongue had lost + The faculty of speech, and yet for aid + He faintly wav'd his hand, on which he wore + A fatal jewel. Sameas, quickly charm'd + Both by its size, and lustre, with a look + Of pity stoop'd, to take him by the hand; + Then cut the finger off to gain the ring, + And plung'd him back to perish in the waves; + Crying, go dive for more.--I've heard him boast + Of this adventure. + +In the 5th act, when Herod is agitated with the rage of jealousy, his +brother Pheroras thus addresses him, + + Sir, let her crime + Erase the faithful characters which love + Imprinted on your heart, + + HEROD. Alas! the pain + We feel, whene'er we dispossess the soul + Of that tormenting tyrant, far exceeds + The rigour of his rule. + + PHERORAS. With reason quell + That haughty passion; treat it as your slave: + Resume the monarch. + +The observation, which Herod makes upon this, is very affecting. The +poet has drawn him so tortured with his passion, that he seems almost +sufficiently punished, for the barbarity of cutting off the father and +brother of Mariamne, + + HEROD. Where's the monarch now? + The vulgar call us gods, and fondly think + That kings are cast in more than mortal molds; + Alas! they little know that when the mind + Is cloy'd with pomp, our taste is pall'd to joy; + But grows more sensible of grief or pain. + The stupid peasant with as quick a sense + Enjoys the fragrance of a rose, as I; + And his rough hand is proof against the thorn, + Which rankling in my tender skin, would seem + A viper's tooth. Oh blissful poverty! + Nature, too partial! to thy lot assigns + Health, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, + Her real goods; and only mocks the great + With empty pageantries! Had I been born + A cottager, my homely bowl had flow'd + Secure from pois'nous drugs; but not my wife! + Let me, good heav'n! forget that guilty name, + Or madness will ensue. + +Some critics have blamed Mariamne, for yielding her affections to +Herod, who had embrued his hands in her father and brother's blood; in +this perhaps she cannot be easily defended, but the poet had a right +to represent this as he literally found it in history; and being the +circumstance upon which all the others depended. Tho' this play is +one of the most beautiful in our language, yet it is in many places +exposed to just criticism; but as it has more beauties than faults, it +would be a kind of violence to candour to shew the blemishes. + +The life of Fenton, like other poets who have never been engaged in +public business, being barren of incidents, we have dwelt the longer +on his works, a tribute which his genius naturally demanded from us. + +Mr. Fenton's other poetical works were published in one volume 1717, +and consist chiefly of the following pieces. + +An Ode to the Sun, for the new year 1707, as a specimen of which we +shall quote the three following stanza's. + + I. + + Begin celestial source of light, + To gild the new revolving sphere; + And from the pregnant womb of night; + Urge on to birth the infant year. + Rich with auspicious lustre rife, + Thou fairest regent of the skies, + Conspicuous with thy silver bow! + To thee, a god, 'twas given by Jove + To rule the radiant orbs above, + To Gloriana this below. + + II. + + With joy renew thy destin'd race, + And let the mighty months begin: + Let no ill omen cloud thy face, + Thro' all thy circle smile serene. + While the stern ministers of fate + Watchful o'er the pale Lutetia wait. + To grieve the Gaul's perfidious head; + The hours, thy offspring heav'nly fair, + Their whitest wings should ever wear, + And gentle joys on Albion shed. + + III. + + When Ilia bore the future fates of Rome, + And the long honours of her race began, + Thus, to prepare the graceful age to come, + They from thy stores in happy order ran. + Heroes elected to the list of fame, + Fix'd the sure columns of her rising state: + Till the loud triumphs of the Julian name + Render'd the glories of her reign compleat, + Each year advanc'd a rival to the rest, + In comely spoils of war, and great achievements drest. + +Florelio, a Pastoral, lamenting the death of the marquis of Blandford. + +Part of the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah Paraphrased. Verses on the +Union. + +Cupid and Hymen. + +Olivia, a small Poem of humour against a Prude. + +The fair Nun, a Tale. + +An Epistle addressed to Mr. Southern, written in the year 1711. + +The eleventh Book of Homer's Odyssey, translated in Milton's stile. + +The Widow's Will; a Tale. + +A-La-Mode, a very humorous representation of a fond, doating Husband, +injured by his Wife. + +Sappho to Phaon. A Love Epistle, translated from Ovid. + +Phaon to Sappho. + +A Tale devised in the pleasant manner of Chaucer; in which the Poet +imitates that venerable old Bard, in the obsolete Language of his +Verse. + +Verses addressed to Mr. Pope. + +The Platonic Spell. + +Marullus de Neæra. + +Marullus imitated. + +Joannis Secundi Basium I. + +Kisses. Translated from Secundus. I know not if all poetry ever +exceeded the smoothness and delicacy of those lines. They flow with +an irresistable enchantment, and as the inserting them will shew the +spirit both of the original and translation, we shall make no further +apology for doing it. + + When Venus, in the sweet Idalian shade, + A violet couch for young Ascanius made; + Their op'ning gems, th' obedient roses bow'd + And veil'd his beauties with a damask cloud: + While the bright goddess with a gentle show'r, + Of nectar'd dews, perfum'd the blissful bow'r; + Of sight insatiate, she devours his charms. + Till her soft breast re-kindling ardour warms: + New joys tumultuous in her bosom rowl, + And all Adonis rusheth on her soul. + Transported with each dear resembling grace, + She cries, Adonis!--Sure I see thy face! + Then stoops to clasp the beauteous form, but fears + He'd wake too soon, and with a sigh forbears; + Yet, fix'd in silent rapture, stands to gaze, + Kissing each flow'ring bud that round him plays. + Swell'd with the touch, each animated rose + Expands; and strait with warmer purple glows: + Where infant kisses bloom, a balmy store! + Redoubling all the bliss she felt before. + Sudden, her swans career along the skies, + And o'er the globe the fair celestial flies. + Then, as where Ceres pass'd, the teeming plain, + Yellow'd with wavy crops of golden grain; + So fruitful kisses fell where Venus flew; + And by the power of genial magic grew: + A plenteous harvest! which she deign'd t'impart + To sooth an agonizing love-sick heart. + All hail, ye Roseat kisses! who remove + Our cares, and cool the calenture of love. + Lo! I your poet in melodious lays, + Bless your kind pow'r; enamour'd of your praise: + Lays! form'd to last, 'till barb'rous time invades + The muses hill, and withers all their shades. + Sprung from the Guardian[B] of the Roman name, + In Roman numbers live secure of fame. + +Joannis Secundi Basum IId. translated. + +An Epistle to Thomas Lambard Esq; + +An Ode to the right hon. John lord Gower. + + An EPITAPH + + On Mr. ELIJAH FENTON, + + At EAST-HAMPSTEAD in BERKS, 1730. + + + This modest stone, what few vain marbles can, + May truly say, here lies an honest man: + A Poet, bless'd beyond a Poet's fate, + Whom Heav'n kept sacred from the proud and great: + Foe to loud praise, and friend to learned ease, + Content with science in the vale of peace. + Calmly he look'd on either life, and here + Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear; + From nature's temp'rate feast rose satisfy'd + Thank'd Heav'n, that he had liv'd, and that he died. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob, p. 55.] + +[Footnote B: Venus.] + + * * * * * + + + + +BARTON BOOTH, Esq; + + +It[A] is but justice to the memory of this great actor to give him +a place among the poets, if he had been less considerable in that +province than he really was; for he appears early to have understood +the Latin classics, and to have succeeded in occasional pieces, and +little odes, beyond many persons of higher name in poetry. Mr. Booth +was descended from a very ancient, and honourable family, originally +seated in the County Palatine of Lancaster. His father, John Booth, +esq; was a man of great worth and honour; and though his fortune was +not very considerable, he was extremely attentive to the education of +his children, of whom Barton (the third) was born in 1681. + +When about nine years of age, he was put under the tuition of the +famous Dr. Busby, head-master of Westminster school, under whom some +of the ablest men have been educated, that in the last and present +age have done honour to the nation. The sprightliness of Booth's parts +early recommended him to the notice of Dr. Busby: he had a strong +passion for learning, and a peculiar turn for Latin poetry, and by +studying the best authors in it, he fixed many of the finest passages +so firmly in his memory, that he was able to repeat them with such +propriety, and graceful action, with so fine a tone of voice, and +peculiar emphasis, that it was taken notice of by the whole school. + +In consequence of this happy talent, when, according to the custom of +the school, a Latin play was to be acted, a considerable part thereof +was given to young Booth, who drew by the melody of his voice, and +the gracefulness of his action, the applause of all the spectators, +a circumstance which first fired him with theatrical ambition, much +against the inclination of his father, who intended him for the +church, and was therefore careful of his education. This propension +in our young Roscius, recommended him still more to the favour of +Dr. Busby, who bestowed the most lavish encomiums upon him: Busby was +himself a great admirer of theatrical elocution, and admirably fitted +by nature for the stage; when he was young, he obtained great applause +in a part he performed in a play of Cartwright's, and from that moment +held theatrical accomplishments in the highest esteem. + +When Booth had reached the age of eighteen, and the time approached +when he was to have been sent to the university, he resolved to run +any risk, rather than enter upon a course of life inconsistent +with the liveliness of his temper, and the natural bent of his +inclinations. It happened that there was then in London one Mr. +Ashbury, who had been long master of a company at Dublin, with whom +young Booth became acquainted, and finding that under his direction +there was no danger of his getting a livelihood, he quitted all other +views, stole away from school, and went over to Ireland with Mr. +Ashbury in 1698.[B] + +He very soon distinguished himself on the stage at Dublin, where +he had great natural advantages over most of his cotemporaries, +especially in tragedy; he had a grave countenance, a good person, an +air of dignity, a melodious voice, and a very manly action. He spoke +justly, his cadence was grateful to the ear, and his pronunciation was +scholastically correct and proper. He so far insinuated himself into +the favour of English gentlemen in Ireland, and found his reputation +growing to so great a heighth, that he returned home in 1701, to make +a trial of his talents on the British stage. He accordingly applied to +lord Fitzharding, of the bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark, and +was by him recommended to Mr. Betterton, who took him under his care, +and gave him all the assistance in his power, of which Mr. Booth +greatly profited. + +Never were a tutor and pupil better met; the one was capable of giving +the best instructions in his own performance, and the other had a +promptness of conception, a violent propensity, and a great genius. +The first part Booth performed in London was Maximus in Valentinian, +a play of Beaumont and Fletcher's originally, but altered, and brought +upon the stage by the earl of Rochester. The reception he met with +exceeded his warmest hopes, and the favour of the town had a happy +effect upon him, in inspiring him with a proper degree of confidence +without vanity. The Ambitious Step-mother, a tragedy written by Mr. +Rowe, in which that author has thrown out more fire, and heat of +poetry, than in any other of his plays, was about this time introduced +upon the stage; the part of Artaban was assigned to Booth, in which he +raised his character to such a heighth, as to be reckoned only second +to his great master. + +In the year 1704 he married Miss Barkham, daughter to Sir William +Barkham of Norfolk, bart. who lived with him six years, and died +without issue. In the theatrical revolutions which happened in those +days, Mr. Booth, notwithstanding his great capacity, and reputation +with the town, had very little share. He adhered constantly to Mr. +Betterton, while he could be of any service to him, and when his tutor +retired from the management of the stage, he trusted to his merit, and +the taste of the public, in which he was never deceived. + +Mr. Booth was particularly turned for tragedy, he never could bear +those parts which had not strong passion to inspire him; and Mr. +Cibber observes, that he could not so well melt in the lover, as rage +in the jealous husband. Othello was his master-piece, but in all his +parts he was often subject to a kind of indolence, which some people +imagined he affected, to shew that even in his lazy fits he was +superior to every body upon the stage; _as if secure of all beholders +hearts, neglecting he could take them._[C] The late ingenious Mr. +Whitingham, who perfectly understood theatrical excellence, and +who was, beyond any man I ever knew, distinct, and accurate in his +relations of things, often told me, that such was the dignity of +Booth's appearance, such his theatrical ease, and gracefulness, that +had he only crossed the stage without uttering a word, the house would +be in a roar of applause. + +We come now to that period of time, when Mr. Booth's sole merit raised +him to the greatest height, and procured for him that reward he had +long deserved. The tragedy of Cato, which had been written in the year +1703, or at least four acts of it, was brought upon the stage in 1712, +chiefly on a political principle; the part of Cato was given to Booth, +for the managers were very well satisfied that nobody else could +perform it. As party prejudice never than higher than at that time, +the excellency of the play was distinguished by the surprizing +contests between both factions, which should applaud it most, so +the merit of the actor received the same marks of approbation, both +parties taking care to shew their satisfaction, by bestowing upon him, +most liberal presents, the particulars of which are already inserted +in the life of Addison. The run of Cato being over at London, the +managers thought fit to remove to Oxford in the summer, where the play +met with so extraordinary a reception, that they were forced to open +the doors at noon, and the house was quite full by one o'clock. The +same respect was paid it for three days together, and though the +universal applause it met with at London, surpassed any thing that had +been remembered of that kind, yet the tribute of praise it received +from this famous university, surpassed even that. Booth, whose +reputation was now at its heighth, took the advantage of it, and +making his application to lord Bolingbroke, then at the head of the +ministry, he procured a new licence, recalling all former ones, and +Mr. Booth's name was added to those of Cibber, Dogget, and Wilks. +Tho' none of the managers had occasion to be pleased with this act of +justice done to Booth's merit, at the expence of, what they deemed, +their property, yet none of them carried their resentment so high as +Mr. Dogget, who absolutely refused to accept of any consideration for +his share in the scenes and clothes; this obstinacy had however no +other effect, than depriving him of his share, which brought him in +1000 l. a year; though Mr. Cibber informs us, that this was only a +pretence, and that the true reason of quitting the stage, was, +his dislike to another of the managers, whose humour was become +insupportable. This person we conjecture to have been Mr. Wilks, who, +according to Cibber's account, was capricious in his temper, though +he had otherwise great merit as a player, and was a good man, morally +considered; some instances of the generosity and noble spirit of +Wilks, are taken notice of in the life of Farquhar. + +A few years after Mr. Booth rose to the dignity of manager, he married +the celebrated Miss Santlowe, who, from her first appearance as an +actress in the character of the Fair Quaker of Deal, to the time she +quitted the stage, had always received the strongest marks of public +applause, which were repeated when after a retreat of some years, she +appeared there again. By her prudence in managing the advantages +that arose to her from her reputation as an actress, and her great +diligence in her profession, she acquired a considerable fortune, +which was very useful to Mr. Booth, who, from the natural turn of +his temper, though he had a strict regard to justice, was not much +inclined to saving. + +During the few years they lived together, there was the greatest +harmony between them, and after the death of Booth, his disconsolate +widow, who is yet alive, quitted the stage, and devoted herself +entirely to a private course of life. By degrees the health of Mr. +Booth began to decline, so that it was impossible for him to continue +to act with so much diligence as usual, but at whatever time he was +able to return to the stage, the town demonstrated their respect +for him by crowding the house. Being attacked by a complication of +distempers, he paid the debt to nature May 10, 1733. A copy of his +Will was printed in the London Magazine for 1733, p. 126, in which +we find he testified his esteem for his wife, to whom he left all his +fortune, for reasons there assigned, which he declared amounted to no +more than two thirds of what he had received from her on the day of +marriage. His character as an actor, has been celebrated by the best +judges, and was never questioned by any. And here we cannot resist the +opportunity of shewing Mr. Booth in that full, and commanding light in +which he is drawn by the late ingenious Aaron Hill, esq; who had long +experience in the affairs of the stage, and could well distinguish the +true merits of an actor. His words are, + +'Two advantages distinguished him in the strongest light from the rest +of his fraternity: he had learning to understand perfectly what it +was his part to speak, and judgment to know how far it agreed, or +disagreed with his character. Hence arose a peculiar grace, which was +visible to every spectator, though few were at the pains of examining +into the cause of their pleasure. He could soften, and slide over, +with a kind of elegant negligence, the improprieties in the part he +acted, while, on the contrary, he would dwell with energy upon the +beauties, as if he exerted a latent spirit which had been kept back +for such an occasion, that he might alarm, awaken, and transport in +those places only, where the dignity of his own good sense could +be supported by that of his author. A little reflexion upon this +remarkable quality, will teach us to account for that manifest +languor which has sometimes been observed in his action, and which was +generally, though I think falsly, imputed to the natural indolence of +his temper. For the same reason, though in the customary round of +his business, he would condescend to some parts in comedy; he seldom +appeared in any of them with much advantage to his character. The +passions which he found in comedy, were not strong enough to excite +his fire, and what seemed want of qualification, was only the absence +of impression. He had a talent at discovering the passions where they +lay hid in some celebrated parts, by the injudicious practice of other +actors; when he had discovered he soon grew able to express them; and +his secret of his obtaining this great lesson of the theatre, was +an adaption of his look to his voice, by which artful imitation of +nature, the variations in the sound of his words, gave propriety to +every change in his countenance, so that it was Mr. Booth's peculiar +felicity to be heard and seen the same, whether as the _pleased,_ the +_grieved,_the _pitying,_the _reproachful,_or the _angry_. One would be +almost tempted to borrow the aid of a very bold figure, and to express +this excellence more significantly, beg permission to affirm, that the +blind might have seen him in his voice, and the deaf have heard him in +his visage. His gesture, or as it is commonly called his action, was +but the result, and necessary consequence of his dominion over his +voice and countenance; for having by a concurrence of two such causes, +impressed his imagination with such a stamp, and spirit of passion, he +ever obeyed the impulse by a kind of natural dependency, and relaxed, +or braced successively into all that fine expressiveness with which he +painted what he spoke, without restraint, or affectation.' + +But it was not only as a player that Mr. Booth excelled; he was a man +of letters also, and an author in more languages than one. He had a +taste for poetry which we have observed discovered itself when he was +very young, in translations of some Odes of Horace; and in his riper +years he wrote several songs, and other original poems, which did him +honour. He was also the author of a masque, or dramatic entertainment, +called Dido and Aeneas, which was very well received upon the stage, +but which however did not excite him to produce any thing of the +same kind afterwards. His master-piece was a Latin inscription to the +memory of a celebrated actor, Mr. William Smith, one of the greatest +men of his profession, and of whom Mr. Booth alway spoke in raptures. +It is a misfortune that we can give no particular account of the +person this excellent inscription referred to, but it is probable he +was of a good family, since he was a Barrister at Law of Gray's-Inn, +before he quitted that profession for the stage. + +The inscription is as follows, + + Scenicus eximius + Regnante Carolo secundo: + Bettertono Coaetaneus & Amicus, + Necnon propemodum Aequalis. + Haud ignobili stirpe oriundus, + Nec literarum rudis humaniorum, + Rem fenicam + Per multos feliciter annos administravit; + Justoque moderamine & morum suavitate, + Omnium intra Theatrum + Observantiam, extra Theatrum Laudem, + Ubique benevolentiam & amorem fibi conciliavit. + +In English thus; + + An excellent player + In the reign of Charles the Second; + The cotemporary, and friend of Betterton, and almost his equal. + Descended of no ignoble family, + Nor destitute of polite learning. + The business of the stage + He for many years happily managed, + And by his just conduct, and sweetness of manners + Obtained the respect of all within the theatre, + The applause of those without, + And the good will, and love of all mankind. + +Such the life and character of Mr. Booth, who deservedly stood very +high in the esteem of mankind, both on account of the pleasure which +he gave them, and the native goodness of heart which he possessed. +Whether considered as a private gentleman, a player, a scholar, or +a poet, Mr. Booth makes a very great figure, and his extraordinary +excellence in his own profession, while it renders his memory dear to +all men of taste, will ever secure him applause amongst those +happy few, who were born to instruct, to please, and reform their +countrymen. + + +[Footnote A: N.B. As Mr. Theophilus Cibber is publishing (in a work +entirely undertaken by himself) The Lives, and Characters of all our +Eminent Actors, and Actresses, from Shakespear, to the present time; +he leaves to the other gentlemen, concerned in this collection, the +accounts of some players who could not be omitted herein, as Poets.] + +[Footnote B: History of the English stage.] + +[Footnote C: Dryden's All for Love.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Dr. GEORGE SEWEL, + + +This ingenious gentleman was the eldest son of Mr. John Sewel, +treasurer, and chapter-clerk of the college of Windsor, in which +place our poet was born. He received his education at Eton school, was +afterwards sent to the university of Cambridge, and took the degree +of bachelor of physic at Peter-house College. He then passed over +to Leyden, and studied under the famous Boerhaave, and afterwards +returned to London, where for several years he practised as a +Physician. He had a strong propension for poetry, and has favoured +the world with many performances much applauded. In the year 1719 he +introduced upon the stage his tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, taken +from the historical account of that great man's fate. He was chiefly +concerned in writing the fifth volume of the Tatler, and the ninth +of the Spectator. He translated, with some other gentlemen, the +Metamorphoses of Ovid, with very great success, and rendered the Latin +poems of Mr. Addison into English. Dr. Sewel made an attempt, which he +had not leisure to execute, of translating Quillet's Callipedia, which +was afterwards done by Rowe. He is the author of several miscellanous +poems, of which the following is as accurate an account as we could +possibly obtain. On Conscience, Beauty, the Force of Music, Song of +Troilus, &c. dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle. + +To his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, upon his going into Germany +1712. This poem begins thus, + + Go, mighty prince, and those great nations see, + Which thy victorious arms made free; + View that fam'd column, where thy name's engrav'd, + Shall tell their children who their empire fav'd. + Point out that marble where thy worth is shewn + To every grateful country but thy own. + +A Description of the Field of Battle, after Caesar was Conqueror at +Pharsalia, from the Seventh Book of Lucan. + +The Patriot. + +Translations from Lucan, occasioned by the Tragedy of Cato. + +The Fifth Elegy of the First Book of Tibullus, translated, and +addressed to Delia. + +An Apology for Loving a Widow. + +The Fifth Psalm Paraphrased. + +A Poetical Epistle, written from Hampstead to Mr. Thornhill, upon Mr. +Addison's Cato. + +An Epistle to Mr. Addison on the Death of the Earl of Hallifax. This +poem begins thus, + + And shall great Hallifax resign to fate, + And not one bard upon his ashes wait? + Or is with him all inspiration fled, + And lye the muses with their patron dead? + Convince us, Addison, his spirit reigns, + Breathing again in thy immortal strains: + To thee the list'ning world impartial bends, + Since Hallifax and envy now are friends. + +Cupid's Proclamation, or a Defence of Women; a Poem from Chaucer. + +Dr. Sewel, in his state principles, was inclined to the cause of +the Tories, and takes every occasion to combat with the bishop of +Salisbury, who had so eminently appeared in the cause of the Whigs. + +The following is a list of his prose works, in which there are some +letters addressed to, and animadversions upon that eminent prelate's +works. + +The Clergy, and the Present Ministry defended; being a Letter to the +Bishop of Salisbury, occasioned by his Lordship's new Preface to his +Pastoral Case, 8vo. 1713, third Edition that year. In a fourth Edition +(same date) this is called Mr. Sewel's First Letter to the Bishop of +Salisbury, the Clergy, &c. + +A Second Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, upon the Publication of +his new Volume of Sermons, wherein his Lordship's Preface concerning +the Revolution, and the Case of the Lord Russel are examined, &c. 8vo. +1713. + +Remarks upon a Pamphlet entitled Observations upon the State of the +Nation 1712-13, third Edition; to which is added a Postscript to the +Vindicator of the Earl of Nottingham, 8vo. 1714. + +An Introduction to the Life and Writings of G----t Lord Bishop of +S----m, &c. being a Third Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, 8vo. +1716. + +A Vindication of the English Stage, exemplified in the Cato of Mr. +Addison. In a Letter to a Nobleman, 8vo. 1716. + +Schism destructive of the Government, both in Church and State; +being a Defence of the Bill intitled An Act to prevent the Growth of +Schism; wherein all the Objections against it, and particularly those +in 'Squire Steele's Letter are fully Refuted. Humbly offered to the +Consideration of the House of Lords, 8vo. 1714, second Edition. + +More News from Salisbury, viz. I. An Examination of some Parts of the +Bishop of Sarum's Sermon and Charge, &c. 8vo. 1714. + +The Reasons for writing against the Bishop of Salisbury, 8vo. 1714. + +The Life of Mr. John Philips, Author of the Poem on Cyder. + +Dr. Sewel died at Hampstead in Middlesex, where, in the latter part +of his life, he had practised physic, on the 8th of February 1726, +and was buried there. He seems to have been a man of an amiable +disposition, and to have possessed a very considerable genius. + + * * * * * + + + + +ANTHONY HAMMOND, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from a good family, of Somersham-Place, +in the county of Huntingdon, and was born in the year 1668[A]. When he +arrived at a proper age, he was chosen member of Parliament, and did +not remain long in the house before he distinguished himself as a +very eminent speaker. Having espoused the court interest, his zeal +and merit recommended him to very considerable public employments, +particularly that of being one of the commissioners of the royal navy, +which place he quitted in the year 1712. The ingenious Mr. Southern in +his dedication of his Innocent Adultery, to Mr. Hammond, speaks thus +of him. 'If generosity with friendship, learning with good sense, +true wit and humour, with good-nature, be accomplishments to qualify a +gentleman for a patron, I am sure I have hit right in Mr. Hammond.' + +Our author obliged the public with a Miscellany of Original Poems, by +the Most Eminent Hands; in which himself had no small share. In this +miscellany are several poetical performances of Mrs. Martha Fowkes, +a lady of exquisite taste in the belle accomplishments. As to Mr. +Hammond's own pieces, he acknowleges in his preface, that they were +written at very different times, and particularly owned by him, lest +they should afterwards be ascribed to other persons; as the Ode on +Solitude, was falsely ascribed to the earl of Roscommon, and other +pieces of his, were likewise given to other authors. + +This author wrote the Life of Walter Moyle Esq; prefixed to his +works.----Mr. Hammond died about the year 1726. + + +[Footnote A: Coxeter's Miscellaneous Notes.] + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. Mr. LAWRENCE EUSDEN. + + +This gentleman was descended from a very good family in the kingdom of +Leland, but received his education at Trinity college in Cambridge. +He was honoured with the encouragement of that eminent patron of the +poets the earl of Halifax, to whom he consecrated the first product of +his Muse. He enjoyed likewise the patronage of the duke of Newcastle, +who being lord chamberlain, at the death of Mr. Rowe, preferred him to +the Bays. + +Mr. Eusden was for some part of his life chaplain to Richard lord +Willoughby de Brook: In this peaceful situation of life, one would not +expect Mr. Eusden should have any enemies, either of the literary, or +any other sort. But we find he has had many, amongst whom Mr. Pope is +the most formidable both in power and keenness. In his Dunciad, Book +I. Line 101. where he represents Dulness taking a view of her sons, he +says + + She saw old Pryn, in restless Daniel shine, + And Eusden eke out Blackmore's endless line. + +Mr. Oldmixon likewise in his Art of Logic and Rhetoric, page 413, +affirms, 'That of all the Galimatias he ever met with, none comes up +to some verses of this poet, which have as much of the ridiculum and +the fustian in them, as can well be jumbled together, and are of that +sort of nonsense, which so perfectly confounds all ideas, that there +is no distinct one left in the mind. Further he says of him, that he +hath prophesy'd his own poetry shall be sweeter than Catullus, Ovid +and Tibullus; but we have little hope of the accomplishment of it from +what he hath lately published.' Upon which Mr. Oldmixon has not spared +a reflexion, that the placing the laurel on the head of one who wrote +such verses, will give posterity a very lively idea of the justice and +judgment of those who bestowed it. + +Mr. Oldmixon no doubt by this reflexion insinuates, that the laurel +would have better become his own brows than Eusden's; but it would +perhaps have been more decent for him to acquiesce in the opinion of +the duke of Buckingham (Sheffield) who in his Session of the Poets +thus mentions Eusden. + + --In rush'd Eusden, and cry'd, who shall have it, + But I the true Laureat to whom the king gave it? + Apollo begg'd pardon, and granted his claim, + But vow'd that till then, he ne'er heard of his name. + +The truth is, Mr. Eusden wrote an Epithalamium on the marriage of +his grace the duke of Newcastle, to the right honourable the lady +Henrietta Godolphin; which was considered as so great a compliment by +the duke, that in gratitude for it, he preferred him to the laurel. +Nor can I at present see how he could have made a better choice: We +shall have occasion to find, as we enumerate his writings, that he +was no inconsiderable versifier, and though perhaps he had not the +brightest parts; yet as we hear of no moral blemish imputed to him, +and as he was dignified with holy-orders, his grace acted a very +generous part, in providing for a man who had conferred an obligation +on him. The first rate poets were either of principles very different +from the government, or thought themselves too distinguished to +undergo the drudgery of an annual Ode; and in this case Eusden seems +to have had as fair a claim as another, at least a better than his +antagonist Oldmixon. He succeeded indeed a much greater poet than +himself, the ingenious Mr. Rowe, which might perhaps draw some +ridicule upon him. + +Mr. Cooke, in his Battle of the Poets, speaks thus of our author. + + Eusden, a laurel'd bard, by fortune rais'd + By very few was read, by fewer prais'd. + +A fate which some critics are of opinion must befall the very poet +himself, who is thus so ready to expose his brother. + +The chief of our author's poetical writings are these, + +To the lord Hallifax, occasioned by the translating into Latin his +lordship's Poem on the Battle of the Boyne. + +On the duke of Marlborough's victory at Oudenaid. + +A Letter to Mr. Addison. + +On the king's accession to the throne. +To the reverend doctor Bentley, on the opening of Trinity-College Chapel, +Cambridge. + +On a Lady, who is the most beautiful and witty when she is angry. + + This poem begins with these lines. + + + Long had I known the soft, inchanting wiles, + Which Cupid practised in Aurelia's smiles. + 'Till by degrees, like the fam'd Asian taught, + Safely I drank the sweet, tho' pois'nous draught. + Love vex'd to see his favours vainly shown, + The peevish Urchin murthered with a frown. + +Verses at the last public commencement at Cambridge, spoken by the +author. + +The Court of Venus, from Claudian. + +The Speech of Pluto to Proserpine. + +Hero and Leander, translated from the Greek of Musaeus. + + This Piece begins thus, + + + Sing Muse, the conscious torch, whose mighty flame, + (The shining signal of a brighter dame) + Thro' trackless waves, the bold Leander led, + To taste the dang'rous joys of Hero's bed: + Sing the stol'n bliss, in gloomy shades conceal'd, + And never to the blushing morn reveal'd. + +A Poem on the Marriage of his grace the duke of Newcastle to the +right honourable Henrietta Godolphin, which procured him, as we have +observed already, the place of laureat. The lord Roscommon's Essay on +translated verse, rendered into Latin. + +An Epistle to Sir Robert Walpole. + +Three Poems; I. On the death of the late king; II. On the Accession of +his present majesty. III. On the Queen. + +On the arrival of Prince Frederic. + +The origin of the Knights of the Bath, inscribed to the Duke of +Cumberland. + +An Ode for the Birth-Day, in Latin and English, printed at Cambridge. + +He died at his rectory at Conesby in Lincolnshire, the 27th of +September, 1730. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. MR. LAWRENCE EACHARD, + + +This Gentleman, who has been more distinguished as an historian than +a poet, was the son of a clergyman, who by the death of his elder +brother, became master of a good estate in Suffolk. + +He received his education at the university of Cambridge, entered into +holy-orders, and was presented to the living of Welton and Elkington +in Lincolnshire, where he spent above twenty years of his life; and +acquired a name by his writings, especially the History of England. +This history was attacked by Dr. Edmund Calamy, in a letter to the +author; in which, according to the Dr. the true principles of the +Revolution, the Whigs and the Dissenters are vindicated; and many +persons of distinction cleared from Mr. Eachard's aspersions. + +Mr. John Oldmixon, who was of very opposite principles to Eachard, +severely animadverted upon him in his Critical History of England, +during the reigns of the Stuarts; but as Oldmixon was a hireling, and +a man strongly biassed by party prejudices, little credit is due to +his testimony: Which is moreover accompanied with a perpetual torrent +of abuse. Mr. Eachard's general Ecclesiastical History, from the +nativity of Christ to the first establishment of Christianity by human +laws, under the emperor Constantine the Great, has been much esteemed. +Our author was in the year 1712 installed archdeacon of Stowe, and +prebend of Lincoln. He published a translation of Terence's Comedies, +translated by himself and others; but all revised and corrected by him +and Sir Roger L'Estrange: To which is prefixed the life of Terence. +Besides these, Mr. Eachard has translated three Comedies from Plautus, +viz. + + AMPHITRYON, + EPIDICUS. + RUDENS. + +With critical remarks upon each play. To which he has prefixed a +judicious parallel between Terence and Plautus; and for a clearer +decision of the point, that Terence was the more polite writer of +Comedy, he produces the first act of Plautus's Aulularia, and the +first act of his Miles Gloriosus, against the third act of Terence's +Eunuch. It ought to be observed (says Mr. Eachard) 'That Plautus was +somewhat poor, and made it his principal aim to please, and tickle +the common people; and since they were almost always delighted with +something new, strange, and unusual, the better to humour them, he was +not only frequently extravagant in his expressions, but likewise in +his characters too, and drew them often more vicious, more covetous, +and more foolish than they really were, and this so set the people a +gazing and wondering. With these sort of characters many of our modern +Comedies abound, which makes them too much degenerate into farce, +which seldom fails of pleasing the mob.' + +Mr. Eachard has, in justice to Mr. Dryden, given us some instances +of his improvement of Amphitryon, and concludes them with this just +remark in compliment to our nation; 'We find that many fine things of +the ancients, are like seeds, that when planted on English ground, by +a poet's skilful hand, thrive and produce excellent fruit.' + +These three plays are printed in a pocket-volume, dedicated to Sir +Charles Sedley; to which is prefixed a recommendatory copy of verses, +by Mr. Tate. + +Mr. Eachard died in the year 1730. + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN OLDMIXON, + + +Was descended from the ancient family of the Oldmixons, of Oldmixon +near Bridgewater in Somersetshire[A]. We have no account of the +education of this gentleman, nor the year in which he was born. The +first production we meet with of his was Amyntas, a pastoral, acted at +the Theatre-Royal, taken from the Amynta of Tasso. The preface informs +us, that it met with but ill success, for pastoral, though never +so well written, is not fit for a long entertainment on the English +Theatre: But the original pleased in Italy, where the performance of +the musical composer is generally more regarded than that of the poet. +The Prologue was written by Mr. Dennis. Mr. Oldmixon's next piece was +entitled the Grave, or Love's Paradise; an Opera represented at +the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, 1700. In the preface, the author +acquaints the critics, 'That this play is neither translation, nor +parody; that the story is intirely new; that 'twas at first intended +for a pastoral, tho' in the three last acts the dignity of the +character raised it into the form of a tragedy.' The scene a Province +of Italy, near the Gulph of Venice. The Epilogue was written by Mr. +Farquhar. + +Our author's next dramatic piece is entitled: The Governor of Cyprus, +a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, +dedicated to her grace the duchess of Bolton. + +Mr. Oldmixon, in a Prose Essay on Criticism, unjustly censures Mr. +Addison, whom also, in his imitation of Bouhour's Arts of Logic and +Rhetoric, he misrepresents in plain matter of fact: For in page 45 he +cites the Spectator, as abusing Dr. Swift by name, where there is not +the least hint of it; and in page 304 is so injurious as to suggest, +that Mr. Addison himself wrote that Tatler, Numb. XLIII. which says of +his own simile, 'That it is as great as ever entered into the mind of +man.' This simile is in Addison's poem, entitled the Campaign. Where, +says the author of the Letter, 'The simile of a ministering Angel, +sets forth the most sedate and the most active courage, engaged in +an uproar of nature, a confusion of elements, and a scene of divine +vengeance.' + + 'Twas then great Marlbro's mighty soul was prov'd, + That, in the shock of charging hosts unmov'd, + Amidst confusion, horror, and despair, + Examin'd all the dreadful scenes of war; + In peaceful thought, the field of death survey'd + To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid, + Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + So when an Angel by divine command, + With rising tempests shakes a guilty hand, + Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past, + Calm and serene, he drives the furious blast, + And, pleas'd th' Almighty's orders to perform, + Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm. + +That this letter could not be written by Mr. Addison, there is all the +evidence the nature of the thing will admit, to believe; for first, +Sir Richard Steele avow'd it to be his, and in the next place, it is +not probable that Mr. Addison himself had so high an opinion of this +simile, as to call it as great as ever entered into the thought of +man; for it has in reality no uncommon greatness in it. The image +occurs a thousand times in the book of Psalms; so that it has not +novelty to recommend it, and the manner of its being expressed, is no +way extraordinary. The high terms in which it is celebrated, is the +language of friendship, not of judgment. It is very probable Sir +Richard Steele, warm'd with a favourite subject, and zealous for the +fame of Addison, might express himself thus hyperbolically concerning +it; but Mr. Addison was too judicious a critic, to think or speak of +it in these terms, and was besides too cautious to run the risk of +doing it himself in so public a manner. In a word, Mr. Oldmixon was an +envious man, and we have seen with how little ground of resentment +he railed against Eusden, because that gentleman was preferred to the +Laurel. + +Mr. Oldmixon joined the general cry of the underling writers against +Mr. Pope; and wrote many letters in the Flying Post, with an intention +to reduce his reputation, with as little success as his other +antagonists had done. In his prose Essay on Criticism, and in the Arts +of Logic and Rhetoric, he frequently reflects on Pope, for which he +has received a place in his Dunciad. + +When that eminent satyrist in his second Book, line 270, represents +the Dunces diving for the Prize of Dulness, he in a particular manner +dignifies Oldmixon, for he makes him climb a lighter, that by leaping +from it, he may sink the deeper in the mud. + + In naked majesty Oldmixon stands, + And, Milo-like, surveys his arms and hands, + Then sighing thus: 'And am I now threescore? + 'Ah why, ye Gods! should two and two make 'four? + He said and climb'd a stranded lighter's height, + Shot to the black abyss, and plung'd down-right. + The Senior's judgment all the crowd admire, + Who but to sink the deeper, rose the higher. + +Mr. Oldmixon wrote a history of the Stuarts in folio, and a Critical +History of England, in two volumes octavo. The former of these +pieces was undertaken to blacken the family of the Stuarts. The most +impartial writers and candid critics, on both sides, have held this +work in contempt, for in every page there breathes a malevolent +spirit, a disposition to rail and calumniate: So far from observing +that neutrality and dispassionate evenness of temper, which should +be carefully attended to by every historian, he suffers himself to +be transported with anger: He reviles, wrests particular passages and +frequently draws forced conclusions. A history written in this spirit +has no great claim to a reader's faith. The reigns of the Stuarts +in England were no doubt chequer'd with many evils; and yet it is +certainly true, that a man who can fit deliberately down to search +for errors only, must have a strong propension to calumny, or at least +take delight in triumphing over the weakness of his fellow creatures, +which is surely no indication of a good heart. + +Mr. Oldmixon, being employ'd by bishop Kennet, in publishing the +Historians in his collection, he perverted Daniel's Chronicle in +numberless places. Yet this very man, in the preface to the first of +these, advanced a particular fact, to charge three eminent persons +of interpolating the lord Clarendon's History, which fact has been +disproved by the bishop of Rochester, Dr. Atterbury, then the only +survivor of them; and the particular part he pretended to be falsifed +produced since, after almost ninety years, in that noble author's own +hand. + +He was all his life a virulent Party-Writer, and received his reward +in a small part in the revenue at Liverpool, where he died in an +advanced age, but in what year we cannot learn. + +Mr. Oldmixon, besides the works we have mentioned, was author of a +volume of Poems, published in 1714. + +The Life of Arthur Maynwaring, Esq; prefixed to the works of that +author, by Mr. Oldmixon. + +England's Historical Epistles (Drayton's revived). + +The Life of queen Anne. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob's Lives of the Poets, p. 197.] + + * * * * * + + + + +LEONARD WELSTED, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from a very good family in +Leicestershire, and received the rudiments of his education in +Westminster school. We are informed by major Cleland, author of a +Panegyric on Mr. Pope, prefixed to the Dunciad, that he was a member +of both the universities. + +In a piece said to have been written by Mr. Welsted, called The +Characters of the Times, printed in 8vo. 1728, he gives this account +of himself; 'Mr. Welsted had in his youth raised so great expectations +of his future genius, that there was a kind of struggle between the +two universities, which should have the honour of his education; to +compound this, he civilly became a member of both, and after having +passed some time at the one, he removed to the other. From thence he +returned to town, where he became the darling expectation of all the +polite writers, whose encouragement he acknowledged in his occasional +poems, in a manner that will make no small part of the fame of his +protectors. It also appears from his works, that he was happy in +the patronage of the most illustrious characters of the present age. +Encouraged by such a combination in his favour, he published a book of +poems, some in the Ovidian, some in the Horatian manner, in both which +the most exquisite judges pronounced he even rivalled his masters. +His love verses have rescued that way of writing from contempt. In his +translations he has given us the very soul and spirit of his author. +His Odes; his Epistles; his Verses; his Love Tales; all are the most +perfect things in all poetry.' + +If this representation of our author's abilities were just, it would +seem no wonder, if the two universities should strive with each other +for the honour of his education, but it is certain the world have +not coincided with this opinion of Mr. Welsted; who, by the way, can +hardly be thought the author of such an extravagant self-approbation, +unless it be an irony, which does not seem improbable. + +Our author, however, does not appear to have been a mean poet; he had +certainly from nature an exceeding fine genius, but after he came to +town he became a votary to pleasure, and the applauses of his friends, +which taught him to overvalue his talents, perhaps slackened his +diligence, and by making him trust solely to nature, flight the +assistance of art. + +In the year 1718 he wrote the Triumvirate, or a Letter in Verse from +Palemon to Celia from Bath, which was meant as a satire against Mr. +Pope. He wrote federal other occasional pieces against this gentleman, +who, in recompence of his enmity, has mentioned him twice in his +Dunciad. In book ii. 1. 200 where he represents the poets flattering +their patrons with the fulsome strains of panegyric, in order to +procure from them that which they very much wanted, viz. money, he +shews Welsted as unsuccessful. + + But Welsted most the poet's healing balm, + Strives to extract from his soft giving palm; + Unlucky Welsted! thy unfeeling master, + The more thou ticklest, gripes his fist the faster. + +Mr. Welsted was likewise characterised in the Treatise of the Art of +Sinking, as a Didapper, and after as an Eel. He was likewise described +under the character of another animal, a Mole, by the author of the +following simile, which was handed about at the same time. + + Dear Welsted, mark in dirty hole + That painful animal a Mole: + Above ground never born to go, + What mighty stir it keeps below? + To make a molehill all this strife! + It digs, pukes, undermines for life. + How proud a little dirt to spread! + Conscious of nothing o'er its head. + 'Till lab'ring on, for want of eyes, + It blunders into light--and dies. + +But mentioning him once was not enough for Mr. Pope. He is again +celebrated in the third book, in that famous Parody upon Benham's +Cooper's Hill, + + O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream + My great example, as it is my theme; + Tho' deep, yet clear; tho' gentle, yet not dull; + Strong without rage; without o'er flowing full. + + Denham. + + + +Which Mr. Pope has thus parodied; + + Flow Welsted, flow; like thine inspirer, beer, + Tho' stale, not ripe; tho' thin, yet never clear; + So sweetly mawkish, and so smoothly dull; + Heady, not strong; and foaming, tho' not full. + +How far Mr. Pope's insinuation is true, that Mr. Welsted owed his +inspiration to beer, they who read his works may determine for +themselves. Poets who write satire often strain hard for ridiculous +circumstances, in order to expose their antagonists, and it will be +no violence to truth to say, that in search of ridicule, candour is +frequently lost. + +In the year 1726 Mr. Welsted brought upon the stage a comedy called +The Dissembled Wantons or My Son get Money. He met with the patronage +of the duke of Newcastle, who was a great encourager of polite +learning; and we find that our author had a very competent place in +the Ordnance-Office. + +His poetical works are chiefly these, + +The Duke of Marlborough's Arrival, a Poem printed in fol. 1709, +inscribed to the Right Hon the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. + +A Poem to the Memory of Mr. Philips, inscribed to Lord Bolingbroke, +printed in fol. 1710. + +A Discourse to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Walpole; to which is annexed +Proposals for Translating the whole Works of Horace, with a Specimen +of the Performance, viz. Lib. Ist. Ode 1, 3, 5 and 22, printed in 4to. +1727. + +An Ode to the Hon. Major General Wade, on Occasion of his disarming +the Highlands, imitated from Horace. + +To the Earl of Clare, on his being created Duke of Newcastle. An Ode +on the Birth-Day of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. To the +Princess, a Poem. Amintor and the Nightingale, a Song. These four were +printed together in 1716. + +Of False Fame, an Epistle to the Right Hon. the Earl of Pembroke, 8vo. +1732. + +A Letter to his Grace the Duke of Chandois. + +To the Duke of Buckingham, on his Essay on Poetry. + +Several small pieces in the Free Thinker. + +Epistles, Odes, &c. written on several Subjects; with a Disseration +concerning the Perfection of the English Language. + +Mr. Welsted has translated Longinus's Treatise on the Sublime. + + * * * * * + + + + +JAMES MORE SMYTH, Esq; + + +This gentleman was son of Arthur More, esq; one of the lords +commissioners of trade, in the reign of Queen Anne; his mother was the +daughter of Mr. Smyth, a man of considerable fortune, who left this +his grandson a handsome estate, on which account he obtained an Act of +Parliament to change his name to Smyth. + +Our author received his education at Oxford, and while he remained +at the university he wrote a comedy called The Rival Modes, his only +dramatic performance. This play was condemned in the representation, +but he printed it in 1727, with the following motto, which the author +of the Notes to the Dunciad, by way of irony, calls modest. + + Hic coestus, artemque repono. + +Upon the death of our author's grandfather, he enjoyed the place of +paymaster to the band of gentlemen-pensioners, in conjunction with his +younger brother, Arthur More; of this place his mother procured the +reversion from his late Majesty during his father's lifetime. Being a +man of a gay disposition, he insinuated himself into the favour of his +grace the duke of Wharton, and being, like him, destitute of prudence, +he joined with that volatile great man in writing a paper called the +Inquisitor, which breathed so much the spirit of Jacobitism, that the +publisher thought proper to sacrifice his profit to his safety, and +discontinue it. + +By using too much freedom with the character of Pope, he provoked that +gentleman, who with great spirit stigmatized him in his Dunciad. +In his second book Mr. Pope places before the eyes of the dunces +the phantom of a poet. He seems willing to give some account of the +possibility of dulness making a wit, which can be done no otherwise +than by chance. The lines which have relation to Mr. More are so +elegantly satyric, that it probably will not displease our readers to +find them inserted here. + + A poet's form she plac'd before their eyes, + And bad the nimblest racer seize the prize; + No meagre muse-rid mope, adult and thin, + In a dun night gown of his own loose skin, + But such a bulk as no twelve bards could raise, + Twelve starv'ling bards of these degenerate days. + All as a partridge plump, full-fed, and fair, + She form'd this image of well-bodied air, + With pert, slat eyes, she window'd well its head, + A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead, + And empty words she gave, and sounding strain, + But senseless, lifeless! idol void and vain! + Never was dash'd out at one lucky hit, + A fool so just a copy of a wit; + So like, that critics said, and courtiers swore, + A wit it was, and call'd the phantom More. + +Though these lines of Pope are sufficiently satirical, yet it seems +they very little affected Mr. More. A gentleman intimately acquainted +with him informs us, that he has heard Mr. More several times repeat +those lines, without discovering any chagrin; and he used to observe, +that he was now secure of being transmitted to posterity: an honour +which, says he, I could never have arrived at, but by Pope's means. +The cause of the quarrel between this gentleman and that great poet +seems to have been this. + +In a letter published in the Daily Journal March 18, 1728, written by +Mr. More, he has the following words, 'Upon reading the third volume +of Pope's Miscellanies, I found five lines which I thought excellent, +and happening to praise them, a gentleman produced a modern comedy, +the Rival Modes, published last year, where were the same verses to +a tittle. These gentlemen are undoubtedly the first plagiaries that +pretend to make a reputation, by stealing from a man's works in his +own life-time, and out of a public print.' But it is apparent from the +notes to the Dunciad, that Mr. More himself borrowed the lines from +Pope; for in a letter dated January 27, 1726, addressed to Mr. Pope, +he observes, 'That these verses which he had before given him leave to +insert in the Rival Modes, would be known for his, some copies being +got abroad. He desires, nevertheless, that since the lines in his +comedy have been read to several, Mr. Pope would not deprive it of +them.' + +As a proof of this circumstance, the testimony of lord Bolingbroke +is adduced, and the lady of Hugh Bethel, esq; to whom the verses were +originally addressed, who knew them to be Mr. Pope's long before the +Rival Modes was composed. + +Our author further charges Mr. Pope with being an enemy to the church +and state. 'The Memoirs of a Parish Clerk, says he, was a very dull, +and unjust abuse of the bishop of Sarum (who wrote in defence of our +religion and constitution) who has been dead many years.' 'This also, +continues the author of the Notes to the Dunciad, is likewise untrue, +it being known to divers, that these Memoirs were written at the +seat of the lord Harcourt in Oxfordshire, before the death of bishop +Burnet, and many years before the appearance of that history, of which +they are pretended to be an abuse. Most true it is that Mr. More had +such a design, and was himself the man who pressed Dr. Arbuthnot, and +Mr. Pope to assist him therein; and that he borrowed those Memoirs of +the latter, when that history came forth, with intent to turn them to +such abuse, but being able to obtain from Pope but one single hint, +and either changing his mind, or having more mind than ability, he +contented himself to keep the said Memoirs, and read them as his own +to all his acquaintance. A noble person there is, into whose +company Pope once chanced to introduce him, who well remembered the +conversation of Mr. More to have turned upon the contempt he had for +that reverend prelate, and how full he was of a design he declared +himself to have of exposing him; this noble person is the earl of +Peterborough.' + +Thus Mr. Pope was obliged to represent this gentleman as a plagiary, +or to pass for one himself. His case indeed, as the author of the +notes to the Dunciad observes, was like that of a man who, as he +was sitting in company, perceived his next neighbour had stolen his +handkerchief. 'Sir, said the thief, finding himself detected, do not +expose me, I did it for mere want; be so good but to take it privately +out of my pocket again, and say nothing.' The honest man did so, but +the other cried out, See, gentlemen! what a thief we have among us! +look, he is stealing my handkerchief.' The plagiarism of this person +gave occasion to the following epigram; + + More always smiles whenever he recites; + He smiles (you think) approving what he writes; + And yet in this no vanity is shown; + A modest man may like what's not his own. + +The smaller pieces which we have heard attributed to this author, are, +An Epigram on the Bridge at Blenheim, by Dr. Evans; Cosmelia, by Mr. +Pitt, Mr. Jones, &c. The Saw-Pit, a Simile, by a Friend; and some +unowned Letters, Advertisements, and Epigrams against Mr. Pope in +the Daily Journal. He died in the year 1734, and as he wrote but one +comedy unsuccessfully, and no other pieces of his meeting with any +applause, the reader will probably look upon him as a man of little +genius; he had a power however of rendering his conversation agreeable +by a facetious and gentleman-like manner, without any of the stiffness +of the scholar, or the usual petulance of a poet. He always lived in +affluent circumstances, and by mixing with genteel company, his habit +of elegance was never lost, a fate which too frequently happens to +those, who, notwithstanding the brightest parts, are excluded the +circle of politeness by the oppressions of poverty. In this light Mr. +Pope must have considered him, or he, who was one of the politest men +of the age, as well as the greatest poet, would never have introduced +him to the earl of Peterborough. It does not appear that Mr. More had +parts otherwise sufficient to entitle him to the notice of Pope, and +therefore he must have considered him only as a gentleman. Had he +possessed as much prudence, as politeness, he would have avoided +by all means incurring the displeasure of Pope, who, as he was the +warmest friend, was likewise a very powerful and implacable enemy. In +this controversy, however, it is evident enough that Mr. Moore was +the aggressor, and it is likewise certain that his punishment has been +equal to his offence. + +He died October 18, 1734, at Whister, near Isleworth in Middlesex, for +which county he was a justice of peace. + + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN DENNIS, + + +This celebrated critic was born in London in the year 1657, his father +being a Sadler, and an eminent citizen[A]. + +He received his early education at Harrow on the Hill, under the pious +and learned Dr. William Horn, having for his schoolfellows many young +noblemen, who afterwards made a considerable figure in the state. +He removed from Harrow to Caius College in Cambridge, where he was +admitted January 13, 1675, in the 18th year of his age. In due time +Mr. Dennis took the degree of bachelor of arts, and after quitting +the university he indulged a passion which he had entertained for +travelling, and set out for France and Italy. In the course of his +travels he, no doubt, made such observations upon the government and +genius of the people whom he visited, as enabled him to make a +just comparison between foreign states and his own country. In +all probability, while he was in France and Italy, he conceived an +abhorrence of despotic government, the effects of which he then had +an opportunity more intimately to discern; for he returned home still +more confirmed in Whig principles, by which his political conduct was +ever governed. + +Our author in his early years became acquainted with some of the +brightest geniuses which then illuminated the regions of wit, such as +Dryden, Wycherly, Congreve, and Southern. Their conversation was +in itself sufficient to divert his mind from the acquisition of any +profitable art, or the exercise of any profession. He ranked himself +amongst the wits, and from that moment held every attainment in +contempt, except what related to poetry, and taste. + +Mr. Dennis, by the instances of zeal which he gave for the Protestant +succession in the reign of King William, and Queen Anne, obtained the +patronage of the duke of Marlborough, who procured him the place +of one of the Queen's waiters in the Custom-house, worth 120 l. +per annum, which Mr. Dennis held for six years. During the time he +attended at the Custom-house, he lived so profusely, and managed +his affairs with so little economy, that in order to discharge some +pressing demands, he was obliged to dispose of his place. When the +earl of Hallifax, with whom he had the honour of being acquainted, +heard of Mr. Dennis's design, he sent for him, and in the most +friendly manner, expostulated with him upon the folly, and rashness +of disposing of his place, by which (says his lordship) you will +soon become a beggar. Mr. Dennis represented his exigences, and the +pressing demands that were then made upon him: which did not however +satisfy his lordship, who insisted if he did sell it, it should be +with some reversion to himself for the space of forty years, a term +which the earl had no notion Mr. Dennis could exceed. But he was +mistaken in his calculation upon our poet's constitution, who +out-lived the term of forty years stipulated when he sold his place, +and fulfilled in a very advanced age, what his lordship had prophesied +would befal him. This circumstance our author hints at in his +dedication of his poem on the Battle of Ramellies, to lord Hallifax, +'I have lately, says he, had very great obligations to your lordship, +you have been pleased to take some care of my fortune, at a time when +I most wanted it, and had the least reason to expect it from you.' +This poem on the Battle of Ramellies is a cold unspirited performance; +it has neither fire, nor elevation, and is the true poetical sister +of another poem of his, on the Battle of Blenheim, addressed to Queen +Anne, and for which the duke of Marlborough rewarded him, says Mr. +Coxeter, with a present of a hundred guineas. In these poems he +has introduced a kind of machinery; good and bad angels interest +themselves in the action, and his hero, the duke of Marlborough, +enjoys a large share of the celestial protection. + +Mr. Dennis had once contracted a friendship[B] with Sir Richard +Steele, whom he afterwards severely attacked. Sir Richard had promised +that he would take some opportunity of mentioning his works in public +with advantage, and endeavour to raise his reputation. When Sir +Richard engaged in a periodical paper, there was a fair occasion +of doing it, and accordingly in one of his Spectators he quotes the +following couplet, which he is pleased to call humorous, but which +however is a translation from Boileau. + + One fool lolls his tongue out at another, + And shakes his empty noddle at his brother. + +The citation of this couplet Mr. Dennis imagined, was rather meant to +affront him, than pay a compliment to his genius, as he could discover +nothing excellent in the lines, and if there was, they being only a +translation, in some measure abated the merit of them. Being fired with +resentment at this affront, he immediately, in a spirit of fury, wrote +a letter to the Spectator, in which he treated him with very little +ceremony, and informed him, that if he had been sincere in paying a +compliment to him, he should have chosen a quotation from his poem on +the Battle of Ramellies; he then points out a particular passage, +of which he himself had a very high opinion, and which we shall here +insert as a specimen of that performance. + +A coelestial spirit visits the duke of Marlborough the night before +the battle, and after he has said several other things to him, goes on +thus, + + A wondrous victory attends thy arms, + Great in itself, and in its sequel vast; + Whose ecchoing sound thro' all the West shall run, + Transporting the glad nations all around, + Who oft shall doubt, and oft suspend their joy, + And oft imagine all an empty dream; + The conqueror himself shall cry amaz'd, + 'Tis not our work, alas we did it not; + The hand of God, the hand of God is here! + For thee, so great shall be thy high renown, + That same shall think no music like thy name, + Around the circling globe it shall be spread, + And to the world's last ages shall endure; + And the most lofty, most aspiring man, + Shall want th' assurance in his secret prayers + To ask such high felicity and fame, + As Heav'n has freely granted thee; yet this + That seems so great, so glorious to thee now, + Would look how low, how vile to thy great mind, + If I could set before th' astonished eyes, + Th' excess of glory, and th' excess of bliss + That is prepar'd for thy expiring soul, + When thou arriv'st at everlasting day. + +The quotation by Mr. Dennis is longer, but we are persuaded the reader +will not be displeased that we do not take the trouble to transcribe +the whole, as it does not improve, but rather grows more languid. +How strangely are people deceived in their own productions! In the +language of sincerity we cannot discover a poetical conception, one +striking image, or one animated line in the above, and yet Mr. Dennis +observes to Sir Richard Steele, that these are the lines, by quoting +which, he would really have done him honour. + +But Mr. Dennis's resentment did not terminate here; he attempted to +expose a paper in the Spectator upon dramatic conduct, in which +the author endeavours to shew that a poet is not always obliged to +distribute poetical justice on this very reasonable account, that +good and evil happen alike to all men on this side the grave. To this +proposition our critic objects, 'that it is not only a very false, but +a dangerous assertion, that we neither know what men really are, nor +what they suffer. Besides, says he, let it be considered, that a man +is a creature, who is created immortal, and a creature consequently +that will find a compensation in futurity, for any seeming inequality +in his destiny here; but the creatures of a poetical creator, are +imaginary, and transitory; they have no longer duration than the +representation of their respective fables, and consequently if +they offend, they must be punished during that representation, and +therefore we are very far from pretending, that poetical justice is +an equal representation of the justice of the Almighty.' In support +of this opinion our critic produces the example of Euripides, and the +best poets amongst the ancients, who practised it, and the authority +of Aristole, who established the rule. But nature, or Shakespear, +which is another word for nature, is by no means in favour of this +equal distribution. No character can be represented in tragedy +absolutely perfect, as no such character exists; but a character which +possesses more virtues than vices, may be upon the whole amiable, and +yet with the strictest propriety may be made the chief sufferer in the +drama. If any passion strongly predominates in the heart of man, +it will often expose him to such snares, entangle him in such +difficulties, and oppress him with such wants, that in the very nature +of things, he must sink under the complicated weight of misery. This +may happen to a character extremely amiable, the passion which governs +him may be termed unhappy, but not guilty, or if it should partake the +nature of guilt, fallible creatures cannot always combat with success +against guilty passions. + +The drama being an imitation of nature, the poet causes a composition +of characters formed in his imagination to be represented by players; +these characters charm, or displease, not only for what they do; +during the representation of the fable, but we love, or hate them for +what they have done before their appearance; and we dread, or warmly +expect the consequences of their resolutions after they depart the +stage. The illusion would not be sufficiently strong, if we did not +suppose the dramatic persons equally accountable to the powers above +us, as we are ourselves. This Shakespear has taken care forcibly to +impress upon his audience, in making the ghost of the murthered king +of Denmark, charge his son not to touch his mother's life, but leave +her to heaven; and the reflexions of her own conscience to goad and +sting her. + +Mr. Dennis's reasoning, upon the whole amounts to this, that no +perfect character should suffer in the drama; to which it may be +answered, that no perfect character ever did suffer in the drama; +because no poet who draws from nature, ever introduced one, for this +very good reason, that there are none in existence. + +Mr. Dennis, who was restless in attacking those writers, who met with +success, levelled some more criticisms against the Spectators; and +amongst the rest endeavoured to expose Mr. Addison's Illustrations of +the Old Ballad, called Chevy Chace; of which we shall only say, +that he performed this talk more successfully than he executed his +Animadversions upon Poetical Justice. + +We have already taken notice of the warm attachment Mr. Dennis always +had to the Whig-Interest, and his particular zeal for the +Hanoverian succession. Ht wrote many letters and pamphlets, for the +administration of the earl of Godolphin, and the duke of Marlborough, +and never failed to lash the French with all the severity natural to +him. + +When the peace (which the Whigs reckoned the most inglorious that +ever was made) was about to be ratified, Mr. Dennis, who certainly +over-rated his importance, took it into his imagination, that when the +terms of peace should be stipulated, some persons, who had been +most active against the French, would be demanded by that nation as +hostages; and he imagined himself of importance enough to be made +choice of, but dreaded his being given up to the French, as the +greatest evil that could befall him. Under the influence of this +strong delusion, he actually waited on the duke of Marlborough, and +begg'd his grace's interposition, that he might not be sacrificed to +the French, for says he, 'I have always been their enemy.' To this +strange request, his grace very gravely replied, 'Do not fear, Mr. +Dennis, you shall not be given up to the French; I have been a +greater enemy to them than you, and you see I am not afraid of being +sacrificed, nor am in the least disturbed.' Mr. Dennis upon this +retired, well satisfied with his grace's answer, but there still +remained upon his spirits a dread of his becoming a prey to some of +the enemies of Great Britain. + +He soon after this retired into the country, to spend some time at a +friend's house. While he was walking one day by the sea side, he saw a +ship in full sail approaching towards the shore, which his distracted +imagination dictated, was a French ship sent to carry him off. He +hurried to the gentleman's house with the utmost precipitation, +upbraided him with treachery, as being privy to the attempts of the +French against his life, and without ceremony quitted his house, and +posted to London, as fast as he could. + +Mr. Dennis, who never cared to be an unconcerned spectator, when any +business of a public or important nature was in agitation, entered +the lists with the celebrated Mr. Sacheverel, who in the year 1702 +published at Oxford a piece called the Political Union, the purport +of which was to shew, that the Church and the State are invariably +connected, and that the one cannot subsist without the other. Mr. +Dennis in answer to this, in a letter to a member of parliament, with +much zeal, force of argument, and less ferocity than usual, endeavours +to overthrow the proposition, and shew the danger of priestcraft, both +to religion and government. + +In this letter he very sensibly observes, 'That since the very spirit +of the christian religion, is the spirit of union and charity, it +follows by consequence, that a spirit of division, is a spirit of +malice, and of the Devil. A true son of the church, is he who appears +most for union, who breathes nothing but charity; who neglects all +worldly greatness to bear his master's yoke; and, who has learned of +him to be meek and lowly of heart.' + +He shews that the moderate part of the Church of England are the +truest church; and that violent party which differs from the moderate +ought to be called Dissenters, because they are at a greater distance +from charity, which is the characteristic of a true church, than any +Dissenters. By which, says he, 'It appears that Mr. Sacheverel has +made a rod to whip himself, for if only the true Church of England +is to remain, and if the moderate part is the true church, the most +violent ought the least to be tolerated, because they differ from +charity; and consequently are more ready to disturb the public peace.' + +In 1703 he published proposals for putting a speedy end to the war, by +ruining the commerce of the French and Spaniards, and securing our own +without any additional expence to the nation. This was thought a very +judicious, and well designed plan. + +In 1706 our author published an Essay on the Italian Opera, in +which, with an irresistable force, he shews the extreme danger that a +generous nation is exposed to, by too much indulging effeminate +music. In the preface he quotes a passage from Boileau, in which that +satirist expresses himself with much severity against emasculating +diversions; and the Italian music in particular. + +He observes, 'That the modern Italians have the very same sun and soil +with the antient Romans, and yet are their manners directly opposite. +Their men are neither virtuous, wise, or valiant, and they who have +reason to know their women, never trust them out of their sight. 'Tis +impossible to give any reason for so great a difference between the +ancient Romans, and the modern Italians, but only luxury; and the +reigning luxury of modern Italy, is that soft and effeminate music, +which abounds in the Opera.' + +In this Essay Mr. Dennis remarks, that entertainments entirely made +up of music can never instruct the mind, nor promote one excellent +purpose in human nature. 'Perhaps, says he, the pride and vanity that +is in mankind, may determine the generality to give into music, at the +expence of poetry. Men love to enjoy their pleasures entirely, and not +to have them restrained by awe, or curbed by mortification. Now there +are but few judicious spectators at our dramatic representations, +since none can be so, but who with great endowments of nature have had +a very generous education; and the rest are frequently mortified, by +passing foolish judgments: But in music the case is vastly different; +to judge of that requires only use, and a fine ear, which the footman +oft has a great deal finer than his master. In short, a man without +common sense may very well judge of what a man writes without common +sense, and without common sense composes.' He then inquires what +the consequence will be if we banish poetry, which is, that taste, +politeness, erudition and public spirit will fall with it, and all for +a Song. The declension of poetry in Greece and Rome was soon followed +by that of liberty and empire; according to Roscommon in his Essay on +Translated Verse. + + True poets are the guardians of a state, + And when they fail, portend approaching fate: + For that which Rome to conquest did inspire, + Was not the Vestal, but the Muses fire; + Heav'n joins the blessings, no declining age + E'er felt the raptures of poetic rage. + +In 1711 Mr. Dennis published an Essay upon Public Spirit, being a +satire in prose, upon the Manners and Luxury of the Times, the chief +sources of our present Parties and Divisions. This is one of the most +finished performances of our author; the intention is laudable, and +the execution equal to the goodness of the design. He begins the +Essay, with a definition, of the love of our country, shews how +much the phrase has been prostituted, and how seldom understood, or +practised in its genuine sense. He then observes how destructive it is +to indulge an imitation of foreign fashions; that fashions are often +followed by the manners of a people from whom they are borrowed; as +in the beginning of king Charles the IId's reign. After the general +distraction which was immediately consequent upon the Restoration, +lord Halifax informs us, the people began to shake off their slavery +in point of dress, and to be ashamed of their servility in that +particular; 'and that they might look the more, says his lordship, +like a distinct people, they threw off their fashions, and put on +vests: The French did not like this independence, this slight shewn to +their taste, as they thought it portended no good to their politics, +considering that it is a natural introduction, first to make the world +their asses, that they may afterwards make them their slaves. +They sent over the duchess of Portsmouth, who, besides many other +commissions, bore one to laugh us out of our vests, which she +performed so effectually, that in a moment we were like so many +footmen, who had quitted their masters livery, we took it again, and +returned to our old service. So that the very time of doing this gave +a very critical advantage to France, since it looked like an evidence +or returning to their interests, as well as their fashions.' + +After giving this quotation from the marquis of Halifax, he proceeds +to inveigh against the various kinds of luxury, in which people of +fashion indulge themselves. + +He observes that luxury has in a particular manner been destructive +to the ladies: 'That artificial dainties raise in their constitutions +fierce ebullitions, and violent emotions, too rude for the delicate +texture of their fibres; and for half the year together, they +neither take any air, nor use any exercise to remove them. From hence +distempers of body and mind; from hence an infinity of irregular +desires, unlawful amours, intrigues, vapours, and whimsies, and all +the numerous, melancholy croud of deep hysterical symptoms; from +hence it comes to pass that the fruit of their bodies lie in them like +plants in hot-beds; from hence it proceeds that our British maids, who +in the time of our Henrys, were not held marriageable till turned +of twenty, are now become falling ripe at twelve, and forced to +prematureness, by the heat of adventitious fire. Nor has luxury only +changed our natures, but transformed our sexes: We have men that are +more soft, more languid, and more passive than women. On the other +side we have women, who, as it were in revenge, are masculine in their +desires, and masculine in their practices.' + +In a pretty advanced age Mr. Dennis, who then laboured under severe +necessities, published two volumes of Letters, by subscription, which +are by far the most entertaining part of his writings. They have more +sprightliness and force in them than, from reading his other works, +we would be disposed to imagine. They are addressed to persons +distinguished by their fortune, genius, and exalted station; the +duke of Marlborough, the Lord Lansdowne, earl of Godolphin, earl of +Halifax, Mr. Dryden, Mr. Prior, Mr. Wycherley, Henry Cromwel, Esq; +Walter Moyle, Esq; and Sir Richard Blackmore. He entitles them +Letters, Moral and Critical. The Critical are chiefly imployed upon +Mr. Addison's Cato, which he censures in some places with great +justice, and critical propriety: In other places he only discovers +spleen, and endeavours to burlesque noble passages, merely from +resentment to the author. + +There is likewise published amongst these letters, an enquiry into +the genius and writings of Shakespear. He contends for Shakespear's +ignorance of the ancients, and observes, that it would derogate +much from his glory to suppose him to have read, or understood them, +because if he had, his not practicing their art, and not restraining +the luxuriance of his imagination would be a reproach to him. After +bestowing the highest panegyric upon Shakespear, he says, 'That he +seems to have been the very original of our English tragical harmony; +that is the harmony of blank verse, diversified often by dissyllable +and trisyllable terminations. For that diversity distinguishes it from +heroic harmony, and bringing it nearer to common use, makes it more +proper to gain attention, and more fit for action, and dialogue. Such +verses we make when we are writing prose, we make such verse in common +conversation.' + +One of the reasons Mr. Dennis assigns for Shakespear's want of +learning, is, that Julius Cæsar, in the play which goes by his name, +makes but a third rate figure, and had he (says the author) consulted +the Latin writers, he could not have been guilty of such an error; but +this is far from being conclusive, which might us well be owing to +his having a contempt for Cæsar's character, and an enthusiastic +admiration for those of Brutus and Cassius. + +Another prose Essay of Mr. Dennis's, which does him very great honour, +is his Grounds of Criticism in Poetry. Amongst many masterly things, +which he there advances, is the following. 'The antient poets (says +he) derived that advantage which they have over the moderns, to the +constituting their subjects after a religious manner; and from the +precepts of Longinus, it appears that the greatest sublimity is to be +derived from religious ideas.' + +Mr. Dennis then observes, that one of the principal reasons, that has +made the modern poetry so contemptible, is that by divesting itself of +religion, it is fallen from its dignity, and its original nature and +excellence; and from the greatest production in the mind of man, it is +dwindled to an extravagant, and vain amusement. When subjects are in +themselves great, the ideas of the writer must likewise be great; and +nothing is in its nature so dignified as religion. This he illustrates +by many examples from Milton, who when he raises his voice to heaven, +and speaks the language of the divinity, then does he reach the true +sublime; but when he descends to the more trifling consideration of +human things, his wing is necessarily depressed, and his strains are +less transporting. We shall now take a view of Mr. Dennis, in that +part of his life and writings, in which he makes a less considerable +figure, by exposing himself to the resentment of one so much his +superior; and who, after a long provocation, at last, let loose his +rage against him, in a manner that no time can obliterate. Mr. Dennis +we have already observed, waged a perpetual war with successful +writers, except those few who were his friends; but never engaged with +so much fury, and less justice, against the writings of any poet, as +those of Mr. Pope. + +Some time after the death of Dryden, when Pope's reputation began to +grow, his friends who were sanguine in his interest, were imprudent +enough to make comparisons, and really assert, that Pope was the +greatest poet of the two: Dennis, who had made court to Dryden, and +was respected by him, heard this with indignation, and immediately +exerted all the criticism and force of which he was master, to reduce +the character of Pope. In this attempt he neither has succeeded, nor +did he pursue it like a gentleman. + +In his reflexions on Pope's Essay on Criticism, he uses the following +unmannerly epithets. 'A young squab, short gentleman, whose outward +form tho' it should be that of a downright monkey, would not differ +so much from human shape, as his unthinking, immaterial part does +from human understanding.--He is as stupid and as venomous as an +hunch-backed toad.--A book through which folly and ignorance, those +brethren so lame, and impotent, do ridiculously look very big, and +very dull, and strut, and hobble cheek by jowl, with their arms on +kimbo, being led, and supported, and bully-backed, by that blind +Hector impudence.' The reasons which our critic gives for this +extraordinary fury are equally ridiculous. 'I regard him (says he) as +an enemy, not so much to me, as to my king, to my country, and to my +religion. The epidemic madness of the times has given him reputation, +and reputation is power; and that has made him dangerous. Therefore +I look on it as my duty to king George, and to the liberties of my +country, more dear than life to me, of which I have now been 40 +years a constant assertor, &c. I look upon it as my duty I say to +do,--Reader observe what,--To pull the lion's skin from this little +ass, which popular error has thrown round him, and shew that this +little author, who has been lately so much in vogue, has neither sense +in his thoughts, nor English in his expressions. See his Remarks on +Homer, Pref. p. 2. and p. 91. + +Speaking of Mr. Pope's Windsor-Forrest, he says, 'It is a wretched +rhapsody, impudently writ in emulation of Cooper's-Hill. The author +of it is obscure, is ambiguous, is affected, is temerarious, is +barbarous.' + +After these provocations, it is no wonder that Pope should take an +opportunity of recording him in his Dunciad; and yet he had some +esteem for our author's learning and genius. Mr. Dennis put his name +to every thing he wrote against him, which Mr. Pope considered as +a circumstance of candour. He pitied him as a man subject to the +dominion of invidious passions, than which no severer sensations can +tear the heart of man. + +In the first Book of his Dunciad. line 103, he represents Dullness +taking a view of her sons; and thus mentions Dennis, + + She saw slow Philips creep like Tate's poor page, + And all the mighty mad in Dennis rage. + +He mentions him again slightly in his second Book, line 230, and in +his third Book, line 165, taking notice of a quarrel between him and +Mr. Gildon, he says, + + Ah Dennis! Gildon ah! what ill-starr'd rage + Divides a friendship long confirm'd by age? + Blockheads, with reason, wicked wits abhor, + But fool with fool, is barbr'ous civil war, + Embrace, embrace, my sons! be foes no more! + Nor glad vile poets, with true critic's gore. + +Our author gained little by his opposition to Pope, in which he must +either have violated his judgment, or been under the influence of the +strongest prejudice that ever blinded the eyes of any man; for not to +admire the writings of this excellent poet, is an argument of a total +deprivation of taste, which in other respects does not appear to be +the case of Mr. Dennis. + +We shall now take a view of our author in the light of a dramatist. +In the year 1697 a comedy of his was acted at the Theatre-Royal +in Drury-Lane, called A Plot and No Plot, dedicated to the Earl of +Sunderland. The scope of this piece is to ridicule the credulity and +principles of the Jacobites, the moral of which is this, 'That there +are in all parties, persons who find it their interest to deceive +the rest, and that one half of every faction makes a property in +fee-simple of the other, therefore we ought never to believe any thing +will, or will not be, because it is agreeable, or contrary to our +humours, but because it is in itself likely, or improbable. Credulity +in men, engaged in a party, proceeds oftner from pride than weakness, +and it is the hardest thing in the world to impose upon a humble man.' +In 1699 a tragedy called Rinaldo and Armida was acted at the Theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, dedicated to the Duke of Ormond. Scene the +top of a mountain in the Canaries. The hint of the chief characters +is owing to Tasso's Gierusalemme, but the manners of them being by our +author thought unequal in that great Italian, he has taken the liberty +to change them, and form his characters more agreeable to the subject. +The reasons for doing it are expressed in the preface and prologue to +the play. + +Our author's next tragedy was upon the subject of Iphigenia, daughter +to Agamemnon King of Argos, acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn +1704. Iphigenia was to have been sacrificed by her father, who was +deluded by the fraud of Calchas, who proclaimed throughout the Grecian +fleet, that the offended gods demanded of Agamemnon the sacrifice of +his daughter to Lucina, and till, that oblation was offered, the fleet +would remain wind-bound. Accordingly, under pretence of marrying +her to Achilles, she was betrayed from Argos, but her mother, +Clytemnestra, discovering the cheat, by a stratagem prevented its +execution, and effected her rescue without the knowledge of any one +but her husband Agamemnon. A Grecian virgin being sacrificed in her +place, Iphigenia is afterwards wrecked on the Coast of Scythia, and +made the Priestess of Diana. In five years time her brother Orestes, +and his friend Pylades, are wrecked on the same shore, but saved from +slaughter by the Queen of Scythia, because she loved Orestes. Orestes, +on the other hand, falls in love with the Priestess of Diana; they +attempt an escape, and to carry off the image of the Goddess, but are +prevented. The Queen then dooms Orestes to the altar, but Pylades, +from his great friendship, personates Orestes, and disconcerts the +design. The story and incidents of this play are interesting and +moving, but Mr. Dennis has not wrought the scenes much in the spirit +of a tragedian: This was a subject admirably suited for the talents +of Otway. The discovery of Orestes's being the brother of Iphigenia +is both surprizing and natural, and though the subject is not well +executed, yet is this by far the most affecting tragedy of our author; +it is almost impossible to read it without tears, though it abounds +with bombast. + +The fourth play introduced upon the stage by Mr. Dennis, 1704, was, a +tragedy called Liberty Asserted, dedicated to Anthony Henley, esq; +to whom he says he was indebted for the happy hint upon which it was +formed. Soon after this he wrote another tragedy upon the story of +Appius and Virginia, which Mr. Maynwaring, in a letter to Mr. Dennis, +calls one of our best modern tragedies; it is dedicated to Sidney Earl +of Godolphin. + +He altered Shakespear's Merry Wives of Windsor, and brought it on the +stage under the title of The Comical Gallant. Prefixed to this, is +a large account of Taste in Poetry, and the Causes of its Degeneracy +addressed to the Hon. George Granville, Esq; afterwards Lord +Lansdowne. + +Our author's next dramatic production was Coriolanus, the Invader +of his Country, or the Fatal Resentment, a Tragedy; altered from +Shakespear, and acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This piece +met with some opposition the first night; and on the fourth another +play was given out. The second night's audience was very small, though +the play was exceedingly well acted. The third night had not the +charges in money; the fourth was still worse, and then another play +was given out, not one place being taken in the boxes for any ensuing +night. The managers were therefore obliged to discontinue it. + +This usage Mr. Dennis highly resented; and in his dedication to the +duke of Newcastle, then lord chamberlain, he makes a formal complaint +against the managers. To this play Mr. Colley Cibber took the pains to +write an epilogue, which Mrs. Oldfield spoke with universal applause, +and for which poor peevish, jealous Dennis, abused them both. + +Mr. Dennis happened once to go to the play, when a tragedy was acted, +in which the machinery of thunder was introduced, a new artificial +method of producing which he had formerly communicated to the +managers. Incensed by this circumstance, he cried out in a transport +of resentment, 'That is my thunder by G--d; the villains will play my +thunder, but not my plays.' This gave an alarm to the pit, which +he soon explained. He was much subject to these kind of whimsical +transports, and suffered the fervor of his imagination often to subdue +the power of his reason; an instance of which we shall now relate. + +After he was worn out with age and poverty, he resided within the +verge of the court, to prevent danger from his creditors. One Saturday +night he happened to saunter to a public house, which he discovered in +a short time was out of the verge. He was sitting in an open drinking +room, and a man of a suspicious appearance happened to come in. There +was something about the man which denoted to Mr. Dennis that he was a +Bailiff: this struck him with a panic; he was afraid his liberty was +now at an end; he sat in the utmost solicitude, but durst not offer to +stir, lest he should be seized upon. After an hour or two had passed +in this painful anxiety, at last the clock struck twelve, when Mr. +Dennis, in an extasy, cried out, addressing himself to the suspected +person, 'Now sir, Bailiff, or no Bailiff, I don't care a farthing for +you, you have no power now.' The man was astonished at this behaviour, +and when it was explained to him, he was so much affronted with the +suspicion, that had not Mr. Dennis found his protection in age, he +would have smarted for his mistaken opinion of him. + +In the year 1705 a comedy of Mr. Dennis's called Gibraltar, or The +Spanish Adventure, was acted unsuccessfully at Drury-Lane Theatre. He +was also author of a masque called Orpheus and Euridice. + +Mr. Dennis, considered as a dramatic writer, makes not so good a +figure as in his critical works; he understood the rules of writing, +but it is not in the power of every one to carry their own theory into +execution. There is one error which he endeavoured to reform, very +material for the interest of dramatic poetry. He saw, with concern, +that love had got the entire possession of the tragic stage, contrary +to the authority of the ancients, and the example of Shakespear. He +resolved therefore to deviate a little from the reigning practice, and +not to make his heroes such whining slaves in their amours, which +not only debases the majesty of tragedy, but confounds most of the +principal characters, by making that passion the predominant quality +in all. But he did not think it safe at once to shew his principal +characters wholly exempt from it, lest so great and sudden a +transition should prove disagreeable. He rather chose to steer a +middle course, and make love appear violent, but yet to be subdued +by reason, and give way to the influence of some other more noble +passion; as in Rinaldo, to Glory; in Iphigenia, to Friendship; and +in Liberty Asserted, to the Public Good. He thought by these means an +audience might be entertained, and prepared for greater alterations, +whereby the dignity of tragedy might be supported, and its principal +characters justly distinguished. + +Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Dennis is +author of the following pieces, mostly in the Pindaric way. + +Upon our Victory at Sea, and burning the French Fleet at La Hogne in +1692. + +Part of the Te Deum Paraphrased, in Pindaric Verse. + +To Mr. Dryden, upon his Translation of the Third Book of Virgil's +Georgics. Pindaric Ode. + +A Pindaric Ode on the King, written in the beginning of August 1691; +occasioned by the Victory at Aghrim. + +To a Painter drawing a Lady's Picture, an Epigram. + +Prayer for the King's Safety in the Summer's Expedition in 1692, an +Epigram. + +The Court of Death, a Pindaric Poem; dedicated to the Memory of her +Most Sacred Majesty Queen Mary. + +The Passion of Byblis, made English from the Ninth Book of Ovid's +Metamorphosis. + +The Monument, a Poem; sacred to the Memory of the best, and greatest +of Kings, William III. + +Britannia Triumphans, or A Poem on the Battle of Blenheim; dedicated +to Queen Anne. + +On the Accession of King George to the Imperial Crown of Great +Britain. + +The following specimen, which is part of a Paraphrase on the Te Deum, +serves to shew, that Mr. Dennis wrote with more elegance in Pindaric +odes, than in blank verse. + + Now let us sing a loftier strain, + Now let us earth and earthly things disdain, + Now let our souls to Heaven repair, + Direct their most aspiring flight, + To fields of uncreated light, + And dare to draw empyreal air. + 'Tis done, O place divinely bright! + O Sons of God divinely fair! + O sight! unutterable sight! + O unconceivable delight! + O joy which only Gods can bear! + Heark how their blissful notes they raise, + And sing the Great Creator's praise! + How in extatic song they cry, + Lo we the glorious sons of light, + So great, so beautiful, so bright, + Lo we the brightest of created things, + Who are all flame, all force, all spirit, and all eye, + Are yet but vile, and nothing in thy sight! + Before thy feet O mighty King of kings, + O Maker of this bounteous all! + Thus lowly reverent we fall. + +After a life exposed to vicissitudes, habituated to many +disappointments, and embroiled in unsuccessful quarrels, Mr. Dennis +died on the 6th of January 1733, in the 77th year of his age. We have +observed that he outlived the reversion of his place, after which +he fell into great distress, and as he had all his life been making +enemies, by the ungovernable fury of his temper, he found few persons +disposed to relieve him. When he was near the close of his days, a +play was acted for his benefit. This favour was procured him by the +joint interest of Mr. Thomson, Mr. Martin, Mr. Mallet, and Mr. Pope. +The play was given by the company then acting at the little Theatre in +the Hay-market, under the direction of Mr. Mills sen. and Mr. Cibber +jun. the latter of whom spoke a prologue on the occasion, written by +Mr. Pope. + +Mr. Dennis was less happy in his temper, than his genius; he possessed +no inconsiderable erudition, which was joined to such natural parts, +as if accompanied with prudence, or politeness, might have raised him, +not only above want, but even to eminence. He was happy too in having +very powerful patrons, but what could be done for a man, who declared +war against all the world? Dennis has given evidence against himself +in the article of politeness; for in one of his letters he says, he +would not retire to a certain place in the country, lest he should be +disturbed in his studies by the ladies in the house: for, says he, +I am not over-fond of the conversation of women. But with all his +foibles, we cannot but consider him as a good critic, and a man of +genius. + +His perpetual misfortune was, that he aimed at the empire of wit, for +which nature had not sufficiently endowed him; and as his ambition +prompted him to obtain the crown by a furious opposition to all other +competitors, so, like Cæsar of old, his ambition overwhelmed him. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob's Lives of the Poets.] + +[Footnote B: Which friendship he ill repaid. Sir Richard once became +bail for Dennis, who hearing that Sir Richard was arrested on his +account, cried out; "'Sdeath! Why did not he keep out of the way, as I +did?"] + + * * * * * + + + + +G. GRANVILLE, L. LANSDOWNE, + + +Was descended from an illustrious family, which traced their ancestry +from Rollo, the first duke of Normandy. He was second son of Bernard +Granville, and grandson of the famous Sir Bevil Granville, killed +at the battle of Lansdowne 1643. This nobleman received the first +tincture of his education in France, under the tuition of Sir +William Ellis, a gentleman, who was eminent afterwards in many public +employments. + +When our author was but eleven years of age, he was sent to Trinity +College in Cambridge, where he remained five years, but at the age of +thirteen was admitted to the degree of master of arts, having, before +he was twelve years old, spoken a copy of English verses, of his own +composition, to the Duchess of York, when her Royal Highness paid a +visit to that university. + +At the time when the nation was embroiled by the public distractions, +occasioned by the efforts of King James II. to introduce Popery, +lord Lansdowne did not remain an unconcerned spectator. He had early +imbibed principles of loyalty, and as some of his forefathers had +fallen in the cause of Charles I. he thought it was his duty to +sacrifice his life also, for the interest of his Sovereign. However +mistaken he might be in this furious zeal for a Prince, the chief +scope of whose reign was to overthrow the law, and introduce absolute +dominion, yet he appears to be perfectly sincere. In a letter he wrote +to his father upon the expected approach of the Prince of Orange's +fleet, he expresses the most ardent desire to serve the King in +person[A]. This letter we shall insert, but beg our readers patience +to make a digression, which will justify what we have said concerning +James II. + +The genuine mark of a tyrant is cruelty, and it is with concern we +can produce an instance of the most inhuman barbarity in that Prince, +which ever stained the Annals of any reign. Cruelty should be the +badge of no party; it ought to be equally the abhorrence of all; and +whoever is tainted with it, should be set up to view, as a terror +to the world, as a monster, whom it is the interest of mankind to +destroy. + +After the suppression of Monmouth's rebellion, many of the unfortunate +persons engaged In it fled to London, and took shelter there, 'till +the Act of Indemnity should be published. They who afforded them +shelter, were either of the Monmouth faction, or induced from +principles of humanity, to administer to their safety: what would +become of the world, if our friends were always to forsake us in +distress? There lived then in London an amiable lady, attached to no +party, who enjoyed a large fortune, which she spent in the exercise of +the most extensive beneficence. She made it her business to visit the +Jails, and the prisoners who were most necessitous and deserving, +she relieved. Her house was an asylum for the poor; she lived but for +charity, and she had every hour the prayers of the widow and orphan +poured out to her. It happened that one of the rebels found shelter in +her house; she suffered him to be screened there; she fed and cloathed +him. The King had often declared that he would rather pardon those +who were found in arms against him, than the people who harboured, or +secretly encouraged them. This miscreant, who sometimes ventured out +at night to a public house, was informed, that the King had made +such a declaration, and it entered into his base heart to betray his +benefactress. He accordingly went before a magistrate, and lodged an +information, upon which the lady was secured, brought to a trial, and +upon the evidence of this ungrateful villain, cast for her life. She +suffered at a stake with the most resigned chearfulness, for when +a woman is convicted of treason, it seems, she is sentenced to be +burnt[B]. The reader will easily judge what sort of bowels that King +must have, who could permit such a punishment to take place upon +a woman so compleatly amiable, upon the evidence of a villain so +consummately infamous, and he will, we are persuaded, be of opinion +that had his Majesty possessed a thousand kingdoms, he deserved to +lose them all for this one act of genuine barbarity. + +Lord Lansdowne. who did not consider, or was not then capable of +discovering, the dangers to which this prince exposed his people, +wrote the following letter to his father, earnestly pressing him to +permit his entering voluntarily into king James's service. + +'SIR, + +'Your having no prospect of obtaining a commission for me, can no way +alter, or cool my desire at this important juncture, to venture my +life, in some manner or other, for my King and country. I cannot bear +to live under the reproach of lying obscure and idle in a country +retirement, when every man, who has the least sense of honour, +should be preparing for the field. You may remember, sir, with what +reluctance I submitted to your commands upon Monmouth's rebellion, +when no importunity could prevail with you to permit me to leave the +academy; I was too young to be hazarded; but give me leave to say, it +is glorious, at any age, to die for one's country; and the sooner, the +nobler sacrifice; I am now older by three years. My uncle Bath was not +so old, when he was left among the slain at the battle of Newberry, +nor you yourself, sir, when you made your escape from your Tutors, to +join your brother in the defence of Scilly. The same cause is now come +round about again. The King has been misled, let those who misled +him be answerable for it. Nobody can deny but he is sacred in his +own person, and it is every honest man's duty to defend it. You are +pleased to say it is yet doubtful, if the Hollanders are rash enough +to make such an attempt. But be that as it will, I beg leave to be +presented to his Majesty, as one, whose utmost ambition is to devote +his life to his service, and my country's, after the example of all my +ancestors. The gentry assembled at York, to agree upon the choice of +representatives for the county, have prepared an Address to assure his +Majesty they are ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes for him +upon this, and all other occasions, but at the some time they humbly +beseech him to give them such magistrates as may be agreeable to the +laws of the land, for at present there is no authority to which they +can legally submit. By what I can hear, every body wishes well to the +King, but would be glad his ministers were hanged. The winds continue +so contrary, that no landing can be so soon as was apprehended, +therefore I may hope, with your leave and assistance, to be in +readiness before any action can begin; I beseech you, sir, most +humbly, and most earnestly, to add this one act of indulgence more, +to so many testimonies I have so constantly received of your +goodness, and be pleased to believe me always with the utmost duty and +submission, + +'Yours, &c.' + +We are not told whether his father yielded to his importunity, or +whether he was presented to his Majesty; but if he really joined the +army, it was without danger to his person, for the revolution was +effected in England without one drop of blood. In the year 1690 Lord +Lansdowne wrote a copy of verses addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth +Higgins, in answer to a poetical Address sent him by that lady in +his retirement. The verses of the lady are very elegant, and are only +exceeded by the polite compliments his lordship wrote in answer to +them. They both deserve a place here, + + I. + + Why Granville is thy life to shades confin'd, + Thou whom the Gods design'd + In public to do credit to mankind? + Why sleeps the noble ardour of thy blood, + Which from thy ancestors so many ages past, + From Rollo down to Bevil flowed, + And then appeared again at last, + In thee when thy victorious lance + Bore the disputed prize from all the youth of France. + + II. + + In the first trials which are made for fame, + Those to whom fate success denies, + If taking council from their shame, + They modestly retreat are wise; + But why should you, who still succeed, + Whether with graceful art you lead + The fiery barb, or with a graceful motion tread + In shining balls where all agree + To give the highest praise to thee? + Such harmony in every motion's sound, + As art could ne'er express by any sound. + + III. + + So lov'd and prais'd whom all admire, + Why, why should you from courts and camps retire? + If Myra is unkind, if it can be + That any nymph can be unkind to thee; + If pensive made by love, you thus retire, + Awake your muse, and string your lyre; + Your tender song, and your melodious strain + Can never be address'd in vain; + She needs must love, and we shall have you back again. + +His lordship's Answer thus begins. + + Cease, tempting syren, cease thy flattering strain, + Sweet is thy charming song, but song in vain: + When the winds blow, and loud the tempests roar, + What fool would trust the waves, and quit the shore? + Early and vain into the world I came, + Big with false hopes and eager after fame: + Till looking round me, e'er the race began, + Madmen and giddy fools were all that ran. + Reclaimed betimes, I from the lists retire, + And thank the Gods, who my retreat inspire. + In happier times our ancestors were bred, + When virtue was the only path to tread. + Give me, ye Gods, but the same road to fame, + Whate'er my father's dar'd, I dare the same. + Changed is the scene, some baneful planet rules + An impious world contriv'd for knaves and fools. + +He concludes with the following lines + + Happy the man, of mortals happiest he, + Whose quiet mind of vain desires is free; + Whom neither hopes deceive, nor fears torment, + But lives at peace, within himself content, + In thought or act accountable to none + But to himself, and to the Gods alone. + O sweetness of content, seraphic joy! + Which nothing wants, and nothing can destroy. + Where dwells this peace, this freedom of the mind? + Where but in shades remote from human kind; + In flow'ry vales, where nymphs and shepherds meet, + But never comes within the palace-gate. + Farewel then cities, courts, and camps farewel, + Welcome ye groves, here let me ever dwell, + From care and bus'ness, and mankind remove, + All but the Muses, and inspiring love: + How sweet the morn, how gentle is the night! + How calm the evening, and the day how bright! + From thence, as from a hill, I view below + The crowded world, a mighty wood in shew, + Where several wand'rers travel day and night, + By different paths, and none are in the right. + +In 1696 his Comedy called the She Gallants was acted at the +Theatre-Royal[C] in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. He afterwards altered this +Comedy, and published it among his other works, under the title of +Once a Lover and Always a Lover, which, as he observes in the preface, +is a new building upon an old foundation. + +'It appeared first under the name of the She-Gallants, and by the +preface then prefixed to it, is said to have been the Child of a +Child. By taking it since under examination; so many years after, the +author flatters himself to have made a correct Comedy of it; he found +it regular to his hand; the scene constant to one place, the time not +exceeding the bounds prescribed, and the action entire. It remained +only to clear the ground, and to plant as it were fresh flowers in the +room of those which were grown into weeds or were faded by time; to +retouch and vary the characters; enliven the painting, retrench the +superfluous; and animate the action, where it appeared the young +author seemed to aim at more than he had strength to perform.' + +The same year also his Tragedy, intitled Heroic Love, was acted at the +Theatre. Mr. Gildon observes, 'that this Tragedy is written after the +manner of the antients, which is much more natural and easy, than that +of our modern Dramatists.' Though we cannot agree with Mr. Gildon, +that the antient model of Tragedy is so natural as the modern; yet +this piece shall have very great merit, since we find Mr. Dryden +addressing verses to the author upon this occasion, which begin thus, + + Auspicious poet, wert thou not my friend, + How could I envy, what I must commend! + But since 'tis nature's law, in love and wit, + That youth should reign, and with'ring age submit, + With less regret, those laurels I resign, + Which dying on my brow, revive on thine. + +Our author wrote also a dramatic poem, called the British +Enchanters[D], in the preface to which he observes, 'that it is the +first Essay of a very infant Muse, rather as a task at such hours +as were free from other exercises, than any way meant for public +entertainment. But Mr. Betterton having had a casual sight of it, many +years after it was written, begged it for the stage, where it met with +so favourable a reception as to have an uninterrupted run of upwards +of forty nights. To this Mr. Addison wrote the Epilogue.' Lord +Lansdowne altered Shakespear's Merchant of Venice, under the title of +the Jew of Venice, which was acted with applause, the profits of which +were designed for Mr. Dryden, but upon that poet's death were given to +his son. + +In 1702 he translated into English the second Olynthian of +Demosthpracticewas returned member for the county of Cornwall, in +the parliament which met in November 1710, and was soon after +made secretary of war, next comptroller of the houshold, and then +treasurer, and sworn one of the privy council. The year following he +was created baron Lansdowne of Biddeford in Devonshire[E]. + +In 1719 he made a speech in the house of lords against the practicee +of occasional conformity, which is printed among his works, and among +other things, he says this. 'I always understood the toleration to +be meant as an indulgence to tender consciences, not a licence for +hardened ones; and that the act to prevent occasional conformity was +designed only to correct a particular crime of particular men, in +which no sect of dissenters was included, but these followers of +Judas, which came to the Lord's-Supper, from no other end but to sell, +and betray him. This crime however palliated and defended, by so many +right reverend fathers in the church, is no less than making the God +of truth, as it were in person subservient to acts of hypocrisy; no +less than sacrificing the mystical Blood and Body of our Saviour to +worldly and sinister purposes, an impiety of the highest nature! which +in justice called for protection, and in charity for prevention. The +bare receiving the holy Eucharist, could never be intended simply as +a qualification for an office, but as an open declaration, an +undubitable proof of being, and remaining a sincere member of the +church. Whoever presumes to receive it with any other view profanes +it; and may be said to seek his promotion in this world, by eating and +drinking his own damnation in the next.' + +This accomplished nobleman died in February, Anno 1735. By his lady, +Mary, widow of Thomas Thynne, Esq; (father of Thomas lord viscount +Weymouth) and daughter of Edward Villiers, earl of Jersey, he had +issue, four daughters, Anne, Mary, Grace and Elizabeth. + +His lady died but a few days before him. + +Mr. Pope, with many other poets of the first eminence, have celebrated +lord Lansdowne, who seems to have been a good-natur'd agreeable +nobleman. The lustre of his station no doubt procured him more +incense, than the force of his genius would otherwise have attracted; +but he appears not to have been destitute of fine parts, which were +however rather elegantly polished, than, great in themselves. + +Lord Landsdowne likewise wrote a Masque, called Peleus and Thetis. +His lordship's works have been often printed both in quarto and in +duo-decimo. + + +[Footnote A: Gen. Dict. Art. Granville.] + +[Footnote B: See Burnet's History of his own Times.] + +[Footnote C: General Dictionary, ubi supra.] + +[Footnote D: It was called a Dramatic Opera, and was decorated at a +great expence, and intermixed with Songs, Dances, &c.] + +[Footnote E: Upon the accession of King George the 1st, the lord +Lansdowne was seized, and imprisoned in the Tower, upon an impeachment +of high treason; but was soon after honourably discharged, without +being brought to a trial.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN GAY, + + +This eminent Wit was descended of an ancient family in Devonshire, and +educated at the free-school of Barnstaple in the same county, under +the care of Mr. William Rayner, an excellent master[A]. + +Mr. Gay had a small fortune at his disposal, and was bred, says Jacob, +a Mercer in the Strand; but having a genius for high excellences, he +considered such an employment as a degradation to it, and relinquished +that occupation to reap the laurels of poetry. + +About the year 1712 he was made secretary to the duchess of Monmouth, +and continued in that station 'till he went over to Hanover, in the +beginning of the year 1714, with the earl of Clarendon, who was sent +there by Queen Anne; upon whose death he returned to England, and +lived in the highest esteem and friendship with persons of the first +quality and genius. Upon Mr. Gay's arrival from Hanover, we find among +Mr. Pope's letters one addressed to him dated September 23, 1714, +which begins thus, + +Dear GAY, + +'Welcome to your native soil! welcome to your friends, thrice welcome +to me! whether returned in glory, blessed with court-interest, the +love and familiarity of the great, and filled with agreeable hopes; +or melancholy with dejection, contemplative of the changes of fortune, +and doubtful for the future. Whether returned a triumphant Whig, or a +desponding Tory, equally all hail! equally beloved and welcome to me! +If happy, I am to share in your elevation; if unhappy, you have still +a warm corner in my heart, and a retreat at Binfield in the worst of +times at your service. If you are a Tory, or thought so by any man, I +know it can proceed from nothing but your gratitude to a few people, +who endeavoured to serve you, and whose politics were never your +concern. If you are a Whig, as I rather hope, and as I think your +principles and mine, as brother poets, had ever a bias to the side +of liberty, I know you will be an honest man, and an inoffensive one. +Upon the whole, I know you are incapable of being so much on either +side, as to be good for nothing. Therefore, once more, whatever you +are, or in whatever state you are, all hail!'[B] + +In 1724 his tragedy entitled the Captives, which he had the honour to +read in MS. to Queen Caroline, then Princess of Wales, was acted at +the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane. + +In 1726 he published his Fables, dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland, +and the year following he was offered the place of gentleman usher to +one of the youngest Princesses, which, by reason of some slight shewn +him at court, he thought proper to refuse. He wrote several works of +humour with great success, particularly The Shepherd's Week, Trivia, +The What d'ye Call It, and The Beggars Opera, which was acted at the +Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1728. The author of the Notes on this +line of the Dunciad, b. iii. I. 326. + + Gay dies unpensioned with a hundred friends; + +observes that this opera was a piece of satire, which hits all tastes +and degrees of men, from those of the highest quality to the very +rabble. "That verse of Horace + + Primores populi arripuit populumque tributim, + +could never be so justly applied as in this case. The vast success of +it was unprecedented, and almost incredible. What is related of the +wonderful effects of the ancient music, or tragedy, hardly came up +to it. Sophocles and Euripides were less followed and famous; it was +acted in London sixty three days uninterrupted, and renewed the next +season with equal applause. It spread into all the great towns of +England, was played in many places to the thirtieth and fortieth time; +at Bath and Bristol fifty. It made its progress into Wales, Scotland +and Ireland, where it was performed twenty-four days together. It was +lastly acted in Minorca. The fame of it was not confined to the author +only; the ladies carried about with them the favourite songs of it in +fans; and houses were furnished with it in screens. The girl who acted +Polly, 'till then obscure, became all at once the favourite of the +town, her pictures were engraved, and sold in great numbers; her life +written; books of letters and verses to her, published; and pamphlets +made even of her sayings and jests. Furthermore, it drove out of +England, for that season, the Italian Opera, which had carried all +before it for ten years; that idol of the nobility and the people, +which Mr. Dennis by the labours and outcries of a whole life, could +not overthrow, was demolished by a single stroke of this gentleman's +pen." + +Dr. Swift in his Intelligencer Numb. 3. has given us a vindication of +Mr. Gay, and the Beggars Opera; he observes, 'that though an evil taste +be very apt to prevail both in Dublin and in London; yet, there is a +point which whoever can rightly touch, will never fail of pleasing a +very great majority; so great that the dislikers, out of dullness, or +affectation, will be silent, and forced to fall in with the herd; the +point I mean is, what we call humour, which, in its perfection, is +allowed to be much preferable to wit, if it he not rather the most +useful, and agreeable species of it.----Now I take the comedy, or +farce (or whatever name the critic will allow it) called The Beggar's +Opera, to excel in this article of humour, and upon that merit to have +met with such prodigious success, both here and in England.' The dean +afterwards remarks, 'that an opinion obtained, that in this opera, +there appears to be some reflexions on courtiers and statesmen. It is +true indeed (says he) that Mr. Gay hath been somewhat singular in the +course of his fortunes, attending the court with a large stock of real +merit, a modest and agreeable conversation, a hundred promises, and +five hundred friends, hath failed of preferment, and upon a very +weighty reason; he lay under the suspicion of having written a Libel, +or Lampoon, against a great minister, it is true that great minister +was demonstratively convinced, and publickly owned his conviction, +that Mr. Gay was not the author, but having laid under the suspicion, +it seemed very just that he should suffer the punishment, because in +this most reformed age the virtues of a great minister are no more to +be suspected, than the chastity of Caesar's wife.' The dean then tells +us, that our author in this piece has, by a turn of humour entirely +new, placed vices of all kinds in the strongest, and most odious +light, and thereby done eminent service both to religion and morality. +'This appears from the unparalleled success he has met with; all +ranks, parties, and denominations of men, either crowding to see his +Opera, or reading it with delight in their closets; even ministers of +state, whom he is thought most to have offended, appearing frequently +at the Theatre, from a consciousness of their own innocence, and +to convince the world how unjust a parallel, malice, envy and +disaffection to the government have made.----In this happy performance +of Mr. Gay, all the characters are just, and none of them carried +beyond nature, or hardly beyond practice. It discovers the whole +system of that commonwealth, or that imperium in imperio of iniquity +established among us, by which, neither our lives, nor our properties +are secure, either in highways, or in public assemblies, or even in +our own houses; it shews the miserable lives and constant fate of +those abandoned wretches; for how small a price they sell their souls, +betrayed by their companions, receivers, and purchasers of those +thefts and robberies. This comedy contains likewise a satire, which +though it doth by no means affect the present age, yet might have been +useful in the former, and may possibly be so in ages to come, I mean +where the author takes occasion of comparing those common robbers of +the public, and their several stratagems of betraying, undermining, +and hanging each other, to the several acts of politicians in the time +of corruption. This comedy likewise exposes, with great justice, that +unnatural taste for Italian music among us, which is wholly unsuitable +to our Northern climate, and the genius of the people, whereby we +are overrun with Italian effeminacy. An old gentleman said to me many +years ago, when the practice of an unnatural vice grew so frequent in +London, that many were prosecuted for it; he was sure it would be +the forerunner of Italian operas and singers, and then we would want +nothing but stabbing, or poisoning, to make us perfect Italians. Upon +the whole I deliver my judgment; that nothing but servile attachment +to a party, affectation of singularity, lamentable dullness, mistaken +zeal, or studied hypocrisy, can have any objection against this +excellent moral performance of Mr. Gay[C].' + +The astonishing success of the Beggar's Opera induced our author to +add a second part, in which, however, he was disappointed, both in +profit and fame. His opera entitled Polly, designed as a sequel of the +former, was prohibited by the lord chamberlain from being represented +on the stage, when every thing was ready for the rehearsal of it, but +was soon after printed in 4to. to which the author had a very large +subscription. In the preface Mr. Gay gives a particular account of the +whole affair in the following manner; 'On Thursday December 12 (says +he) I received this answer from the chamberlain, that it should not +be allowed to be acted, but suppressed. This was told me in general +without any reasons assigned, or any charge against me of my having +given any particular offence. Since this prohibition I have been +told, that I am accused, in general terms, of having written many +disaffected libels, and seditious pamphlets. As it hath ever been my +utmost ambition (if that word may be used upon this occasion) to +lead a quiet and inoffensive life, I thought my innocence in this +particular would never have needed a justification; and as this +kind of writing is what I ever detested, and never practiced, I am +persuaded so groundless a calumny can never be believed, but by those +who do not know me. But when general aspersions of this sort have been +cast upon me, I think myself called upon to declare my principles, and +I do with the strictest truth affirm, that I am as loyal a subject, +and as firmly attached to the present happy establishment, as any of +those who have the greatest places or pensions. I have been informed +too, that in the following play I have been charged with writing +immoralities; that it is filled with slander and calumny against +particular great persons, and that Majesty itself is endeavoured to be +brought into ridicule and contempt. + +As I know that every one of these charges was in every point +absolutely false, and without the least grounds, at first I was not at +all affected by them; but when I found they were still insisted upon, +and that particular passages which were not in the play were quoted, +and propagated to support what had been suggested, I could no longer +bear to lye under those false accusations; so by printing it, I have +submitted, and given up all present views of profit, which might +accrue from the stage, which will undoubtedly be some satisfaction +to the worthy gentlemen, who have treated me with so much candour and +humanity, and represented me in such favourable colours. But as I am +conscious to myself, that my only intention was to lash in general the +reigning and fashionable vices, and to recommend, and set virtue in as +amiable a light as I could; to justify and vindicate my own character, +I thought myself obliged to print the opera without delay, in the +manner I have done.' The large subscription Mr. Gay had to print it, +amply recompens'd any loss he might receive from it's not being acted. +Tho' this was called the Sequel to the Beggar's Opera, it was allowed +by his best friends, scarce to be of a piece with the first part, +being in every particular, infinitely beneath it. + +Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Gay wrote +several poems, printed in London in 2 vol. 12mo. + +A Comedy called The Wife of Bath, first acted 1715, and afterwards +revived, altered, and represented at the Theatre Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. + +Three Hours after Marriage, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal, in +which he was assisted by Pope and Arbuthnot, but had the mortification +to see this piece very ill received, if not damned the first night. + +He wrote likewise Achilles, an Opera; acted at the Theatre in Covent +Garden. This was brought on the stage after his death, and the profits +were given to his Sisters. + +After experiencing many vicissitudes of fortune, and being for some +time chiefly supported by the liberality of the duke and duchess +of Queensberry, he died at their house in Burlington Gardens, of a +violent inflammatory fever, in December 1732, and was interred +in Westminster, by his noble benefactors just mentioned, with +the following epitaph written by Mr. Pope, who had the sincerest +friendship for him on account of his amiable qualities. + + 'Of manners gentle, of affections mild; + In wit a man, simplicity a child; + Above temptation in a low estate, + And uncorrupted even amongst the great; + A safe companion, and an easy friend, + Unblamed thro' life, lamented in thy end: + These are thy honours! not that here thy bust + Is mix'd with heroes, or with kings thy dust, + But that the worthy and the good shall say, + Striking their pensive bosoms--here lies GAY;' + +Then follows this farther inscription, + + Here lie the ashes of Mr. John Gay; + The warmest friend; + The most benevolent man: + Who maintained + Independency + In low circumstances of fortune; + Integrity + In the midst of a corrupt age; + And that equal serenity of mind, + Which conscious goodness alone can give + Thro' the whole course of his life. + + Favourite of the muses + He was led by them to every elegant art; + Refin'd in taste + And fraught with graces all his own: + In various kinds of poetry + Superior to many, + Inferior to none, + His works continue to inspire + what his example taught, + Contempt of folly, however adorned; + Detestation of vice, however dignified; + Reverence of virtue, however disgraced. + +Charles and Catherine, duke and duchess of Queensberry, who loved this +excellent man living, and regret him dead, have caused this monument +to be erected to his memory. + +Mr. Gay's moral character seems to have been very amiable. He was of +an affable, sweet disposition, generous in his temper, and pleasant +in his conversation. His chief failing was an excessive indolence, +without the least knowledge of economy; which often subjected him to +wants he needed not otherwise have experienced. Dean Swift in many +of his letters entreated him, while money was in his hands, to buy +an annuity, lest old age should overtake him unprepared; but Mr. Gay +never thought proper to comply with his advice, and chose rather to +throw himself upon patronage, than secure a competence, as the dean +wisely advised. As to his genius it would be superfluous to say any +thing here, his works are in the hands of every reader of taste, and +speak for themselves; we know not whether we can be justified in our +opinion, but we beg leave to observe, that of all Gay's performances, +his Pastorals seem to have the highest finishing; they are perfectly +Doric; the characters and dialogue are natural and rurally simple; the +language is admirably suited to the persons, who appear delightfully +rustic. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob.] + +[Footnote B: General Dictionary, Article Gay.] + +[Footnote C: Swift, ubi supra.] + + * * * * * + + + + +PHILIP Duke of WHARTON, + + +The unhappy nobleman, the memoirs of whose life we are now about to +relate, was endowed by nature with all those shining qualifications by +which a great man can be formed. He possessed a most extensive memory, +a strong and lively imagination, and quick and ready apprehension. + +By the immediate authority of his father, our noble author's studies +were confined to one particular branch of learning; with a view, no +doubt, that his son's uncommon genius might make the greater progress, +and shine with a superior lustre in that species of erudition he had +made choice of for him. On this account it was, that the earl his +father would not permit the young lord to go to public or private +schools, or to any college, or university, but had him carefully +instructed by domestic tutors; and as he gave an early display of the +most astonishing parts, the earl bent all his thoughts how to improve +them in the best manner, for his son's future advantage. + +As soon as this sprightly genius, had laid a sufficient foundation in +classical learning, he studied history, particularly that of his +own country, by which he was able to discern the principles of +the constitution, the revolutions it has undergone, the variety of +accidents by which it may be endangered, and the true policy by +which it can be preserved. While he thus read history, he became a +politician; and as he did not neglect other sciences, he acquired a +general knowledge both of life and things, before most other persons +of distinction begin to read, or think at all. + +By his not receiving an academical education, he escaped that +stiffness and moroseness of temper frequently contracted by those who +have been for some time condemned to a collegiate obscurity. Neither +had he the least tincture of a haughty superiority, arising from +the nobleness of his birth, and the lustre of his abilities. His +conversation was easy, pleasant, and instructive, always suited to his +company, of whatever quality, humour, or capacity they were. + +As it was the earl of Wharton's view, to qualify his son to fill +that high station, in which his birth would one day place him with +advantage to his country; his great care was to form him a compleat +orator. For this purpose some of the principal parts in the best +English Tragedies were assign'd him at times to study, particularly +those of Shakespear, which he used to repeat before a private +audience. Sometimes his father gave him speeches which had been +uttered in the house of peers, and which the young lord got by heart, +and delivered with all the graces of action and elocution; with so +much propriety of expression, emphasis of voice, and pronunciation +wherever it was requisite, as shewed his lordship was born for this +arduous province. Nor did the excellency of these performances receive +a small additional beauty from the gracefulness of his person, which +was at once soft and majestic. + +Thus endowed by nature to charm and persuade, what expectations might +not have been formed on him? A youth of a noble descent, who added to +that advantage the most astonishing parts ever man possessed, improved +by an uncommon and well regulated education. What pity is it, this +illustrious young man, born to have dictated to the senate, and +directed the business of a state, with the eyes of a people fixed upon +him, should fall so exceedingly short of those fair hopes, he had so +justly raised in every breath. He wanted one quality, without which +birth, fortune, and abilities, suffer a considerable diminution. That +quality is prudence; of which the duke of Wharton was so destitute, +that all his parts were lost to the world, and the world lost to him. + +The first prelude to his misfortunes, may justly be reckoned his +falling in love, and privately marrying a young lady, the daughter of +major general Holmes; a match by no means suited to his birth, fortune +and character; and far less to the ambitious views his father had of +disposing of him in such a marriage, as would have been a considerable +addition to the fortune and grandeur of his illustrious family. +However disappointed the earl of Wharton might be, in his son's +marrying beneath his quality; yet that amiable lady who became his +daughter-in-law deserved infinitely more felicity than she met with +by an alliance with his family; and the young lord was not so unhappy +through any misconduct of hers, as by the death of his father, which +this precipitate marriage is thought to have hastened. The duke being +so early freed from paternal restraints, plunged himself into those +numberless excesses, which became at last fatal to him; and he proved, +as Pope expresses it, + + A tyrant to the wife his heart approv'd; + A rebel to the very king he lov'd. + +The young lord in the beginning of the year 1716 indulged his desire +of travelling and finishing his education abroad; and as he was +designed to be instructed in the strictest Whig principles, Geneva was +judged a proper place for his residence. On his departure from England +for this purpose, he took the rout of Holland, and visited several +courts of Germany, and that of Hanover in particular. + +Though his lordship was now possessed of his family estate, as much as +a minor could be; yet his trustees very much limited his expences, +and made him too moderate remittances, for a person of his rank and +spirit. This gave him great uneasiness, and embarrassed him much in +his way of living, which ill suited with the profusion of his taste. +To remove these difficulties, he had recourse to mortgaging, and by +premiums and large interest paid to usurers, supplied his present +necessities, by rendering his affairs still worse. + +The unhappy divisions which reigned in England at the time this +young peer made his first entry into public life, rendered it almost +impossible for him to stand neuter, and on whatever side he should +declare himself, still there was danger. The world generally expected +he would follow the steps of his father, who was one of the first +English gentlemen who joined the prince of Orange, and continued firm +to the Revolution principles, and consequently approved the Hanoverian +succession, upon whose basis it was built. But whatever motives +influenced the young marquis (for king William had bestowed this title +on his father) he thought proper to join the contrary party. The cause +of his abandoning the principles of the Whigs is thought to be this. + +The marquis being arrived at Geneva, he conceived so great a disgust +at the dogmatical precepts of his governor, the restraints he +endeavoured to lay upon him, and the other instances of strict +discipline exercised in that meridian of Presbyterianism, that he fell +upon a scheme of avoiding these intolerable incumbrances; so, like +a torrent long confined within its bounds by strong banks, he broke +loose, and entered upon engagements, which, together with the natural +impetuosity of his temper, threw him into such inconveniencies, as +rendered the remaining part of his life unhappy. + +His lordship, as we have already observed, being very much disgusted +with his governor, left him at Geneva, and as if he had been flying +from a pestilence, set out post for Lyons, where he arrived about the +middle of October 1716. + +The author of the duke of Wharton's life has informed us, that the +reason of his lordship's leaving his governor so abruptly, was on +account of the freedom with which that gentleman treated him, a +circumstance very disgustful to a person of his quality. He took leave +of him in the following manner. + +His lordship somewhere in his travels had picked up a bear's cub, of +which he was very fond, and carried it about with him; but when he was +determined to abandon his tutor, he left the cub behind him, with the +following note addressed to him. + + 'Being no longer able to bear with your ill-usage, + I think proper to be gone from you; however, + that you may not want company, I have left you + the bear, as the most suitable companion in the + world, that could be picked out for you.' + +When the marquis was at Lyons he took a very strange step, little +expected from him. He wrote a letter to the Chevalier de St. +George, then residing at Avignon, to whom he presented a very fine +stone-horse. Upon receiving this present, the Chevalier sent a man of +quality to the marquis, who carried him privately to his court, where +he was received with the greatest marks of esteem, and had the title +of duke of Northumberland conferred upon him. He remained there +however but one day, and then returned post to Lyons; from whence he +set out for Paris. He likewise made a visit to the queen dowager of +England, consort to king James the IId. then residing at St. Germains, +to whom he paid his court, pursued the same rash measures as at +Avignon. + +During his stay at Paris, his winning address, and astonishing parts, +gained him the esteem and admiration of all British subjects of both +parties who happened to be there. The earl of Stair, then ambassador +at the court of France from the king of Great Britain, notwithstanding +all the reports to the marquis's disadvantage, thought proper to shew +some respect to the representative of so great a family, which had so +resolutely supported the present administration, especially as he was +a young man of such great personal accomplishments, both natural and +acquired, and blest with a genius so capable of serving his country +even in the most eminent station. + +These considerations induced lord Stair, who was a prudent, discerning +minister, to countenance the young marquis, give him frequent +invitations to his table, and to use him with distinguishing civility. +The earl was likewise in hopes, by these gentle measures, and this +insinuating behaviour, to win him to his party, which he had good +reason to think he hated. His excellency never failed to lay hold of +every opportunity, to give him some admonitions, which were not always +agreeable to the vivacity of his temper, and sometimes provoked him to +great indiscretions. Once in particular, the ambassador extolling the +merit, and noble behaviour of the marquis's father, added, 'That he +hoped he would follow so illustrious an example of fidelity to his +prince, and love to his country, by treading in the same steps.'--Upon +which the marquis immediately answered, 'That he thanked his +excellency for his good advice, and as his excellency had also a +worthy and deserving father, he hoped he would likewise copy so bright +an original and tread in all his steps.' This was a severe sarcasm, as +the ambassador's father had betrayed his master in a manner that was +quite shameful. He acted the same part in Scotland, which Sunderland +did in England. They pushed on king James the IId. to take violent and +unconstitutional measures, to make his ruin certain: They succeeded +in their scheme, and after the Revolution, boasted their conduct as +meritorious; but however necessary it might be for king William, upon +principles of policy to reward the betrayers, he had yet too good +a heart to approve the treachery.--But to return to the marquis, we +shall mention another of his juvenile fights, as an instance to what +extravagant and unaccountable excesses, the inconstancy of his temper +would sometimes transport him. + +A young English surgeon, who went to Paris, to improve himself in +his business, by observing the practice in the celebrated hospitals, +passing by the embassador's house on the 10th of June at night, took +the liberty to break his excellency's windows because there was no +bonfire before his door. Upon this outrage he was seized and committed +prisoner to Fort L'Eveque. This treatment of the young surgeon was +resented by the marquis; but he fought for no other satisfaction +than to break the ambassador's windows a second time. Accordingly his +lordship proposed it to an Irish lieutenant-general, in the service of +France, a gentleman of great honour and of the highest reputation for +abilities in military affairs, desiring his company and assistance +therein. The general could not help smiling at the extravagance of the +proposal, and with a great deal of good-nature advised his lordship +by all means not to make any such attempts; 'but if he was resolutely +bent upon it, he begg'd to be excused from being of the party, for it +was a method of making war to which he had never been accustomed.' +We might here enumerate more frolics of the same kind which he either +projected, or engaged in, but we chuse rather to omit them as they +reflect but little honour on the marquis.--We shall only observe, +that before he left France, an English gentleman of distinction +expostulating with him, for swerving so much from the principles of +his father and his whole family, his lordship answered, 'That he +had pawned his principles to Gordon the Pretender's banker for a +considerable sum; and till he could repay him, he must be a Jacobite, +but that when that was done he would again return to the Whigs.' + +About the latter end of December 1716, the marquis arrived in England, +where he did not remain long, till he set out for Ireland; in which +kingdom, on account of his extraordinary qualities, he had the honour +done him of being admitted, though under age, to take his seat in that +august assembly of the house of peers, to which he had a right as earl +of Rathfarnam, and marquis of Catherlough. Here he espoused a very +different interest from that which he had so lately embraced. He +distinguished himself on this occasion as a violent partizan for the +ministry; and acted in all other respects, as well in his private +as public capacity, with the warmest zeal for the government. The +speeches which he made in the house upon many occasions, uttered +with so much force of expression, and propriety of emphasis, were +an irrefutable demonstration of his abilities, and drew upon him the +admiration of both kingdoms. The marquis's arguments had very great +influence on which side of the question soever he happened to be.--No +nobleman, either in that or the English house of peers, ever acquitted +himself with greater reputation, or behaved with a more becoming +dignity than he did during this session of the Irish parliament. In +consequence of this zeal for the new government, shewn at a time when +they stood much in need of men of abilities, and so little expected +from the young marquis, the king who was no stranger to the most +refined rules of policy, created him a duke, the highest degree of a +subject. + +In the preamble to his patent, after a detail of the merit of his +father, and his services to the government are illustrated, his +lordship's behaviour in Ireland and his early endowments are thus +mentioned. + +'When we see the son of that great man, forming himself by so worthy +an example, and in every action exhibiting a lively resemblance of +his father; when we consider the eloquence he has exerted with so much +applause in the parliament of Ireland, and his turn and application, +even in early youth to the serious and weighty affairs of the public, +we willingly decree him honours which are neither superior to his +merits, nor earlier than the expectation of our good subjects.' + +As soon as the duke of Wharton came of age, he was introduced to the +house of lords in England, with the like blaze of reputation, and +raised jealousies in the breasts of the most consummately artful, and +best qualified in the house of peers. A little before the death of +lord Stanhope, his grace, who was constant in nothing but inconstancy, +again changed sides, opposed the court, and endeavoured to defeat all +the schemes of the ministry. + +He appeared one of the most forward and vigorous in the defence of the +bishop of Rochester, and in opposing the bill for inflicting pains and +penalties on that prelate. + +The judicious observations he made on the trial of the bishop, and the +manner in which he summed up and compared a long and perplexed kind +of evidence, with inimitable art and perspicuity, may be seen in the +duke's speech upon that extraordinary occasion, which is a lasting +proof of his amazing abilities in the legislative capacity, as well as +of his general knowledge of public business. + +He, however, did not confine this spirit of opposition to the house of +lords, but exerted it both in city and country, promoting in all kinds +of elections such persons as were supposed to be no fautors of the +court. Such was the hatred he now conceived to the ministry, and such +his desire of becoming eminent; that he even pushed himself into +the city of London; was invested with the rights and privileges of a +citizen, and was entered a member of the wax-chandler's company; by +virtue of which he appeared at all meetings, charmed all societies, +and voted in his own right upon all occasions. + +Notwithstanding his astonishing activity in opposition to the court, +he was not yet satisfied that he had done enough. He could not be in +all places, and in all companies at once. As much an orator as he was, +he could not talk to the whole nation, and therefore he printed his +thoughts twice a week, in a paper called the True-Briton, several +thousands of which being dispersed weekly, the duke was pleased to +find the whole kingdom giving attention to him, and admiring him as an +author, though they did not at all approve his reasoning. + +Those political papers, which were reckoned by some the standard +of good sense, and elegant writing, were collected together in his +life-time, and reprinted by his order, with a preface, in which he +gives his reasons for engaging in an undertaking so uncommon to a +person of his distinction. + +Here it will not be improper to remark, that notwithstanding all those +instances of the duke's zeal, his sincerity in opposing the ministry +was yet suspected, as his former behaviour was so very inconsistent +with it; but he never failed to justify himself throughout the +different and contrary courses of his conduct, pretending always to +have acted consistently with the honour and interest of the realm. But +he never was able in this particular to obtain the public judgment in +his favour. + +It is impossible to reconcile all the various actions of this +noble-man. He was certainly too much governed by whim and accident. +From this time forward, however, though he might deviate from the +strict rules of a moral life, he cannot be said to have done so with +respect to his politics. The same principles on which he set out, +he carried to his grave, with steadiness through all the events of +fortune, and underwent such necessities, as few of his quality ever +experienced, in a cause, the revival and success of which had long +been desperate, before he engaged in it. + +The duke's boundless profusion had by this time so burthened his +estate, that a decree of chancery took hold on it, and vested it in +the hands of trustees for the payment of his debts, but not without +making a provision of 1200 l. per annum for his subsistence. This +allowance not being sufficient to support his title with suitable +dignity at home, he proposed to go abroad for some years, 'till his +estate should clear itself of incumbrances. His friends, for his own +sake, were pleased with this resolution, and every body considered +this course as the most prudent, that in such circumstances could be +taken. But in this the world was deceived, for he went abroad from no +such prudent motive, oeconomy being a virtue of which he never had the +least notion in any part of his life. His business at Vienna was to +execute a private commission, not in favour of the English ministry, +nor did he ever shine to greater advantage, as to his personal +character, than at the Imperial court. + +From Vienna his grace made a tour to the court of Spain, where his +arrival alarmed the English minister so much, that two expresses were +sent from Madrid to London, upon the apprehension that his grace was +received there in the character of an ambassador, upon which the duke +received a summons under the Privy Seal to return home. His behaviour +on this occasion was a sufficient indication that he never designed to +return to England, whilst affairs remained in the same state, and +the administration in the same hands they then were in. This he often +declared from his going abroad the second time, which, no doubt, was +the occasion of his treating that solemn order with so much indignity, +and endeavouring to enflame the Spanish court, not only against the +person who delivered the warrant, but against the court of Great +Britain itself, for exercising an act of power, as he was pleased to +call it, within the jurisdiction of his Catholic Majesty. After this +he acted openly in the service of the Pretender, and appeared at his +court, where he was received with great marks of favour. + +While his grace was thus employed abroad, his duchess, who had been +neglected by him, died in England, on the 14th of April 1726, and left +no issue behind her. The lady's death gave the duke no great shock. +He was disencumbered of her and had now an opportunity of mending his +fortune by marriage. + +Soon after this, the duke fell violently in love with Mademoiselle +Obern, a beautiful young lady at the Spanish court, who was then one +of the maids of honour to the Queen of Spain. She was daughter of an +Irish colonel in that service, who being dead, her mother lived upon +a pension the King allowed her, so that this lady's fortune consisted +chiefly in her personal accomplishments. Many arguments were used by +their friends on both sides to dissuade them from the marriage. The +Queen of Spain, when the duke asked her consent, represented to him +in the most lively terms, that the consequence of the match would be +misery to both, and absolutely refused her consent. + +Having now no hopes of obtaining her, he fell into a violent +melancholy, which introduced a lingering fever, of which he languished +'till he was almost ready to drop into the ground. This circumstance +reaching her Majesty's ear, she was moved with his distress, and sent +him word to endeavour the recovery of his health, and as soon as he +was able to appear abroad, she would speak to him in a more favourable +manner, than at their last interview. The duke upon receiving this +news, imagined it the best way to take the advantage of the kind +disposition her Majesty was in; and summoning to his assistance his +little remaining strength, he threw himself at her Majesty's feet, and +begged of her either to give him Mademoiselle Obern, or not to order +him to live, assuring her, in the language of tragedy, that she was to +pronounce the sentence of his life, or death. The Queen consented, +but told him he would soon repent it, and the young lady being dazzled +with the lustre of a ducal title, and besides having a real value for +her lover, they were soon united by an indissoluble bond. + +After the solemnization of his marriage, he passed some time at Rome, +where he accepted of a blue garter, affected to appear with the title +of duke of Northumberland, and for awhile enjoyed the confidence of +the exiled Prince. But as he could not always keep himself within the +bounds of the Italian gravity, and having no employment to amuse his +active temper, he ran into his usual excesses, which giving offence, +it was thought proper for him to remove from that city for the +present, lest he should fall into actual disgrace. Accordingly the +duke quitted Rome, and went by sea to Barcelona, where hearing that +the trenches were opening before Gibraltar, he resolved upon a new +scene of life, which few suspected he would ever engage in. He wrote +a letter to the King of Spain, acquainting him, 'That he designed +to take up arms in his Majesty's service, and apprehending that his +forces were going to reduce the town of Gibraltar under his obedience, +he hoped he should have his permission to assist at the siege as a +volunteer.' + +This done, he went to the camp, taking his duchess along with him, +and was received with all the marks of respect due to his quality. +The Conde de la Torres, who commanded there, delivered him an obliging +letter from the King his master, thanking him for the honour he +intended him, by serving in his troops, and during that siege, +appointed him his aid-de-camp, by which, post the duke was to give an +account of all transactions to his Majesty himself, which obliged +him to be often in the trenches, and to expose his person to imminent +danger. During this siege want of courage was never imputed to him; on +the contrary, he was often guilty of the most imprudent rashness. One +evening he went close to the walls, near one of the posts of the town, +and threatened the soldiers of the garrison. They asked who he was? he +readily answered, the duke of Wharton; and though he appeared there as +an enemy, they suffered him to return to the trenches without firing +one shot at him. + +This siege was ended, and the duke received no other hurt, than a +wound in his foot by the bursting of a grenade, and when nothing more +was to be done in the camp, he went to court, where he was held in the +utmost respect by the principal nobility. The King likewise, as a +mark of his favour, was pleased to give him a commission of Colonel +Agregate (that was the term) to one of the Irish regiments, called +Hibernia, and commanded by the marquis de Castelar. + +Could the duke have been satisfied with that state of life, and +regulated his expences according to his income, he had it then in his +power to live, if not affluently, at least easily. But in a short time +he was for changing the scene of action; he grew weary of Madrid, and +set his heart on Rome. In consequence of this resolution, he wrote a +letter to the Chevalier de St. George, full of respect and submission, +expressing a desire of visiting his court; but the Chevalier returned +for answer, that he thought it more advisable for his grace to draw +near England, than make a tour to Rome, that he might be able to +accommodate matters with the government at home, and take some care +of his personal estate. The Chevalier very prudently judged, that so +wretched an oeconomist as the duke, would be too great a burden to a +person, whose finances were not in a much better condition than his +own. Be that as it may, the duke seemed resolved to follow his advice, +and accordingly set out for France, in company with his duchess, and +attended by two or three servants, arrived at Paris in May 1728. He +sent a letter to Mr. Walpole then embassador there, to let him know +he designed to visit him. That gentleman returned the duke a civil +answer, importing, 'that he should be glad to see his grace at his own +time, if he intended it a public visit; if a private one, they would +agree upon an hour, that should be most convenient.' The duke declared +that he would come publicly, which he did next day, and his discourse +with that minister was suitable to the usual gaiety of his temper; for +though he spoke of returning home, it was in such an undetermined way, +that Mr. Walpole could not guess his real intentions. He received the +duke however with his usual complaisance, and with a respect agreeable +to his quality, but was not a little surprized, when, at parting, his +grace told him, he was going to dine with the bishop of Rochester. Mr. +Walpole answered, 'That if he had a design of making that prelate a +visit, there was no manner of occasion for telling him of it.' Thus +they parted, and never again had another interview. + +The duke made little stay at Paris, but proceeded to Rouen in his +way, as some imagined, to England; but there he stopt, and took up +his residence, without reflecting in the least on the business that +brought him to France. He was so far from making any concession to the +government in order to make his peace, that he did not give himself +the least trouble about his personal estate, or any other concern in +England. The duke had about 600 l. in his possession, when he arrived +at Rouen, where more of his servants joined him from Spain. There he +formed his houshold, and made a calculation, in which there appeared +to be but one mistake, that is, he proportioned his expences, not +according to his income, but quality; and though every argument was +used to convince him of this error, at once so obvious and fatal, yet +he would hearken to no admonition while he had one crown left. + +At Rouen, as in every other place, the duke charmed all those who +conversed with him; he was warmly received by persons of the first +distinction in that province, with whom he took the diversion of +hunting twice a week, 'till some news arrived, which would have given +interruption to the mirth of any other man; but the alteration was +scarce to be perceived in him. + +This was a Bill of Indictment preferred against Philip duke of +Wharton, for high treason. The fact laid to his charge was, appearing +in arms before, and firing off cannon against, his Majesty's town of +Gibraltar. Here we cannot omit an anecdote, from which the reader +may draw what conclusion he pleases. During the time the proceedings +against the duke were at a stand in the long vacation, a gentleman +of character, intimately acquainted with the duke, and also with his +affairs in England; one who enjoyed the sunshine of court favour, and +was a Member of Parliament, went over to Rouen to visit his grace, in +company with another gentleman. These two visitants took a great deal +of pains to persuade him to submit to the government, and return to +his estate, which they assured him he might do, by writing a letter to +the King, or the ministry. This alone, without any other pretensions +to favour, was to re-establish him, and leave him the free enjoyment +of his estate, which, notwithstanding all the reductions, would +even then have yielded 6000 l. a year. This point they sollicited +incessantly, and their words of honour were given, to remove all +scruples his grace might have about the performance of the conditions. +Their interpositions were however in vain; he refused to submit to the +ministry, or write to the King, and thought it beneath him to ask a +favour. + +This conduct of the duke may be imputed, by some, to pride and +obstinacy, but a more natural construction is, that he was afraid of +treachery. He could not discover upon what motives, two persons whom +he looked upon as creatures of the court, would give themselves the +trouble to come to Rouen, in order to persuade him to act for his +own interest, unless they had some concealed views of such a nature, +perhaps, as would prove fatal to him, should he submit. + +He soon after this received advice from England, that his trustees +could remit him no more of his annuity, on account of the indictment +preferred against him. There was now a dreadful prospect before him; +his money was wasted; all future supplies cut off; and there was a +large family to support, without any hopes of relief. He began now to +feel the effects of the indictment, which he before held in so much +contempt; he complained of it as a rigorous proceeding, because it +laid him under a necessity of asking a favour, and receiving it in a +public manner, which he fancied neither consistent with his honour, +or reputation. Thus exasperated against the government, he wrote the +memorable paper which he contrived to get printed in Mist's Journal, +under the colour of an account of Mirevais and Sultan Ezref, which +contained severe reflexions on the administration. Mean time the +duke's credit at Rouen began to sink; he was attended every morning +with a considerable levee, consisting of the tradesmen of that city, +who came with importunate faces to demand payment of their bills, +which he discharged by quitting Rouen, leaving his horses and equipage +to be sold, and the money to be divided among them. The duke, before +this event, had thrown himself at the feet of the Chevalier de St. +George, as the only possible resource he had left. Accordingly he +wrote him a most moving letter, giving him a detail of his present +sufferings, very pathetically representing the distress to which he +was reduced, and humbly imploring his protection, with what little +assistance might be necessary to enable him to support such a burthen +of calamities, as he found otherwise too heavy to bear. + + * * * * * + +The duke having now returned to Paris, made a considerable reformation +in his houshold affairs, and placed himself in a private family, while +the duchess went to a relation's at St. Germains. In the mean while +the answer of the letter sent to Rome came in its proper time, in +which his imprudent conduct was represented; but at the same time was +touched with so light and delicate a hand, that it gave the duke +but little uneasiness. No hopes were given him, that he should be +gratified in his extravagancies, or flattered in his levities; on the +contrary he was told, 'That as his past conduct had not merited any +favour, nothing but his future behaviour could recommend him to it.' +The duke had sufficient penetration to discover by this hint, that he +was not likely to be abandoned, which was consolation enough to one +of his sanguine temper, in the then desperate situation of his +affairs.--The Chevalier de St. George soon after sent him 2000 l. +for his support, of which he was no sooner in possession, than he +squandered it away in a course of extravagance. In reality, money +seemed to be such a burthen to him, that he bent all his thoughts +to get rid of it as fast as possible; and he was as unwilling his +companions should be troubled with it as himself. As a proof of this +strange temper we shall quote one instance amongst many in the words +of the writer of his life, which will serve to shew the heedless +profusion of that unaccountable nobleman. + +'A young Irish lord of the duke's acquaintance, of a sweet obliging +and generous disposition, happening to be at St. Germains, at the time +his grace was paying a visit to his lady; the duke came to him one +night, with an air of business, and told his lordship that an affair +of importance called him instantly to Paris, in which no time was to +be lost, wherefore he begged the favour of his lordship's coach. The +young nobleman lent it very readily, but as the duke was stepping into +it, he added, that he should reckon it an additional obligation, if +his lordship would give him, his company: As the duke was alone, +the young lord either could not, or would not, refuse him. They went +together for Paris, where they arrived about midnight. The duke's +companion then supposing his grace's business might demand privacy, +offered to leave him and come again, when it should be finished; but +he assured his lordship it was not necessary; upon which they went +upon the following frolic together. The first thing to be done, was to +hire a coach and four horses; the next to find out the music belonging +to the Opera, six or eight of which his grace engaged at a set price: +The young lord could not imagine in what this would end; till they +returned to St. Germains, which was at five the next morning when the +duke marching directly with his troop to the castle, ordered them to +strike upon the stairs. Then the plot broke out into execution, being +no more than to serenade some young ladies, near whose apartments they +then were. + +'This piece of extravagant gallantry being over, the duke persuaded +the young lord to go about a mile off, to Poissy, where an English +gentleman 'of their acquaintance lived: His lordship consenting, the +duke took with him a pair of trumpets, and a kettle-drum, to give +the music a more martial air: But to this the Opera music made an +objection at first, because as they should be wanted that night +in their posts, they should forfeit half a louis d' or each, for +non-appearance. Half a louis d' or! says his grace, follow the duke +of Wharton, and all your forfeitures shall be paid. They did so, and +entered Poissy in such a musical manner, that they alarmed the whole +town, and their friend did not know whether he had best keep his +house, or fly for it; but the affair was soon explained, and the +musical troop was entertained by the gentleman their friend, in a very +handsome manner. This frolic being now finished, there was one thing +more absolutely necessary, viz. to discharge the reckoning, upon which +occasion the duke in a very laconic manner addressed himself to the +young lord.' My lord, says he, 'I have not one livre in my pocket, +wherefore I must desire you to pay these fellows, and I'll do as +much for you whenever I am able. Upon this his lordship with great +chearfulness, paid all demands, amounting to 25 louis d' ors.' + +It may seem a strange observation, but it is certainly true, that the +brute creation differs not more from the rational in many respects, +than a man from himself: That by suffering passions to usurp the +dominion of the soul, human nature is stript of its dignity, debased +to the beasts that perish, and still rendered more ignominious by the +complications of guilt. We have already seen the duke of Wharton set +up as the idol of an admiring people; an august senate listened to +the enchantments of his eloquence; a powerful ministry dreading his +resolutions; he was courted, flattered, feared; and obeyed. View him +now, and the scene is shifted. Observe him descending to the most +abject trifling, stooping to the meanest expedients, and the orator +and statesman transformed to the vagabond and the wanderer. + +No incident in this nobleman's life has been represented more to his +disadvantage, and is in itself more interesting than the following. +The account which is here inserted was sent to a friend by the duke's +express order. + +A Scots peer with whom both the duke, and the duchess lived in great +intimacy in Italy, happening to come to Paris, when the duke was +there, they renewed their acquaintance and friendship, and for some +time continued with mutual freedom, till the duke had reason to +believe from what he heard from others, that the peer had boasted +favours from the duchess of Wharton. + +This instance of wanton vanity, the duke could not help resenting, +though he often declared since the quarrel, that he never had the +least suspicion of the duchess's honour. He resolved therefore very +prudently to call the Scots lord to an account, without letting +him know it was for the duchess or so much as mentioning her name; +accordingly he took occasion to do it in this manner. + +It happened that the duke of Wharton and his lordship met at a lady's +whom they mutually visited, and the duke dropping his glove by chance, +his lordship took it up, and returned it to the duke; who thereupon +asked him if he would take it up in all it's forms? To which his +lordship answered, yes, my lord, in all its forms. + +Some days after, the duke gave a ball at St. Germains, to which he +invited the Scots nobleman, and some person indiscretely asked his +grace whether he had forbid the duchess's dancing with lord C----. +This gave the duke fresh reason to believe that the Scots peer had +been administring new grounds for his resentment, by the wantonness +of calumny. He dissembled his uneasiness for the present, and very +politely entertained the company till five o'clock in the morning, +when he went away without the ceremony of taking leave; and the next +news that was heard of him was from Paris, from whence he sent a +challenge to lord C----d, to follow him to Flanders. + +The challenge was delivered by his servant, and was to this effect: +'That his lordship might remember his saying he took up his glove in +all its forms, which upon mature reflexion, his grace looked upon to +be such an affront, as was not to be born, wherefore he desired his +lordship to meet him at Valenciennes, where he would expect him with a +friend and a pair of pistols; and on failure of his lordship's coming +his grace would post him, &c. + +The servant who delivered the letter, did not keep its contents a +secret; and lord C----d was taken into custody, when he was about +setting out to meet his grace. All that remained then for his lordship +to do, was to send a gentleman into Flanders, to acquaint the duke +with what happened to him. His grace upon seeing the gentleman, +imagining him to be his lordship's second, spoke to him in this +manner; 'Sir, I hope my lord will favour me so far as to let us use +pistols, because the wound I received in my foot before Gibraltar, +in some measure disables me from the sword.' Hereupon the gentleman +replied with some emotion, 'My lord duke, you might chuse what you +please; my lord C----d will fight you with any weapon, from a small +pin to a great cannon; but this is not the case, my lord is under an +arrest, by order of the duke of Berwick.' + +His grace being thus disappointed in the duel, and his money being +almost spent, he returned to Paris, and was also put under an arrest +till the affair was made up by the interposition of the duke of +Berwick, under whose cognizance it properly came as Marshal of France. + +The duke's behaviour on this occasion, so far from being reproachable, +seems to be the most manly action of his whole life. What man of +spirit would not resent the behaviour of another, who should boast +of favours from his wife, especially when in all probability he never +received any? + +His grace's conducting the quarrel, so as to save the reputation of +his duchess, by not so much as having her name called in question, was +at once prudent, and tender; for whether a lady is guilty or no, if +the least suspicion is once raised, there are detractors enough in +the world ready to fix the stain upon her. The Scots lord deserved the +severest treatment, for living in strict friendship with two persons +of quality, and then with an insidious cruelty endeavouring to sow +the seeds of eternal discord between them, and all to gratify a little +vanity: Than such a conduct nothing can be more reproachable. + +Not long after this adventure, a whim seized the duke of going into +a convent, in order to prepare for Easter; and while he was there, he +talked with so much force and energy upon all points of religion, that +the pious fathers beheld him with admiration. Mankind were for some +time in suspense, what would be the issue of this new course of life; +but he soon put an end to their speculations by appearing again in +the world, and running headlong into as wild courses of vice and +extravagance, as he had ever before done. He had for a companion, a +gentleman for whom he entertained a very high esteem; but one who +was as much an enemy as possible to such a licentious behaviour. In +another situation, our noble author would have found it a happiness +to be constantly attended by a person of his honour, probity, and good +sense; but the duke's strange and unaccountable conduct, rendered +the best endeavours to serve him ineffectual. In a letter which that +gentleman wrote to a friend in London, he concludes with a melancholy +representation of the duke's present circumstances; + +----'However, notwithstanding what I have suffered, and what my +brother 'madman' has done to undo himself, and every body who was so +unlucky as to have the least concern with him, I could not help being +sensibly moved on so extraordinary a vicissitude of fortune, to see a +great man fallen from that shining light, in which I have beheld him +in the house of lords, to such a degree of obscurity, that I have +beheld the meanest commoner here decline his company; and the Jew he +would sometimes fasten on, grow tired of it, for you know he is a +bad orator in his cups, and of late he has been seldom sober. A week +before he left Paris, he was so reduced, that he had not one single +crown at command, and was forced to thrust in with any acquaintance +for a lodging: Walsh and I have had him by turns, all to avoid a crowd +of duns, which he had of all sizes, from 1400 livres to 4, who hunted +him so close, that he was forced to retire to some of the neighbouring +villages for safety. I, sick as I was, hurried about Paris to get him +money, and to St. Germains to get him linen. I bought him one shirt +and a cravat, which, with 500 livres, his whole stock, he and his +duchess, attended by one servant, set out for Spain. All the news +I have heard of him since, is, that a day or two after he sent for +captain Brierly, and two or three of his domestics to follow him; but +none but the captain obeyed the summons. Where they are now I cannot +tell, but I fear they must be in great distress by this time, if he +has had no other supplies; and so ends my melancholy story.' + +In this deplorable situation did the duke leave Paris, an instance +indeed of the strange reverse of fortune, but for which he could not +blame the severity of providence, or the persecution of enemies, but +his own unbounded profusion, a slave to which he seems to have been +born. As a long journey did not very well suit with his grace's +finances, so he went for Orleans, thence fell down the river Loire +to Nantz in Britany, and there he stopt some time 'till he got +a remittance from Paris, which was squandered almost as soon as +received. At Nantz some of his ragged servants rejoined him, and +from thence he took shipping with them from Bilboa, as if he had been +carrying recruits to the Spanish regiment. From Bilboa he wrote a +humorous letter to a friend at Paris, such as his fancy, not his +circumstances, dictated, giving a whimsical account of his voyage, and +his manner of passing away his time. But at the end, as if he had +been a little affected with his late misconduct, he concludes thus, +'notwithstanding what the world may say of me, + + 'Be kind to my remains, and O! defend, + Against your judgment, your departed friend[A].' + +When the duke arrived at Bilboa, he had neither friends, money, +nor credit, more than what the reputation of his Spanish commission +procured him. Upon the strength of that he left his duchess and +servant there, and went to his regiment, where he was obliged to +support himself upon the pay of 18 pistoles a month, but could get no +relief for the poor lady and family he left behind him. The distress +of the duchess was inexpressible, nor is it easy to conceive what +would have been the consequence, if her unhappy circumstances had not +reached the ear of another exiled nobleman at Madrid, who could not +hear of her sufferings without relieving her. This generous exile, +touched with her calamities, sent her a hundred Spanish pistoles, +which relieved her grace from a kind of captivity, and enabled her to +come to Madrid, where she lived with her mother and grandmother, while +the duke attended his regiment. Not long after this, the duke's family +had a great loss in the death of his lady's mother, by which they were +deprived of a pension they before enjoyed from the crown of Spain; but +this was fortunately repaired by the interest of a nobleman at court, +who procured the duchess's two sisters to be minuted down for Maids of +Honour to the Queen of Spain, whenever a vacancy should happen, but +to enter immediately upon the salary of these places. Her Majesty +likewise took the duchess to attend her person. + +There have been many instances of people, who have sustained the +greatest shocks which adversity can inflict, through a whole life of +suffering, and yet at last have yielded to the influence of a trifling +evil: something like this was the case of the duke of Wharton, which +the following story will illustrate. + +He was in garrison at Barcelona, and coming from a ball one night, in +company with some ladies, a man in a masque, whom he did not know, +was guilty of some rudeness to him. The duke enquired who he was, +and being informed that he was valet de chambre to the marquis +de Risbourg, governour of Catalonia, he suffered himself to be +transported by the first motions of his passion, and caned him. The +fellow complained of this usage to his master, who at first took no +notice of it, imagining his grace would make some excuse to him for +such a procedure, but whether the duke thought it beneath his quality +to make any apology for beating a menial servant, who had been rude +to him, or would not do it upon another account, he spoke not a word +about it. The marquis resenting this behaviour, two days after ordered +the duke to prison. He obeyed, and went to Fort Montjuich: as soon as +he arrived there, the marquis sent him word, he might come out when he +pleased; the duke answered, he scorned to accept liberty at his hands, +and would not stir without an order from the court, imagining they +would highly condemn the governour's conduct; but the marquis had too +much credit with the minister, to suffer any diminution of his power +on that account; he received only a sharp rebuke, and the duke +had orders to repair to his quarters, without entering again into +Barcelona. This last mortification renewed the remembrance of all +his misfortunes; he sunk beneath this accident, and giving way to +melancholy, fell into a deep consumption. Had the duke maintained +his usual spirit, he would probably have challenged the marquis, and +revenged the affront of the servant upon the master, who had made the +quarrel his own, by resenting the valet's deserved correction. + +About the beginning of the year 1731 he declined so fast, being in his +quarters, at Lerida, that he had not the use of his limbs, so as to +move without assistance; but as he was free from pain, he did not +lose all his gaiety. He continued in this ill state of health for two +months, when he gained a little strength, and found some benefit +from a certain mineral water in the mountains of Catalonia; but his +constitution was too much spent to recover the shocks it had received. +He relapsed the May following at Terragana, whither he removed with +his regiment; and going to the above mentioned waters, the benefit +whereof he had already experienced, he fell into one of those fainting +fits, to which he had for some time been subject, in a small village, +and was utterly destitute of all the necessaries of life, 'till +some charitable fathers of a Bernardine convent, offered him what +assistance their house afforded. The duke accepted their kind +proposal, upon which they removed him to their convent, and +administered all the relief in their power. Under this hospitable +roof, after languishing a week, died the duke of Wharton, without one +friend, or acquaintance to close his eyes. His funeral was performed +in the same manner in which the fathers inter those of their own +fraternity. + +Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an adequate picture of the duke +of Wharton, a man whose life was as strongly chequered with +the vicissitudes of fortune, as his abilities were various and +astonishing. He is an instance of the great imbecility of intellectual +powers, when once they spurn the dictates of prudence, and the maxims +of life. With all the lustre of his understanding, when his fortune +was wasted, and his circumstances low, he fell into contempt; they +who formerly worshipped him, fled from him, and despised his wit when +attended with poverty. So true is it that, + + Want is the scorn of every wealthy fool, + And wit in rags is turn'd to ridicule. + +The duke of Wharton seems to have lived as if the world should be new +modelled for him; for he would conform to none of the rules, by which +the little happiness the world can yield, is to be attained. But we +shall not here enlarge on his character, as we can present it to the +reader, drawn in the most lively manner, by the masterly touches of +Pope, who in one of his familiar epistles, thus characterizes him. + + POPE's Epistle on the KNOWLEDGE + and CHARACTERS of MEN. + + + Wharton, the scorn and wonder of our days, + Whose darling passion was the lust of praise: + Born with whate'er could win it from the wise, + Women and fools must like him, or he dies; + Tho' wond'ring senates hung on all he spoke, + The club must hail him master of the joke. + Shall parts so various aim at nothing new? + He'll shine a Tully and a Wilmot too; + Then turns repentant, and his God adores, + With the same spirit that he drinks and whores; + Enough if all around him but admire, + And now the Punk applaud, and now the Friar. + Thus with each gift of nature and of art, + And wanting nothing but an honest heart; + Grown all to all, from no one vice exempt; + And most contemptible, to shun contempt; + His passion still to covet gen'ral praise, + His life, to forfeit it a thousand ways; + A constant bounty which no friend has made; + An angel tongue which no man can persuade; + A fool, with more of wit than half mankind, + Too rash for thought, for action too refin'd: + A tyrant to the wife his heart approves; + A rebel to the very King he loves; + He dies, sad out-cast of each church and state, + And, harder still! flagitious, yet not great. + Ask you why Wharton broke thro' ev'ry rule? + 'Twas all for fear the Knaves should call him Fool. + +Pope's Works, Vol. III. The duke is author of two volumes of poems, of +which we shall select the following as a specimen. + + The FEAR of DEATH. + + + Say, sov'reign queen of awful night, + Dread tyrant say! + Why parting throes this lab'ring frame distend, + Why dire convulsions rend, + And teeming horrors wreck th' astonish'd sight? + Why shrinks the trembling soul, + Why with amazement full + Pines at thy rule, and sickens at thy sway? + Why low'r the thunder of thy brow, + Why livid angers glow, + Mistaken phantom, say? + Far hence exert thy awful reign, + Where tutelary shrines and solemn busts + Inclose the hallow'd dust: + Where feeble tapers shed a gloomy ray, + And statues pity feign; + Where pale-ey'd griefs their wasting vigils keep, + There brood with sullen state, and nod with downy sleep. + Advance ye lurid ministers of death! + And swell the annals of her reign: + Crack every nerve, sluice every vein; + And choak the avenues of breath. + Freeze, freeze, ye purple tides! + Or scorch with seering flames, Æra's nature flows in tepid streams, + And life's meanders glide. + Let keen despair her icy progress make, + And slacken'd nerves their talk forsake; + Years damp the vital fire. + Yawn all ye horrors of the flood; + And curl your swelling surges higher. + Survey the road! + Where desolating storms, and vengeful fates, + The gawdy scene deface; + Ambition in its widest havock trace + Thro' widow'd cities, and unpeopl'd states. + And is this all! + Are these the threaten'd terrors of your reign? + O dream of fancy'd power! + Quit, quit, th' affected shew, + This pageantry of grief, and labour'd pomp of woe. + Draw the pleasing scene, + Where dreadful thunders never rowl, nor giddy tempests low'r. + Scenes delighting! + Peace inviting, + Passions sooth'd, and tumult dying; + Aera's rowling, + Fears controuling, + Always new, and always flying. + We dread we know not what, we fear we know not why, + Our cheated fancy shrinks, nor sees to die + Is but to slumber into immortality. + All reconciling name! + In space unbounded as in power; + Where fancy limits cannot frame; + Nor reason launch beyond the shore: + An equal state from all distinction free, + Spread like the wide expanse of vast immensity. + Seditious tumults there obey, + And feuds their zeal forget: + Debated empires own one common sway, + There learn'd disputes unite; + Nor crowded volumes the long war maintain: + There rival chiefs combine + To fill the gen'ral chorus of her reign. + So streams from either pole, + Thro' diff'rent tracks their wat'ry journies rowl; + Then in the blending ocean lose their name, + And with consenting waves and mingl'd tides forever flow the same. + + +[Footnote A: These two lines are taken from Dryden, who addressed them +to Congreve, when he recommended to him the care of his works.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Colonel CODRINGTON, + + +This gentleman was of the first rank of wit and gallantry. He received +his education at All Souls College in the university of Oxford, to +which he left a donation of 30,000 l. by his will, part of which was +to be appropriated for building a new library[A]. He was many years +governour of the Leeward Islands, where he died, but was buried at +Oxford. He is mentioned here, on account of some small pieces of +poetry, which he wrote with much elegance and politeness. Amongst +these pieces is an epilogue to Mr. Southern's tragedy called The Fate +of Capua, in which are the following verses; + + Wives still are wives, and he that will be billing, + Must not think cuckoldom deserves a killing. + What if the gentle creature had been kissing, + Nothing the good man married for was missing. + Had he the secret of her birth-right known, + 'Tis odds the faithful Annals would have shewn + The wives of half his race more lucky than his own. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + + * * * * * + + + + +EDWARD WARD, + + +A man of low extraction, and who never received any regular education. +He was an imitator of the famous Butler, and wrote his Reformation, a +poem, with an aim at the same kind of humour which has so remarkably +distinguished Hudibras. 'Of late years, says Mr. Jacob, he has kept a +public house in the city, but in a genteel way.' Ward was, in his +own droll manner, a violent antagonist to the Low Church Whigs and in +consequence, of this, drew to his house such people as had a mind +to indulge their spleen against the government, by retailing little +stories of treason. He was thought to be a man of strong natural +parts, and possessed a very agreeable pleasantry of temper. Ward was +much affronted when he read Mr. Jacob's account, in which he mentions +his keeping a public house in the city, and in a book called Apollo's +Maggot, declared this account to be a great falsity, protesting that +his public house was not in the City, but in Moorfields[A]. + +The chief of this author's pieces are, + +Hudibras Redivivus, a political Poem. + +Don Quixote, translated into Hudibrastic Verse. + +Ecclesiae & Fastio, a Dialogue between Bow-steeple Dragon, and the +Exchange Grasshopper. A Ramble through the Heavens, or The Revels of +the Gods. + +The Cavalcade, a Poem. + +Marriage Dialogues, or A Poetical Peep into the State of Matrimony. + +A Trip to Jamaica. + +The Sots Paradise, or The Humours of a Derby Alehouse. + +A Battle without Bloodshed, or Military Discipline Buffoon'd. + +All Men Mad, or England a Great Bedlam, 4to. 1704. + +The Double Welcome, a Poem to the Duke of Marlborough. + +Apollo's Maggot in his Cups, or The Whimsical Creation of a Little +Satirical Poet; a Lyric Ode, dedicated to Dickey Dickenson, the witty, +but deformed Governor of Scarborough Spaw, 8vo. 1729. + +The Ambitious Father, or The Politician's Advice to his Son; a Poem in +five Cantos, 1733, the last work he left finished. + + +Mr. Ward's works, if collected, would amount to five volumes in 8vo. +but he is most distinguished by his London Spy, a celebrated work in +prose. + + +[Footnote A: Notes on the Dunciad.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir ROGER L'ESTRANGE, + + +This gentleman was second son of Sir Hammon L'Estrange of Hunston in +Norfolk, knt. and was born anno 1617[A]. In the year 1644 Sir Roger +having obtained a commission from King Charles I. for reducing Lynne +in Norfolk, then in possession of the Parliament, his design was +discovered to colonel Walton the governour, and his person seized. +Upon the failing of this enterprize he was tried by a court-martial +at Guildhall, London, and condemned to lose his life as a spy, coming +from the King's quarters without drum, trumpet, or pass; but was +afterwards reprieved, and continued in Newgate several years. Sir +Roger in a work of his, called Truth and Loyalty Vindicated, has +informed us, that, when he received sentence of death, which was +pronounced against him by Dr. Mills, then judge advocate, and +afterwards chancellor to the bishop of Norwich, he was cast into +Newgate, where he was visited by Mr. Thorowgood and Mr. Arrowsmith, +two members of the assembly of divines, who kindly offered him their +utmost interest if he would make some petitionary acknowledgment, +and submit to take the covenant, which he refused. But that he +might obtain a reprieve, he wrote several letters to the earl of +Northumberland, the earl of Stamford, and others of the nobility, from +whom he received favours. In the House of Commons he was particularly +obliged to Sir John Corbet, and Sir Henry Cholmondley. He was +reprieved in order to a further hearing; but after almost thirty +months spent in vain endeavours, either to come to a hearing, or to +put himself into an exchangeable condition, he printed a state of his +case, as an Appeal from the Court-martial to the Parliament, dated at +Newgate in 1647. + +After almost four years imprisonment, with his keeper's privity, he +slipt into Kent, and then with much difficulty got beyond sea. About +the latter end of August 1653, upon the dissolution of the Long +Parliament, by Cromwel, he returned into England, and presently +acquainted the council, then sitting at Whitehall, that finding +himself within the Act of Indemnity, he thought it his duty to give +them notice of his return. Soon after this he was served with the +following order, + +Wednesday September 7, 1655, + +Ordered, + +That Roger L'Estrange be sent unto, to attend the committee of this +council for examination. + +JOHN THURLOE, Secretary. + +This order laid him under a necessity of attending for his discharge, +but perceiving his business to advance very slowly, and his father +at that time lying upon his death-bed, he was sollicitous to have his +discharge as much hastened as possible, that he might pay his duty to +his father, whom he had not seen for many years before. Mr. Strickland +was one of the commissioners appointed to examine him, and the person +from whom, in the judgment of his friends, he was to expect the least +favour. Mr. L'Estrange therefore to render him more propitious to his +purpose, paid him the compliment of a visit, telling him frankly +that he was returned upon the invitation of the Act of Indemnity; +and laying before him how much it concerned him, both in comfort +and interest, to see his dying father. Mr. Strickland, in place of +complying with Mr. L'Estrange's proposition, answered, that he would +find himself mistaken, and that his case was not included in that Act. +Mr. L'Estrange's reply to him was, 'that he might have been safe among +the Turks upon the same terms; and so he left him. From that time +matters beginning to look worse and worse, he considered it, as +his last expedient, to address Cromwel himself. After several +disappointments, for want of opportunity, he spoke to him at last +in the Cock-pit, and the sum of his desire was, either a speedy +examination, or that it might be deferred 'till he had seen his +father. Cromwel remonstrated against the restlessness of his party, +observed, 'that rigour was not his inclination, but that he was but +one man, and could do little by himself; and that Mr. L'Estrange's +party would do well to give some better testimony of their quiet, and +peaceable intentions.' Mr. L'Estrange told him, 'that every man was to +answer for his own actions, at his own peril;' and so Cromwel took +his leave. Some time after this Mr. L'Estrange was called, and Mr. +Strickland, with another gentleman, were his examiners; but the latter +pressed nothing against him. Mr. Strickland indeed insisted upon his +condemnation, and would have deprived him of the benefit of the Act of +Indemnity, telling him at last, 'that he had given no evidence of +the change of his mind, and consequently was not to be trusted.' +Mr. L'Estrange's final answer was to this effect, 'that it was his +interest to change his opinion, if he could, and that whenever he +found reason so to do, he would obey the sense of his own mind.' Some +few days after this he was discharged[B]. 'During the dependency of +this affair (says Mr. L'Estrange) I might well be seen at Whitehall, +but that I spake to Cromwel on any other business than this, that I +either sought, or pretended to, any privacy with him, or that I ever +spake to him after this time, I absolutely disown. Concerning the +story of the fiddle[C], this I suppose might be the rise of it: being +in St. James's Park, I heard an organ touched in a little low room +of one Mr. Henckson's; I went in, and found a private company of some +five or six persons. They desired me to take up a Viol, and bear a +part. I did so, and that part too, not much advance to the reputation +of my cunning. By and by, without the least colour of design, +or expectation, in comes Cromwel. He found us playing, and, as I +remember, so he left us.--As to bribing of his attendants, I disclaim +it. I never spake to Thurloe, but once in my life, and that was about +my discharge. Nor did I ever give bribe, little or great, in the +family.' + +The above declaration Sir Roger was obliged to make, as some of his +enemies wanted to turn those circumstances of favour he received from +the Oliverian government to his disadvantage, and prevent his rising +in court distinction. + +Sir Roger having little paternal fortune, and being a man rather +profuse than oeconomical, he had recourse to writing for bread. After +the restoration he set up a news-paper, which was continued 'till +the Gazette was first set on foot by Sir Joseph Williamson, under +secretary of state, for which, however, the government allowed Mr. +L'Estrange a consideration. Mr. Wood informs us, that our author +published his paper twice every week in 4to. under the title of The +Public Intelligence and News; the first of which came out August the +31st, 1663, and the other September the 3d, the same year. 'These +continued till the 9th of January 1665, at which time Mr. L'Estrange +desisted, because in the November before, there were other News-Papers +published twice every week, in half a sheet in folio. These were +called The Oxford Gazettes, and commenced the 7th of November, 1665, +the king and queen, with their courts being then at Oxford. These for +a little while were written by one Henry Muddeman; but when the court +removed to London, they were called the London Gazette. Soon after Mr. +Joseph Williamson, under secretary of State, procured the writing +of them for himself; and thereupon employed Charles Perrot, M.A. and +fellow of Oriel College in Oxford, who had a good command of his pen, +to do that office under him, and so he did, though not constantly, +till about 1671; after which time they were constantly written by +under secretaries, belonging to those that are principal, and do +continue so to this day.' + +Soon after the popish plot, when the Tories began to gain the +ascendant over the Whigs, Mr. L'Estrange became a zealous promoter of +the Tory interest. He set up a paper called the Observator, in which +he defended the court, and endeavoured to invalidate those evidences +which were given by Oates's party against the Jesuits. He likewise +wrote a pamphlet, in which he attempts to prove, that Sir Edmundbury +Godfrey's murther, for which so many suffered, and so great a flame +was raised in the nation, was really perpetrated by himself. He +attempts to shew that Sir Edmundbury was a melancholy enthusiastic +man; that he was weak in his undemanding, and absurd in his conduct. +The activity he discovered in Oates's plot, had raised him to such +reputation, that he was unable to bear it, and therefore the natural +enthusiasm of his temper prompted him to make himself a sacrifice, +from a view of advancing the Protestant cause, as he knew his murther +would be charged upon the Papists. + +Mr. L'Estrange's reasoning, being only conjectural, and very +improbable, is therefore far from conclusive: It is certain that there +never was a more intricate affair than this. We have read the trials +of all those who suffered for this murther, chiefly upon the evidence +of one Prance, and one Bedloe, who pretended to have been accomplices; +but their relation is so inconsistent; their characters so very +infamous, and their reward for being evidences supposed to be so +considerable, that the most candid enquirer after truth, can determine +nothing positively concerning it. All who suffered for the popish +plot, denied their knowledge of it; the four men who were executed, +as being the perpetrators persisted to the last in protesting their +innocence of it. After all, the murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey +is perhaps one of those secrets, which will ever remain so, till the +hearts of all men are laid open. + +The services, which Mr. L'Estrange rendered the court, procured him +the honour of knighthood; and he served as a member for Winchester, in +the parliament called by king James the IId. 1685. But things taking +quite a different turn in that prince's reign, in point of liberty +of conscience, to what most people expected, our author's Observators +were dropt, as not being suitable to the times. However he continued +licenser of the press 'till the accession of the prince of Orange to +the throne; in whose reign, on account of his Tory principles, and +his attachment to his late master, he met with some troubles. He was +suffered however to descend to the grave in peace, though he had in a +manner survived his understanding. He died December 12, 1705, in the +88th year of his age. + +[D]Besides his Observators, which make three volumes in folio, he +published a great number of poetical and other works. Winstanley, +in his Lives of the Poets, says, 'That those who shall consider the +number and greatness of his books, will admire he should ever write so +many; and those who have read them, considering the skill and method +they are written in, will admire he should write so well. Nor is he +less happy in verse than prose, which for elegance of language, and +quickness of invention, deservedly entitles him to the honour of a +poet.' + +The following are the titles of some of his works, viz. Collections in +Defence of the King. Toleration Discussed. Relapsed Apostate. Apology +for Protestants. Richard against Baxter. Tyranny and Popery. Growth +and Knavery. Reformed Catholic. Free-born Subjects. The Case Put. +Seasonable Memorials. Answer to the Appeal. L'Estrange no Papist; in +answer to a Libel, intitled L'Estrange a Papist, &c. with Notes and +Animadversions upon Miles Prance, Silver-Smith, cum multis aliis. The +Shammer Shamm'd. Account Cleared. Reformation Reformed. Dissenters +Sayings, in two Parts. Notes on Colledge, the Protestant Joiner. +Citizen and Bumpkin, in two Parts. Further Discovery in the Plot. +Discovery on Discovery. Narrative of the Plot. Zekiel and Ephraim. +Appeal to the King and Parliament. Papist in Masquerade. Answer to the +second Character of a Popish Successor. Confederations upon a Printed +Sheet intitled, The Speech of Lord Russel to the Sheriffs: Together +with the Paper delivered by him to them at the place of execution, +on July 1683. These pieces with many more, were printed in quarto; +besides which he wrote the following, viz. The History of the Plot in +Folio. Caveat to the Cavaliers. He translated into English Cicero's +Offices; Seneca's Mora's, Erasmus's Colloquies; Quevedo's Visions; +Bona's Guide to Eternity; Five Love Letters from a Nun to a Cavalier; +Josephus's Works; Aesop's Fables. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Gordon, author of the Independent Whig, and translator of Tacitus, +has very freely censured L'Estrange. He bestows very freely upon him +the epithet of a buffoon, an ignorant droll, &c.----He charges him +with having no knowledge of the Latin tongue; and says, he is unfit +to be read by any person of taste. That his stile is full of technical +terms, and of phrases picked up in the streets, from apprentices and +porters. + + * * * * * + +Sir Roger L'Estrange translated the third Book of Tacitus, an author +of whom Mr. Gordon made an entire translation. To raise the reputation +of his own performance, he has abused that of L'Estrange, in terms +very unfit for a gentleman to use, supposing the censure had been +true. Sir Roger's works indeed are often calculated for the meanest +capacities, and the phrase is consequently low; but a man must be +greatly under the influence of prejudice, who can discover no genius +in his writings; not an intimate acquaintance with the state of +parties, human life, and manners. + + * * * * * + +Sir Roger was but ill-rewarded by the Tories, for having been their +champion; the latter part of his life was clouded with poverty, +and though he descended in peace to the grave, free from political +turmoils, yet as he was bowed down with age and distress, he cannot be +said to have died in comfort. He had seen much of the world, examined +many characters, experienced the vicissitudes of fortune, and was as +well instructed as any man that ever lived, in the important lesson of +human life, viz. That all things are vanity. + + +[Footnote A: See Gen. Dict. Art. L'Estrange.] + +[Footnote B: Truth and Loyalty, ubi supra.] + +[Footnote C: Sir Roger L'Estrange was called, by way of derision, +Cromwell's Fidler.] + +[Footnote D: General Dictionary.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. EDMUND SMITH, + + +This distinguished poet was son of an eminent merchant, one Mr. Neal, +by a daughter of baron Lechemere[A]. Some misfortunes of his father, +which were soon followed by his death, occasioned our author's being +left very young in the care of a near relation (one who married Mr. +Neal's mother, whose name was Smith). + +This gentleman treated him with as much tenderness as if he had been +his own child, and placed him at Westminster-school, under the care +of Dr. Busby. After the death of his generous guardian (whose name +in gratitude he thought proper to assume) he was removed to Christ's +Church in Oxford, and was there by his aunt handsomely supported till +her death; after which he continued a member of that learned society, +till within five years of his own. Some time before his leaving +Christ-Church, he was sent for by his mother to Worcester, and +acknowledged by her as a legitimate son. We chuse to mention this +circumstance, in order to wipe off the aspersion which folly and +ignorance cast upon; his birth[B]. + +In honour to Mr. Smith it should be remembered, that when he stood a +candidate for one of the universities, at the Westminster election, he +so peculiarly distinguished himself by his conspicuous performances, +that there arose no small contention between the representative +electors of Trinity College in Cambridge, and Christ-Church College +in Oxon, which of those two illustrious societies should adopt him as +their own. But the electors of Trinity College having the preference +of choice that year, they resolutely elected him; but being invited +at the same time to Christ-Church, Mr. Smith chose to accept of a +studentship there. + +He passed through the exercises of the college, and the university, +with unusual applause; and tho' he often suffered his friends to call +him off from his retirement; yet his return to his studies was so much +the more passionate, and his love of reading and thinking being so +vehement, the habit grew upon him, and the series of meditation and +reflexion being kept up whole weeks together, he could better arrange +his ideas, and take in sundry parts of a science at one view without +interruption or confusion. Some of his acquaintance, who were +pleased to distinguish between the wit and the scholar, extoll'd him +altogether on account of the first of these excellencies; but others, +who were more candid, admired him as a prodigy in both. He had +acquired reputation in the schools, both as a philosopher and polemic +of extensive knowledge, and deep penetration, and went through all the +courses with a proper regard to the dignity, and importance of each +science. Mr. Smith had a long and perfect intimacy with all the Greek +and Latin Classics; with whom he had industriously compared whatever +was worth perusing in the French, Spanish, and Italian, and all the +celebrated writers in his own country. He considered the antients and +moderns, not as parties, or rivals for fame, but as architects upon +one and the same plan, the Art of Poetry. If he did not always commend +the compositions of others, it proceeded not from ill-nature (for that +was foreign to his temper) but a strict regard to justice would not +suffer him to call a few flowers elegantly adorned, without much art, +and less genius, by so distinguished a name as poetry. He was of Ben +Johnson's opinion, who could not admire, + + ----Verses, as smooth and soft as cream, + In which their was neither depth nor stream. + +Mr. Smith's Bodleian Oration, printed with his other works, though +taken from a remote and imperfect copy, has shewn the world, how great +a matter he was of Ciceronian Eloquence. Since Temple and Roscommon +(says Mr. Oldisworth) 'No man understood Horace better, especially +as to his happy diction, rolling numbers, beautiful imagery, and +alternate mixture of the soft and sublime. His friend Mr. Philips's +Ode to Mr. St. John, after the manner of Horace's Lusory, or Amatorian +Odes, is certainly a master-piece: But Mr. Smith's Pocockius is of the +sublimer kind; though like Waller's writings upon Cromwell, it wants +not the most delicate and surprizing turns, peculiar to the person +praised.' + +He was an excellent judge of humanity, and so good a historian, that +in familiar conversation, he would talk over the most memorable fads +in antiquity; the lives, actions, and characters of celebrated men, +with amazing facility and accuracy. As he had carefully read and +distinguished Thuanus's Works, so he was able to copy after him: And +his talent in this kind was so generally confess'd, that he was made +choice of by some great men, to write a history, which it was their +interest to have executed with the utmost art, and dexterity; but +this design was dropp'd, as Mr. Smith would not sacrifice truth to the +caprice, and interested views of a party. + + * * * * * + +Our author's Poem, condoling the death of Mr. Philips, is full of the +noblest beauties, and pays a just tribute to the venerable ashes of +that great man. Mr. Smith had contracted for Mr. Philips the most +perfect friendship, a passion of which he was very susceptible, and +whole laws he considered as sacred and inviolable. + + * * * * * + +In the year 1707 Mr. Smith's Tragedy called Phaedra and Hippolitus was +acted at the Theatre-Royal. This play was introduced upon the stage, +at a time when the Italian Opera so much engrossed the attention of +the polite world, that sense was sacrificed to sound. It was dress'd +and decorated, at an extraordinary expence:----and inimitably +perform'd in all its parts, by Betterton, Booth, Barry, and Oldfield. +Yet it brought but few, and slender audiences.----To say truth, +'twas a fine Poem; but not an extraordinary Play. Notwithstanding the +intrinsic merit of this piece, and the countenance it met with from +the most ingenious men of the age, yet it languished on the stage, +and was soon neglected. Mr. Addison wrote the Prologue, in which he +rallies the vitiated taste of the public, in preferring the unideal +entertainment of an Opera, to the genuine sense of a British Poet. + + The PROLOGUE. + + + Long has a race of Heroes fill'd the stage, + That rant by note, and thro' the gamut rage; + In songs, and airs, express their martial fire, + Combat in trills, and in a feuge expire; + While lull'd by sound, and undisturb'd by wit, + Calm and serene, you indolently fit; + And from the dull fatigue of thinking free, + Hear the facetious fiddle's rapartee; + Our home-spun authors must forsake the field, + And Shakespear to the soft Scarlatti yield. + To your new taste, the poet of this day, + Was by a friend advis'd to form his play; + Had Valentini musically coy, + Shun'd Phaedra's arms, and scorn'd the proffer'd joy, + It had not mov'd your wonder to have seen, + An Eunuch fly from an enamour'd queen. + How would it please, should me in English speak, + And could Hippolitus reply in Greek? + +We have been induced to transcribe these lines of Mr. Addison, in +order to have the pleasure of producing so great an authority in +favour of the English drama, when placed in contradistinction to an +entertainment, exhibited by Eunuchs and Fidlers, in a language, of +which the greatest part of the audience are ignorant; and from the +nature of which no moral instruction can be drawn. + +The chief excellence of this play certainly consists in the beauty and +harmony of the verification. The language is luxuriantly poetical. The +passion of Phaedra for her husband's son has been considered by some +critics as too unnatural to be shewn on the stage; and they have +observed that the poet would have written more successfully if he +had converted the son into a brother. Poetical justice is carefully +distributed; Phaedra and Lycon are justly made the sufferers, while +Hippolitus and Ismena escape the vengeance of Theseus. The play is not +destitute of the pathetic, tho' much more regard is paid to the purity +and elegance of the language, than a poet more acquainted with the +workings of the heart would have done. We shall give an example to +illustrate this observation. When Theseus reproaches Hippolitus for +his love to Ismena, and at the same time dooms him as the victim, of +his revenge and jealousy, he uses these words, + + Canst thou be only clear'd by disobedience, + And justified by crimes?--What! love my foe! + Love one descended from a race of tyrants, + Whose blood yet reeks on my avenging sword! + I'm curst each moment I delay thy fate: + Haste to the shades, and tell, the happy Pallas, + Ismena's flames, and let him taste such joys + As thou giv'st me; go tell applauding Minos, + The pious love you bore his daughter Phaedra; + Tell it the chatt'ring ghosts, and hissing furies, + Tell it the grinning fiends, till Hell found nothing + To thy pleas'd ears, but Phaedra and Ismena. + +We cannot suppose that a man wrought up to fury, by the flame of +jealousy, and a sense of afronted dignity, could be so particular in +giving his son directions how to behave in hell, and to whom he should +relate the story of his fate. When any passion violently overwhelms +the soul, the person who feels it, always speaks sententiously, avoids +repetitions, and is not capable of much recollection, at least of +making a minute detail of circumstances. In how few words, and with +greater force would Shakespear have conduced this speech of Theseus. +An example will prove it: when Othello is informed that Cassio is +slain, he replies, + + Had all his hairs been lives, + My great revenge had stomach for them all. + +When Phaedra is made acquainted with the ruin of Hyppolitus, the poet +makes her utter the following beautiful speech, which, however, is +liable to the same objection as the former, for it seems rather a +studied declamation, than an expression of the most agonizing throes +she is then supposed to experience. + + What's life? Oh all ye Gods! can life attone + For all the monstrous crimes by which 'tis bought? + Or can I live? when thou, O Soul of honour! + O early hero! by my crimes art ruin'd. + Perhaps even now, the great unhappy youth, + Falls by the sordid hands of butchering villains; + Now, now he bleeds, he dies,--O perjur'd traitor! + See his rich blood in purple torrents flows, + And nature sallies in unbidden groans; + Now mortal pangs distort his lovely form, + His rosy beauties fade, his starry eyes + Now darkling swim, and fix their closing beams; + Now in short gasps his lab'ring spirit heaves, + And weakly flutters on his falt'ring tongue, + And struggles into sound. Hear, monster hear, + With his last breath, he curses purjured Phaedra: + He summons Phaedra to the bar of Minos; + Thou too shalt there appear; to torture thee + Whole Hell shall be employ'd, and suff'ring Phaedra + Shall find some care to see thee still more wretched. + +No man had a juster notion of the difficulty of composing, than Mr. +Smith, and he sometimes would create greater difficulties than he +had reason to apprehend. Mr. Smith had, indeed, some defects in his +conduct, which those are more apt to remember, who could imitate him +in nothing else. Amongst the blemishes of an innocent kind, which +attended Mr. Smith, was his extreme carelessness in the particular of +dress; this oddity procured him the name of Captain Ragg. His person +was so well formed, and he possessed so much natural gracefulness, +that notwithstanding the disadvantage of his appearance, he was +called, by the Ladies, the Handsome Sloven. + +It is to be wondered at (says Mr. Oldisworth) that a man under +poverty, calamities, and disappointments, could make so many friends, +and those so truly valuable. He had, indeed, a noble idea of the +passion of friendship, in the success of which, consisted the +greatest, if not the only happiness of his Life. He was serene and +chearful under the dispensations of providence; he avoided having any +dealings with mankind in which he could not be just, and therefore +refused to embrace some opportunities of amending his fortune. + +Upon Mr. Smith's coming to town, no man was more surrounded by all +those who really had, or pretended to wit, or more courted by the +great men, who had then a power and opportunity of encouraging arts +and sciences. Mr. Smith's character grew upon his friends by intimacy, +and exceeded the strongest prepossessions which had been conceived in +his favour. A few years before his death, Mr. Smith engaged in some +considerable Undertakings; in all which he raised expectations in the +world, which he lived not to gratify. Mr. Oldisworth observes, that he +had seen about ten sheets of Pindar translated into English, which, he +says, exceeded any thing of that kind, he could ever hope for in our +language. He had drawn out a plan for a tragedy of Lady Jane Grey, and +had written several scenes of it: a subject afterwards nobly executed +by Mr. Rowe. His greatest undertaking was Longinus, which he executed +in a very masterly manner. He proposed a large addition to this work, +of notes and observations of his own, with an intire system of the +art of poetry in three books, under the title of Thoughts, Action, +and Figure; in this work he proposed to reform the art of Rhetoric, by +reducing that confused heap of Terms, with which a long succession +of Pedants had incumbered the world, to a very narrow compass; +comprehending all that was useful and ornamental in poetry under each +head, and chapter. He intended to make remarks upon all the ancients +and moderns, the Greek, Latin, English, French, Spanish, and Italian +poets, and to anamadvert upon their several beauties and defects. + +Mr. Smith died in the year 1710, in the 42d of his age, at the seat of +George Ducket esq; called Hartham, in Wiltshire; and was buried in the +parish church there. We shall give the character of this celebrated +poet in the words of Mr. Oldisworth:--"He had a quickness of +apprehension and vivacity of understanding, which easily took in, and +surmounted, the most knotty parts of mathematics and metaphysics. +His wit was prompt and flowing, yet solid and piercing; his taste +delicate, his head clear, and his manner of expressing his thoughts +perspicuous, and engaging; an eager, but generous, emulation grew +up in him, which push'd him upon striving to excel in every art and +science, that could make him a credit to his college: and it was his +happiness to have several cotemporaries, and fellow students, who +exercised and excited this virtue in themselves and others: his +judgment naturally good, soon ripened into an exquisite fineness, and +distinguishing sagacity, which as it was active and busy, so it +was vigorous and manly, keeping even pace with a rich and strong +imagination, always on the wing, and never tired with aspiring; there +are many of his first essays in oratory, in epigram, elegy and epic, +still handed about the university in manuscript, which shew a masterly +hand, and though maimed and injured by frequent transcribing, make +their way into our most celebrated miscellanies, where they mine with +uncommon lustre. As his parts were extraordinary, so he well knew how +to improve them; and not only to polish the diamond, but enchase it in +the most solid and durable metal. + +"Though he was an academic the greatest part of his life, yet he +contracted no sourness of temper, no tincture of pedantry, no itch of +disputation, or obstinate contention for the old, or new philosophy, +no assuming way of dictating to others, which are faults which some +are insensibly led into, who are constrained to dwell within the walls +of a private college." Thus far Mr. Oldisworth, who has drawn the +character of his deceased friend, with a laudable fondness. Mr. Smith, +no doubt, possessed the highest genius for poetry; but it is certain +he had mixed but too little in life. His language, however luxuriously +poetical, yet is far from being proper for the drama, and there is +too much of the poet in every speech he puts in the mouths of his +characters, which produces an uniformity, that nothing could teach him +to avoid, but a more general knowledge of real life and characters. +It is acknowledged that Mr. Smith was much inclined to intemperance, +though Mr. Oldisworth has glossed it over with the hand of a friend; +nor is it improbable, that this disposition sunk him in that vis +inertiae, which has been the bane of many of the brightest geniuses of +the world. Mr. Smith was, upon the whole, a good natured man, a great +poet, a finished scholar, and a discerning critic. + + +[Footnote A: See the Life and Character of Mr. Smith, by Mr. +Oldisworth, prefixed to his Phaedra and Hippolitus, edit. 1719.] + +[Footnote B: Oldisworth, ubi supra.] + + * * * * * + + + + +DANIEL DE FOE, + + +This gentleman acquired a very considerable name by his political and +poetical works; his early attachment to the revolution interest, and +the extraordinary zeal and ability with which he defended it. He +was bred, says Mr. Jacob, a Hosier, which profession he forsook, as +unworthy of him, and became one of the most enterprizing authors +this, or any other age, ever produced. The work by which he is most +distinguished, as a poet, is his True Born Englishman, a Satire, +occasioned by a poem entitled Foreigners, written by John Tutchin, +esq;[A]. This gentleman (Tutchin) was of the Monmouth faction, in the +reign of King Charles II. and when that unhappy prince made an attempt +upon his uncle's crown, Mr. Tutchin wrote a political piece in his +favour, for which, says Jacob, he was so severely handled by Judge +Jeffries, and his sentence was so very uncommon, and so rigorously +executed, that he petitioned King James to be hanged. + +Soon after the revolution, the people, who are restless in their +inclinations, and loath that, to-day, for which they would yesterday +have sacrificed their lives, began to be uneasy at the partiality +their new King discovered to his countrymen. The popular discontent +rose to such a heighth, that King William was obliged to dismiss +his Dutch guards, and though he died in possession of the crown of +England, yet it proved to him a crown of thorns, and he spent fewer +peaceful moments in his regal station, than before his head was +envisioned with an uneasy diadem. De Foe, who seems to have had a +very true notion of civil liberty, engaged the enemies of the new +government, and levelled the force of his satire against those, who +valued themselves for being true-born Englishmen. He exposes the +fallacy of that prepossession, by laying open the sources from whence +the English have sprung. 'Normans, Saxons, and Danes, says he, were +our forefathers; we are a mixed people; we have no genuine origin; and +why should not our neighbours be as good as we to derive from? and I +must add[B], that had we been an unmixed nation, I am of opinion, +it had been to our disadvantage: for to go no farther, we have three +nations about us clear from mixture of blood, as any in the world, and +I know not which of them we could wish ourselves to be like; I mean +the Scotch, Welsh, and Irish, and if I were to write a reverse to the +satire, I would examine all the nations of Europe, and prove, that +these nations which are the most mixed, are the best, and have least +of barbarism and brutality amongst them.' Mr. De Foe begins his satire +with the following lines, + + Wherever God erects a house of pray'r, + The devil always builds a chapel there: + And 'twill be found upon examination, + The latter has the largest congregation. + +After passing a general censure on the surrounding nations, Italy, +Germany, France, &c. he then takes a view of England, which he charges +with the black crime of ingratitude. He enumerates the several nations +from whence we are derived, Gauls, Saxons, Danes, Irish, Scots, &c. +and says, + + From this amphibious ill-born mob began + _That vain ill-natur'd thing,_ an Englishman. + +This satire, written in a rough unpolished manner, without art, or +regular plan, contains some very bold and masculine strokes against +the ridiculous vanity of valuing ourselves upon descent and pedigree. +In the conclusion he has the following strong, and we fear too just, +observation. + + Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate, + And see their offspring thus degenerate; + How we contend for birth, and names unknown, + And build on their past actions, not our own; + They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface, + And openly disown the vile degenerate race: + For fame of families is all a cheat, + 'Tis pers'nal virtue only makes us great. + +The next satire of any consequence which De Foe wrote, was entitled +Reformation of Manners, in which some private characters are severely +attacked. It is chiefly aimed at some persons, who being vested with +authority to suppress vice, yet rendered themselves a disgrace to +their country, encouraging wickedness by that very authority they have +to suppress it. + +Poetry was far from being the talent of De Foe. He wrote with more +perspicuity and strength in prose, and he seems to have understood, as +well as any man, the civil constitution of the kingdom, which indeed +was his chief study. + +In the first volume of his works there is a prose essay, which he +entitles The Original Power of the Collective Body of the People of +England, Examined and Asserted; this was intended to refute a very +ridiculous opinion, which politicians, more zealous than wise, had +industriously propagated, viz. 'That the representatives of the +people, i.e. the House of Commons had a right to enact whatever laws, +and enter into whatever measures they please, without any dependence +on, or even consulting the opinion of, their constituents; and that +the collective body of the people have no right to call them to an +account, or to take any cognizance of their conduct.' In answer to +which Mr. De Foe very sensibly observes, 'that it is possible for even +a House of Commons to be in the wrong. They may be misled by factions +and parties, and it is as ridiculous to suppose them infallible; as +to suppose the Pope of Rome, or the Popish conclave infallible, which +have more than once determined against one another. It is possible +(says he) for them to be bribed by pensions and places, and by either +of those extremes to betray their trust, and abuse the people who +entrust them; and if the people should have no redress in such a +case, then would the nation be in hazard of being ruined by their own +representatives. And it is a wonder to find it asserted in a certain +treatise, _That it is not to be supposed, that ever the House of +Commons can injure the people who entrust them._ There can be no +better way to demonstrate the possibility of a thing, than by proving +that it has been already; and we need go no further back than to the +reign of King Charles II. in which we have seen lists of 180 members, +who received private pensions from the court; and if any body should +ask whether that parliament preserved the ballance of power in the +three branches of our constitution, in the due distribution some have +mentioned? I am not afraid to answer in the negative. And why, even +to this day, are gentlemen so fond of spending their estates to sit +in the House, that ten thousand pounds have been spent at a time to be +chosen, and now that way of procuring elections is at an end, private +briberies, and clandestine contrivances are made use of to get into +the House? No man would give a groat to sit, where he cannot get +a groat himself for sitting, unless there were either parties to +gratify, profits to be made, or interest to support. In this case +it is plain a people may be ruined by their representatives, and the +first law of nature, self-preservation, give the people a right to +resent public encroachments upon their valuable liberties.' + +In the same volume is a tract entitled The Shortest Way with the +Dissenters, which contained reflexions against some ecclesiastics +in power, for breathing too much a spirit of perfection. He became +obnoxious to the ministry on this account, and was obliged to justify +himself by writing an explanation of it. Mr. De Foe in his preface to +the second volume of his works, collected by himself, takes occasion +to mention the severe hardships he laboured under, occasioned by +those Printers, more industrious than himself, who make a practice of +pirating every work attended with success. As an instance of this kind +of oppression, he mentions the True Born Englishman, by which, had he +enjoyed the full profit of his own labours, he must have gained near a +thousand pounds; for besides nine editions which passed under his own +inspection, this poem was twelve times pirated: but the insolence +of those fraudulent dealers did not stop here. A Printer of a bad +reputation collected a spurious and erroneous copy of several pieces +of De Foe, and entitled them The Works of the Author of the True Born +Englishman; and though he was then embroiled with the government for +one of the pamphlets which this collection contained, yet had this man +the impudence to print amongst them the same pamphlets, presuming so +far upon the partiality of the public resentment, that he should pass +with impunity for publishing that very thing for which the author +was to be prosecuted with the utmost severity. This, however, was an +irresistible testimony, that the resentment shewn to the author was on +some other, and less justifiable account, than the publication of that +book; so was it a severe satire on the unwariness of the ministry, +who had not eyes to discern their justice plainly exposed, and their +general proceedings bantered by a Printer, for publishing in defiance +of them that same book for which another man stood arraigned. + +Mr. De Foe, who possessed a resolute temper, and a most confirmed +fortitude of mind, was never awed by the threats of power, nor +deterred from speaking truth by the insolence of the great. Wherever +he found vice he lashed it, and frequently, as Pope says, he + + Dash'd the proud gam'ster from his gilded car, + Bar'd the mean breast that lurk'd beneath a star. + +For some vigorous attacks against the measures of a prevailing +party, which Mr. De Foe reckoned unconstitutional and unjust, he +was prosecuted, and received sentence to stand on the pillory; which +punishment he underwent. + +At the very time he was in the hands of the ministry, to shew the +invincible force of his mind, he wrote a Hymn to the Pillory, as a +kind of defiance of their power. 'The reader (says he)[C] is desired +to observe this poem was the author's declaration, even when in the +cruel hands of a merciless, as well as unjust ministry; that the +treatment he had from them was unjust, exorbitant, and consequently +illegal.' As the ministry did not think proper to prosecute him for +this fresh insult against them, that forbearance was construed a +confession of guilt in their former proceedings. + + * * * * * + +In the second volume of our author's works, is a piece entitled More +Reformation, a satire upon himself. We have already taken notice of +a satire of his called Reformation of Manners, in which some personal +characters are stigmatized, which drew much odium on Mr. De Foe. This +satire called More Reformation, is a kind of supplement to the former. +In the preface he complains of the severe usage he had met with, but, +says he, 'that the world may discern that I am not one of those who +practice what they reprove, I began this satire with owning in myself +those sins and misfortunes which I am no more exempted from, than +other men; and as I am far from pretending to be free from human +frailties, but forwarder to confess any of the errors of my life, +than any man can be to accuse me; I think myself in a better way to +reformation, than those who excuse their own faults by reckoning up +mine. + +'Some that have heard me complain of this hard usage, have told me, +there is something of a retaliation of providence in it, for my being +so very free with the character's of other men in a late satire called +The Reformation of Manners. To this I answer, first, in that satire, +or any other I ever wrote, I have always carefully avoided lashing any +man's private infirmities, as being too sensible of my own, but if +I have singled out any man by character, it has either been such, as +intending to reform others, and execute the laws against vice, +have been the greatest examples, and encouragers of it in their own +practice; or such as have been entrusted with the executive power of +justice, and having been called upon by the laws to reform us, have +been a public reproach to the magistracy of this nation, and ought to +be punished by the laws they have been protected by. + +'Secondly, I have never made any man's disasters, or misfortunes, the +subject of my satire. I never reproached any man for having his house +burnt, ships cast away, or his family ruined. I never lampooned a man +because he could not pay his debts, or for his being a cuckold. + +'Thirdly, I never reproached any man for his opinion in religion, or +esteemed him the worse for differing in judgment from me. + +'If therefore the scandalous treatment I have received is just on +me, for abusing others, I must ask such, who is the man? Where is the +character I have given that is not just? and where is the retaliation +of providence, that these men entitle themselves to in loading me with +falsities and lies, as a just punishment for my speaking truth. + +'But p-x on him, said a certain sober gentleman, he is a Whig, and +what need he have meddled with his own party, could not he have left +them out, there were characters enough on the other side? + +'Why really I must own, I know no Whig or Tory in vice; the vicious +and the virtuous are the only two parties I have to do with; if a +vicious, lewd, debauched magistrate happened to be a Whig, what then? +let him mend his manners, and he may be a Whig still, and if not, the +rest ought to be ashamed of him.' + +We have been induced to make this extract, as it seems to mew the +genius and spirit of the author in a more advantageous light, than we +could have otherwise done. Though he was a resolute asserter of Whig +principles, and a champion for the cause of liberty, yet was he never +blinded by party prejudice, but could discern designing, and selfish +men, and strip them of their disguises, though, joined with him in the +same political contests. + +In the conclusion of the Hymn to the Pillory, which is written with +great strength of expression, he assigns the reasons for his being +doomed to that ignominy. + + Thou Bugbear of the law stand up and speak, + Thy long misconstru'd silence break, + Tell us, who 'tis upon thy ridge stands there, + So full of fault, and yet so void of fear; + And from the paper in his hat. + Let all mankind be told for what. + + Tell them it was because he was too bold, + And told those truths which should not ha' been told. + Extol the justice of the land + Who punish what they will not understand; + Tell them that he stands there + For speaking what we would not hear; + And yet he might ha' been secure, + Had he said less, or would he ha' said more. + Tell them that it was his reward, + And worse is yet for him prepar'd, + Because his foolish virtue was so nice + As not to tell his friends, according to his friends advice. + + And thus he's an example made, + To make men of their honesty afraid, + That from the time to come they may + More willingly their friends betray, + Tell them the ministers that plac'd him here, + Are scandal to the times, + Are at a loss to find his guilt, + And can't commit his crimes. + +There are in the same volume many other poetical pieces, and +political, and polemical tracts, the greatest part of which are +written with great force of thought, though in an unpolished irregular +stile. The natural abilities of the author (for he was no scholar) +seem to have been very high. He had a great knowledge of men and +things, particularly what related to the government, and trade of +these kingdoms. He wrote many pamphlets on both, which were generally +well received, though his name was never prefixed. His imagination was +fertile, strong, and lively, as may be collected from his many works +of fancy, particularly his Robinson Crusoe, which was written in so +natural a manner, and with so many probable incidents, that, for some +time after its publication, it was judged by most people to be a +true story. It was indeed written upon a model entirely new, and +the success and esteem it met with, may be ascertained by the many +editions it has sold, and the sums of money which have been gained +by it. Nor was he lest remarkable in his writings of a serious and +religious turn, witness his Religious Courtship, and his Family +Instructor; both of which strongly inculcate the worship of God, the +relative duties of husbands, wives, parents, and children, not in +a dry dogmatic manner, but in a kind of dramatic way, which excites +curiosity, keeps the attention awake, and is extremely interesting, +and pathetic. + +We have already seen, that in his political capacity he was a declared +enemy to popery, and a bold defender of revolution principles. He was +held in much esteem by many great men, and though he never enjoyed any +regular pod under the government, yet he was frequently employed in +matters of trust and confidence, particularly in Scotland, where he +several times was sent on affairs of great importance, especially +those relative to the union of the kingdoms, of which he was one of +the negotiators. + +It is impossible to arrive at the knowledge of half the tracts and +pamphlets which were written by this laborious man, as his name is +not prefixed, and many of them being temporary, have perished like all +other productions of that kind, when the subjects upon which they were +written are forgot. His principal performances, perhaps, are these, + +A Plan of Commerce, an esteemed Work, in one large vol. 8vo. of which +a new edition was lately published. + +Memoirs of the Plague, published in 1665. + +Religious Courtship. + +Family Instructor. Two Volumes. + +History of Apparitions (under the name of Moreton.) + +Robinson Crusoe. Two Volumes. + +Political History of the Devil. + +History of Magic. + +Caledonia, a Poem in praise of Scotland. + +De Jure Divino, a Poem. + +English Tradesman, &c. + +History of Colonel Jack. + +Cleveland's Memoirs, &c. are also said to be his. Considered as a +poet, Daniel De Foe is not so eminent, as in a political light: he +has taken no pains in verification; his ideas are masculine, his +expressions coarse, and his numbers generally rough. He seems rather +to have studied to speak truth, by probing wounds to the bottom, than, +by embellishing his verification, to give it a more elegant keenness. +This, however, seems to have proceeded more from carelessness in that +particular, than want of ability: for the following lines in his True +Born Englishman, in which he makes Britannia rehearse the praises +of her hero, King William, are harmoniously beautiful, and elegantly +polished. + + BRITANNIA. + + + The fame of virtue 'tis for which I found, + And heroes with immortal triumphs crown'd. + Fame built on solid virtue swifter flies, + Than morning light can spread my eastern skies. + The gath'ring air returns the doubling sound, + And long repeating thunders force it round: + Ecchoes return from caverns of the deep; + Old Chaos dreamt on't in eternal sleep, + Time helps it forward to its latest urn, + From whence it never, never shall return; + Nothing is heard so far, or lasts so long; + 'Tis heard by ev'ry ear, and spoke by ev'ry tongue. + + My hero, with the sails of honour furl'd, + Rises like the great genius of the world. + By fate, and fame, wisely prepared to be + The soul of war, and life of victory. + He spreads the wings of virtue on the throne, + And every wind of glory fans them on. + Immortal trophies dwell upon his brow, + Fresh as the garlands he has won but now. + +What provocation De Foe had given to Pope we cannot determine, but +he has not escaped the lash of that gentleman's pen. Mr. Pope in his +second book of his Dunciad thus speaks of him; + + Earless on high flood unabash'd De Foe, + And Tutchin flagrant from the scourge below. + +It may be remarked that he has joined him with Tutchin, a man, whom +judge Jeffries had ordered to be so inhumanly whipt through the +market-towns, that, as we have already observed, he petitioned the +King to be hanged. This severity soured his temper, and after the +deposition and death of King James, he indulged his resentment in +insulting his memory. This may be the reason why Pope has stigmatized +him, and perhaps no better a one can be given for his attacking De +Foe, whom the author of the Notes to the Dunciad owns to have been a +man of parts. De Foe can never, with any propriety, be ranked amongst +the dunces; for whoever reads his works with candour and impartiality, +must be convinced that he was a man of the strongest natural powers, a +lively imagination, and solid judgment, which, joined with an unshaken +probity in his moral conduit, and an invincible integrity in his +political sphere, ought not only to screen him from the petulant +attacks of satire, but transmit his name with some degree of applause +to posterity. + +De Foe, who enjoyed always a competence, and was seldom subject to the +necessities of the poets, died at his house at Islington, in the +year 1731. He left behind him one son and one daughter. The latter +is married to Mr. Henry Baker, a gentleman well known in the +philosophical world. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob, vol. ii. p. 309.] + +[Footnote B: See Preface to the True Born Englishman.] + +[Footnote C: See Preface to vol. ii.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. ELIZABETH ROWE, + + +This lady was born at Ilchester in Somersetshire September 11, 1674, +being the eldest of three daughters of Mr. Walter Singer, a gentleman +of good family, and Mrs. Elizabeth Portnel, both persons of great +worth and piety. Her father was not a native of Ilchester, nor an +inhabitant, before his imprisonment there for non-conformity in +the reign of King Charles II. Mrs. Portnel, from a principle of +tenderness, visited those who suffered on that account, and by this +accident an acquaintance Commenced, which terminated in the nuptial +union. They who were acquainted with the lady, who is the subject +of this article, in her early, years, perhaps observed an uncommon +display of genius as prophetic of that bright day which afterwards +ensued. + +There is so great a similitude between painting and poetry, that it is +no ways surprising, a person, who possessed the latter of these graces +in so high a degree, should very easily discover an inclination to the +former, which has often the same admirers. Accordingly we find Mrs. +Rowe discover a taste for painting; she attempted to carry her taste +into execution, when she had hardly steadiness of hand sufficient to +guide the pencil. Her father perceiving her fondness for this art, was +at the expence of a matter to instruct her in it; and she never failed +to make it an amusement 'till her death. Every one acquainted with her +writings, and capable of relishing the melifluent flow of her numbers, +will naturally suppose, that she had a genius for music, particularly +that of a grave and solemn kind, as it was best suited to the grandeur +of her sentiments, and the sublimity of her devotion. But her most +prevailing propension was to poetry. This superior grace was indeed +the most favourite employment of her youth, and in her the most +distinguished excellence. So powerful was her genius in this way, that +her prose hath all the charms of verse without the fetters; the same +fire and elevation; the same richness of imagery, bold figures, and +flowing diction. + +It appears by a life of Mrs. Rowe, prefixed to the first volume of +her miscellaneous works, that in the year 1696, the 22d of her age, +a Collection of her Poems on various Occasions was published at the +desire of two of her friends, which we suppose did not contain all she +had by her, since the ingenious author of the preface, Mrs. Elizabeth +Johnson, gives the reader room to hope, that Mrs. Rowe might, in a +little while, be prevailed upon to oblige the world with a second +part, no way inferior to the former. + +Mrs. Rowe's Paraphrase on the 38th Chapter of Job was written at the +request of bishop Kenn, which gained her a great reputation. She +had no other tutor for the French and Italian languages, than the +honourable Mr. Thynne, son to the lord viscount Weymouth, and father +to the right honourable the countess of Hertford, who willingly took +the talk upon himself, and had the pleasure to see his fair scholar +improve so fast by his lessons, that in a few months she was able to +read Tasso's Jerusalem with ease. Her shining merit, with the charms +of her person and conversation, had procured her many admirers: among +others, the celebrated Mr. Prior made his addresses to her; so +that allowing for the double licence of the poet and the lover, the +concluding lines in his Answer to Mrs. Singer's Pastoral on Love and +Friendship, were not without foundation in truth; but Mr. Thomas Rowe, +a very ingenious and learned gentleman, was the person destined to +fill the arms of this amiable poetess. + +As this gentleman was a poet of no inconsiderable rank, a man of +learning and genius, we shall here give some account of him, in place +of assigning him a particular Article, as the incidents of his life +will be more naturally blended with that of his wife.----He was born +at London, April the 25th, 1687, the eldest son of the revd. Mr. Rowe: +who with a very accurate judgment, and a considerable stock of useful +learning, joined the talents in preaching and a most lively and +engaging manner in conversation. He was of a genteel descent, both +on his father's and mother's side; but he thought too justly to value +himself on such extrinsic circumstances. His superior genius, and +insatiable thirst after knowledge were conspicuous in his earliest +years. He commenced his acquaintance with the Classics at Epsom, while +his father resided there, and by the swift advances in this part of +learning, quickly became the delight of his master, who treated him +with very particular indulgence, in spight of the natural ruggedness +and severity of his temper. + +When his father removed to London, he accompanied him, and was placed +under the famous Dr. Walker, master of the Charter-House-School. His +exercises here never failed of being distinguished even among those +who had the approbation of that excellent master, who would fain have +persuaded his father to place him at one of our English universities; +but how honourably soever Mr. Rowe might think of the learning of +those noble feats of the Muses, yet not having the same advantageous +notions of their political principles, he chose to enter him in a +private academy in London, and some time before his death sent him to +Leyden: Here he studied Jeuriel's Antiquities, civil law, the Belles +Lettres, and experimental philosophy; and established a reputation +for capacity, application, and an obliging deportment, both among +the professors and students. He returned from that celebrated seat of +literature, with a great accession of knowledge, entirely incorrupt in +his morals, which he had preferred as inviolate, as he could have done +under the most vigilant eye, though left without any restraints but +those of his own virtue and prudence. + +The love of liberty had always been one of Mr. Rowe's darling +passions. He was very much confirmed therein, by his familiar +acquaintance with the history and noble authors of Greece and Rome, +whose very spirit was transferred into him: By residing so long at +a Republic, he had continual examples of the inestimable value of +freedom, as the parent of industry, and the universal source of social +happiness. Tyranny of every kind he sincerely detested; but most of +all ecclesiastical tyranny, deeming the slavery of the mind the most +abject and ignominious, and in its consequences more pernicious than +any other. + +He was a perfect matter of the Greek, Latin and French languages; and, +which is seldom known to happen, had at once such a prodigious memory, +and unexhaustible fund of wit, as would have singly been admired, and +much more united. These qualities, with an easy fluency of speech, a +frankness, and benevolence of disposition, and a communicative temper, +made his company much sollicited by all who knew him. He animated the +conversation, and instructed his companions by the acuteness of his +observations. + +He had formed a design to compile the lives of all the illustrious +persons of antiquity, omitted by Plutarch; and for this purpose +read the antient historians with great care. This design he in part +executed. Eight lives were published since his decease, in octavo, by +way of Supplement to that admired Biographer; in which though so young +a guide, he strikes out a way like one well acquainted with the dark +and intricate paths of antiquity. The stile is perfectly easy, yet +concise, and nervous: The reflections just, and such as might be +expected from a lover of truth and of mankind. + +Besides these Lives, he had finished for the press, the Life of +Thrasybulus, which being put into the hands of Sir Richard Steele, for +his revisal, was unhappily lost, and could never since be recovered. + +The famous Mr. Dacier, having translated Plutarch's Lives into French, +with Remarks Historical and Critical, the Abbé Bellenger added in 1734 +a ninth tome to the other eight, consisting of the Life of Hannibal, +and Mr. Rowe's Lives made French by that learned Abbé: In the Preface +to which version, he transcribes from, the Preface to the English +edition, the character of the author with visible approbation; and +observes, that the Lives were written with taste; though being a +posthumous work, the author had not put his last hand to it. + +Such is the character of Mr. Rowe, the husband of this amiable lady; +and when so accomplished a pair meet in conjugal bonds, what great +expectations may not be formed upon them! A friend of Mr. Rowe's upon +that occasion wrote the following beautiful Epigram, + + No more proud Gallia, bid the world revere + Thy learned pair, Le Fevre and Dacier: + Britain may boast, this happy day unites, + Two nobler minds, in Hymen's sacred rites. + What these have sung, while all th' inspiring nine, + Exalt the beauties of the verse divine, + Those (humble critics of th' immortal strain,) + Shall bound their fame to comment and explain. + +Mr. Rowe being at Bath, in the year 1709, was introduced into the +company of Miss Singer, who lived in a retirement not far from the +city. The idea he had conceived of her from report and her writings, +charmed him; but when he had seen and conversed with her, he felt +another kind of impression, and the esteem of her accomplishments was +heightened into the rapture of a lover. During the courtship, he wrote +a poetical Epistle to a friend, who was a neighbour of Mrs. Singer, +and acquainted with the family, in which were the following lines. + + Youth's liveliest bloom, a never-fading grace, + And more than beauty sparkles in her face. + How soon the willing heart, her empire feels? + Each look, each air, each melting action kills: + Yet the bright form creates no loose desires; + At once she gives and purifies our fires, + And passions chaste, as her own soul inspires. + Her soul, heav'n's noblest workmanship design'd, + To bless the ruined age, and succour lost mankind, + To prop abandon'd virtue's sinking cause, + And snatch from vice its undeserv'd applause. + +He married her in the year 1710, and Mrs. Rowe's exalted merit, and +amiable qualities, could not fail to inspire the most generous and +lading passion. Mr. Rowe knew how to value that treasure of wit, +softness and virtue, with which heaven had blessed him; and made it +his study to repay the felicity with which she crowned his life. The +esteem and tenderness he had for her is inexpressible, and possession +seems never to have abated the fondness and admiration of the lover; +a circumstance which seldom happens, but to those who are capable +of enjoying mental intercourse, and have a relish for the ideal +transports, as well as those of a less elevated nature. It was some +considerable time after his marriage, that he wrote to her a very +tender Ode, under the name of Delia, full of the warmed sentiments +of connubial friendship and affection. The following lines in it may +appear remarkable, as it pleased Heaven to dispose events, in a manner +so agreeable to the wishes expressed in them, + + ----So long may thy inspiring page, + And bright example bless the rising age; + Long in thy charming prison mayst thou stay, + Late, very late, ascend the well-known way, + And add new glories to the realms of day! + At least Heav'n will not sure, this prayer deny! + Short be my life's uncertain date, + And earlier long than thine, the destin'd hour of fate! + When e'er it comes, may'st thou be by, + Support my sinking frame, and teach me how to die; + Banish desponding nature's gloom, + Make me to hope a gentle doom, + And fix me all on joys to come. + With swimming eyes I'll gaze upon thy charms, + And clasp thee dying in my fainting arms; + Then gently leaning on thy breast; + Sink in soft slumbers to eternal rest. + The ghastly form shall have a pleasing air, + And all things smile, while Heav'n and thou art there. + +This part of the Ode which we have quoted, contains the most tender +breathings of affection, and has as much delicacy and softness in +it, as we remember ever to have seen in poetry. As Mr. Rowe had not a +robust constitution, so an intense application to study, beyond what +the delicacy of his frame could bear, might contribute to that ill +state of health which allayed the happiness of his married life, +during the greater part of it. In the latter end of the year 1714, his +weakness increased, and he seemed to labour under all the symptoms of +a consumption; which distemper, after it had confined him some months, +put a period to his most valuable life, at Hampstead, in 1715, when +he was but in the 28th year of his age. The exquisite grief and +affliction, which his amiable wife felt for the loss of so excellent a +husband, is not to be expressed. + +She wrote a beautiful Elegy on his death, and continued to the last +moments of her life, to express the highest veneration and affection +for his memory, and a particular regard and esteem for his relations. +This Elegy of Mrs. Rowe, on the death of her much lamented husband, we +shall here insert. + + An ELEGY, &c. + + + In what soft language shall my thoughts get free, + My dear Alexis, when I talk of thee? + Ye Muses, Graces, all ye gentle train, + Of weeping loves, O suit the pensive train! + But why should I implore your moving art? + 'Tis but to speak the dictates of my heart; + And all that knew the charming youth will join, + Their friendly sighs, and pious tears to mine; + For all that knew his merit, must confess, + In grief for him, there can be no excess. + His soul was form'd to act each glorious part + Of life, unstained with vanity, or art, + No thought within his gen'rous mind had birth, + But what he might have own'd to Heav'n and Earth. + Practis'd by him, each virtue grew more bright, + And shone with more than its own native light. + Whatever noble warmth could recommend + The just, the active, and the constant friend, + Was all his own----But Oh! a dearer name, + And softer ties my endless sorrow claim. + Lost in despair, distracted, and forlorn, + The lover I, and tender husband mourn. + Whate'er to such superior worth was due, + Whate'er excess the fondest passion knew; + I felt for thee, dear youth; my joy, my care, + My pray'rs themselves were thine, and only where + Thou waft concern'd, my virtue was sincere. + When e'er I begg'd for blessings on thy head, + Nothing was cold or formal that I said; + My warmest vows to Heav'n were made for thee, + And love still mingled with my piety. + O thou wast all my glory, all my pride! + Thro' life's uncertain paths my constant guide; + Regardless of the world, to gain thy praise + Was all that could my just ambition raise. + Why has my heart this fond engagement known? + Or why has Heav'n dissolved the tye so soon? + Why was the charming youth so form'd to move? + Or why was all my soul so turn'd for love? + But virtue here a vain defence had made, + Where so much worth and eloquence could plead. + For he could talk----'Twas extacy to hear, + 'Twas joy! 'twas harmony to every ear. + Eternal music dwelt upon his tongue, + Soft, and transporting as the Muses song; + List'ning to him my cares were charm'd to rest, + And love, and silent rapture fill'd my breast: + Unheeded the gay moments took their flight, + And time was only measur'd by delight. + I hear the lov'd, the melting accents still, + And still the kind, the tender transport feel. + Again I see the sprightly passions rise, + And life and pleasure sparkle in his eyes. + My fancy paints him now with ev'ry grace, + But ah! the dear delusion mocks my fond embrace; + The smiling vision takes its hasty flight, + And scenes of horror swim before my sight. + Grief and despair in all their terrors rise; + A dying lover pale and gasping lies, + Each dismal circumstance appears in view, + The fatal object is for ever new. + + * * * * * + + For thee all thoughts of pleasure I forego, + For thee my tears shall never cease to flow: + For thee at once I from the world retire, + To feed in silent shades a hopeless fire. + My bosom all thy image shall retain; + The full impression there shall still remain. + As thou hast taught my constant heart to prove; + The noblest height and elegance of love; + That sacred passion I to thee confine; + My spotless faith shall be for ever thine. + +After Mr. Rowe's decease, and as soon as her affairs would permit, +our authoress indulged her inconquerable inclination to solitude, by +retiring to Froome in Somersetshire, in the neighbourhood of which +place the greatest part of her estate lay. When she forsook the town, +she determined to return no more but to spend the remainder of her +life in absolute retirement; yet upon some few occasions she thought +it her duty to violate this resolution. In compliance with the +importunate request of the honourable Mrs. Thynne, she passed some +months with her at London, after the death of her daughter the lady +Brooke, and upon the decease of Mrs. Thynne herself, she could not +dispute the commands of the countess of Hertford, who earnestly +desired her company, to soften the severe affliction of the loss of so +excellent a mother, and once or twice more, the power which this lady +had over Mrs. Rowe, drew her, with an obliging kind of violence, +to spend a few months with her in the country. Yet, even on these +occasions she never quitted her retreat without sincere regret, and +always returned to it, as soon as she could with decency disengage +herself from the importunity of her noble friends. It was in this +recess that she composed the most celebrated of her works, in twenty +Letters from the Dead to the Living; the design of which is to impress +the notion of the soul's immortality, without which all virtue and +religion, with their temporal and eternal good conferences must fall +to the ground. + + * * * * * + +Some who pretend to have no scruples about the being of a God, have +yet doubts about their own eternal existence, though many authors have +established it, both by christian and moral proofs, beyond reasonable +contradiction. But since no means should be left untried, in a point +of such awful importance, a virtuous endeavour to make the mind +familiar with the thoughts of immortality, and contract as it were +unawares, an habitual persuasion of it, by writings built on that +foundation, and addressed to the affections, and imagination, cannot +be thought improper, either as a doctrine or amusement: Amusement, for +which the world makes so large a demand, and which generally speaking +is nothing but an art of forgetting that immortality, the form, +belief, and advantageous contemplation, of which this higher amusement +would recommend. + +In the year 1736, the importunity of some of Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance +who had seen the History of Joseph in MS. prevailed on her to print +it. The publication of this piece did not long precede the time of her +death, to prepare for which had been the great business of her life; +and it stole upon her according to her earnest wishes, in her +beloved recess. She was favoured with a very uncommon strength of +constitution, and had pass'd a long series of years with scarce any +indisposition, severe enough to confine her to bed.----But about half +a year before her decease, she was attacked with a distemper, which +seemed to herself as well as others, attended with danger. Tho' this +disorder found her mind not quite so serene and prepared to meet death +as usual; yet when by devout contemplation, she had fortified herself +against that fear and diffidence, from which the most exalted piety +does not always secure us in such an awful hour, she experienced such +divine satisfaction and transport, that she said with tears of joy, +she knew not that she ever felt the like in all her life, and she +repeated on this occasion Pope's beautiful soliloquy of the dying +Christian to his soul. + + An ELEGY, &c. + The dying CHRISTIAN to his Soul. + + + I. + + Vital spark of heav'nly flame! + Quit, oh quit this mortal frame; + Trembling, hoping, lingr'ing, flying; + Oh the pain, the bliss of dying! + Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, + And let me languish into life. + II. + + Hark! they whisper; Angels say, + Sister spirit, come away! + What is this absorbs me quite, + Steals my senses, shuts my sight, + Drowns my spirits, draws my breath? + Tell me, my soul, can this be death? + + III. + + The world recedes; it disappears! + Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears + With sounds seraphic ring; + Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! + O grave! where is thy victory? + O death! where is thy sting? + +She repeated the above, with an air of intense pleasure. She felt all +the elevated sentiments of pious extasy and triumph, which breath in +that exquisite piece of sacred poetry. After this threatening illness +she recovered her usual good state of health; and though at the time +of her decease she was pretty far advanced in years, yet her exact +temperance, and the calmness of her mind, undisturbed with uneasy +cares, and turbulent passions, encouraged her friends to hope a much +longer enjoyment of so valuable a life, than it pleased heaven to +allow them. On the day when she was seized with that distemper, which +in a few hours proved mortal, she seemed to those about her to be +in perfect health and vigour. In the evening about eight o'clock +she converted with a friend, with her usual vivacity, mixed with an +extraordinary chearfulness, and then retired to her chamber. About 10 +her servant hearing some noise in her mistress's room, ran instantly +into it, and found her fallen off the chair on the floor, speechless, +and in the agonies of death. She had the immediate assistance of a +physician and surgeon, but all the means used were without success, +and having given one groan she expired a few minutes before two +o'clock, on Sunday morning, February the 20th, 1736-7: Her disease was +judged to be an apoplexy. A pious book was found lying open by her, as +also some loose papers, on which she had written the following devout +ejaculations, + + O guide, and council, and protect my soul from sin! + O speak! and let me know thy heav'nly will. + Speak evidently to my list'ning soul! + O fill my soul with love, and light of peace, + And whisper heav'nly comfort to my soul! + O speak celestial spirit in the strain + Of love, and heav'nly pleasure to my soul. + +In her cabinet were found letters to several of her friends, which she +had ordered to be delivered to the persons to whom they were directed +immediately after her decease. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe lived in friendship with people of the first fashion and +distinction in life, by whom she was esteemed and respected. To +enumerate them would be needless; let it suffice to remark, that her +life was honoured with the intimacy, and her death lamented with the +tears, of the countess of Hertford. Many verses were published to +celebrate her memory, amongst which a copy written by Mrs. Elizabeth +Carter are the best. + + * * * * * + +Thus lived honoured, and died lamented, this excellent poetess, whose +beauty, though not her highest excellence, yet greatly contributed to +set off her other more important graces to advantage; and whose piety +will ever shine as a bright example to posterity, and teach them how +to heighten the natural gifts of understanding, by true and unaffected +devotion.----The conduct and behaviour of Mrs. Rowe might put some +of the present race of females to the blush, who rake the town for +infamous adventures to amuse the public. Their works will soon be +forgotten, and their memories when dead, will not be deemed exceeding +precious; but the works of Mrs. Rowe can never perish, while exalted +piety and genuine goodness have any existence in the world. Her memory +will be ever honoured, and her name dear to latest posterity. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe's Miscellaneous Works were published a few years ago at +London, in octavo, and her Devotions were revised and published by the +reverend Dr. Watts, under the title of Devout Exercises, to which +that worthy man wrote a preface; and while he removes some cavils that +wantonness and sensuality might make to the stile and manner of these +Devotions, he shews that they contain the most sublime sentiments, +the most refined breathings of the soul, and the most elevated and +coelestial piety. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance with persons of fashion had taught her all +the accomplishments of good-breeding, and elegance of behaviour, and +without formality or affectation she practised in the most distant +solitude, all the address and politeness of a court. + +She had the happiest command over her passions, and maintained a +constant calmness of temper, and sweetness of disposition, that could +not be ruffled by adverse accidents. She was in the utmost degree +an enemy to ill-natured satire and detraction; she was as much +unacquainted with envy, as if it had been impossible for so base +a passion to enter into the human mind. She had few equals in +conversation; her wit was lively, and she expressed her thoughts in +the most beautiful and flowing eloquence. + +When she entered into the married state, the highest esteem and most +tender affection appeared in her conduct to Mr. Rowe, and by the most +gentle and obliging manner, and the exercise of every social and +good natured virtue, she confirmed the empire she had gained over +his heart. In short, if the most cultivated understanding, if an +imagination lively and extensive, a character perfectly moral, and a +soul formed for the most exalted exercises of devotion, can render a +person amiable, Mrs. Rowe has a just claim to that epithet, as well as +to the admiration of the lovers of poetry and elegant composition. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. Dr. THOMAS YALDEN. + + +This Gentleman was born in the city of Exeter, and the youngest of +six sons of Mr. John Yalden of Sussex. He received his education at +a Grammar-school, belonging to Magdalen-College in Oxford. [A]In the +year 1690 he was admitted a commoner of Magdalen-Hall, under Mr. John +Fallen, who was esteemed an excellent tutor, and a very great +master of logic, and the following year he was chosen scholar of +Magdalen-College. Here he became a fellow-pupil with the celebrated +Mr. Addison and Dr. Henry Sacheverel, and early contracted a +particular friendship with those two gentlemen. This academical +affection Mr. Addison preserved not only abroad in his travels, but +also on his advancement to considerable employments at home, and kept +the same easy and free correspondence to the very last, as when their +fortunes were more on a level. This preservation of affection is +rendered more singular, by Mr. Yalden's having espoused a very +opposite interest to that of Mr. Addison, for he adhered to the +High-Church party, and was suspected of an attachment to an exiled +family, for which he afterwards was brought into very great trouble. + +In the year 1700 he was admitted actual and perpetual fellow of +Magdalen-College, and qualified himself the next year, by taking +orders, as the founder's statutes require. After his admission he +received two public marks of favour from that society: The first was +a presentation to a living in Warwickshire, consistent with his +fellowship; and the other, his being elected moral philosophy-reader, +an office for life, endowed with a handsome stipend and peculiar +privileges. + + * * * * * + +In 1706 he was received into the family of his noble and kind patron +the duke of Beaufort; with whom he was in very great favour, having in +many instances experienced his bounty and generosity. In the following +year he compleated his academical degrees, by commencing doctor in +divinity: He presented to the society their founder's picture in +full length, which now hangs up in the public-hall; and afterwards +he delivered in to the president a voluntary resignation of his +fellowship, and moral philosophy-lecture. He was afterwards preferred +to be rector of Chalten in Cleanville, two adjoining towns and +rectories in Hampshire. He was elected by the president and governors +of Bridewell, preacher of that hospital, upon the resignation of Dr. +Atterbury, afterwards lord bishop of Rochester. + + * * * * * + +Having mentioned this prelate, it will be proper here to observe, that +upon a suspicion of Dr. Yalden's being concerned with him in a plot +to restore the exiled family; and for which the bishop was afterwards +banished, he was seized upon by authority, and committed to prison. +When he was examined before the council, concerning his correspondence +and intimacy with Mr. Kelley the bishop's secretary; he did not deny +his knowledge of, and correspondence with, him, but still persisted +in averting, that no measures contrary to the constitution were ever +canvassed between them. There was found in his pocket book, a copy of +verses reflecting on the reigning family, and which might well bear +the construction of a libel; but when he was charged with them, he +denied that he ever composed such verses, or that the hand-writing was +his own, and asserted his innocence in every circumstance relating to +the plot. The verses in all probability were put into his pocket-book, +by the same person, who with so much dexterity placed a treasonable +paper in bishop Atterbury's close-stool, and then pretending to be the +discoverer of it, preferred it against his lordship, as an evidence of +his disaffection. The particulars of that memorable tryal are recorded +in the Life of Atterbury, written by the authors of Biographia +Britannica.--The heats raised by Atterbury's tryal subsiding, those +who were suspected of being concerned with him, as no evidence +appeared strong enough to convict them, were released. + +Dr. Yalden was still favoured with the patronage of the generous duke +of Beaufort, and his residence in that noble family recommended him +to the acquaintance of many of the first quality and character in the +kingdom, and as he was of a chearful temper, and of a pleasing and +instructive conversation, he retained their friendship and esteem till +his death, which happened the 16th of July, 1736, in the 66th year of +his age. + +His poetical works are chiefly these. + +On the Conquest of Namure; A Pindaric Ode, inscribed to his most +sacred and victorious majesty, folio 1695. + +The Temple of Fame; a Poem to the memory of the most illustrious +Prince, William Duke of Gloucester, folio 1700. On the late Queen's +Accession to the Throne, a Poem. + +Æsop at Court, or State Fables. + +An Essay on the Character on Sir Willoughby Ashton, a Poem. Fol. 1704. + +On the Mines of Sir Carbery Price, a Poem; occasioned by the +Mine-adventure Company. + +On the Death of Mr. John Partridge, Professor in Leather, and +Astrologer. + +Advice to a Lover. + +To Mr. Watson, on his Ephemeris on the Cælestial Motions, presented to +Queen Anne. + +Against Immoderate Grief. + +The Force of Jealousy. + +An Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, 1693, set to music by Dr. Purcel. + +A Hymn to the Morning in Praise of Light. + + * * * * * + +We shall extract the following stanza from this Hymn, as a specimen of +his poetry. + + Parent of day! whose beauteous beams of light + Spring from the darksome womb of night, + And midst their native horrors mow + Like gems adorning of the negro's brow. + Not Heaven's fair bow can equal thee, + In all its gawdy drapery: + Thou first essay of light, and pledge of day! + Rival of shade! eternal spring! still gay! + From thy bright unexhausted womb + The beauteous race of days and seasons come. + Thy beauty ages cannot wrong, + But 'spite of time, thou'rt ever young. + Thou art alone Heav'n's modest virgin light. + Whose face a veil of blushes hide from human sight. + At thy approach, nature erects her head; + The smiling universe is glad; + The drowsy earth and seas awake + And from thy beams new life and vigour take. + When thy more chearful rays appear, + Ev'n guilt and women cease to fear; + Horror, despair, and all the sons of night + Retire before thy beams, and take their hasty flight. + Thou risest in the fragrant east, + Like the fair Phoenix from her balmy nest; + But yet thy fading glories soon decay, + Thine's but a momentary stay; + Too soon thou'rt ravish'd from our fight, + Borne down the stream of day, and overwhelm'd with night. + Thy beams to thy own ruin haste, + They're fram'd too exquisite to last: + Thine is a glorious, but a short-liv'd state: + Pity so fair a birth should yield so soon to fate; + +Besides these pieces, this reverend gentleman has translated the +second book of Ovid's Art of Love, with several other occasional poems +and translations published in the third and fourth volumes of Tonson's +Miscellanies. + +The Medicine, a Tale in the second Volume of the Tatlers, and Mr. +Partridge's Appeal to the Learned World, or a Further Account of the +Manner of his Death, in Prose, are likewise written by him. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOSEPH MITCHEL, + + +This gentleman was the son of a Stone-cutter in Scotland, and was +born about the year 1684. He received an university education while +he remained in that kingdom, and having some views of improving his +fortune, repaired to the metropolis. We are not able to recover many +particulars concerning this poet, who was never sufficiently eminent +to excite much curiosity concerning him. By a dissipated imprudent +behaviour he rendered those, who were more intimately acquainted with +him, less sollicitous to preserve the circumstances of his life, which +were so little to his advantage. We find him enjoying the favour of +the earl of Stair, and Sir Robert Walpole, to whom he addresses some +of his poems. He received so many obligations from the latter, and was +so warm in his interest, that he obtained the epithet of Sir Robert +Walpole's Poet, and for a great part of his life had an entire +dependence on the bounty of that munificent statesman. Mr. Mitchel, +who was a slave to his pleasures, and governed by every gust of +irregular appetite, had many opportunities of experiencing the +dangerous folly of extravagance, and the many uneasy moments which it +occasions. Notwithstanding this, his conduct was never corrected, +even when the means of doing it were in his power. At a time when Mr. +Mitchel laboured under severe necessities, by the death of his wife's +uncle several thousand pounds devolved to him, of which he had no +sooner got possession, than he planned schemes of spending it, in +place of discharging the many debts he had contracted. This behaviour, +as it conveyed to his creditors no high idea of his honesty, so it +obliged him to be perpetually skulking, and must consequently have +embittered even those hours which he falsly dedidicated to pleasure; +for they who live under a perpetual dread of losing their liberty, can +enjoy no great comfort even in their most careless moments. + + +Of the many poems which Mr. Mitchel wrote, but few succeeded to any +degree, nor indeed much deserved it. At a time when the politicians +were engaged in settling the Land-Tax, and various opinions were +offered concerning the ability of that branch of the commonwealth, +so that a proper medium or standard might be fixed; he versified +the Totness Address, much about the time of his present Majesty's +accession to the throne; in which it is humourously proposed, that the +landed interest should pay twenty shillings in the pound. This poem +having a reference to a fashionable topic of conversation, was better +received than most of his other pieces. + + +There was likewise a poem of Mr. Mitchel's, called The Shoe-heel, +which was much read on account of the low humour it contains. He has +addressed to Dr. Watts a poem on the subject of Jonah in the Whale's +Belly. In the dedication he observes, 'That it was written for the +advancement of true virtue and reformation of manners; to raise an +emulation amongst our young poets to attempt divine composures, and +help to wipe off the censures which the numerous labours of the muses +are justly charged with. If (says he) it shall serve any of these +purposes, I shall be satisfied, though I gain no reputation by it +among those who read a new poem with no other view, than to pass a +judgment on the abilities of the author.' When the antagonists of Pope +were threatened with the publication of the Dunciad, Mr. Mitchel had +some suspicion that he himself was to be stigmatized in it: conscious +that he had never offended Mr. Pope, he took an opportunity to write +to him upon that subject. He informed him, that he had been an admirer +of his writings; that he declined all connexion with those men, who +combined to reduce his reputation, and that when no offence was given, +no resentment should be discovered. Mr. Pope, upon receiving this +letter from Mitchel, protesting his innocence as to any calumny +published against him, was so equitable as to strike him out of his +Dunciad, in which, by misrepresentation he had assigned him a place. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Mitchel lived in good correspondence with many of the most eminent +wits of the time, and was particularly honoured with the friendship of +Aaron Hill, esq; a gentleman of so amiable a disposition, that whoever +cultivated an intimacy with him, was sure to be a gainer. Once, +when Mr. Mitchel was in distress, Mr. Hill, who could not perhaps +conveniently relieve him by pecuniary assistance, gave him a higher +instance of friendship, than could be shewn by money. He wrote a +beautiful dramatic piece in two acts, called The Fatal Extravagant, in +which he exposed the hideous vice of gaming. This little dramatic +work is planned with such exquisite art, wrought up with so much +tenderness, and the scenes are so natural, interesting and moving, +that I know not if Mr. Hill has any where touched the passions with +so great a mastery. This play met the success it deserved, and +contributed to relieve Mr. Mitchel's necessities, who had honour +enough, however, to undeceive the world, and acknowledge his +obligations to Mr. Hill, by making mankind acquainted with the real +author of The Fatal Extravagant. As this was a favour never to be +forgotten, so we find Mr. Mitchel taking every proper occasion to +express his gratitude, and celebrate his patron. Amongst the first of +his poems, is An Ode, addressed to Mr. Hill, which is one of the best +of his compositions. The two last stanza's are as follow, + + Heedless of custom, and the vulgar breath, + I toil for glory in a path untrod, + Or where but few have dared to combat death, + And few unstaggering carry virtue's load. + Thy muse, O Hill, of living names, + My first respect, and chief attendance claims. + Sublimely fir'd, thou look'st disdainful down + On trifling subjects, and a vile renown. + In ev'ry verse, in ev'ry thought of thine, + There's heav'nly rapture and design. + Who can thy god-like Gideon view[A], + And not thy muse pursue, + Or wish, at least, such miracles to do? + + Sure in thy breast the ancient Hebrew fire + Reviv'd, glows hot, and blazes forth, + How strong, how fierce the flames aspire! + Of thy interior worth, + When burning worlds thou sett'st before our eyes[B], + And draw'st tremendous judgment from the flues! + O bear me on thy seraph wing, + And teach my weak obsequious muse to sing. + To thee I owe the little art I boast; + Thy heat first melted my co-genial frost. + Preserve the sparks thy breath did fan, + And by thy likeness form me into true poetic man. + +Mr. Mitchel died in the year 1738. He seems to have been a poet of the +third rate; he has seldom reached the sublime; his humour, in which he +more succeeded, is not strong enough to last; his verification holds a +state of mediocrity; he possessed but little invention, and if he was +not a bad rhimester, he cannot be denominated a fine poet, for there +are but few marks of genius in his writings. His poems were printed in +two vol. 8vo. in the year 1729. + +He wrote also, The Union of the Clans; or the Highland-Fair. A Scot's +Opera. 'Twas acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, about the year +1730; but did not succeed. + + +[Footnote A: An epic poem by Aaron Hill, esq;] + +[Footnote B: See The Judgment, a poem by Aaron Hill, esq;] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. John Ozell, + + +This gentleman added considerably to the republic of letters by his +numerous translations. He received the rudiments of his education from +Mr. Shaw, an excellent grammarian, master of the free school at Ashby +De la Zouch in Leicestershire: he finished his grammatical learning +under the revd. Mr. Mountford of Christ's Hospital, where having +attained the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues, he was designed to be +sent to the university of Cambridge, to be trained up for holy Orders. +But Mr. Ozell, who was averse to that confinement which he must expect +in a college life, chose to be sooner settled in the world, and be +placed in a public office of accounts, having previously qualified +himself by attaining a knowledge of arithmetic, and writing the +necessary hands. This choice of an occupation in our author, could no +other reasons be adduced, are sufficient to denominate him a little +tinctured with dulness, for no man of genius ever yet made choice of +spending his life behind a desk in a compting-house. + +He still retained, however, an inclination to erudition, contrary +to what might have been expected, and by much conversation with +travellers from abroad, made himself matter of most of the living +languages, especially the French, Italian, and Spanish, from all +which, as well as from the Latin and Greek, he has favoured the world +with a great[A] many translations, amongst which are the following +French plays; + +1. Britannicus and Alexander the Great, Two Tragedies from Racine. + +2. The Litigant, a Comedy of 3 Acts; Mandated from the French of M. +Racine, who took it from the Wasps of Aristophanes, 8vo. 1715. Scene +in a city of Lower Normandy. + +3. Manlius Capitolinus, a Tragedy from the French of M. La Fosse, +1715. When the earl of Portland was ambassador at the French court, +this play was acted at Paris threescore nights running; the subject is +related by Livy. This French author studied some time at Oxford, and, +upon his return home, applied himself to dramatic poetry, in which he +acquired great reputation. He died about the year 1713. + +4. The Cid, a Tragedy from Corneille. + +5. Cato of Utica, a Tragedy from M. Des Champs; acted at the Theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1716, dedicated to Count Volkra his Excellency +the Imperial Ambassador: to which is added a Parallel between this +Play and Mr. Addison's Cato. + +Besides these, Mr. Ozell has translated all Moliere's plays, which are +printed in 6 vol. 12mo. and likewise a collection of some of the best +Spanish and Italian plays, from Calderon, Aretin, Ricci, and Lopez de +Vega. Whether any of these plays, translated from the Spanish, were +ever printed, we cannot be positive. Mr. Ozell's translation of +Moliere is far from being excellent, for Moliere was an author to +whom none, but a genius like himself, could well do justice. His other +works are + +The History of Don Quixote, translated by several hands, published by +Peter Motteux; revised and compared with the best edition, printed at +Madrid, by Mr. Ozell, 5th edition, 1725. + +Reflexions on Learning, by M. de Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, made +English from the Paris Edition 12mo. 1718. + +Common Prayer not Common Sense, in several Places of the Portugueze, +Spanish, Italian, French, Latin, and Greek Translations of the English +Liturgy; Being a Specimen of the Manifold Omissions, &c. in all, or +most of the said Translations, some of which were printed at Oxford, +and the rest at Cambridge, or London, 1722. + +Vertot's Revolutions of Rome, translated by Mr. Ozell. + +Logic, or the Art of Thinking; from the French of M. Nicole, 1723. + +Mr. Ozell finished a Translation from the Portugueze, begun by Dr. +Geddes, of the most celebrated, popish, ecclesiastical Romance; being +the Life of Veronica of Milan, a book certified by the heads of +the university of Conimbra in Portugal, to be revised by the Angels, +and approved of by God. + + * * * * * + +These are the works of Mr. Ozell, who, if he did not possess any +genius, has not yet lived in, vain, for he has rendered into English +some very useful pieces, and if his translations are not elegant; they +are generally pretty just, and true to their original. + +Mr. Ozell is severely touched by Mr. Pope in the first book of the +Dunciad, on what account we cannot determine; perhaps that satyrist +has only introduced him to grace the train of his Dunces. Ozell was +incensed to the last degree by this usage, and in a paper called The +Weekly Medley, September 1729, he published the following strange +Advertisement[B]. 'As to my learning, this envious wretch knew, and +every body knows, that the whole bench of bishops, not long ago, were +pleased to give me a purse of guineas for discovering the erroneous +translations of the Common Prayer in Portugueze, Spanish, French, +Italian, &c. As for my genius, let Mr. Cleland shew better verses in +all Pope's works, than Ozell's version of Boileau's Lutrin, which the +late lord Hallifax was so well pleased with, that he complimented +him with leave to dedicate it to him, &c. &c. Let him shew better +and truer poetry in The Rape of the Lock, than in Ozell's Rape of the +Bucket, which, because an ingenious author happened to mention in the +same breath with Pope's, viz. + +'Let Ozell sing the Bucket, Pope the Lock, + +'the little gentleman had like to have run mad; and Mr. Toland and Mr. +Gildon publicly declared Ozell's Translation of Homer to be, as it was +prior, so likewise superior, to Pope's.----Surely, surely, every man +is free to deserve well of his country!' + +John Ozell. + + +This author died about the middle of October 1743, and was buried in +a vault of a church belonging to St. Mary Aldermanbury. He never +experienced any of the vicissitudes of fortune, which have been so +frequently the portion of his inspired brethren, for a person born in +the same county with him, and who owed particular obligations to his +family, left him a competent provision: besides, he had always enjoyed +good places. He was for some years auditor-general of the city and +Bridge accounts, and, to the time of his decease, auditor of the +accounts of St. Paul's Cathedral, and St. Thomas's Hospital. Though, +in reality, Ozell was a man of very little genius, yet Mr. Coxeter +asserts, that his conversation was surprizingly pleasing, and that he +had a pretty good knowledge of men and things. He possibly possessed +a large share of good nature, which, when joined with but a tolerable +understanding, will render the person, who is blessed with it, more +amiable, than the most flashy wit, and the highest genius without it. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + +[Footnote B: Notes on the Dunciad.] + + + + + +End of the Fourth Volume. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753), by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS V4 *** + +***** This file should be named 12014-8.txt or 12014-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/1/12014/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) + Vol. IV + +Author: Theophilus Cibber + +Release Date: April 14, 2004 [EBook #12014] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS V4 *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF + +THE + +POETS + +OF + +GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND. + + +By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. VOL. IV. + +MDCCLIII. VOLUME IV. + + +Contains the LIVES OF + + Motteux + Manley Mrs. + Needler + Hughes + Prior + Centlivre Mrs. + Brady + Stepney + Pack + Dawes Arch. York + Congreve + Vanbrugh + Steele + Marvel + Thomas Mrs. + Fenton + Booth + Sewel + Hammond + Eusden + Eachard + Oldmixon + Welsted + Smyth More + Dennis + Granville L. Lansdowne + Gay + Philip D. Wharton + Codrington + Ward + L'Estrange + Smith Edmund + De Foe + Rowe Mrs. + Yalden + Mitchel + Ozell + + * * * * * + +_Just Published,_ + +Dedicated to the Right Honourable PHILIP Earl of CHESTERFIELD. + +Correctly printed in a neat Pocket Volume (Price Bound Three +Shillings,) + +The Second Edition of + +LES MOEURS; or, MANNERS. Accurately Translated from the French. +Wherein the Principles of Morality, or Social Duties, viz. Piety, +Wisdom, Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, Temperance, Love, Friendship, +Humanity, &c. &c. are described in all their Branches; the Obligations +of them shewn to consist in our Nature, and the Enlargement of them +strongly enforc'd. Here Parents are taught, that, giving Birth to +a Child, scarcety entitles them to that honourable Name, without a +strict Discharge of Parental Duties; the Friend will find, there are a +thousand other Decorums, besides the doing of a Favour, to entitle him +to the tender Name of Friend; and the Good natur'd Man will find, +he ought to extend that Quality beyond the Bounds of his own +Neighbourhood or Party. + +The Whole wrote in a manner entirely New and Entertaining, and +enliven'd with real Characters, drawn from life, and fited to instill +the Principles of all Social Virtues into tender Minds. + +Printed for W. Johnston at the Golden-Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard. +THE LIVES OF THE POETS. + + * * * * * + + + + +PETER MOTTEAUX, + + +A French gentleman, born and educated at Rohan, in Normandy. He came +over into England, was a considerable trader, and resided here many +years. He is said to have possessed no inconsiderable share of wit, +and humour; and, besides a translation of Don Quixote, several Songs, +Prologues and Epilogues, together with a Poem on Tea, dedicated to +the Spectator, (see Vol. VII. Numb. 552) he is author of the following +dramatic pieces. + +1. Love's a Jest, a Comedy; acted at the new Theatre, in little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1696. In the two scenes, where love is made a +jest, some passages are taken from Italian writers. + +2. The Loves of Mars and Venus; a Masque set to Music, performed +at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1696; dedicated to colonel +Codrington. The story from Ovid. + +3. The Novelty, or every Act a Play; consisting of Pastoral, Comedy, +Masque, Tragedy, and Farce, after the Italian manner; acted at the +Theatre in little Lincoln's-Inn Fields 1697. + +The model of this play is formed upon Sir William Davenant's +Play-House to be let: But neither of them met with much success. + +4. Europe's Revels for the Peace, and his Majesty's Happy Return, a +Musical Interlude, performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, +1697. + +5. Beauty in Distress, a Tragedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1698. There is some poetry in this play; and in +the multiplicity of its incidents, he has followed the example of the +British Poets. Before this piece, there is prefixed a discourse on the +lawfulness or unlawfulness of plays; written originally in French, +by the learned father Cassaro, divinity professor at Paris; sent by a +friend to Mr. Motteaux. + +6. The Island Princess, or the Generous Portugueze; made into an +Opera, and performed at the Theatre-Royal 1701. The music by Mr. +Daniel Purcell, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Leveridge. The greatest part of the +play is taken from Fletcher's Island Princess. Scene the Spice Island. + +7. The Four Seasons, or Love in every Age; a musical Interlude, set to +Music by Mr. Jeremiah Clark; printed with the musical Entertainments +of the above Opera. 8. Britain's Happiness, a musical Interlude; +performed at both the Theatres, being part of the entertainment, +subscribed for by the nobility. Scene a prospect of Dover castle +and the sea. This Interlude was long before designed, only as an +introduction to an Opera; which if ever finished was to have been +called the Loves of Europe, every act shewing the manner of the +different nations in their addresses to the fair-sex; of which he has +informed us in his prefatory epistle. + +9. Thomyris Queen of Scythia, an Opera; translated from the Italian; +performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. + +10. The Temple of Love, a Pastoral Opera, from the Italian; performed +at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-market, by her majesty's servants, +1706. Scene Arcadia. Time of action, the same with that of the +representation. + +11. Love Dragoon'd, a Farce. + +This gentleman, who seems to have led a very comfortable life, his +circumstances being easy, was unfortunate in his death; for he lost +his life in a disorderly house, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, +not without suspicion of having been murthered; which accident +happened to him, on his birth day in the 58th year of his age, 1718. +His body was interred in his own parish church, being that of St. Mary +Ax, in the city of London. + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. MANLEY, + + +The celebrated authoress of the Atalantis, was born in Hampshire, in +one of those islands which formerly belonged to France, of which her +father Sir Roger Manley was governor; who afterwards enjoyed the same +post in other places in England. He was the second son of an ancient +family; the better part of his estate was ruined in the civil war by +his firm adherence to Charles I. He had not the satisfaction of +ever being taken notice of, nor was his loyalty acknowledged at the +restoration. The governor was a brave gallant man, of great honour and +integrity. + +He became a scholar in the midst of the camp, having left the +university at the age of sixteen, to follow the fortunes of Charles +I. His temper had too much of the Stoic in it to attend much to the +interest of his family. After a life spent in the civil and foreign +wars, he began to love ease and retirement, devoting himself to his +study, and the charge of his little post, without following the court; +his great virtue and modesty, debaring him from solliciting favours +from such persons as were then at the helm of affairs, his deserts +were buried, and forgotten. In this solitude he wrote several tracts +for his own amusement, particularly his Latin Commentaries of the +Civil Wars of England. He was likewise author of the first volume +of that admired work, the Turkish Spy. One Dr. Midgley, an ingenious +physician, related to the family by marriage, had the charge of +looking over his papers. Amongst them he found that manuscript, which +he reserved to his proper use, and by his own pen, and the assistance +of some others, continued the work till the eighth volume was +finished, without having the honesty to acknowledge the author of the +first. + +The governor likewise wrote the History of the Rebellion in England, +Scotland and Ireland; wherein the most material passages, battles, +sieges, policies, and stratagems of war, are impartially related +on both sides, from the year 1640, to the beheading of the duke of +Monmouth 1688, in three parts, printed in octavo, in the year 1691. + +His daughter, our authoress, received an education suitable to her +birth, and gave very early discoveries of a genius, not only above her +years, but much superior to what is usually to be found amongst her +own sex. She had the misfortune to lose her mother, while she was +yet an infant, a circumstance, which laid the foundation of many +calamities, which afterwards befell her. + +The brother of Sir Roger Manley, who was of principles very opposite +to his, joined with the Parliamentarian party; and after Charles I. +had suffered, he engaged with great zeal in the cause of those who +were for settling a new form of government, in which, however, they +were disappointed by the address of Cromwell, who found means +to transfer the government into his own hands, and in place of +instituting a republic, restored monarchy under another name, and +erected a tyranny as dangerous, perhaps, in its consequences, as +that which he had contributed to overthrow. During these heats and +divisions, Mr. Manley, who adhered to the most powerful party, was +fortunate enough to amass an estate, and purchased a title; but these, +upon the restoration, reverted back to the former possessor; so that +he was left with several small children unprovided for. The eldest of +these orphans, Sir Roger Manley took under his protection, bestowed +a very liberal education on him, and endeavoured to inspire his mind +with other principles, than those he had received from his father. +This young gentleman had very promising parts, but under the +appearance of an open simplicity, he concealed the most treacherous +hypocrisy. Sir Roger, who had a high opinion of his nephew's honour, +as well as of his great abilities, on his death-bed bequeathed to him +the care of our authoress, and her youngest sister. + +This man had from nature a very happy address, formed to win much upon +the hearts of unexperienced girls; and his two cousins respected him +greatly. He placed them at the house of an old, out-of-fashion aunt, +who had been a keen partizan of the royal cause during the civil wars; +she was full of the heroic stiffness of her own times, and would read +books of Chivalry, and Romances with her spectacles. + +This sort of conversation, much infected the mind of our poetess, +and fill'd her imagination with lovers, heroes, and princes; made +her think herself in an inchanted region, and that all the men who +approached her were knights errant. In a few years the old aunt died, +and left the two young ladies without any controul; which as soon as +their cousin Mr. Manley heard, he hasted into the country, to visit +them; appeared in deep mourning, as he said for the death of his wife; +upon which the young ladies congratulated him, as they knew his wife +was a woman of a most turbulent temper, and ill fitted to render the +conjugal life tolerable. + +This gentleman, who had seen a great deal of the world, and was +acquainted with all the artifices of seducing, lost no time in making +love to his cousin, who was no otherwise pleased with it, than as +it answered something to the character she had found in those books, +which had poisoned and deluded her dawning reason. Soon after these +protestations of love were made, the young lady fell into a fever, +which was like to prove fatal to her life. + +The lover and her sister never quitted the chamber for sixteen nights, +nor took any other repose than throwing themselves alternately upon a +little pallet in the same room. Having in her nature a great deal of +gratitude, and a very tender sense of benefits; she promised upon +her recovery to marry her guardian, which as soon as her health +was sufficiently restored, she performed in the presence of a maid +servant, her sister, and a gentleman who had married a relation. In a +word, she was married, possessed, and ruin'd. + +The husband of our poetess brought her to London, fixed her in a +remote quarter of it, forbad her to stir out of doors, or to receive +the visits of her sister, or any other relations, friends, or +acquaintance. This usage, she thought exceeding barbarous, and it +grieved her the more excessively, since she married him only because +she imagined he loved and doated on her to distraction; for as +his person was but ordinary, and his age disproportioned, being +twenty-years older than she, it could not be imagined that she was in +love with him.--She was very uneasy at being kept a prisoner; but +her husband's fondness and jealousy was made the pretence. She always +loved reading, to which she was now more than ever obliged, as so +much time lay upon her hands: Soon after she proved with child, and +so perpetually ill, that she implored her husband to let her enjoy the +company of her sister and friends. When he could have no relief from +her importunity (being assured that in seeing her relations, she must +discover his barbarous deceit) he thought it was best to be himself +the relator of his villany; he fell upon his knees before her, with so +much seeming confusion, distress and anguish, that she was at a loss +to know what could mould his stubborn heart to such contrition. At +last, with a thousand well counterfeited tears, and sighs, he stabb'd +her with the wounding relation of his wife's being still alive; and +with a hypocrite's pangs conjured her to have some mercy on a lost +man as he was, in an obstinate, inveterate passion, that had no +alternative but death, or possession. + +He urged, that could he have supported the pain of living without +her, he never would have made himself so great a villain; but when the +absolute question was, whether he should destroy himself, or betray +her, self-love had turned the ballance, though not without that +anguish to his soul, which had poisoned all his delights, and planted +daggers to stab his peace. That he had a thousand times started in +his sleep with guilty apprehensions; the form of her honoured father +perpetually haunting his troubled dreams, reproaching him as a traitor +to that trust which in his departing moments he had reposed in him; +representing to his tortured imagination the care he took of his +education, more like a father than an uncle, with which he had +rewarded him by effecting the perdition of his favourite daughter, who +was the lovely image of his benefactor. + +With this artful contrition he endeavoured to sooth his injured wife: +But what soothing could heal the wounds she had received? Horror! +amazement! sense of honour lost! the world's opinion! ten thousand +distresses crowded her distracted imagination, and she cast looks upon +the conscious traitor with horrible dismay! Her fortune was in his +hands, the greatest part of which was already lavished away in the +excesses of drinking and gaming. She was young, unacquainted with the +world; had never experienced necessity, and knew no arts of redressing +it; so that thus forlorn and distressed, to whom could she run for +refuge, even from want, and misery, but to the very traitor that had +undone her. She was acquainted with none that could or would espouse +her cause, a helpless, useless load of grief and melancholy! with +child! disgraced! her own relations either unable, or unwilling to +relieve her. + +Thus was she detained by unhappy circumstances, and his prevailing +arts to wear away three wretched years with him, in the same house, +though she most solemnly protests, and she has a right to be believed, +that no persuasion could ever again reconcile her to his impious arms. +Whenever she cast her eyes upon her son, it gave a mortal wound to her +peace: The circumstances of his birth glared full on her imagination; +she saw him, in future, upbraided with his father's treachery, and +his mother's misfortunes. Thus forsaken of all the world, in the +very morning of her life, when all things should have been gay, and +promising, she wore away three wretched years. Mean time her betrayer +had procured for himself a considerable employment; the duties of +which obliged him to go into the country where his first wife lived. +He took leave of his injured innocent, with much seeming tenderness; +and made the most sacred protestations, that he would not suffer her, +nor her child ever to want. + +He endeavoured to persuade her to accompany him into the country, and +to seduce, and quiet her conscience, shewed her a celebrated piece +written in defence of Polygamy, and Concubinage: When he was gone, +he soon relapsed into his former extravagances, forgot his promise +of providing for his child, and its mother; and inhumanly left them +a prey to indigence and oppression. The lady was only happy in being +released from the killing anguish, of every day having before her eyes +the object of her undoing. + +When she again came abroad into the world, she was looked upon with +cold indifference; that which had been her greatest misfortune, was +imputed to her as the most enormous guilt; and she was every +where sneered at, avoided, and despised. What pity is it, that an +unfortunate, as well as a false step, should damn a woman's fame! +In what respect was Mrs. Manley to blame? In what particular was she +guilty? to marry her cousin, who passionately professed love to her, +and who solemnly vowed himself a widower, could not be guilt; on +the other hand, it had prudence and gratitude for its basis. Her +continuing in the house with him after he had made the discovery, +cannot be guilt, for by doing so, she was prevented from being exposed +to such necessities as perhaps would have produced greater ruin. When +want and beggary stare a woman in the face, especially one accustomed +to the delicacies of life, then indeed is virtue in danger; and they +who escape must have more than human assistance. + +Our poetess now perceived, that together with her reputation, she had +lost all the esteem, that her conversation and abilities might have +else procured her; and she was reduced to the deplorable necessity of +associating with those whose fame was blasted by their indiscretion, +because the more sober and virtuous part of the sex did not care +to risk their own characters, by being in company with one so much +suspected, and against whom the appearance of guilt was too strong. + +Under this dilemma, it is difficult to point out any method of +behaviour, by which she would not be exposed to censure: If she had +still persisted in solitude, the ill-natured world would have imputed +to it a cause, which is not founded on virtue; besides, as the means +of support were now removed, by the perfidy of Mr. Manley, she must +have perished by this resolution. + +In this case, the reader will not be much surprized to find our +authoress, under the patronage of the duchess of Cleveland, a mistress +of king Charles the IId's, who was justly reckoned one of the most +celebrated beauties of that age. Mrs. Manley was paying a visit to +a lady of her grace's acquaintance, when she was introduced into the +favour of this royal courtezan; and as the duchess of Cleveland was +a woman of parts and genius, she could not but be charmed with the +sprightliness of her conversation. She was fond of new faces, and +immediately contracted the greatest intimacy with our poetess, and +gave her a general invitation to her table. The lady at whose house +the duchess became acquainted with Mrs. Manley, soon perceived her +indiscretion in bringing them together; for the love of novelty so far +prevailed on the duchess, that herself was immediately discarded, and +the affection formerly bestowed upon her, was lavished on Mrs. Manley. + +This procured our poetess an inveterate enemy; and the greatest blow +that was ever struck at her reputation, was by that woman, who had +been before her friend. She was not content to inform persons who +began to know and esteem Mrs. Manley, that her marriage was a +cheat; but even endeavoured to make the duchess jealous of her new +favourite's charms, in respect of Mr. Goodman the player, who at +that time had the honour of approaching her grace's person, with the +freedom of a gallant. + +As the duchess of Cleveland was a woman of a very fickle temper, +in six months time she began to be tired of Mrs. Manley. She was +quarrelsome, loquacious, fierce, excessively fond, or downright rude; +when she was disgusted with any person, she never failed to reproach +them, with all the bitterness of wit she was mistress of, with such +malice, and ill-nature, that she was hated, not only by all the world, +but by her own children and servants: The extremes of prodigality, +and covetousness, of love, and hatred, of dotage, and fondness, met +in her. A woman of this temper will be at no loss for the means of +effecting any one's ruin, and having now conceived an aversion to our +poetess, she was resolved to drive her from her house, with as much +reproach as possible; and accordingly gave out, that she had detected +Mrs. Manley in an intrigue with her own son, and as she did not care +to give encouragement to such amours, she thought proper to discharge +her. Whether or not there was any truth in this charge, it is +impossible for us to determine: But if Mrs. Manley's own word may be +taken, in such a case, she was perfectly innocent thereof. + +When our authoress was dismissed by the duchess, she was sollicited by +lieutenant-general Tidcomb, to pass some time with him at his country +seat; but she excused herself by telling him, she must be in love with +a man, before she could think of residing with him, which she could +not, without a violation of truth, profess for him. She told him her +love of solitude was improved, by her disgust of the world, and +since it was impossible for her to be public with reputation, she was +resolved to remain in it concealed. + +It was in this solitude she composed her first tragedy, which was much +more famous for the language, fire, and tenderness, than the conduct. +Mrs. Barry distinguished herself in it, and the author was often heard +to express great surprize, that a man of Mr. Betterton's grave sense, +and judgment, should think well enough of the productions of a young +woman, to bring it upon the stage, since she herself in a more mature +age could hardly bear to read it. But as the play succeeded, she +received such unbounded incense from admirers, that her apartment +was crowded with men of wit, and gaiety. There is a copy of verses +prefixed to her play, said to be written by a very great hand which +deserve notice. + + What! all our sex in one sad hour undone? + Lost are our arts, our learning, our renown + Since nature's tide of wit came rolling down. + Keen were your eyes we knew, and sure their darts; + Fire to our soul they send, and passion to our heart! + Needless was an addition to such arms, + When all mankind were vassals to your charms: + That hand but seen, gives wonder and desire, + Snow to the fight, but with its touches fire! + Who sees thy yielding Queen, and would not be + On any terms, the best, the happy he; + Entranc'd we fancy all is extasy. + Quote Ovid, now no more ye am'rous swains, + Delia, than Ovid has more moving strains. + Nature in her alone exceeds all art, + And nature sure does nearest touch the heart. + Oh! might I call the bright discoverer mine, + The whole fair sex unenvied I'd resign; + Give all my happy hours to Delia's charms, + She who by writing thus our wishes warms, + What worlds of love must circle in her arms? + +They who had a regard for Mrs. Manley could not but observe with +concern, that her conduct was such, as would soon issue in her ruin. +No language but flattery approached her ear; the Beaux told her, that +a woman of her wit, was not to be confined to the dull formalities of +her own sex, but had a right to assume the unreserved freedom of the +male, since all things were pardonable to a lady, who knew to give +laws to others, yet was not obliged to keep them herself. General +Tidcomb, who seems to have been her sincerest friend, took the +privilege of an old acquaintance to correct her ill taste, and the +wrong turn she gave her judgment, in admitting adulation from such +wretches, whose praise could reflect but little honour, and who would +be ready to boast of favours they never received, nor indeed ever +endeavoured to obtain. + +This salutary council was rejected; she told him, that she did not +think fit to reform a conduct, which she reckoned very innocent; +and still continued to receive the whispers of flatterers, 'till +experience taught her the folly of her behaviour, and she lived to +repent her indiscretion. + +Her virtue was now nodding, and she was ready to fall into the arms of +any gallant, like mellow fruit, without much trouble in the gathering. +Sir Thomas Skipwith, a character of gaiety of those times, and, who +it seems had theatrical connections, was recommended to her, as being +very able to promote her design in writing for the stage. This knight +was in the 50th year of his age, and in the 60th of his constitution, +when he was first introduced to her, and as he had been a long +practised gallant, he soon made addresses to her, and whether or no +this knight, who was more dangerous to a woman's reputation, than her +virtue, was favoured by her, the world was so much convinced of it, +that her character was now absolutely lost. Sir Thomas was a weak, +vain, conceited coxcomb, who delighted in boasting of his conquests +over women, and what was often owing to his fortune, and station in +life, he imputed to his address, and the elegance of his manner, of +both which he was totally destitute. He even published Mrs. Manley's +dishonour, and from that time our sprightly poetess was considered, by +the sober part of the sex, quite abandoned to all shame. + +When her affair with this superannuated knight was over, she soon +engaged in another intrigue, still more prejudicial to her character; +for it was with a married man, one Mr. Tilly, a gentleman of the Law; +with whom she lived a considerable time: while he underwent at +home many of those severe lectures, which the just provocation, and +jealousy of his wife taught her to read him. Mrs. Tilly at last died, +and our gallant was left at his freedom to marry the object of his +passion; but unluckily his finances were in such a situation, that he +was obliged to repair them by marrying a woman of fortune. This was a +cruel circumstance; for he really loved, and doated upon Mrs. Manley, +and had the felicity of a reciprocal passion. She agreed however, in +order to repair his fortune, that he should marry a rich young widow, +whom he soon won by the elegance of his address, while our authoress +retired into the country to spend her days in solitude and sorrow, and +bid an everlasting farewel to the pleasures of love and gallantry. +Mr. Tilly did not many years survive this reparation: his life was +rendered miserable at home by the jealousy of his young wife, who had +heard of his affair with Mrs. Manley; he lost his senses, and died in +a deplorable situation. + +During her retirement, our authoress, who had a most confirmed +aversion to the Whig ministry, wrote her Atalantis, which was meant as +a representation of the characters of some of those, who had effected +the Revolution. A warrant was granted from the secretary of state's +office, to seize the Printer and Publisher of these volumes. This +circumstance reduced the writer to a very troublesome dilemma; she +could not bear the thoughts that innocent people should suffer on her +account, and she judged it cruel to remain concealed, while they who +were only inferior instruments, were suffering for her. She consulted, +on this occasion, her best friend, general Tidcomb, who, after +rallying her for exposing people, who had never in particular injured +her, he advised her to go into France, and made her an offer of +his purse for that purpose. This advice she rejected, and came to +a determined resolution, that no person should ever suffer on her +account. The general asked her, how she should like to be confined in +Newgate? to which she answered, that she would rather lye in a prison, +after having discharged her conference, than riot in a palace under +its reproaches. The general upon this replied, that these things +sounded very heroic, but there was a great difference between real and +imaginary sufferings, 'that she had chosen to declare herself for the +Tories, a party, who never could keep their own, nor other people's +secrets, and were ever forgetful of such as served them; that the most +severe critics upon the Tory writings, were the Tories themselves, who +never considering the design, or honest intention of the author, would +examine the performance only, and that too with as much severity, +as they would an enemy's, and at the same time value themselves +upon being impartial against their friends. Then as to gratitude, +or generosity, the Tories did not approach to the Whigs, who never +suffered any man to go unrewarded, however dull, or insignificant, +provided he declared himself to be for them; whereas the Tories had no +general interest, and consequently no particular, each person refusing +to contribute towards the benefit of the whole; and if it should +happen, that she should perish, through want, in a Jail, they would +sooner condemn her folly, than pity her sufferings.' + +This did not deter our poetess from voluntarily preferring herself +before the Court of King's Bench, as the author of the Atalantis. + +When she was examined before the secretary (then lord Sunderland) +he was assiduous to know from whom she had got information of some +particulars, which they imagined were above her own intelligence. Her +defence was with much humility and sorrow, at the same time denying +that any persons were concerned with her, or that she had a farther +design than writing for her own amusement, and diversion in the +country, without intending particular reflexions, or characters; when +this was not believed, and the contrary urged against her by several +circumstances, she said, 'then it must be by inspiration, because +knowing her own innocence, she could account for it no other way.' The +secretary replied, 'that inspiration used to be upon a good account, +and her writings were stark naught.' She, with an air of penitence, +'acknowledged, that his lordship's observation might be true, but that +there were evil angels, as well as good, so that nevertheless what she +had wrote, might still be by inspiration.' + +In consequence of this examination, our authoress was close shut up +in a messenger's house, without being allowed pen, ink, and paper. +However her council sued out her Habeas Corpus at the King's-Bench +Bar, and she was admitted to bail. + +Whether those in power were ashamed to bring a woman to her trial, +for writing a few amorous trifles, or our laws were defective, as +was generally conjectured, because she had disguised her satire under +romantic names, and a feigned scene of action, she was discharged, +after several times exposing her in person, to cross the court before +the Bench of Judges, with her three attendants, the Printer, and two +Publishers. + +Not long after this a total change of the ministry ensued, +the statesmen to whom she had been obnoxious were removed, and +consequently all her fears upon that score dissipated; her native +gaiety, and good humour returned, and she again employed herself in +writing a tragedy for the stage, and resolved never more to deal in +politics, as being much out of the natural sphere of a woman, she was +persuaded it was folly in one in her station, to disoblige any party +by a pen, equally qualified to divert all. Being advanced to the +autumn of her charms, she conversed with the opposite sex, in a manner +very delicate, sensible, and agreeable, and when she felt that time +had left his impression upon her brow, she did not court praise and +flattery. The greatest genius's of the times conversed freely with +her, and gave her daily proofs of esteem, and friendship, except Sir +Richard Steele, with whom it seems she was at variance; and indeed Sir +Richard sufficiently exposed himself by his manner of taking revenge; +for he published to the world that it was his own fault he was not +happy with Mrs. Manley, for which omission he publickly, and gravely +asked her pardon. + +Those are the most material incidents in the life of our poetess; a +lady, who was born with high powers from nature, which were afterwards +cultivated by enjoying the brightest conversation; the early part of +her life was unfortunate, she fell a sacrifice to a seducer, who laid +the foundation for those errors she afterwards committed, and of those +sufferings she underwent; she had a high relish for the pleasures +of life; she was extremely susceptible of the passion of love, and +treated it with a peculiar vivacity. + +Her dramatic works are + +1. The Lover, or The Jealous Husband; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1696. +This play did not succeed in the representation. + +2. The Royal Mischief, a Tragedy; acted by his Majesty's Servants +in the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1696. This was exhibited with +general applause. + +3. Lucius, the First Christian King of Britain, a Tragedy; acted +at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane by his Majesty's Servants, and +dedicated to Sir Richard Steele. She has written several poems, and +we shall select, as a specimen, an Epistle to the Countess of Bristol, +which will shew how much she possessed the power of delicate numbers; +she has also in print a volume of Letters, the second edition of which +was published in 1713. She died July 11, 1724. + + To the Right Honourable the + Countess of BRISTOL. + + + Long had my mind, unknowing how to soar, + In humble prose been train'd, nor aim'd at more: + Near the fam'd sisters never durst aspire + To sound a verse, or touch the tuneful lyre. + 'Till Bristol's charms dissolv'd the native cold; + Bad me survey her eyes, and thence be bold. + Thee, lovely Bristol! thee! with pride I chuse, + The first, and only subject of my muse; + That durst transport me like the bird of Jove, + To face th' immortal source of light above! + Such are thy kindred beams-- + So blessings, with a bounteous hand they give, + So they create, and make creation live. + + When charming Felton, of a beauteous race, + Adorn'd in blooming youth, with ev'ry grace; + First saw the lovely Suffolk Swain her prize, + The noblest conquest of the brightest eyes! + How many wretched nymphs that union made, + What cold despair the warmest hearts invade! + What crouds of lovers, hopeless and undone, + Deplore those charms which brought their ruin on! + Rich in themselves--all excellence they find, + Wit! beauty! wisdom! and a constant mind! + No vain desires of change disturb their joy; + Such sweets, like bliss divine, can never cloy: + Fill'd with that spirit which great souls inflame, + Their wondrous offspring start to early fame. + In their young minds, immortal sparkles rise! + And all their mother flashes from their eyes! + From thence such scenes of beauty charm the sight, + We know not where o fix the strong delight! + Hervey's soft features--next, Eliza bright! + Anna just dawning, like Aurora's light! + With all the smiling train of Cupids round, + Fond little loves, with flowing graces crown'd. + + As some fair flowers, who all their bloom disclose, + The Spanish Jas'min, or the British Rose? + Arriv'd at full perfection, charm the sense, + Whilst the young blossoms gradual sweets dispense. + The eldest born, with almost equal pride; + The next appears in fainter colours dy'd: + New op'ning buds, as less in debt to time, + Wait to perform the promise of their prime! + All blest descendants of the beauteous tree, + What now their parent is, themselves shall be. + + Oh! could I paint the younger Hervey's mind, + Where wit and judgment, fire and taste refin'd + To match his face, with equal art are join'd: + Oh best belov'd of Jove! to thee alone, + What would enrich the whole, he gives to one! + + [A]In Titian's colours whilst Adonis glows, + See fairest Bristol more than Venus shows; + View well the valu'd piece, how nice each part; + Yet nature's hand surpasses Titian's art! + Such had his Venus and Adonis been, + The standard beauty had from thence been seen! + Whose arbitrary laws had fix'd the doom + To Hervey's form, and Bristol's ever bloom! + + [B]As once Kazeia, now Eliza warms + The kindred-fair bequeath'd her all her charms; + Such were her darts, so piercing and so strong, + Endow'd by Phoebus both, with tuneful song; + But far from thee Eliza be her doom; + Snatch'd hence by death, in all her beauty's bloom. + Long may'st thou live, adorning Bristol's name, + With future heroes to augment his fame. + + When haughty Niobe, with joy and pride, + Saw all her shining offspring grace her side; + She view'd their charms, exulting at each line, + And then oppos'd 'em to the race divine! + Enrag'd Latona urg'd the silver bow: + Immortal vengeance laid their beauties low. + No more a mother now--too much she mourn'd, + By grief incessant into marble turn'd. + + But lovely Bristol, with a pious mind, + Owns all her blessings are from Heav'n assign'd. + Her matchless Lord--her beauteous numerous race! + Her virtue, modesty, and ev'ry grace! + For these, devoutly, to the gods she bows, + And offers daily praise, and daily vows: + Phoebus, well-pleas'd, the sacrifice regards; + And thus the grateful mother's zeal rewards: + 'Beauty and wit, to all of Bristol's line! + But each in some peculiar grace shall shine! + Or to excel in courts, and please the fair! + Or Conquest gain thro' all the wat'ry war! + With harmony divine the ear to charm! + Or souls with more melodious numbers warm! + By wond'rous memory shall some excel + In awful senates, and in speaking well! + To hold Astraea's scales with equal hand, + And call back justice to that happy land! + To teach mankind how best the gods to praise! + To fix their minds in truth's unerring ways! + + 'Thus all her honours, Bristol's sons shall wear, + Whilst each his country's good shall make his chiefest care!' + + +[Footnote A: This is not designed as a parallel of the story, but the +painting from a piece of Titian's, at my lord Bristol's.] + +[Footnote B: A sister of lord Bristol's, who was a lady of most +extraordinary beauty.] + + * * * * * + + + + +HENRY NEEDLER, + + +This Poet was born at Harley in Surry, in the year 1690, and educated +at a private school at Ryegate in the same county[A]. He was removed +from thence in 1705, and in 1708 accepted a small place in a public +office; where he continued the remainder of his days. + +About this time contracting a friendship with a gentleman of a like +taste, who furnished him with proper books, he applied himself at +his intervals of leisure, to reading the dailies, and to the study +of logic, metaphysics, and the mathematics, with which last he was +peculiarly delighted. And in a few years by the force of his own happy +genius, and unwearied diligence, without the assistance of any master, +he acquired a considerable knowledge of the most difficult branches of +those useful and entertaining studies. + +By so close an application, he contracted a violent pain in his head, +which notwithstanding the best advice, daily encreased. This, and +other unfortunate circumstances concurring, so deeply affected him, +who had besides in his constitution a strong tincture of melancholy, +that he was at last brought under almost a total extinction of reason. +In this condition he fell into a fever; and as there were before +scarce any hopes of him, it may be said to have happily put an end to +the deplorable bondage of so bright a mind, on the 21st of December, +1718, in the 29th year of his age. He was buried in the church of +Friendsbury, near Rochester. + +Mr. Needler's life was influenced by the principles of sincere, +unaffected piety, and virtue. + +On all occasions (says Mr. Duncomb) 'he was a strenuous advocate for +universal toleration and forbearance in matters of religion; rightly +supposing that no service can be acceptable to the supreme Being, +unless it proceeds from the heart; and that force serves only to make +hypocrites, but adds no new lights to the understanding. He was +modest to a fault, entertaining the most humble opinion of his own +performances; and was always ready to do justice to those of others. +His affection for his friends indeed sometimes biassed his judgment, +and led him to the commending their writings beyond their merit.' + +In the volume of Mr. Needler's works, are printed some familiar +Letters, upon moral, and natural subjects. They are written with +elegance and taste; the heart of a good man may be traced in them +all, and equally abound with pious notions, as good sense, and +solid reasoning.--He seems to have been very much master of smooth +versification, his subjects are happily chosen, and there is a +philosophical air runs through all his writings; as an instance of +this, we shall present our readers with a copy of his verses addressed +to Sir Richard Blackmore, on his Poem, intitled The Creation. + + Dress'd in the charms of wit and fancy, long + The muse has pleas'd us with her syren song; + But weak of reason, and deprav'd of mind, + Too oft on vile, ignoble themes we find + The wanton muse her sacred art debase, + Forgetful of her birth, and heavenly race; + Too oft her flatt'ring songs to sin intice, + And in false colours deck delusive vice; + Too oft she condescends, in servile lays, + The undeserving rich and great to praise. + These beaten paths, thy loftier strains refuse + With just disdain, and nobler subjects chuse: + Fir'd with sublimer thoughts, thy daring soul + Wings her aspiring flight from Pole to Pole, + Observes the foot-steps of a pow'r divine, + Which in each part of nature's system shine; + Surveys the wonders of this beauteous frame, + And sings the sacred source, whence all things came. + + But Oh! what numbers shall I find to tell, + The mighty transports which my bosom swell, + Whilst, guided by thy tuneful voice, I stray + Thro' radiant worlds, and fields of native day, + Wasted from orb, to orb, unwearied fly + Thro' the blue regions of the yielding sky; + See how the spheres in stated courses roll, + And view the just composure of the whole! + + Such were the strains, by antient Orpheus sung. + To such, Mufaeus' heav'nly lyre was strung; + Exalted truths, in learned verse they told, + And nature's deepest secrets did unfold. + How at th' eternal mind's omnisic call, + Yon starry arch, and this terrestrial ball, + The briny wave, the blazing source of light, + And the wane empress of the silent night, + Each in it's order rose and took its place, + And filled with recent forms the vacant space; + How rolling planets trace their destin'd way, + Nor in the wastes of pathless AEther stray; + How the pale moon, with silver beams adorn + Her chearful orb, and gilds her sharpened horns; + How the vast ocean's swelling tides obey + Her distant reign, and own her watr'y sway; + How erring floods, their circling course maintain, + Supplied by constant succours from the main; + Whilst to the sea, the refluent streams restore, + The liquid treasures which she lent before; + What dreadful veil obscures the solar light, + And Phaebe's darken'd face conceals from mortal sight. + Thy learned muse, I with like pleasure hear + The wonders of the lesser world declare, + Point out the various marks of skill divine, + Which thro' its complicated structure mine, + In tuneful verse, the vital current trace, + Thro' all the windings of its mazy race, + And tell hew the rich purple tide bestows, + Vigour, and kindly warmth where e'er it flows; + By what contrivance of mechanic art + The muscles, motions to the limbs impart; + How at th' imperial mind's impulsive nod, + Th' obedient spirits thro' the nervous road + Find thro' their fib'rous cells the ready way, + And the high dictates of the will obey; + From how exact and delicate a frame, + The channeled bones their nimble action claim; + With how much depth, and subtility of thought + The curious organ of the eye is wrought; + How from the brain their root the nerves derive, + And sense to ev'ry distant member give. + + Th' extensive knowledge you of men enjoy, + You to a double use of man employ; + Nor to the body, is your skill confin'd, + Of error's worse disease you heal the mind. + No longer shall the hardy atheist praise + Lucretius' piercing wit, and philosophic lays; + But by your lines convinc'd, and charm'd at once, + His impious tenets shall at length renounce, + At length to truth and eloquence shall yield, + Confess himself subdu'd, and wisely quit the field. + + +[Footnote A: See his Life prefixed to his works, by William Duncomb +Esq;] + + * * * * * + + + + +JOHN HUGHES, + + +William Duncomb, esq; has obliged the world with an entire edition of +this author's poetical and prose works, to which he has prefixed +some account of his life, written with candour and spirit. Upon his +authority we chiefly build the following narration; in which we shall +endeavour to do as much justice as possible to the memory of this +excellent poet. + +Our author was the son of a worthy citizen of London, and born at +Marlborough in the county of Wilts, on the 29th of January 1677; but +received the rudiments of his learning at private schools in London. + +In the earliest years of his youth, he applied himself with ardour to +the pursuit of the sister arts, poetry, drawing and music, in each of +which by turns, he made a considerable progress; but for the most part +pursued these and other polite studies, only as agreeable amusements, +under frequent confinement from indisposition, and a valetudinary +state of health. He had some time an employment in the office of +ordinance; and was secretary to two or three commissioners under the +great-seal, for purchasing lands for the better securing the docks and +harbours at Portsmouth, Chatham, and Harwich. + +In the year 1717 the lord chancellor Cowper, (to whom Mr. Hughes +was then but lately known) was pleased, without any previous +sollicitation, to make him his secretary for the commissions of the +peace, and to distinguish him with singular marks of his favour and +affection: And upon his lordship's laying down the great-seal, he was +at his particular recommendation, and with the ready concurrence of +his successor, continued in the same employment under the earl of +Macclesfield. + +He held this place to the time of his decease, which happened on the +17th of February 1719, the very night in which his tragedy, entitled +the Siege of Damascus, was first acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane. + +He was cut off by a consumption, after a painful life, at the age of +42, when he had just arrived at an agreeable competence, and advancing +in fame and fortune. So just is the beautiful reflexion of Milton in +his Lycidas; + + Fame is the spur, that the clear spirit doth raise, + (That last infirmity of noble mind) + To scorn delights, and live laborious days; + But the fair guerdon, when we hops to find, + And think to burst out into sudden blaze, + Comes the blind fury with th' abhorred shears, + And slits the thin-spun life.-- + +He was privately buried in the vault under the chancel of St. Andrew's +Church in Holborn. Mr. Hughes, as a testimony of gratitude to his +noble friend, and generous patron, earl Cowper, gave his lordship a +few weeks before he died, his picture drawn by Sir Godfrey Kneller, +which he himself had received from that masterly painter. The value +lord Cowper set upon it will be best shewn, by the letter he wrote +upon this occasion to Mr. Hughes. As such a testimony from so eminent +a person, was considered by himself as one of the highest honours he +was capable of receiving, we shall therefore insert it. + +24th Jan. 1719-20. + +'Sir, + +'I thank you for the most acceptable present of your picture, and +assure you that none of this age can set a higher value on it than I +do, and shall while I live, tho' I am sensible posterity will out-do +me in that particular.' + +I am with the greatest esteem, and sincerity + +Your most affectionate, and oblig'd humble servant + +COWPER. + +Mr. Hughes was happy in the acquaintance and friendship of several of +the greatest men, and most distinguished genius's of the age in which +he lived; particularly of the nobleman just now mentioned, the present +lord bishop of Winchester, lord chief baron Gilbert, Sir Godfrey +Kneller, Mr. Congreve, Mr. Addison, Sir Richard Steele, Mr. Southern, +Mr. Rowe, &c. and might have justly boasted in the words of Horace + + ----me + Cum magnis vixisse, invita fatebitu usque + Invidia.---- + +Having given this short account of his life, which perhaps is all +that is preserved any where concerning him; we shall now consider him, +first, as a poet, and then as a prose writer. + +The Triumph of Peace was the earliest poem he wrote of any length, +that appeared in public. It was written on occasion of the peace +of Ryswick, and printed in the year 1677. A learned gentleman at +Cambridge, in a letter to a friend of Mr. Hughes's, dated the 28th +of February 1697-8, gives the following account of the favourable +reception this poem met with there, upon its first publication. + +'I think I never heard a poem read with so much admiration, as the +Triumph of Peace was by our best critics here, nor a greater character +given to a young poet, at his first appearing; no, not even to Mr. +Congreve himself. So nobly elevated are his thoughts, his numbers so +harmonious, and his turns so fine and delicate, that we cry out with +Tully, on a like occasion, + + 'Nostrae spes altera Romae!' + +The Court of Neptune, was written on king William's return from +Holland, two years after the peace, in 1699. This Poem was admired +for the verification, however, the musical flow of the numbers is its +least praise; it rather deserves to be valued for the propriety, and +boldness of the figures and metaphors, and the machinery. + +The following lines have been justly quoted as an instance of the +author's happy choice of metaphors. + + As when the golden god, who rules the day, + Drives down his flaming chariot to the sea, + And leaves the nations here, involved in night, + To distant regions he transports his light; + So William's rays by turns, two rations cheer, + And when he sets to them, he rises here. + +A friend of Mr. Hughes's soon after the publication of this poem, +complimented him upon the choice of his subject, and for the moral +sentiments contained in it. 'I am sure (says he) virtue is most for +the interest of mankind; and those poets have ever obtained the most +honour in the world, who have made that the end and design of their +works. A wanton Sappho, or Anacreon, among the ancients, never had the +same applause, as a Pindar, or Alexis; nor in the judgment of Horace +did they deserve it. In the opinion of all posterity, a lewd and +debauch'd Ovid, did justly submit to the worth of a Virgil; and, in +future ages, a Dryden will never be compared to Milton. In all times, +and in all places of the world, the moral poets have been ever the +greatest; and as much superior to others in wit, as in virtue. Nor +does this seem difficult to be accounted for, since the dignity of +their subjects naturally raised their ideas, and gave a grandeur to +their sentiments.' + +The House of Nassau, a Pindaric Ode (printed in 1702) was occasioned +by the death of king William. 'In Pindaric and Lyric Poetry (says +Mr. Duncomb) our author's genius shines in its full lustre. Tho' he +enjoyed all that fire of imagination, and divine enthusiasm, for which +some of the ancient poets are so deservedly admired, yet did his fancy +never run away with his reason, but was always guided by superior +judgment; and the music of his verse is exquisite.' + +The Translation of the third Ode of the third Book of Horace, and +the Paraphrase of the twenty-second Ode, of the first book, were both +written when he was very young; and the latter of them was his first +poetical Essay, which appeared in print. Mr. Hughes, in a private +letter sent to one of his friends, gives it as his opinion, that the +Odes of Horace, are fitter to be paraphrased, than translated. + +The Tenth Book of Lucan, was translated by Mr. Hughes, long before Mr. +Rowe undertook that author. The occasion of it was this: Mr. Tonson +the bookseller, sollicited a translation of Lucan, by several hands. +Mr. Hughes performed his part, but others failing in their promises, +the design was dropp'd; and Mr. Rowe was afterwards prevailed upon to +undertake the whole, which he performed with great success. + +In the year 1709 Mr. Hughes obliged the publick, with an elegant +translation of Moliere's celebrated Comedy, the Misantrope. This has +been since reprinted, with the other plays of that admirable author, +translated by Mr. Ozell; but care is taken to distinguish this +particular play. + +In the year 1712 his Opera of Calypso and Telemachus, was performed at +the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market. Perhaps it may be worth while +to mention here, one circumstance concerning this Opera, as it relates +to the History of Music in England, and discovers the great partiality +shewn at that time to Opera's performed in Italian. After many such +had been encouraged by large subscriptions, this, originally written, +and set in English, after the Italian manner, was prepared with the +usual expence of scenes and decorations; and being much crowded and +applauded at the rehearsals, a subscription was obtained for it as +usual. + +This alarmed the whole Italian band, who, apprehending that their +profession would suffer thereby, procured an order from the duke of +Shrewsbury, then lord chamberlain, the day before the performing of +this Opera, to take off the subscription for it, and to open the house +at the lowest prices, or not at all. This was designed to sink it, but +failed of its end. It was performed, formed, though under such +great discouragement; and was revived afterwards at the theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Mr. Addison, in the Spectator, Numb. 405, +speaking of the just applause given this opera, by Signior Nicolini +(who he says was the greatest performer in dramatic music, that +perhaps ever appeared upon a stage) has these words, + +'The town is highly obliged to that excellent artist, for having shewn +us the Italian music in its perfection, as well as for that generous +approbation he gave to an Opera of our own country, in which Mr. +Galliard the composer endeavoured to do justice to the beauty of the +words, by following that noble example which has been set him by the +greatest foreign masters of that art.' + +The Ode to the Creator of the World, occasioned by the fragments of +Orpheus, was printed in the year 1713, at the particular instance of +Mr. Addison; and is mentioned with applause in the Spectator. This, +and the Extasy, (published since the death of the author) are justly +esteemed two of the noblest Odes in our language. The seventh Stanza +of the last mentioned piece, is so sublimely excellent, that it would +be denying ourselves, and our poetical readers, a pleasure not to +transcribe it. The whole of this Ode is beautifully heightened, and +poetically conceived. It furnished a hint to a living Poet to write +what he entitles the Excursion, which tho' it has very great merit, +yet falls infinitely short of this animated Ode of Mr. Hughes. + +After having represented the natural and artificial calamities to +which man is doomed, he proceeds, + + But why do I delay my flight? + Or on such gloomy objects gaze? + I go to realms serene, with ever-living light. + Haste, clouds and whirlwinds, haste a raptured bard to raise; + Mount me sublime along the shining way, + Where planets, in pure streams of Aether driven, + Swim thro' the blue expanse of heav'n. + And lo! th' obsequious clouds and winds obey! + And lo! again the nations downward fly; + And wide-stretch'd kingdoms perish from my eye. + Heav'n! what bright visions now arise! + What op'ning worlds my ravish'd sense surprize! + I pass Cerulian gulphs, and now behold + New solid globes; their weight self-ballanc'd, bear + Unprop'd amidst the fluid air, + And all, around the central Sun, incircling eddies roll'd. + Unequal in their course, see they advance + And form the planetary dance! + Here the pale Moon, whom the same laws ordain + T' obey the earth, and rule the main; + Here spots no more in shadowy streaks appear; + But lakes instead, and groves of trees, + The wand'ring muse, transported sees, + And their tall heads discover'd mountains rear. + And now once more, I downward cast my sight, + When lo! the earth, a larger moon displays, + Far off, amidst the heav'ns, her silver face, + And to her sister moons by turns gives light! + Her seas are shadowy spots, her land a milky white. + +The author of an Essay on Criticism, printed in the year 1728, informs +us, that the Tragedy of Cato being brought upon the stage in 1713 was +owing to Mr. Hughes. The circumstances recorded by this author are so +remarkable, that they deserve to be related; and as they serve to shew +the high opinion Mr. Addison entertained of our author's abilities as +a Poet, I shall therefore transcribe his own words.-- + +'It has been often said by good judges, that Cato was no proper +subject for a dramatic poem: That the character of a stoic +philosopher, is inconsistent with the hurry and tumult of action, +and passions which are the soul of tragedy. That the ingenious author +miscarried in the plan of his work, but supported it by the dignity, +the purity, the beauty, and justness of the sentiments. This was so +much the opinion of Mr. Maynwaring, who was generally allowed to be +the best critic of our time; that he was against bringing the play +upon the stage, and it lay by unfinished many years. That it was +play'd at last was owing to Mr. Hughes. He had read the four acts +which were finished, and really thought it would be of service to +the public, to have it represented at the latter end of queen +Anne's reign, when the spirit of liberty was likely to be lost. He +endeavoured to bring Mr. Addison into his opinion, which he did, and +consented it should be acted if Mr. Hughes would write the last act; +and he offered him the scenery for his assistance, excusing his +not finishing it himself, upon account of some other avocations. He +press'd Mr. Hughes to do it so earnestly, that he was prevailed upon, +and set about it. But, a week after, seeing Mr. Addison again, with +an intention to communicate to him what he thought of it, he was +agreeably surprized at his producing some papers, where near half of +the act was written by the author himself, who took fire at the hint, +that it would be serviceable; and, upon a second reflexion, went +through with the fifth act, not that he was diffident of Mr. Hughes's +abilities; but knowing that no man could have so perfect a notion of +his design as himself, who had been so long, and so carefully thinking +of it. I was told this by Mr. Hughes, and I tell it to shew, that it +was not for the love-scenes, that Mr. Addison consented to have his +Tragedy acted, but to support public spirit; which in the opinion of +the author was then declining.' + +In the year 1720 the Siege of Damascus was acted at the Theatre-Royal +in Drury-Lane, with universal applause. His present majesty honoured +it with his presence, and the late queen distinguished it with marks +of favour. + +Mr. Hughes drew up the dedication of this Tragedy to the late Earl +Cowper, about ten days before he died. It is indeed surprising, that +he should be able to form a piece so finely turned, and at such +an hour; when death was just before him, and he was too weak to +transcribe it himself. + +Mr. Pope, in a letter to Mr. Hughes's brother, written soon after his +death, in answer to one received from him, with the printed copy of +the play, has the following pathetic passage. + +'I read over again your brother's play, with more concern and sorrow, +than I ever felt in the reading any Tragedy. The real loss of a good +man may be called a distress to the world, and ought to affect us +more, than any feigned distress, how well drawn soever. I am glad +of an occasion of giving you under my hand this testimony, both how +excellent I think this work to be, and how excellent I thought the +author.' + +It is generally allowed that the characters in this play are finely +varied and distinguished; that the sentiments are just, and +well adapted to the characters; that it abounds with beautiful +descriptions, apt allusions to the manners, and opinions of the times +where the scene is laid, and with noble morals; that the diction is +pure, unaffected, and sublime; and that the plot is conducted in a +simple and clear manner. + +Some critics have objected, that there is not a sufficient ground +and foundation, for the distress in the fourth and fifth acts. That +Phocyas only assists the enemy to take Damascus a few days sooner, +than it must unavoidably have fallen into the hands of the Saracens +by a capitulation, which was far from dishonourable. If Phocyas is +guilty, his guilt must consist in this only, that he performed the +same action from a sense of his own wrong, and to preserve the idol +of his soul from violation, and death, which he might have performed +laudably, upon better principles. But this (say they) seems not +sufficient ground for those strong and stinging reproaches he casts +upon himself, nor for Eudocia's rejecting him with so much severity. +It would have been a better ground of distress, considering the +frailty of human nature, and the violent temptations he lay under; if +he had been at last prevailed upon to profess himself a Mahometan: For +then his remorse, and self-condemnation, would have been natural, his +punishment just, and the character of Eudocia placed in a more amiable +light. In answer to these objections, and in order to do justice to +the judgment of Mr. Hughes, we must observe, that he formed his play +according to the plan here recommended: but, over-persuaded by some +friends, he altered it as it now stands. + +When our author was but in the nineteenth year of his age, he wrote +a Tragedy, entitled, Amalasont Queen of the Goths, which displays +a fertile genius, and a masterly invention. Besides these poetical +productions Mr. Hughes is author of several works in prose, +particularly, The Advices from Parnassus, and the Poetical Touchstone +of Trajano Boccalini, translated by several hands, were printed +in folio 1706. This translation was revised and corrected, and the +preface to it was written by Mr. Hughes. + +Fontenelle's Dialogues of the Dead, translated by our author; with two +original Dialogues, published in the year 1708. The greatest part of +this had lain by him for six years. + +Fontenelle's Discourse concerning the ancients, and moderns, are +printed with his conversations with a Lady, on the Plurality of +Worlds, translated by Glanville. + +The History of the Revolutions in Portugal, written in French, by +Monsieur L'Abbe de Vertot, was translated by Mr. Hughes. + +The Translation of the Letters of Abelard and Heloise, was done by Mr. +Hughes; upon which Mr. Pope has built his beautiful Epistle of Heloise +to Abelard. + +As Mr. Hughes was an occasional contributor to the Tatler, Spectator, +and Guardian, the reader perhaps may be curious to know more +particularly what share he had in those papers, which are so justly +admired in all places in the world, where taste and genius have +visited. As it is the highest honour to have had any concern in +works like these, so it would be most injurious to the memory of this +excellent genius, not to particularize his share in them. + +In the Tatler he writ, + + Vol. II. Numb. 64. A Letter signed Josiah Couplet. + Numb. 73. A Letter against Gamesters, + signed William Trusty. + +Mr. Tickell alludes to this Letter, in a Copy of Verses addressed to +the Spectator, Vol. VII. No. 532. + + From Felon Gamesters, the raw squire is free, + And Briton owes her rescued oaks to thee. + + Numb. 113. The Inventory of a Beau. + + In the Spectator. + + Vol. I. Numb. 33. A Letter on the Art of improving + beauty. + Numb. 53. A Second Letter on the same + subject. + Numb. 66. Two Letters concerning fine + breeding. + + Vol. II. Numb. 91. The History of Honoria, or + the Rival Mother. + Numb. 104. A Letter on Riding-Habits for + Ladies. + Numb. 141. Remarks on a Comedy, intitled + the Lancashire-Witches. + + Vol. III. Numb. 210. On the immortality of the + Soul. + Numb. 220. A Letter concerning expedients + for Wit. + Numb. 230. All, except the last Letter. + Numb. 231. A Letter on the awe of appearing + before public assemblies. + Numb. 237. On Divine Providence. + + Vol. IV. Numb. 252. A Letter on the Eloquence of + Tears, and fainting fits. + Numb. 302. The Character of Emilia. + Numb. 311. A Letter from the Father of + a great Fortune. + + Vol. V. Numb. 57. A Picture of Virtue in Distress. + Vol. VII. Numb. 525. On Conjugal Love. + Numb. 537. On the Dignity of Human + Nature. + Numb. 541. Rules for Pronunciation and + Action, chiefly collected from Cicero. + +Vol. VII. Numb. 554. On the Improvement of the Genius, illustrated +in the characters of Lord Bacon, Mr. Boyle, Sir Isaac Newton, and +Leonardo da Vinci.--We have not been able to learn, what papers in +the Guardian were written by him, besides Number 37, Vol. I. which +contains Remarks on the Tragedy of Othello. + +In the year 1715 Mr. Hughes published a very accurate edition of the +works of our famous poet Edmund Spenser, in six volumes, 12mo. to +this edition are prefixed the Life of Spenser; an Essay on Allegorical +poetry; Remarks on the Fairy Queen; on the Shepherd's Calendar, and +other writings of Spenser; and a Glossary explaining the Old and +obsolete Words. + +In 1718 he published a piece called Charon, or The Ferry-Boat, a +Vision. This, and Mr. Walsh's AEsculapius, or Hospital of Fools, are +perhaps two of the finest dialogues we have in English, as well as the +most lively imitations of Lucian. + +Sir Richard Steele, in a paper called The Theatre, No. 15. has paid a +tribute to the memory of Mr. Hughes, with which as it illustrates his +amiable character, we shall conclude his life. + +'I last night (says he) saw the Siege of Damascus, and had the +mortification to hear this evening that Mr. Hughes, the author of it, +departed this life within some few hours after his play was acted, +with universal applause. This melancholy circumstance recalled into +my thought a speech in the tragedy, which very much affected the +whole audience, and was attended to with the greatest, and most solemn +instance of approbation, and awful silence.' The incidents of the +play plunge a heroic character into the last extremity; and he is +admonished by a tyrant commander to expect no mercy, unless he changes +the Christian religion for the Mahometan. The words with which the +Turkish general makes his exit from his prisoner are, + + Farewel, and think of death. + +Upon which the captive breaks into the following soliloquy, + + Farewel! and think of death!--was it not so? + Do murtherers then, preach morality? + But how to think of what the living know not, + And the dead cannot, or else may not tell! + What art thou? O thou great mysterious terror! + The way to thee, we know; diseases, famine, + Sword, fire, and all thy ever open gates, + That day and night stand ready to receive us. + But what, beyond them? who will draw that veil? + Yet death's not there.----No, 'tis a point of time; + The verge 'twixt mortal, and immortal Being. + It mocks our thought----On this side all is life; + And when we've reach'd it, in that very instant, + 'Tis past the thinking of----O if it be + The pangs, the throes, the agonizing struggle, + When soul and body part, sure I have felt it! + And there's no more to fear. + +'The gentleman (continues Sir Richard) to whose memory I devote this +paper, may be the emulation of more persons of different talents, +than any one I have ever known. His head, hand, or heart, was always +employed in something worthy imitation; his pencil, his bow (string) +or his pen, each of which he used in a masterly manner, were always +directed to raise, and entertain his own mind, or that of others, to a +more chearful prosecution of what is noble and virtuous. Peace be with +thy remains, thou amiable spirit! but I talk in the language of our +weakness, that is flown to the regions of immortality, and relieved +from the aking engine and painful instrument of anguish and sorrow, +in which for many tedious years he panted with a lively hope for his +present condition.' We shall consign the trunk, in which he was so +long imprisoned, to common earth, with all that is due to the merit of +its inhabitant[A]. + +[Footnote A: There are several copies of verses written to the memory +of Mr. Hughes, prefixed to Mr. Duncomb's edition of his poems, of +which one by a lady who has withheld her name, deserves particular +distinction.] + + * * * * * + + + + +MATTHEW PRIOR, Esq; + + +This celebrated poet was the son of Mr. George Prior, citizen of +London, who was by profession a Joiner. Our author was born in 1664. +His father dying when he was very young, left him to the care of an +uncle, a Vintner near Charing-Cross, who discharged the trust that was +reposed in him, with a tenderness truly paternal, as Mr. Prior always +acknowledged with the highest professions of gratitude. He received +part of his education at Westminster school, where he distinguished +himself to great advantage, but was afterwards taken home by his +uncle in order to be bred up to his trade. Notwithstanding this mean +employment, to which Mr. Prior seemed now doomed, yet at his leisure +hours he prosecuted his study of the classics, and especially his +favourite Horace, by which means he was soon taken notice of, by the +polite company, who resorted to his uncle's house. It happened one +day, that the earl of Dorset being at his Tavern, which he often +frequented with several gentlemen of rank, the discourse turned upon +the Odes of Horace; and the company being divided in their sentiments +about a passage in that poet, one of the gentlemen said, I find we are +not like to agree in our criticisms, but, if I am not mistaken, there +is a young fellow in the house, who is able to set us all right: upon +which he named Prior, who was immediately sent for, and desired to +give his opinion of Horace's meaning in the Ode under consideration; +this he did with great modesty, and so much to the satisfaction of +the company, that the earl of Dorset, from that moment, determined to +remove him from the station in which he was, to one more suited to his +genius; and accordingly procured him to be sent to St. John's College +in Cambridge, where he took his degree in 1686, and afterwards became +fellow of the College. + +During his residence in the university, he contracted an intimate +friendship with Charles Montague, esq; afterwards earl of Hallifax, +in conjunction with whom he wrote a very humorous piece, entitled The +Hind and Panther transversed to the story of the Country Mouse, and +the City Mouse, printed 1687 in 4to. in answer to Mr. Dryden's Hind +and the Panther, published the year before. + +Upon the revolution Mr. Prior was brought to court by his great patron +the earl of Dorset, by whose interest he was introduced to public +employment, and in the year 1690 was made secretary to the earl +of Berkley, plenipotentiary to King William and Queen Mary at the +Congress at the Hague. + +In this station he acquitted himself so well, that he was afterwards +appointed secretary to the earls of Pembroke, and Jersey, and Sir +Joseph Williamson, ambassadors, and plenipotentiaries, at the treaty +of Ryswick 1697, as he was likewise in 1698 to the earl of Portland, +ambassador to the court of France. While he was in that kingdom, one +of the officers of the French King's houshold, shewing him the royal +apartments, and curiosities at Versailles, especially the paintings of +Le Brun, wherein the victories of Lewis XIV. are described, asked him, +whether King William's actions are to be seen in his palace? 'No Sir, +replied Mr. Prior, the monuments of my master's actions are to be seen +every where, but in his own house.' + +In the year 1697 Mr. Prior was made secretary of state for Ireland, +and in 1700 was created master of arts by Mandamus, and appointed +one of the lords commissioners of trade and plantations, upon the +resignation of Mr. Locke. He was also Member of Parliament for +East-Grimstead in Sussex. In 1710 he was supposed to have had a share +in writing the Examiner, and particularly a Criticism in it upon a +Poem of Dr. Garth to the earl of Godolphin, taken notice of in the +life of Garth. + +About this time, when Godolphin was defeated by Oxford, and the Tories +who had long been eclipsed by the lustre of Marlborough, began again +to hold up their heads, Mr. Prior and Dr. Garth espoused opposite +interests; Mr. Prior wrote for, and Garth against the court. The Dr. +was so far honest, that he did not desert his patron in distress; and +notwithstanding the cloud which then hung upon the party, he addressed +verses to him, which, however they may fail in the poetry, bear strong +the marks of gratitude, and honour. + +While Mr. Prior was thus very early initiated in public business, and +continued in the hurry of affairs for many years, it must appear not +a little surprizing, that he should find sufficient opportunities to +cultivate his poetical talents, to the amazing heights he raised them. +In his preface to his poems, he says, that poetry was only the product +of his leisure hours; that he had commonly business enough upon his +hands, and, as he modestly adds, was only a poet by accident; but we +must take the liberty of differing from him in the last particular, +for Mr. Prior seems to have received from the muses, at his nativity, +all the graces they could well bestow on their greatest favourite. + +We must not omit one instance in Mr. Prior's conduct, which will +appear very remarkable: he was chosen a member of that Parliament +which impeached the Partition Treaty, to which he himself had been +secretary; and though his share in that transaction was consequently +very considerable, yet he joined in the impeachment upon an honest +principle of conviction, that exceptionable measures attended it. + +The lord Bolingbroke, who, notwithstanding many exceptions made both +to his conduct, and sentiments in other instances, yet must be allowed +to be an accomplished judge of fine talents, entertained the highest +esteem for Mr. Prior, on account of his shining abilities. This noble +lord, in a letter dated September 10, 1712, addressed to Mr. Prior, +while he was the Queen's minister, and plenipotentiary at the court of +France, pays him the following compliment; 'For God's sake, Matt. hide +the nakedness of thy country, and give the best turn thy fertile brain +will furnish thee with, to the blunders of thy countrymen, who are not +much better politicians, than the French are poets.' His lordship thus +concludes his epistle; 'It is near three o'clock in the morning, I +have been hard at work all day, and am not yet enough recovered to +bear much fatigue; excuse therefore the confusedness of this scroll, +which is only from Harry to Matt, and not from the secretary to the +minister. Adieu, my pen is ready to drop out of my hand, it being now +three o'clock in the morning; believe that no man loves you better, or +is more faithfully yours, &c. + +'BOLINGBROKE.' + +There are several other letters from Bolingbroke to Prior, which, were +it necessary, we might insert as evidences of his esteem for him; but +Mr. Prior was in every respect so great a man, that the esteem even of +lord Bolingbroke cannot add much to the lustre of his reputation, +both as a statesman, and a poet. Mr. Prior is represented by those who +knew, and have wrote concerning him, as a gentleman, who united the +elegance and politeness of a court, with the scholar, and the man of +genius. This representation, in general, may be just, yet it holds +almost invariably true, that they who have risen from low life, still +retain some traces of their original. No cultivation, no genius, it +seems, is able entirely to surmount this: There was one particular in +which Mr. Prior verified the old proverb. + +The same woman who could charm the waiter in a tavern, still +maintained her dominion over the embassador at France. The Chloe of +Prior, it seems, was a woman in this station of life; but he never +forsook her in the heighth of his reputation. Hence we may observe, +that associations with women are the most lasting of all, and +that when an eminent station raises a man above many other acts of +condescension, a mistress will maintain her influence, charm away the +pride of greatness, and make the hero who fights, and the patriot +who speaks, for the liberty of his country, a slave to her. One would +imagine however, that this woman, who was a Butcher's wife, must +either have been very handsome, or have had something about her +superior to people of her rank: but it seems the case was otherwise, +and no better reason can be given for Mr. Prior's attachment to her, +but that she was his taste. Her husband suffered their intrigue to go +on unmolested; for he was proud even of such a connexion as this, with +so great a man as Prior; a singular instance of good nature. + +In the year 1715 Mr. Prior was recalled from France, and upon his +arrival was taken up by a warrant from the House of Commons; shortly +after which, he underwent a very strict examination by a Committee of +the Privy Council. His political friend, lord Bolingbroke, foreseeing +a storm, took shelter in France, and secured Harry, but left poor +Matt. in the lurch. + +On the 10th of June Robert Walpole, esq; moved the House against +him, and on the 17th Mr. Prior was ordered into close custody, and no +person was admitted to see him without leave from the Speaker. For +the particulars of this procedure of the Parliament, both against Mr. +Prior, and many others concerned in the public transactions of the +preceding reign, we refer to the histories of that time. In the year +1717 an Act of Grace was passed in favour of those who had opposed +the Hanoverian succession, as well as those who had been in open +rebellion, but Mr. Prior was excepted out of it. At the close of this +year, however, he was discharged from his confinement, and retired to +spend the residue of his days at Downhall in Essex. + +The severe usage which Mr. Prior met with, perhaps was the occasion of +the following beautiful lines, addressed to his Chloe; + + From public noise, and factious strife, + From all the busy ills of life, + Take me, my Chloe, to thy breast; + And lull my wearied soul to rest: + For ever, in this humble cell, + Let thee and I, my fair one, dwell; + None enter else, but Love----and he + Shall bar the door, and keep the key. + + To painted roofs, and shining spires + (Uneasy feats of high desires) + Let the unthinking many croud, + That dare be covetous, and proud; + In golden bondage let them wait, + And barter happiness for state: + But oh! my Chloe when thy swain + Desires to see a court again; + May Heav'n around his destin'd head + The choicest of his curses shed, + To sum up all the rage of fate. + In the two things I dread, and hate, + May'st thou be false, and I be great. + +In July 1721, within two months of his death, Mr. Prior published the +following beautiful little tale on the falshood of mankind, entitled +The Conversation, and applied it to the truth, honour, and justice of +his grace the duke of Dorset. + + The CONVERSATION. A Tale. + + + It always has been thought discreet + To know the company you meet; + And sure, there may be secret danger + In talking much before a stranger. + Agreed: what then? then drink your ale; + I'll pledge you, and repeat my tale. + + No matter where the scene is fix'd, + The persons were but odly mix'd, + When sober Damon thus began: + (And Damon is a clever man) + + I now grow old; but still from youth, + Have held for modesty and truth, + The men, who by these sea-marks steer, + In life's great voyage, never err; + Upon this point I dare defy + The world; I pause for a reply. + + Sir, either is a good assistant, + Said one, who sat a little distant: + Truth decks our speeches, and our books, + And modesty adorns our looks: + But farther progress we must take; + Not only born to look and speak, + The man must act. The Stagyrite + Says thus, and says extremely right; + Strict justice is the sovereign guide, + That o'er our actions should preside; + This queen of virtue is confess'd + To regulate and bind the rest. + Thrice happy, if you can but find + Her equal balance poise your mind: + All diff'rent graces soon will enter, + Like lines concurrent to their center. + + 'Twas thus, in short, these two went on, + With yea and nay, and pro and con, + Thro' many points divinely dark, + And Waterland assaulting Clarke; + 'Till, in theology half lost, + Damon took up the Evening-Post; + Confounded Spain, compos'd the North, + And deep in politics held forth. + + Methinks, we're in the like condition, + As at the treaty of partition; + That stroke, for all King William's care, + Begat another tedious war. + Matthew, who knew the whole intrigue, + Ne'er much approv'd that mystic league; + In the vile Utrecht treaty too, + Poor man! he found enough to do. + Sometimes to me he did apply; + But downright Dunstable was I, + And told him where they were mistaken, + And counsell'd him to save his bacon: + But (pass his politics and prose) + I never herded with his foes; + Nay, in his verses, as a friend, + I still found something to commend. + Sir, I excus'd his Nut-brown maid; + Whate'er severer critics said: + Too far, I own, the girl was try'd: + The women all were on my side. + For Alma I return'd him thanks, + I lik'd her with her little pranks; + Indeed, poor Solomon, in rhime, + Was much too grave to be sublime. + Pindar and Damon scorn transition, + So on he ran a new division; + 'Till, out of breath, he turn'd to spit: + (Chance often helps us more than wit) + T'other that lucky moment took, + Just nick'd the time, broke in, and spoke. + + Of all the gifts the gods afford + (If we may take old Tully's word) + The greatest is a friend, whose love + Knows how to praise, and when reprove; + From such a treasure never part, + But hang the jewel on your heart: + And pray, sir (it delights me) tell; + You know this author mighty well-- + Know him! d'ye question it? ods fish! + Sir, does a beggar know his dish? + I lov'd him, as I told you, I + Advis'd him--here a stander-by + Twitch'd Damon gently by the cloke, + And thus unwilling silence broke: + Damon, 'tis time we should retire, + The man you talk with is Matt. Prior. + + Patron, thro' life, and from thy birth my friend, + Dorset, to thee this fable let me send: + With Damon's lightness weigh thy solid worth; + The foil is known to set the diamond forth: + Let the feign'd tale this real moral give, + How many Damons, how few Dorsets live! + +Mr. Prior, after the fatigue of a length of years past in various +services of action, was desirous of spending the remainder of his days +in rural tranquility, which the greatest men of all ages have been +fond of enjoying: he was so happy as to succeed in his wish, living a +very retired, and contemplative life, at Downhall in Essex, and found, +as he expressed himself, a more solid, and innocent satisfaction among +woods, and meadows, than he had enjoyed in the hurry, and tumults +of the world, the courts of Princes, or the conducting foreign +negotiations; and where as he melodiously sings, + + The remnant of his days he safely past, + Nor found they lagg'd too slow, nor flew too fast; + He made his wish with his estate comply, + Joyful to live, yet not afraid to die. + +This great man died on the 18th of September, 1721, at Wimple in +Cambridgshire, the seat of the earl of Oxford, with whose friendship +he had been honoured for some years. The death of so distinguished a +person was justly esteemed an irreparable loss to the polite world, +and his memory will be ever dear to those, who have any relish for the +muses in their softer charms. Some of the latter part of his life was +employed in collecting materials for an History of the Transactions of +his own Times, but his death unfortunately deprived the world of what +the touches of so masterly a hand, would have made exceeding valuable. + +Mr. Prior, by the suffrage of all men of taste, holds the first rank +in poetry, for the delicacy of his numbers, the wittiness of his +turns, the acuteness of his remarks, and, in one performance, for the +amazing force of his sentiments. The stile of our author is likewise +so pure, that our language knows no higher authority, and there is an +air of original in his minutest performances. + +It would be superfluous to give any detail of his poems, they are in +the hands of all who love poetry, and have been as often admired, as +read. The performance however, for which he is most distinguished, is +his Solomon; a Poem in three Books, the first on Knowledge, the second +on Pleasure, and the third on Power. We know few poems to which this +is second, and it justly established his reputation as one of the best +writers of his age. + +This sublime work begins thus, + + Ye sons of men, with just regard attend, + Observe the preacher, and believe the friend, + Whose serious muse inspires him to explain, + That all we act, and all we think is vain: + That in this pilgrimage of seventy years, + O'er rocks of perils, and thro' vales of tears + Destin'd to march, our doubtful steps we tend, + Tir'd of the toil, yet fearful of its end: + That from the womb, we take our fatal shares, + Of follies, fashions, labours, tumults, cares; + And at approach of death shall only know, + The truths which from these pensive numbers flow, + That we pursue false joy, and suffer real woe. + +After an enquiry into, and an excellent description of the various +operations, and effects of nature, the system of the heavens, &c. and +not being fully informed of them, the first Book concludes, + + How narrow limits were to wisdom given? + Earth she surveys; she thence would measure Heav'n: + Thro' mists obscure, now wings her tedious way; + Now wanders dazl'd, with too bright a day; + And from the summit of a pathless coast + Sees infinite, and in that sight is lost. + +In the second Book the uncertainty, disappointment, and vexation +attending pleasure in general, are admirably described; and in the +character of Solomon is sufficiently shewn, that nothing debases +majesty, or indeed any man, more than ungovernable passion. + + When thus the gath'ring storms of wretched love + In my swoln bosom, with long war had strove; + At length they broke their bounds; at length their force + Bore down whatever met its stronger course: + Laid all the civil bounds of manhood waste. + And scatter'd ruin, as the torrent past. + +The third Book treats particularly of the trouble and instability +of greatness and power, considers man through the several stages and +conditions of life, and has excellent reasoning upon life and death. +On the last are these lines; + + Cure of the miser's wish, and cowards fear, + Death only shews us, what we knew was near. + With courage therefore view the 'pointed hour; + Dread not death's anger, but expect its power; + Nor nature's laws, with fruitless sorrow mourn; + But die, O mortal man! for thou wast born. + +The poet has likewise these similies on life; + + As smoke that rises from the kindling fires + Is seen this moment, and the next expires: + As empty clouds by rising winds are tost, + Their fleeting forms no sooner found than lost: + So vanishes our state; so pass our days; + So life but opens now, and now decays; + The cradle, and the tomb, alas! so nigh; + To live is scarce distinguished from to die. + +We shall conclude this account of Mr. Prior's life with the following +copy of verses, written on his Death by Robert Ingram, esq; which is a +very successful imitation of Mr. Prior's manner. + + 1. + + Mat. Prior!--(and we must submit) + Is at his journey's end; + In whom the world has lost a wit, + And I, what's more, a friend. + + 2. + + Who vainly hopes long here to stay, + May see with weeping eyes; + Not only nature posts away, + But e'en good nature dies! + 3. + + Should grave ones count these praises light, + To such it may be said: + A man, in this lamented wight, + Of business too is dead. + + 4. + + From ancestors, as might a fool! + He trac'd no high-fetch'd stem; + But gloriously revers'd the rule, + By dignifying them. + + 5. + + O! gentle Cambridge! sadly say, + Why fates are so unkind + To snatch thy giant sons away, + Whilst pigmies stay behind? + + 6. + + Horace and he were call'd, in haste, + From this vile earth to heav'n; + The cruel year not fully past, + AEtatis, fifty seven. + + 7. + + So, on the tops of Lebanon, + Tall cedars felt the sword, + To grace, by care of Solomon, + The temple of the Lord. + + 8. + + A tomb amidst the learned may + The western abbey give! + Like theirs, his ashes must decay, + Like theirs, his fame shall live. + 9. + + Close, carver, by some well cut books, + Let a thin busto tell, + In spite of plump and pamper'd looks, + How scantly sense can dwell! + + 10. + + No epitaph of tedious length + Should overcharge the stone; + Since loftiest verse would lose its strength, + In mentioning his own. + + 11. + + At once! and not verbosely tame, + Some brave Laconic pen + Should smartly touch his ample name, + In form of--O rare Ben! + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. SUSANNA CENTLIVRE, + + +This lady was daughter of one Mr. Freeman, of Holbeack in +Lincolnshire. There was formerly an estate in the family of her +father, but being a Dissenter, and a zealous parliamentarian, he was +so very much persecuted at the restoration, that he was laid under a +necessity to fly into Ireland, and his estate was confiscated; nor was +the family of our authoress's mother free from the severity of those +times, they being likewise parliamentarians. Her education was in the +country, and her father dying when she was but three years of age, +and her mother not living 'till she was twelve, the improvements our +poetess made were merely by her own industry and application. She was +married before the age of fifteen, to a nephew of Sir Stephen Fox. +This gentleman living with her but a year, she afterwards married Mr. +Carrol, an officer in the army, and survived him likewise in the space +of a year and a half. She afterwards married Mr. Joseph Centlivre, +yeoman of the mouth to his late Majesty. She gave early discoveries of +a genius for poetry, and Mr. Jacob in his Lives of the Poets tells us, +that she composed a song before she was seven years old. She is +the author of fifteen plays; her talent is comedy, particularly the +contrivance of the plots, and incidents. Sir Richard Steele, in one of +his Tatlers, speaking of the Busy Body, thus recommends it. 'The plot, +and incidents of the play, are laid with that subtilty, and spirit, +which is peculiar to females of wit, and is very seldom well performed +by those of the other sex, in whom craft in love is an act of +invention, and not as with women, the effect of nature, and instinct'. + +She died December 1, 1723; the author of the Political State thus +characterizes her. 'Mrs. Centlivre, from a mean parentage and +education, after several gay adventures (over which we shall draw +a veil) she had, at last, so well improved her natural genius by +reading, and good conversation, as to attempt to write for the stage, +in which sh had as good success as any of her sex before her. Her +first dramatic performance was a Tragi-Comedy, called The Perjured +Husband, but the plays which gained her most reputation were, two +Comedies, the Gamester, and the Busy Body. She wrote also several +copies of verses on divers subjects, and occasions, and many ingenious +letters, entitled Letters of Wit, Politics, and Morality, which I +collected, and published about 21 years ago[A].' + +Her dramatic works are, + +1. The Perjured Husband, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1702, +dedicated to the late Duke of Bedford. Scene Venice. + +2. The Beau's Duel, or a Soldier for the Ladies, a Comedy; acted at +the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1703; a Criticism was written +upon this play in the Post-Angel for August. 3. The Stolen Heiress, or +The Salamancha Doctor Out-plotted; a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincolns-Inn-Fields 1704. The scene Palermo. + +4. The Gamester, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields +1704, dedicated to George Earl of Huntingdon. This play is an improved +translation of one of the same title in French. The prologue was +written by Mr. Rowe. + +5. The Basset Table, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane, dedicated to Arthur Lord Altham, 4to. 1706. + +6. Love's Contrivance, or Le Medicin Malgre lui; a Comedy; acted +at Drury-Lane 1705, dedicated to the Earl of Dorset. This is a +translation from Moliere. + +7. Love at a Venture, a Comedy; acted at Bath, 4to. 1706, dedicated to +the Duke of Beaufort. + +8. The Busy Body, acted at the Theatre-Royal 1708, dedicated to Lord +Somers. This play was acted with very great applause. + +9. Marplot, or the Second Part of the Busy Body; acted at the +Theatre-Royal 1709, dedicated to the Earl of Portland. + +10. The Perplex'd Lovers, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1710, +dedicated to Sir Henry Furnace. + +11. The Platonic Lady, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1711. 12. +The Man's Bewitch'd, or The Devil to do about Her; a Comedy; acted +at the Theatre in the Haymarket 1712, dedicated to the Duke of +Devonshire. + +13. The Wonder, a Woman keeps a Secret, a Comedy; acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This play was acted with success. + +14. The Cruel Gift, or The Royal Resentment; a Tragedy; acted at the +Theatre-Royal 1716, for the story of this play consult Sigismonda and +Guiscarda, a Novel of Boccace. + +15. A Bold Stroke for a Wife, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1717, dedicated to the Duke of Wharton. Besides +these plays Mrs. Centlivre has written three Farces; Bickerstaff's +Burying, or Work for the Upholders. The Gotham Election. A Wife well +Managed. + + +[Footnote A: See Bayer's Political State, vol. xxvi. p.670.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Dr. NICHOLAS BRADY, + + +This revd. gentleman was son of Nicholas Brady, an officer in the +King's army, in the rebellion 1641, being lineally descended from Hugh +Brady, the first Protestant bishop of Mieath[A]. He was born at Bandon +in the county of Cork, on the 28th of October 1659, and educated +in that county till he was 12 years of age, when he was removed +to Westminster school, and from thence elected student of Christ's +Church, Oxford. After continuing there about four years, he went to +Dublin, where his father resided, at which university he immediately +commenced bachelor of arts. When he was of due standing, his Diploma +for the degree of doctor of divinity was, on account of his uncommon +merit, presented to him from that university, while he was in +England, and brought over by Dr. Pratt, then senior travelling-fellow, +afterwards provost of that college. His first ecclesiastical +preferment was to a prebend, in the Cathedral of St. Barry's in the +city of Cork, to which he was collared by bishop Wettenhal, to whom +he was domestic chaplain. He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, +and suffered for it in consequence of his zeal. In 1690, when the +troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with King James's +general, Mac Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of Bandon town, +after three several orders given by that Prince to destroy it. The +same year, having been deputed by the people of Bandon, he went +over to England to petition the Parliament, for a redress of some +grievances they had suffered, while King James was in Ireland. During +his stay here, and to the time of his death, he was in the highest +esteem among all ranks of persons in this kingdom, for his eminent +attachment to the true interest of his country. Having quitted +his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London, where he, being +celebrated for his abilities in the pulpit, was elected minister of +St. Catherine-Cree Church, and lecturer of St. Michael's Woodstreet. +He afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry, and Stratford upon +Avon in Warwickshire, and at length, rector of Clapham in the county +above-mentioned; which last, together with Richmond, he held to the +time of his death. He was also chaplain to the duke of Ormond's troop +of Horse-guards, as he was to their Majesties King William, and Queen +Anne. He died on the 20th of May 1726, in the 67th year of his age, +leaving behind him the reputation of a good man; he was of a most +obliging, sweet, affable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent +preacher, and no inconsiderable poet. + +His compositions in poetry are chiefly these, + +1. A New Version of the Psalms of David, performed by him, in +conjunction with Mr. Tate, soon after he settled in London; now sung +in most churches of England, and Ireland, instead of that obsolete +and ridiculous Version made by Sternhold, and Hopkins, in the reign of +King Edward VI. As the 104th Psalm is esteemed one of the most sublime +in the whole book, we shall present the reader with the two first +Parts of his Version of that Psalm as a specimen. There have not been +less than forty different Versions, and Paraphrases of this Psalm, by +poets of very considerable eminence, who seem to have vied with one +another for the superiority. Of all these attempts, if we may trust +our own judgment, none have succeeded so happily as Mr. Blackclock, a +young gentleman now resident at Dumfries in Scotland. This Paraphrase +is the more extraordinary, as the author of it has been blind from +his cradle, and now labours under that calamity; it carries in it such +elevated strains of poetry, such picturesque descriptions, and such a +mellifluent flow of numbers, that we are persuaded, the reader cannot +be displeased at finding it inserted here. + +Dr. Brady also translated the AEneid of Virgil, which were published +by subscription in four volumes octavo, the last of which came out in +1726, a little before the author's death. + +He also published in his life-time three Volumes of Sermons in 8vo. +each consisting of 14, all printed in London; the first in 1704, the +second in 1706, and the third in 1713. After the Dr's. death, his +eldest son, who is now a clergyman, published three other Volumes of +his father's Sermons, each also consisting of 14, printed in London +1730, 8vo. Amongst his sermons there is one preached on St. Cecilia's +day, in vindication of Church-music, first printed in 1697, in 4to. + + PSALM CIV. + + + 1. Bless God my soul; thou, Lord alone, + Possessest empire without bounds: + With honour thou art crown'd, thy throne + Eternal Majesty surrounds. + 2. With light thou dost thy self enrobe, + And glory for a garment take; + Heav'n's curtain stretch'd beyond the globe, + The canopy of state to make. + + 3. God builds on liquid air, and forms + His palace-chambers in the skies: + The clouds his chariots are, and storms + The swift-wing'd steeds with which he flies. + 4. As bright as flame, as swift as wind + His ministers Heav'ns palace fill; + To have their sundry tasks assign'd, + All proud to serve their Sovereign's will. + + 5., 6. Earth on her center fix'd he set, + Her face with waters over spread; + Not proudest mountains dar'd as yet + To lift above the waves their head! + 7. But when thy awful face appear'd, + Th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled + When once thy thunder's voice they heard, + And by their haste confess'd their dread. + + 8. Thence up by secret tracts they creep, + And gushing from the mountain's side, + Thro' vallies travel to the deep; + Appointed to receive their tide. + 9. There hast thou fix'd the ocean's mounds, + The threat'ning surges to repel: + That they no more o'erpass their bounds, + Nor to a second deluge swell. + PART II. + + 10. Yet, thence in smaller parties drawn, + The sea recovers her lost hills: + And starting springs from every lawn, + Surprize the vales with plenteous rills. + 11. The fields tame beasts are thither led + Weary with labour, faint with drought, + And asses on wild mountains bred, + Have sense to find these currents out. + + 12. There shady trees from scorching beams, + Yield shelter to the feather'd throng: + They drink, and to the bounteous streams + Return the tribute of their song. + 13. His rains from heav'n parch'd hills recruit, + That soon transmit the liquid store: + 'Till earth is burthen'd with her fruit, + And nature's lap can hold no more. + + 14. Grass for our cattle to devour, + He makes the growth of every field: + Herbs, for man's use, of various pow'r, + That either food or physic yield. + 15. With cluster'd grapes he crowns the vine + To cheer man's heart oppress'd with cares: + Gives oil that makes his face to shine. + And corn that wasted strength repairs. + + PSALM CIV. imitated by THOMAS BLACKCLOCK. + + Arise my soul! on wings seraphic rise! + And praise th' Almighty sov'reign of the skies! + In whom alone essential glory shines, + Which not the Heav'n of Heav'ns, nor boundless space confines! + When darkness rul'd with universal sway, + He spoke, and kindled up the blaze of day; + First fairest offspring of th' omnific word! + Which like a garment cloath'd it's sovereign lord. + He stretch'd the blue expanse, from pole to pole, + And spread circumfluent aether round the whole. + Of liquid air he bad the columns rise, + Which prop the starry concave of the skies. + Soon as he bids, impetuous whirlwinds fly, + To bear his sounding chariot thro' the sky: + Impetuous whirlwinds the command obey, + Sustain his flight, and sweep th' aerial way. + Fraught with his mandates from the realms on high, + Unnumber'd hosts of radiant heralds fly; + From orb to orb, with progress unconfin'd, + As lightn'ing swift, resistless as the wind. + His word in air this pondr'ous ball sustain'd. + "Be fixt, he said."--And fix'd the ball remain'd. + Heav'n, air, and sea, tho' all their stores combine. + Shake not its base, nor break the law divine. + At thy almighty voice, old ocean raves, + Wakes all his force, and gathers all his waves; + Nature lies mantled in a watry robe, + And shoreless ocean roils around the globe; + O'er highest hills, the higher surges rise, + Mix with the clouds, and leave the vaulted skies. + But when in thunder, the rebuke was giv'n, + That shook th' eternal firmament of heav'n, + The dread rebuke, the frighted waves obey, + They fled, confus'd, along th' appointed way, + Impetuous rushing to the place decreed, + Climb the steep hill, and sweep the humble mead: + And now reluctant in their bounds subside; + Th' eternal bounds restrain the raging tide: + Yet still tumultuous with incessant roar, + It shakes the caverns, and assaults the shore. + By him, from mountains, cloth'd in livid snow, + Thro' verdant vales, the mazy fountains flow. + Here the wild horse, unconscious of the rein, + That revels boundless, o'er the wide champaign, + Imbibes the silver stream, with heat opprest + To cool the fervour of his glowing breast. + Here verdant boughs adorn'd with summer's pride, + Spread their broad shadows o'er the silver tide: + While, gently perching on the leafy spray, + Each feather'd songster tunes his various lay: + And while thy praise, they symphonize around, + Creation ecchoes to the grateful sound. + Wide o'er the heav'ns the various bow he bends. + Its tincture brightens, and its arch extends: + At the glad sign, aerial conduits flow, + The hills relent, the meads rejoice below: + By genial fervour, and prolific rain, + Gay vegetation cloaths the fertile plain; + Nature profusely good, with bliss o'er-flows, + And still she's pregnant, tho' she still bestows: + Here verdant pastures, far extended lie, + And yield the grazing herd a rich supply! + Luxuriant waving in the wanton air, + Here golden grain rewards the peasant's care! + Here vines mature, in purple clusters glow, + And heav'n above, diffuses heav'n below! + Erect and tall, here mountain cedars rise, + High o'er the clouds, and emulate the skies! + Here the winged crowds, that skim the air, + with artful toil, their little dams prepare, + Here, hatch their young, and nurse their rising care! + Up the steep-hill ascends the nimble doe, + While timid conies scour the plains below; + Or in the pendent rocks elude the scenting foe. + He bade the silver majesty of night, + Revolve her circle, and increase her light. + But if one moment thou thy face should'st hide, + Thy glory clouded, or thy smiles denied, + Then widow'd nature veils her mournful eyes, + And vents her grief, in universal cries! + Then gloomy death, with all his meagre train; + Wide o'er the nations spreads his iron reign! + Sea, earth, and air, the bounteous ravage mourn, + And all their hosts to native dust return! + Again thy glorious quickning influence shed, + The glad creation rears its drooping head: + New rising forms, thy potent smiles obey, + And life re-kindles at the genial ray; + United thanks replenish'd nature pays, + And heaven and earth resound their Maker's praise. + + When time shall in eternity be lost, + And hoary nature languish into dust, + Forever young, thy glories shall remain, + Vast as thy being, endless as thy reign! + Thou from the realms of everlasting day, + See'st all thy works, at one immense survey! + Pleas'd at one view, the whole to comprehend, + Part join'd to part, concurring to one end. + If thou to earth, but turn'st thy wrathful eyes, + Her basis trembles, and her offspring dies. + Thou smit'st the hills, and at th' almighty blow, + Their summits kindle, and their entrails glow. + While this immortal spark of heav'nly flame, + Distends my breast, and animates my frame, + To thee my ardent praises shall be born, + On the first breeze, that wakes the blushing morn: + The latest star shall hear the pleasing sound, + And nature, in full choir shall join around! + When full of thee, my soul excursive flies, + Thro' earth, air, ocean or thy regal skies, + From world, to world, new wonders still I find! + And all the Godhead bursts upon my mind! + When, wing'd with whirlwinds, vice shall take her flight, + To the wide bosom of eternal night, + To thee my soul shall endless praises pay; + Join! men and angels! join th' exalted day! + Assign'd a province to each rolling sphere, + And taught the sun to regulate the year. + At his command wide hov'ring o'er the plain, + Primaeval night resumes her gloomy reign. + Then from their dens impatient of delay, + The savage monsters bend their speedy way, + Howl thro' the spacious waste and chase the frighted prey. + Here walks the shaggy monarch of the wood, + Taught from thy providence to ask his food: + To thee O Father! to thy bounteous skies, + He rears his main, and rolls his glaring eyes. + He roars, the desarts tremble wide around! + And repercusive hills repeat the sound. + Now purple gems, the eastern skies adorn, + And joyful nature hails th' opening morn; + The rovers conscious of approaching day, + Fly to their shelters, and forget their prey. + Laborious man, with moderate slumber blest, + Springs chearful to his toil, from downy rest; + Till grateful ev'ning with her silver train, + Bid labour cease, and ease the weary swain! + Hail, sovereign Goodness! All productive mind! + On all thy works, thyself inscribed we find! + How various all! how variously endow'd! + How great their number! and each part how good! + How perfect then must the great parent shine! + Who with one act of energy divine, + Laid the vast plan, and finish'd the design. + Where e'er the pleasing search my thoughts pursue, + Unbounded goodness opens to my view. + Nor does our world alone, its influence share; + Exhaustless bounty, and unwearied care, + Extend thro' all th' infinitude of space, + And circle nature with a kind embrace. + The wavy kingdoms of the deep below, + Thy power, thy wisdom, and thy goodness shew, + Here various beings without number stray, + Croud the profound, or on the surface play. + Leviathan here, the mightiest of the train, + Enormous! sails incumbent o'er the main. + All these thy watchful providence supplies; + To thee alone, they turn their waiting eyes. + For them thou open'st thy exhaustless store, + Till the capacious wish can grasp no more. + + +[Footnote A: Biograph. Brit. Art, Brady.] + + * * * * * + + + + +GEORGE STEPNEY, Esq; + + +This poet was descended of the family of the Stepneys of Pindigrast in +Pembrokeshire, but born in Westminster in the year 1693. He received +the rudiments of his education in Westminster school, and after making +some progress in literature there, he was removed to Trinity College +in Cambridge, where he was cotemporary with Charles Montague, esq; +afterwards earl of Halifax; and being of the same college with him, +a very strict friendship was contracted between them. To this lucky +accident of being early known to Mr. Montague, was owing all the +preferment Mr. Stepney afterwards enjoyed; for he seems not to have +had parts sufficient to have risen to any distinction, without the +immediate patronage of so great a man, as the lord Hallifax. When +Stepney first set out in life, he was perhaps attached to the Tory +interest, for one of the first poems he wrote, was an Address to +king James the Second, on his Accession to the Throne. In this little +piece, in which there is as little poetry, he compares that monarch to +Hercules, but with what propriety let the reader judge. Soon after +the accession of James II. when Monmouth's rebellion broke out, the +university of Cambridge, to demonstrate their zeal for the King, +thought proper to burn the picture of that rash Prince, who had +formerly been their chancellor. Upon this occasion Stepney wrote some +good verses, in answer to this question; + + ----Sed quid + Turba Remi? sequitur fortunam, ut semper + et odit damnatos. + +Upon the revolution he embraced another interest, and procured himself +to be nominated for several foreign embassies. In the year 1692 he +went to the elector of Brandenburgh's court in quality of envoy, and, +in the year following, to the Imperial court in the same character. In +1694 he was sent to the elector of Saxony, and two years after to the +electors of Mentz, Cologn, &c. and the congress at Francfort. He was +employed in several other embassies, and in the year 1706 Queen Anne +sent him envoy to the States General. He was very successful in his +negotiations, which occasioned his constant employment in the most +weighty affairs. At his leisure hours he composed several other pieces +of poetry besides those already mentioned; which are chiefly these, + + An Epistle to the Earl of Hallifax, on his Majesty's + Voyage to Holland. + + A Translation of the Eighth Satire of Juvenal. + + To the Earl of Carlisle upon the Death of his + Son. + + Some Imitations of Horace's Odes. + + The Austrian Eagle. + + The Nature of Dreams. + + A Poem to the Memory of Queen Mary. + +These performances are not very long, nor are the subjects upon +which they are written very considerable. It seems probable that the +eminence to which Stepney rose, must have been more owing to some +personal kindness lord Hallifax had for him, than to his merit as a +writer. In raising Stepney, his lordship might act as the friend +of the man, but not as a patron of the poet. Friendship, in many +respects, participates of the nature of love; it begins, we know +not how, it strengthens by imperceptible degrees, and grows into an +established firmness. Such might be the regard lord Hallifax had for +Stepney, but we may venture to assert, from his lordship's exquisite +taste in poetry, that he never could highly admire the pretty trifles +which compose the works of this author; and which are printed amongst +the works of the Minor Poets, published some years ago by Mr. Tonson +in two volumes 12mo.[A] + +Our author died at Chelsea in the year 1707, and was buried in +Westminster-Abbey, where a fine monument is erected over him, with the +following inscription upon the pedestal; + + H.S.E. + + GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger, + + viz. + + Ob Ingenii acumen, + Literarum Scientiam, + Morum Suavitatem, + Rerum Usum, + Virorum Amplissimorum Consuetudinem, + Linguae, Styli ac Vitae Elegantiam, + Praeclara Officia cum Britanniae; tum Europae Praestita, + Sua aetate multum celebratus, + Apud Posteros semper celebrandus; + Plurimas Legationes obiit + Ea Fide, Diligentia, & Felicitate, + Ut Augustissimorum Principum + GULIELMI & ANNAE + Spem in illo repositam + Nunquam sesellerit, + Haud raro superavit. + Post longum honorum Cursum + Brevi Temporis spatio confectum, + Cum Naturae parvae Fama satis vixerat, + Animam ad altiora aspirantem placide efflavit. + + On the left hand. + + G.S. + + Ex Equestri Familia STEPNEIORUM, + De PENDEGRAST, in Comitatu + PEMBROCHIENSI ORIENDUS, + WESTMONASTERII natus est, A.D. 1663. + Electus in Collegium + Sancti PETRI WESTMONAST. A, 1676. + Sanctae TRINITATIS CANTAB. 1682. + Consiliariorum quibus Commercii + Cura commissa est 1697. + CHELSEIAE mortuus, & Comitante + Magna Procerum + Frequentia huc elatus, 1707. + +On the right hand is a particular account of all his employments +abroad. + +As a specimen of Mr. Stepney's poetry, we shall quote the following +lines on the Nature of Dreams, + + At dead of night imperial reason sleeps, + And fancy with her train loose revels keeps: + Then airy phantoms a mixt scene display, + Of what we heard, or saw, or wish'd by day; + For memory those images retains + Which passion form'd, and still the strongest reigns, + Huntsmen renew the chase they lately run; + And generals fight again their battles won. + Spectres and furies haunt the murth'rers dreams; + Grants, or disgraces, are the courtiers themes. + The miser spies a thief, or some new hoard, + The cit's a knight, the sycophant a lord. + Thus fancy's in the wild distraction lost + With what we most abhor, or covet most. + But of all passions that our dreams controul, + Love prints the deepest image in the soul; + For vigorous fancy, and warm blood dispense + Pleasures so lively, that they rival sense. + Such are the transports of a willing maid, + Not yet by time and place to act betray'd. + Whom spies, or some faint virtue force to fly + That scene of joy, which yet she dies to try. + 'Till fancy bawds, and by mysterious charms + Brings the dear object to her longing arms; + Unguarded then she melts, acts fierce delight, + And curses the returns of envious light. + In such bless'd dreams Biblis enjoys a flame; + Which waking she detests, and dares not name. + Ixion gives a loose to his wild love, + And in his airy visions cuckolds Jove. + Honours and state before this phantom fall; + For sleep, like death its image, equals all. + +Our author likewise wrote some political pieces in prose, particularly +an Essay on the present Interest of England, 1701. To which are added, +The Proceedings of the House of Commons in 1677, upon the French +King's Progress in Flanders. This piece is reprinted in Cogan's +Collection of Tracts, called Lord Somers's Collection. + + +[Footnote A: And likewise of another work of the same kind, in two +volumes also, published by one Cogan.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Major RICHARDSON PACK, + + +This gentleman was the son of John Pack, of Stocke-Ash in Suffolk, +esq; who in the year 1697 was high sheriff of that county. He had +his early education at a private country school, and was removed from +thence to Merchant Taylor's, where he received his first taste of +letters; for he always reckoned that time which he spent at the former +school as lost, since he had only contracted bad habits, and was +obliged to unlearn what had been taught him there. + +At the age of sixteen he was removed to St. John's College in Oxford. +About eighteen his father entered him of the Middle Temple, designing +him for the profession of the Law; and by the peculiar indulgence +of the treasurer, and benchers of that honourable society, he was at +eight Terms standing admitted barrister, when he had not much exceeded +the age of 20. But a sedentary studious life agreeing as ill with his +health, as a formal one with his inclinations, he did not long +pursue those studies. After some wavering in his thoughts, he at last +determined his views to the army, as being better suited to the gaiety +of his temper, and the sprightliness of his genius, and where he hoped +to meet with more freedom, as well as more action. His first command +was that of a company of foot in March 1705. In November 1710 the +regiment in which he served was one of those two of English foot, that +were with the marshal Staremberg at the battle of Villa Viciosa, the +day after general Stanhope, and the troops under his command were +taken at Brighuega[A], where the major being killed, and our author's +behaviour being equal to the occasion on which he acted, his grace the +duke of Argyle confirmed his pretensions to that vacancy, by giving +him the commission of the deceased major, immediately on his arrival +in Spain. It was this accident which first introduced our gallant +soldier to the acquaintance of that truly noble and excellent person, +with whose protection and patronage he was honoured during the +remaining part of his life. + +The ambition he had to celebrate his grace's heroic virtues (at a +time when there subsisted a jealousy between him and the duke of +Marlborough, and it was fashionable by a certain party to traduce him) +gave birth to some of the best of his performances. + +What other pieces the major has written in verse, are, for the most +part, the unlaboured result of friendship, or love; and the amusement +of those few solitary intervals in a life that seldom wanted either +serious business, or social pleasures, of one kind or other, entirely +to fill up the circle. They are all published in one volume, together +with a translation of the Life of Miltiades and Cymon, from Cornelius +Nepos; the first edition was in 1725. + +The most considerable of them are the following, + + 1. The Muse's Choice, or the Progress of Wit. + + 2. On Friendship. To Colonel Stanhope. + + 3. To Mr. Addison, occasioned by the news of + the victory obtained over the Rebels in Scotland, + by his Grace the Duke of Argyle. + + 4. To Lady Catherine Manners. + + 5. The Lovers Parting. + + 6. The Retreat. + + 7. An Epistle from a Half-pay Officer in the + Country, to his Friend in Town. + + 8. Upon Religious Solitude; occasioned by + reading the Inscription on the Tomb of Casimir + King of Poland, who abdicated his Crown, and + spent the remainder of his life in the Abbey of + St. Germains, near Paris, where he lies interred. + + 9. A Pastoral in Imitation of Virgil's Second + Eclogue. + + 10. The 2d, 3d, and 4th Elegies of the Fourth + Book of Tibullus. + + 11. Elegy. Sylvia to Amintor, in Imitation of + Ovid. After Sylvia is enjoyed, she gives this Advice + to her sex. + + Trust not the slight defence of female pride. + Nor in your boasted honour much confide; + So still the motion, and so smooth the dart, + It steals unfelt into the heedless heart. + +A Prologue to the Tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, and an Epilogue +to Mr. Southern's Spartan Dame. In the former he has the following +beautiful lines on Ambition; + + Ambition is a mistress few enjoy! + False to our hopes, and to our wishes coy; + The bold she bafflles, and defeats the strong; + And all are ruined who pursue her long; + Yet so bewitching are her fatal charms, + We think it heav'n to die within her arms. + +Major Pack obliged the world with some Memoirs of the Life of Mr. +Wycherley, which are prefixed to Theobald's edition of that author. +Mr. Jacob mentions a piece of his which he saw in MS. entitled +Religion and Philosophy, which, says he, with his other works, +demonstrate the author to be a polite writer, and a man of wit and +gallantry. + +This amiable gentleman died at Aberdeen in Scotland, in the month of +September 1728, colonel Montague's regiment, in which he was then a +major, being quartered there. + + +[Footnote A: Vide Jacob's Lives.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir WILLIAM DAWES, Baronet (Archbishop of YORK,) + + +This revd. prelate was descended from an ancient, and honourable +family in the county of Essex; he was educated at Merchant-Taylor's +school, London, and from thence elected to St. John's College in +Oxford, of which he was afterwards fellow. + +He was the youngest of four brothers, three of whom dying young, the +title, and estate of the family fell to him. As soon as he had taken +his first degree in arts, and upon the family estate devolving to him, +he resigned his fellowship, and left Oxford. For some time he gave his +attention to the affairs of his estate, but finding his inclination +lead him more to study, than rural affairs, he entered into holy +orders. Sir William did not long remain in the church without +preferment; his fortune, and family assisted him to rise; for it often +happens that these advantages will do much more for a man, as well in +the ecclesiastical, as in other classes of life, than the brightest +parts without them. Before he was promoted to the mitre, he was made +master of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, chaplain to Queen Anne, and +dean of Bocking. + +In the year 1708 he was consecrated bishop of Chester, and in 1713 +was translated to the archbishopric of York. While he was at the +university, before he went into orders, he wrote the Anatomy of +Atheism, a Poem, dedicated to Sir George Darcy Bart. printed in the +year 1701, 8vo. + +The design of this piece, as his lordship declares in the preface, +'is to expose the folly of those men, who are arrived at that pitch of +impudence and prophaneness, that they think it a piece of wit to +deny the Being of a God, and to laugh at that which they cannot argue +against.' Such characters are well described in the following lines, + + See then our Atheist all the world oppose, + And like Drawcansir make all men his foes. + See with what fancy pride he does pretend, + His miser father's notions to amend, + Huffs Plutarch, Plato, Pliny, Seneca, + And bids even Cicero himself give way. + Tells all the world, they follow a false light, + And he alone, of all mankind is right. + Thus, like a madman, who when all alone, + Thinks himself King, and every chair a throne, + Drunk with conceit, and foolish impudence, + He prides himself in his abounding sense. + +This prelate is said to have united the gentleman, and the divine, +which both shone out with equal lustre in him. He was esteemed in his +time a very popular preacher; his piety was great, and conspicuous; +his charity and benevolence equalled by few, and his good nature, and +humanity the most extensive. + +Our author died in the 53d year of his age, April 30, 1724. We have +no account of any other of his grace's poetical works, probably the +business of his high station diverted his mind from the amusements of +poetry. + +The archbishop has written several sermons upon the Eternity of Hell +Torments, a doctrine which he has laboured to vindicate; also sermons +upon various other subjects. + + * * * * * + + + + +WILLIAM CONGREVE, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from the ancient house of Congreve in +Staffordshire, but authors differ as to the place of his birth; some +contend that he was born in Ireland[A], others that he drew his first +breath at the village of Bardsa, near Leeds in Yorkshire, which was +the estate of a near relation of his by his mother's side. Mr. Jacob, +in his preface to the Lives of the Poets, has informed us, that he +had the advice and assistance of Mr. Congreve in that work, who +communicated to him many particulars of the lives of cotemporary +writers, as well as of himself, and as Mr. Congreve can hardly be +thought ignorant of the place of his own birth, and Mr. Jacob has +asserted it to be in England, no room is left to doubt of it. The +learned antiquary of Ireland, Sir James Ware, has reckoned our author +amongst his own country worthies, from the relation of Southern; but +Mr. Congreve's own account, if Jacob may be relied on, is more than +equal to that of Southern, who possibly might be mistaken. + +About the year 1671, or 1672, our author was born, and his father +carried him, when a child, into Ireland, where he then had a command +in the army, but afterwards was entrusted with the management of a +considerable estate, belonging to the noble family of Burlington, +which fixed his residence there[B]. Mr. Congreve received the first +tincture of letters in the great school of Kilkenny, and, according +to common report, gave early proofs of a poetical genius; his first +attempt in poetry was a copy of verses on the death of his master's +Magpye. + +He went from the school of Kilkenny to the university of Dublin, where +under the direction of Dr. George Ash, he acquired a general knowledge +of the classics. His father, who was desirous that his studies should +be directed to a profitable employment, sent him over to England +a little after the revolution, and placed him as a student in the +Middle-Temple. But the severe study of the Law was so ill adapted to +the sprightly genius of Congreve, that he never attempted to reconcile +himself to a way of life, for which he had the greatest aversion. But +however he disappointed his friends with respect to the proficiency +they expected him to make in the Law; yet it is certain he was not +negligent in those studies to which his genius led him. + +Mr. Congreve's first performance, written when but a youth of +seventeen, was a Novel, dedicated to Mrs. Katherine Leveson, which +gave proof, not only of a great vivacity of wit, but also a fluency of +stile, and a solid judgment. He was conscious that young men in their +early productions generally aimed at a florid stile, and enthusiastic +descriptions, without any regard to the plot, fable, or subserviency +of the parts; for this reason he formed a new model, and gave an +example how works of that kind should be written. He pursued a regular +plan, observed a general moral, and carried on a connexion, as well as +distinction, between his characters. + +This performance is entitled Incognita, or Love and Duty Reconciled; +it has been asserted that this is a real history, and though the scene +is laid in Italy, the adventures happened in England; it is not our +business to enter into the secret history of this entertaining piece, +or to attempt giving the reader a key to what the writer took so much +pains to conceal. It appears from this piece, that Mr. Congreve aimed +at perfection from the very beginning, and his design in writing this +novel, was to shew, how novels ought to be written. Let us hear what +he says himself, and from thence we shall entertain a higher opinion +of his abilities, than could possibly be raised by the warmest +commendations. After very judiciously observing, that there is the +same relation between romances and novels as between tragedy and +comedy, he proceeds thus: 'Since all traditions must indisputably give +glace to the drama, and since there is no possibility of giving that +life to the writing, or repetition of a story, which it has in the +action; I resolved in another beauty to imitate dramatic writing, +namely, in the design, contexture, and result in the plot. I have +not observed it before in a novel. Some I have seen begin with an +unexpected accident which has been the only surprizing part of +the story, cause enough to make the sequel look flat, tedious, and +insipid; for 'tis but reasonable the reader should expect, if not to +rise, at least to keep upon a level in the entertainment, for so he +may be kept on, in hopes, that some time, or other, it may mend; but +the other is such a baulk to a man, 'tis carrying him up stairs to +shew him the dining room, and afterwards force him to make a meal in +the kitchen. This I have not only endeavoured to avoid, but also have +used a method for the contrary purpose. The design of this novel +is obvious, after the first meeting of Aurelian and Hippolito, with +Incognita, and Leonora; the difficulty is in bringing it to pass, +maugre all apparent obstacles within the compass of two days. How many +probable casualties intervene, in opposition to the main design, viz. +of marrying two couple so oddly engaged in an intricate amour, I leave +the reader at his leisure to consider; as also whether every obstacle +does not, in the progress of the story, act as subservient to that +purpose, which at first it seems to oppose. In a comedy this would +be called the unity of action, here it may pretend to no more than +an unity of contrivance. The scene is continued in Florence from the +commencement of the amour, and the time from first to last, is but +three days.' + +Soon after Mr. Congreve's return to England, he amused himself, during +a slow recovery from a fit of sickness, with writing a comedy. Captain +Southern, in conjunction with Mr. Dryden, and Arthur Manwayring, esq; +revised this performance, which was the Old Batchelor; of which Mr. +Dryden said, he never saw such a first play in his life, adding, that +the author not being acquainted with the stage, or the town, it would +be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little assistance. Mr. +Thomas Davenant, who had then the direction of the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane, had so high a sense of the merit of the piece, and was +so charmed with the author's conversation, that he granted him the +freedom of the house before his play came on, which, according to +the maxims of theatrical government, was not only an unusual, but an +unprecedented favour. In 1693 the Old Batchelor was acted before a +numerous, and polite audience. The play was received with such general +applause, that Mr. Congreve was then considered as a prop to the +declining stage, and a rising genius in dramatic poetry. It was this +play, and the singular success which attended it upon the stage, that +introduced our author to the acquaintance of the earl of Hallifax, who +was then the professed patron of men of wit; and who, being desirous +to raise a man of so promising a genius, above the necessity of too +hasty productions, made him one of the commissioners for licensing +Hackney coaches. The earl bestowed upon him soon after a place in the +Pipe-Office, and gave him likewise a post in the Custom-House, to the +value of 600 l. per annum. + +In the following year Mr. Congreve brought upon the stage the Double +Dealer, which met not with so good a reception as the former. + +Mr. Congreve has informed us in the dedication of this play, to +Charles Montague, esq; that he was very assiduous to learn from the +critics what objections could be found to it; but, says he, 'I have +heard nothing to provoke an answer. That which looks most like an +objection, does not relate in particular to this play, but to all; or +most that ever have been written, and that is soliloquy; therefore +I will answer it, not only for my own sake, but to save others the +trouble to whom it may be hereafter objected. I grant, that for a man +to talk to himself, appears absurd, and unnatural, and indeed it is +so in most cases, but the circumstances which may attend the occasion, +makes great alteration. It often happens to a man to have designs, +which require him to himself, and in their nature cannot admit of +a confident. Such for certain is all villainy, and other less +mischievous intentions may be very improper to be communicated to a +second person. In such a case, therefore the audience must observe, +whether the person upon the stage takes any notice of them at all, or +no: for if he supposes any one to be by,[C] when he talks to himself, +it is monstrous and ridiculous to the last degree; nay not only +in this case, but in any part of a play, if there is expressed any +knowledge of an audience it is insufferable. But otherwise, when a man +in a soliloquy reasons with himself, and pro's and con's, and weighs +all his designs, we ought not to imagine that this man either talks to +us, or to himself; he is only thinking, and thinking such matter, +as it were inexcusable folly in him to speak. But, because we are +concealed spectators of the plot in agitation, and the poet finds it +necessary to let us know the whole mystery of his contrivance, he is +willing to inform us of this person's thoughts, and to that end is +forced to make use of the expedient of speech, no other, or better way +being yet invented for the communication of thought.' + +Towards the close of the same year Queen Mary died. Upon that occasion +Mr. Congreve produced an elegiac Pastoral, a composition which the +admirers of this poet have extolled in the most lavish terms of +admiration, but which seems not to merit the incense it obtained. + +When Mr. Betterton opened the new house at Lincoln's-Inn, Congreve +took part with him, and gave him his celebrated comedy of Love for +Love, then introduced upon the stage, with the most extraordinary +success. This comedy, with some more of our author's, was smartly +criticised by the ingenious Mr. Collier, as containing lessons of +immorality, and a representation of loose characters, which can never, +in his opinion, appear on a stage without corrupting the audience. + +Messrs. Congreve, Dennis, and Dryden, engaged in a vigorous defence +of the English stage, and endeavoured to shew the necessity of such +characters being introduced in order to be exposed, and laughed at. To +all their defences Mr. Collier replied, and managed the point with so +much learning, wit, and keenness, that in the opinion of many, he had +the better of his antagonists, especially Mr. Congrove, whose +comedies it must be owned, though they are admirably written, and the +characters strongly marked, are so loose, that they have given great +offence: and surely we pay too dear for pleasure, when we have it at +the expence of morality. + +The same year he distinguished himself in another kind of poetry, viz. +an irregular Ode on the taking Namure, which the critics have allowed +to contain fine sentiments, gracefully expressed. His reputation as +a comic poet being sufficiently established, he was desirous of +extending his fame, by producing a tragedy. It has been alledged, that +some, who were jealous of his growing reputation, put him upon this +task, in order, as they imagined, to diminish it, for he seemed to be +of too gay and lively a disposition for tragedy, and in all likelihood +would miscarry in the attempt. However, + +In 1697, after the expectation of the town had been much raised, the +Mourning Bride appeared on the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields: +few plays ever excited so great an ardour of expectation as this, +and very few ever succeeded to such an extravagant degree. There is +something new in the management of the plot; after moving the passions +of the audience to the greatest commiseration, he brings off his +principal characters, punishes the guilty, and makes the play conclude +happily. + +The controversy we have just now mentioned, was thought to have +occasioned a dislike in Mr. Congreve towards the stage; yet he +afterwards produced another comedy called The Way of the World, which +was so just a picture of the world, that, as an author prettily says, + + The world could not bear it. + +The reception this play met with, compleated our author's disgust to +the theatre; upon which Mr. Dennis, who was a warm friend to Congreve, +made this fine observation, 'that Mr. Congreve quitted the stage +early, and that comedy left it with him.' + +It is said that when Congreve found his play met with but indifferent +success, he came in a passion on the stage, and desired the audience +to save themselves the trouble of shewing their dislike; for he never +intended to write again for the Theatre, nor submit his works to the +censure of impotent critics. In this particular he kept his word with +them, and as if he had foreseen the fate of his play, he took an ample +revenge, in his Epilogue, of the race of Little Snarlers, who excited +by envy, and supported by false ideas of their own importance, dared +to constitute themselves judges of wit, without any just pretensions +to it. This play has long ago triumphed over its enemies, and is now +in great esteem amongst the best judges of Theatrical Entertainments. + +Though Mr. Congreve quitted the stage, yet did not he give up the +cause of poetry; for on the death of the marquis of Blandford, the +only son of the duke of Marlborough, which happened in 1705, we find +him composing a pastoral to soften the grief of that illustrious +family, which he addressed to the lord treasurer Godolphin. + +About the same time, the extraordinary success of the duke of +Marlborough's arms, furnished him with materials for an Ode to Queen +Anne. In another Pindaric Ode he celebrates the lord Godolphin; taking +occasion from that nobleman's delight in horse-racing to imitate +the Greek Poet in his favourite manner of writing, by an elegant +digression; to which he added a criticism on that species of poetry. + +As in the early part of his life, Mr. Congreve had received favours +from people of a less exalted station, so of these he was highly +sensible, and never let slip any opportunity of shewing his gratitude. +He wrote an Epilogue to his old friend Southern's Tragedy of Oroonoko; +and Mr. Dryden has acknowledged his assistance in the translation +of Virgil: He contributed by his Version of the eleventh Satire +of Juvenal, to the translation of that poet, published also by Mr. +Dryden, to whom Mr. Congreve wrote a copy of Verses on his Translation +of Persius. He wrote likewise a Prologue for a Play of Mr. Charles +Dryden's, full of kindness for that young gentleman, and of respect +for his father. + +But the noblest testimony he gave of his filial regard to the memory +of his poetical father, Mr. John Dryden, was the Panegyric he wrote +upon his works, contained in the dedication of Dryden's plays to the +duke of Newcastle. + +Mr. Congreve translated the third Book of Ovid's Art of Love; some +favourite passages from the Iliad, and writ some Epigrams, in all +which he was not unsuccessful, though at the same time he has been +exceeded by his cotemporaries in the same attempts. + +The author of the elegant Letters, not long ago published under the +name of Fitz Osborne, has taken some pains to set before his readers; +the version of those parts of Homer, translated by our author, and +the same passages by Pope and Tickell, in which comparison the palm is +very deservedly yielded to Pope. + +Our author wrote a Satire called Doris, celebrated by Sir Richard +Steele, who was a warm friend to Mr. Congreve. He also wrote the +Judgment of Paris, a Masque; and the Opera of Semele; of these, the +former was acted with great applause, and the latter is finely set +to music by Mr. Eccles. The last of his Poetical Works, is his Art of +Pleasing, addressed to Sir Richard Temple, the late viscount Cobham. +He has written many Prose Epistles, dispersed in the works of other +writers, and his Essay on Humour in Comedy, published in a Collection +of Dennis's Letters, is an entertaining, and correct piece of +criticism: All his other Letters are written with a great deal of wit +and spirit, a fine flow of language; and are so happily intermixt with +a lively and inoffensive raillery, that it is impossible not to be +pleased with them at the first reading: we may be satisfied from the +perusal of them, that his conversation must have been very engaging, +and therefore we need not wonder that he was caressed by the greatest +men of his time, or that they courted his friendship by every act of +kindness in their power. + +It is said of Mr. Congreve, that he was a particular favourite with +the ladies, some of whom were of the first distinction. He indulged +none of those reveries, and affected absences so peculiar to men of +wit: He was sprightly as well as elegant in his manner, and so much +the favourite of Henrietta duchess of Marlborough, that even after +his death, she caused an image of him to be every day placed at her +toilet-table, to which she would talk as to the living Mr. Congreve, +with all the freedom of the most polite and unreserved conversation. +Mrs. Bracegirdle likewise had the highest veneration for our author, +and joined with her Grace in a boundless profusion of sorrow upon his +death. Some think, he had made a better figure in his Last Will, had +he remembered his friendship he professed for Mrs. Bracegirdle, whose +admirable performance added spirit to his dramatic pieces; but he +forgot her, and gratified his vanity by chusing to make a rich duchess +his sole legatee, and executrix. + +Mr. Congreve was the son of fortune, as well as of the muses. He was +early preferred to an affluent situation, and no change of ministry +ever affected him, nor was he ever removed from any post he enjoyed, +except to a better. + +His place in the custom-house, and his office of secretary in Jamaica, +are said to have brought him in upwards of 1200 l. a year; and he was +so far an oeconomist, as to raise from thence a competent estate. No +man of his learning ever pass'd thro' life with more ease, or less +envy; and as in the dawn of his reputation he was very dear to the +greatest wits of his time, so during his whole life he preserved the +utmost respect of, and received continual marks of esteem from, men +of genius and letters, without ever being involved, in any of their +quarrels, or drawing upon himself the least mark of distaste, or, even +dissatisfaction. The greatest part of the last twenty years of his +life were spent in ease and retirement, and he gave himself no trouble +about reputation. When the celebrated Voltaire was in England, he +waited upon Congreve, and pass'd some compliments upon him, as to the +reputation and merit of his works; Congreve thanked him, but at +the same time told that ingenious foreigner, he did not chuse to be +considered as an author, but only as a private gentleman, and in that +light expected to be visited. Voltaire answered, 'That if he had never +been any thing but a private gentleman, in all probability, he had +never been troubled with that visit.' + +Mr. Voltaire upon this occasion observes, that he was not a little +disgusted with so unseasonable a piece of vanity:--This was indeed the +highest instance of it, that perhaps can be produced. A man who owed +to his wit and writings the reputation, as well as the fortune, he +acquired, pretending to divest himself of human nature to such a +degree, as to have no consciousness of his own merit, was the most +absurd piece of vanity that ever entered into the heart of man; and +of all vanity, that is the greatest which masks itself under the +appearance of the opposite quality. + +Towards the close of his life, he was much troubled with the gout; +and for this reason, in the summer of the year 1728, he made a tour to +Bath, for the benefit of the waters, where he had the misfortune to be +overturned in his chariot, from which time he complained of a pain in +his side, which was supposed to arise from some inward bruise. Upon +his return to London, he perceived his health gradually decline, which +he bore with fortitude and resignation. + +On January the 19th, 1728-9, he yielded his last breath, about five +o'clock in the morning, at his house in Surrey-street in the Strand, +in the fifty-seventh year of his age. On the sunday following, January +26, his corpse lay in state in the Jerusalem-Chamber, from whence the +same evening, between the hours of nine and ten, it was carried with +great decency and solemnity to Henry the VIIth's Chapel; and after the +funeral service was performed, it was interred in the Abbey. The pall +was supported by the duke of Bridgewater, earl of Godolphin, lord +Cobham, lord Wilmington, the honourable George Berkley, Esq; and +Brigadier-general Churchill; and colonel Congreve followed his corpse +as chief mourner; some time after, a neat and elegant monument was +erected to his memory, by Henrietta duchess of Marlborough. + +Mr. Congreve's reputation is so extensive, and his works so generally +read, that any specimen of his poetry may be deemed superfluous. But +finding an epistle of our author's in the Biographia Brittannica, not +inserted in his works, it may not be improper to give it a place here. +It is addressed to the lord viscount Cobham, and the ingenious authors +inform us, that they copied it from a MS. very correct. + +As in this poem there is a visible allusion to the measures, which the +writer thought were too complaisant to the French, it is evident it +must have been penned but a very small time before his death. + + Of improving the present time. + + + Sincerest critic of my prose, or rhyme. + Tell how thy pleasing Stowe employs thy time. + Say, Cobham, what amuses thy retreat? + Or stratagems of war, or schemes of state? + Dost thou recall to mind, with joy or grief, + Great Marlbro's actions? that immortal chief, + Whose highest trophy, rais'd in each campaign, + More than suffic'd to signalize a reign. + Does thy remembrance rising, warm thy heart + With glory past, where thou thyself had'st part; + Or do'st thou grieve indignant, now to see + The fruitless end of all thy victory! + To see th' audacious foe, so late subdu'd, + Dispute those terms for which so long they su'd, + As if Britannia now were sunk so low, + To beg that peace she wanted to bestow. + Be far, that guilt! be never known that shame! + That England should retract her rightful claim! + Or ceasing to be dreaded and ador'd, + Stain with her pen the lustre of her sword. + Or dost thou give the winds, a-far to blow, + Each vexing thought, and heart-devouring woe, + And fix thy mind alone on rural scenes, + To turn the levell'd lawns to liquid plains; + To raise the creeping rills from humble beds, + And force the latent springs to lift their heads; + On watry columns capitals to rear, + That mix their flowing curls with upper air? + Or dost thou, weary grown, late works neglect, + No temples, statues, obelisks erect; + But catch the morning breeze from fragrant meads. + Or shun the noon-tide ray in wholesome shades; + Or lowly walk along the mazy wood, + To meditate on all that's wise and good: + For nature, bountiful, in thee has join'd, + A person pleasing, with a worthy mind, + Not giv'n the form alone, but means and art, + To draw the eye, or to allure the heart. + Poor were the praise, in fortune to excel, + Yet want the way to use that fortune well. + While thus adorn'd, while thus with virtue crown'd, + At home in peace; abroad, in arms renown'd; + Graceful in form, and winning in address, + While well you think, what aptly you express; + With health, with honour, with a fair estate, + A table free, and elegantly neat. + What can be added more to mortal bliss? + What can he want that stands possest of this? + What can the fondest wishing mother more, + Of heav'n attentive, for her son implore? + And yet, a happiness remains unknown, + Or to philosophy reveal'd alone; + A precept which, unpractis'd, renders vain + Thy flowing hopes, and pleasure turns to pain. + Shou'd hope and fear thy heart alternate tear, + Or love, or hate, or rage, or anxious care, + Whatever passions may thy mind infest, + (Where is that mind which passions ne'er molest?) + Amidst the pangs of such intestine strife, + Still think the present day the last of life; + Defer not 'till to-morrow to be wise, + To-morrow's sun to thee may never rise; + Or shou'd to-morrow chance to chear thy sight, + With her enliv'ning, and unlook'd-for light. + How grateful will appear her dawning rays! + Its favours unexpected doubly please. + Who thus can think, and who such thoughts pursues, + Content may keep his life, or calmly lose. + All proofs of this, thou may'st thyself receive, + When leisure from affairs will give thee leave. + Come, see thy friend retir'd, without regret, + Forgetting care, or striving to forget, + In easy contemplation, soothing time + With morals much, and now and then with rhyme; + Not so robust in body as in mind, + And always undejected, tho' declin'd; + Not wond'ring at the world's new wicked ways, + Compar'd with those of our fore-father's days: + For virtue now is neither more or less, + And vice is only vary'd in the dress: + Believe it, men have ever been the same, + And OVID'S GOLDEN AGE is but a dream. + +We shall conclude the life of this eminent wit, with the testimony +of Mr. Pope in his favour, from the close of his postscript to the +translation of Homer: It is in every respect so honourable, that +it would be injurious to Mr. Congreve to omit it.--His words +are--'Instead of endeavouring to raise a vain monument to myself, let +me leave behind me a memorial of my friendship with one of the most +valuable men, as well as the finest writers of my age and country. +One who has tried, and knows by his own experience, how hard an +undertaking it is to do justice to Homer, and one who I'm sure +sincerely rejoices with me at the period of my labours. To him +therefore, having brought this long work to a conclusion, I desire to +dedicate it, and have the honour and satisfaction of placing together +in this manner, the names of Mr. Congreve and of + +A. POPE. + + +[Footnote A: General Dictionary.] + +[Footnote B: Wilson's Memoirs of Congreve.] + +[Footnote C: Yet Maskwell purposely talks to himself, designing to be +overheard by Lord Touchwood; undoubtedly an error in the conduit, and +want of art in the author. This he seems here to forget, or would not +remember it.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir JOHN VANBRUGH, + + +This Gentleman was descended from an antient family in Cheshire, which +came originally from France; though by the name it would appear to be +of Dutch extraction. He received a very liberal education, and became +eminent for his poetry, and skill in architecture, to both which +he discovered an early propension. It is somewhat remarkable in +the History of Poetry, that when the spirit of Tragedy, in a great +measure, declined, when Otway and Lee were dead, and Dryden was +approaching to old age, that Comedy should then begin to flourish; at +an AEra, which one would not have expected to prove auspicious to the +cause of mirth. + +Much about the same time rose Mr. Congreve, and Sir John Vanbrugh; +who, without any invidious reflection on the genius of others, gave +a new life to the stage, and restored it to reputation, which before +their appearance had been for some time sinking. Happy would it have +been for the world, and some advantage to the memory of those comic +writers, if they had discovered their wit, without any mixture of +that licentiousness, which while it pleased, tended to corrupt +the audience. The first step our author made into life, was in the +character of an ensign in the army. He was possessed of a very ready +wit, and an agreeable elocution. He happened somewhere in his winter +quarters, to contract an acquaintance with Sir Thomas Skipwith, +and received a particular obligation from him. He had very early +discovered a taste for dramatic writing, to improve which he made +some attempts in that way, and had the draft or out-lines of two plays +lying by him, at the time his acquaintance commenced with Sir Thomas. +This gentleman possessed a large share in a Theatrical Patent, though +he very little concerned himself in the conduct of it; but that +he might not appear altogether remiss, he thought to procure some +advantage to the stage, by having our author's play, called the +Relapse, to be acted upon it. In this he was not disappointed, for +the Relapse succeeded beyond the warmest expectation, and raised +Vanbrugh's name very high amongst the writers for the stage. + +Tho' this play met with greater applause, than the author expected, +yet it was not without its enemies. These were people of the graver +sort, who blamed the looseness of the scenes, and the unguarded +freedom of the dialect. These complaints induced Vanbrugh to make some +observations upon them in his preface, which he thus begins, 'To go +about to excuse half the defects this abortive brat is come into the +world with, would be to provoke the town with a long useless preface, +when 'tis, I doubt, sufficiently sour'd already, by a tedious play. + +'I do therefore, with all the humility of a repenting sinner, confess +it wants every thing--but length, and in that I hope the severest +critics will be pleased to acknowledge, I have not been wanting. But +my modesty will sure attone for every thing, when the world shall know +it is so great, I am even to this day insensible of those two shining +graces, in the play (which some part of the town is pleased to +compliment me with) blasphemy and bawdy. For my part I cannot find +them out; if there were any obscene expressions upon the stage, +here they are in print; for I have dealt fairly, I have not sunk a +syllable, that could be ranged under that head, and yet I believe with +a steady faith, there is not one woman of real reputation in town, but +when she has read it impartially over in her closet, will find it so +innocent, she'll think it no affront to her prayer book, to lay it +upon the same shelf.' + +Being encouraged by the success of the Relapse, he yielded to the +sollicitation of lord Hallifax, who had read some of the loose sheets +of his Provok'd Wife, to finish that piece; and after throwing +them into a proper form, gave the play to the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Though Sir John had a greater inclination to +serve the other company, yet the request of lord Hallifax, so eminent +a patron of the poets, could not be resisted. Sir Thomas Skipwith was +not offended at so reasonable a compliance, and the Provok'd Wife was +acted 1698, with success. Some critics likewise objected against this, +as a loose performance; and that it taught the married women how to +revenge themselves on their husbands, who should offend them. + +The play has indeed this moral, that such husbands as resemble Sir +John Brute, may expect that neglected beauty, and abused virtue, may +be provoked to yield to the motives of revenge, and that the forcible +sollicitations of an agreeable person, who not only demonstrates +a value, but a passion for what the possessor slights, may be +sufficiently prevalent with an injured wife to forfeit her honour. + +Though this event may often fall out, that the brutality of a husband +produces the infidelity of a wife, yet it need not be shewn upon the +stage; women are not generally so tame in their natures, as to bear +neglect with patience, and the natural resentments of the human +heart will without any other monitor point out the method of revenge. +Besides, every husband ought not to be deemed a brute, because a too +delicate, or ceremonious wife, shall, in the abundance of her caprice, +bestow upon him that appellation. Many women who have beheld this +representation, may have been stimulated to imitate lady Brute in her +method of revenge, without having suffered her provocation. This play +verifies the observation of Mr. Pope, + + That Van wants grace, who never wanted wit. + +The next play which Sir John Vanbrugh introduced upon the stage +was Aesop, a Comedy; in two Parts, acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Drury-Lane 1698. This was originally written in French, by Mr. +Boursart, about six years before; but the scenes of Sir Polidorus +Hogstye, the Players, the Senator, and the Beau, were added by our +author. This performance contains a great deal of general satire, +and useful morality; notwithstanding which, it met with but a cold +reception from the audience, and its run terminated in about 8 or 9 +days. This seemed the more surprising to men of taste, as the French +comedy from which it was taken, was played to crowded audiences for +a month together. Sir John has rather improved upon the original by +adding new scenes, than suffered it to be diminished in a translation, +but the French and the English. taste was in that particular very +different. We cannot better account for the ill success of this +excellent piece, than in the words of Mr. Cibber's Apology for his own +Life, when speaking of this play, he has the following observation; +'The character that delivers precepts of wisdom, is, in some sort, +severe upon the auditor, for shewing him one wiser than himself; but +when folly is his object, he applauds himself for being wiser than the +coxcomb he laughs at, and who is not more pleased with an occasion to +commend, than to accuse himself?' + +Sir John Vanbrugh, it is said, had great facility in writing, and is +not a little to be admired for the spirit, ease, and readiness, +with which he produced his plays. Notwithstanding his extraordinary +expedition, there is a clear and lively simplicity in his wit, that +is equally distant from the pedantry of learning, and the lowness of +scurrility. As the face of a fine lady, with her hair undressed, may +appear in the morning in its brightest glow of beauty; such were the +productions of Vanbrugh, adorned with only the negligent graces of +nature. + +Mr. Cibber observes, that there is something so catching to the ear, +so easy to the memory in all he wrote, that it was observed by the +actors of his time, that the stile of no author whatsoever gave the +memory less trouble than that of Sir John Vanbrugh, which he himself +has confirmed by a pleasing experience. His wit and humour was so +little laboured, that his most entertaining scenes seemed to be +no more than his common conversation committed to paper. As his +conceptions were so full of life and humour, it is not much to be +wondered at, if his muse should be sometimes too warm to wait the slow +pace of judgment, or to endure the drudgery of forming a regular Fable +to them. + +That Sir John was capable of a great force of thinking, appears +abundantly clear from that scene between Aesop and a country +gentleman, who comes to complain of the bad conduct of those in power. +The dialogue is at once sensible and animated. Aesop shews him what +he reckoned the oppressions of the administration, flowed from the +prejudices of ignorance, contemplated through the medium of popular +discontent. In the interview between the Beau and the Philosopher, +there is the following pretty fable. The Beau observes to Aesop, 'It +is very well; it is very well, old spark; I say it is very well; +because I han't a pair of plod shoes, and a dirty shirt, you think +a woman won't venture upon me for husband.--Why now to shew you, old +father, how little you philosophers know the ladies.--I'll tell you an +adventure of a friend of mine.' + + A Band, a Bob-wig and a Feather + Attack'd a lady's heart together, + The band in a most learned plea, + Made up of deep philosophy, + Told her, if she would please to wed + A reverend beard, and take instead + Of vigorous youth, + Old solemn truth, + With books, and morals into bed, + How happy she would be. + + The Bob, he talk'd of management, + What wond'rous blessings Heav'n sent + On care, and pains, and industry; + And truly he must be so free, + To own he thought your airy beaux, + With powdered wigs, and dancing shoes, + Were good for nothing (mend his soul) + But prate and talk, and play the fool. + + He said, 'twas wealth gave joy, and mirth, + And that to be the dearest wife, + Of one who laboured all his life, + To make a mine of gold his own, + And not spend sixpence when he'd done + Was Heaven upon earth. + + When these two blades had done, d'ye see. + The Feather (as it might be me) + Steps out sir from behind the skreen. + With such an air and such a mien, + Look you, old gentleman, in short, + He quickly spoil'd the statesman's sport. + + It prov'd such sunshine weather, + That you must know at the first beck + The lady leapt about his neck, + And off they went together. + +The reputation which Sir John gained by his comedies was rewarded +with, greater advantages, than what arise from the usual profits of +writing for the stage. He was appointed Clarencieux King at Arms, a +place which he some time held, and at last disposed of. In August 1716 +he was appointed surveyor of the works at Greenwich Hospital; he was +likewise made comptroller-general of his Majesty's works, and surveyor +of the gardens and waters, the profits of which places, collectively +considered, must amount to a very considerable sum. In some part +of our author's life (for we cannot justly ascertain the time) he +gratified an inclination of visiting France. As curiosity no doubt +induced him to pass over to that country, he lost no time in making +such observations as could enable him to discern the spirit, and +genius of that polite people. His taste for architecture excited him +to take a survey of the fortifications in that kingdom; but the ardour +of his curiosity drew him into a snare, out of which he found +great difficulty to escape. When he was one day surveying some +fortifications with the strictest attention, he was taken notice of +by an Engineer, secured by authority, and then carried prisoner to +the Bastile in Paris. The French were confirmed in suspicions of his +design, by several plans being found in his possession at the time +he was seized upon; but as the French, except in cases of Heresy, +use their prisoners with gentleness and humanity, Sir John found +his confinement so endurable, that he amus'd himself in drawing rude +draughts of some comedies. This circumstance raising curiosity in +Paris, several of the noblesse visited him in the Bastile, when Sir +John, who spoke their language with fluency and elegance, insinuated +himself into their favour by the vivacity of his wit, and the +peculiarity of his humour. He gained so much upon their affections, +that they represented him to the French King in an innocent light, and +by that means procured his liberty some days before the sollicitation +came from: England. + +Sir John Vanbrugh formed a project of building a stately theatre +in the Hay-market, for which: he had interest enough, to raise +a subscription of thirty persons of quality at 100 l. each, in +consideration whereof, every subscriber for his own life, should be +admitted to whatever entertainments should be publickly performed +there, without farther payment for entrance. + +On the first stone that was laid in this theatre, were inscribed the +words LITTLE WHIG, as a compliment to a lady of extraordinary beauty, +then the celebrated toast, and pride of that party. In the year 1706 +when this house was finished, Mr. Betterton and his copartners put +themselves under the direction of Sir John Vanbrugh and Mr. Congreve; +imagining that the conduct of two such eminent authors would restore +their ruined affairs; but they found their expectations were too +sanguine, for though Sir John was an expeditious writer, yet Mr. +Congreve was too judicious to let any thing come unfinished out of his +hands; besides, every proper convenience of a good theatre had +been sacrificed to shew the audience a vast triumphal piece of +architecture, in which plays, by means of the spaciousness of the +dome, could not be successfully represented, because the actors could +not be distinctly heard. + +Not long before this time the Italian Opera began to steal into +England, but in as rude a disguise, and as unlike itself as possible; +notwithstanding which the new monster pleaded, though it had neither +grace, melody, nor action to recommend it. To strike in therefore with +the prevailing fashion, Vanbrugh and Congreve opened their New Theatre +in the Hay-market, with a translated Opera, set to Italian music, +called The Triumph of Love, but it met with a cold reception, being +performed only three days, to thin houses. + +Immediately upon the failure of the Opera, Vanbrugh produced his +comedy called The Confederacy, greatly improved from the Bourgois a la +mode of Dancour. The success of this play was not equal to its merit; +for it is written in, an uncommon vein of humour, and abounds with +the most lively strokes of raillery. The prospects of gain from this +theatre were so very unpromising, that Congreve, in a few months, +gave up his share and interest in the government wholly to Sir John +Vanbrugh; who being now sole proprietor of the house, was under a +necessity to exert himself in its support. As he had a happier talent +for throwing the English spirit into his translations of French plays, +than any former author who had borrowed from them, he, in the same +season, gave the public three more of that kind, viz. + +1. The Cuckold in Conceit, from the Cocu imaginaire of Moliere. + +2. Squire Treelooby, from his Monsieur de Pourceaugnac. + +3. The Mistake, from the Depit Amoureux of the same Author[A]. + +However well executed these pieces were, yet they came to the ear in +the same undistinguished utterance, by which almost all their plays +had equally suffered; for as few could plainly hear, it was not likely +a great many would applaud. + +In this situation it appears, that nothing but the union of the two +companies could restore the stage to its former reputation. + +Sir John Vanbrugh therefore, tired of theatrical management, thought +of disposing of his whole farm to some industrious tenant, that might +put it into better condition. It was to Mr. Owen Swiny, that in the +exigence of his affairs, he made an offer of his actors under such +agreements of salary as might be made with them; and of his house, +cloaths, and scenes, with the Queen's license to employ them, upon +payment of the casual rent of five pounds every acting day, and not +to exceed 700 l. per annum. With this proposal Mr. Swiny complied, and +governed that stage till another great theatrical revolution. + +There are two plays of our author not yet mentioned, viz. The False +Friend, a Comedy; acted in 1698, and A Journey to London, a Comedy; +which he left unfinished. This last piece was finished by Mr. Cibber +to a very great advantage, and now is one of the best comedies in our +language. Mr. Cibber, in his prologue, takes particular notice of our +author's virtuous intention in composing this piece, which, he says, +was to make some amends for those loose scenes, which in the fire of +his youth he had with more regard to applause, than virtue, exhibited +to the public: but this design will be best understood by inserting +the prologue. + + PROLOGUE. + + + This play took birth from principles of truth, + To make amends for errors past, of youth. + A bard that's now no more, in riper days, + Conscious review'd the licence of his plays: + And tho' applause his wanton muse had fir'd, + Himself condemn'd what sensual minds admir'd. + At length he own'd that plays should let you see + Not only what you are, but ought to be: + Though vice was natural, 'twas never meant, + The stage should shew it, but for punishment! + Warm with that thought his muse once more took flame, + Resolv'd to bring licentious life to shame. + Such was the piece, his latest pen design'd', + But left no traces of his plan behind. + Luxurious scenes, unprun'd, or half contriv'd; + Yet, through the mass, his native fire surviv'd: + Rough as rich oar, in mines the treasure lay, + Yet still 'twas rich, and forms at length a play. + In which the bold compiler boasts no merit, + But that his pains have sav'd you scenes of spirit. + Not scenes that would a noisy joy impart, + But such as hush the mind, and warm the heart. + From praise of hands, no sure account he draws, + But fix'd attention is, sincere applause. + If then (for hard you'll own the task) his art + Can to those Embrion scenes new life impart; + The living proudly would exclude his lays, + And to the buried bard resign the praise. + +Sir John indeed appears to have been often sensible of the immorality +of his scenes; for in the year 1725 when the company of comedians was +called upon, in a manner that could not be resisted, to revive the +Provok'd Wife, the author, who was conscious how justly it was exposed +to censure, thought proper to substitute a new scene in the fourth +act, in place of another, in which, in the wantonness of his wit +and humour, he had made a Rake talk like a Rake, in the habit of a +Clergyman. To avoid which offence, he put the same Debauchee into the +Undress of a Woman of Quality; for the character of a fine lady, it +seems, is not reckoned so indelibly sacred, as that of a Churchman. +Whatever follies he exposed in the petticoat kept him at least clear +of his former imputed prophaneness, and appeared now to the audience +innocently ridiculous. + +This ingenious dramatist died of a quinsey at his house in Whitehall, +on the 26th of March 1726. He was a man of a lively imagination, of +a facetious, and engaging humour, and as he lived esteemed by all his +acquaintance, so he died without leaving ons enemy to reproach his +memory; a felicity which few men of public employments, or possessed +of so distinguished a genius, ever enjoyed. He has left behind +him monuments of fame, which can never perish but with taste and +politeness. + + +[Footnote A: The two first were never printed from Sir John's +manuscript.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir RICHARD STEELE, Knt. + + +This celebrated genius was born in Ireland. His father being a +counsellor at law, and private secretary to James duke of Ormond, he +went over with his grace to that kingdom, when he was raised to the +dignity of lord lieutenant[A]. Our author when but very young, came +over into England; and was educated at the Charter-House school +in London, where Mr. Addison was his school-fellow, and where they +contracted a friendship which continued firm till the death of that +great man. + +His inclination leading him to the army, he rode for some time +privately in the guards; in which station, as he himself tells us, in +his Apology for his Writings, he first became an author, a way of +life in which the irregularities of youth are considered as a kind of +recommendation. + +Mr. Steele was born with the most violent propension to pleasure, and +at the same time was master of so much good sense, as to be able +to discern the extreme folly of licentious courses, their moral +unfitness, and the many calamities they naturally produce. He +maintained a perpetual struggle between reason and appetite. He +frequently fell into indulgencies, which cost him many a pang of +remorse, and under the conviction of the danger of a vicious life, +he wrote his Christian Hero, with a design to fix upon his own mind a +strong impression of virtue and religion. But this secret admonition +to his conscience he judged too weak, and therefore in the year 1701 +printed the book with his name prefixed, in hopes that a standing +evidence against himself in the eyes of the world, might the more +forcibly induce him to lay a restraint upon his desires, and make him +ashamed of vice, so contrary to his own sense and conviction. + +This piece was the first of any note, and is esteem'd by some as one +of the best of Mr. Steele's works; he gained great reputation by it, +and recommended himself to the regard of all pious and good men. But +while he grew in the esteem of the religious and worthy, he sunk in +the opinion of his old companions in gaiety: He was reckoned by them +to have degenerated from the gay, sprightly companion, to the dull +disagreeable pedant, and they measured the least levity of his words +and actions with the character of a Christian Hero. Thus he found +himself slighted, instead of being encouraged for his declarations +as to religion; but happily those who held him in contempt for his +defence of piety and goodness were characters, with whom to be at +variance is virtue. But Mr. Steele, who could not be content with the +suffrage of the Good only, without the concurrence of the Gay, set +about recovering the favour of the latter by innocent means: He +introduced a Comedy on the stage, called Grief A-la-Mode, in which, +tho' full of incidents that move laughter, and inspire chearfulness, +virtue and vice appear just as they ought to do. This play was acted +at the Theatre in Drury Lane 1702, and as nothing can make the town +so fond of a man, as a successful play; so this, with some other +particulars enlarged on to his advantage, recommended him to king +William, and his name to be provided for was in the last table-book +worn by his majesty. He had before this time procured a captain's +commission in the lord Lucas's regiment, by the interest of lord +Cutts, to whom he dedicated his Christian Hero, and who likewise +appointed him his secretary: His next appearance as a writer, was in +the office of Gazetteer, in which he observes in the same apology for +himself, he worked faithfully, according to order, without ever erring +against the rule observed by all ministers, to keep that paper very +innocent, and insipid. The reproaches he heard every Gazette-day +against the writer of it, inspired him with a fortitude of being +remarkably negligent of what people said, which he did not deserve. In +endeavouring to acquire this negligence, he certainly acted a prudent +part, and gained the most important and leading advantage, with which, +every author should set out. + +Whoever writes for the public, is sure to draw down envy on himself +from some quarter or other, and they who are resolved never to be +pleased, consider him as too assuming, and discover their resentment +by contempt. How miserable is the state of an author! It is his +misfortune in common with the fair sex, + + To please too little, or to please too much. + +If he happens to be a successful writer, his friends who become then +proud of his acquaintance, flatter him, and by soothing his vanity +teach him to overrate his importance, and while he grasps at universal +fame, he loses by too vigorous an effort, what he had acquired by +diligence and application: If he pleases too little, that is, if his +works are not read, he is in a fair way of being a great loser by his +attempt to please. Mr. Steele still continued to write plays. In the +year 1703 his Comedy, entitled the Tender Husband, or the Accomplished +Fools, was acted at the Theatre in Drury-Lane; as his Comedy of +the Lying-Lovers, or the Ladies Friendship, was likewise the year +following, both with success; so that his reputation was now fully +established. + +In the year 1709 he began the Taller, the first of which was published +on Tuesday April the 12th, and the last on Tuesday January the 2d, +1710-11. This paper greatly increasing his fame, he was preferred to +be one of the commissioners of the stamp office. Upon laying down the +Tatler, he set up, in concert with Mr. Addison, the Spectator, which +was continued from March the 1st, 1710-11, to December the 6th 1712; +and resumed June 18th 1714. and continued till December the 20th, the +same year. + +The Guardian was likewise published by them, in 1713, and in the +October of the same year, Mr. Steele began a political paper, entitled +the Englishman. + +In the Spectator, Mr. Steele's papers are marked with the letter T. +and in them are contained the most picturesque descriptions of low +life, of which he was perfect matter. Humour was his talent, though +not so much confined to that cast of writing to be incapable of +painting very tender scenes; witness his Conscious Lovers, which never +fails to draw tears; and in some of his Spectators he has written in +so feeling a manner, that none can read them without emotion. + +He had a strong inclination to find out the humours of low life, and +to make himself master of them. When he was at Edinburgh, as one of +the commissioners on the forfeited estates, he one day made a very +splendid feast, and while his servants were surprized at the great +preparations, and were expecting every moment to carry out his +invitations to the company for whom they imagined it was prepared, he +commanded them to go out to the street, and pick up whatever beggars, +and poor people they saw, and invite them to his house: The servants +obeyed, and Sir Richard soon saw himself at the head of 40 or 50 +beggars, together with some poor decay'd tradesmen. After dinner he +plied them with punch and wine, and when the frolic was ended, he +declared, that besides the pleasure of feeding so many hungry persons, +he had learned from them humour enough for a good comedy. + +Our author was a man of the highest benevolence; he celebrates a +generous action with a warmth that is only peculiar to a good heart; +and however he may be blamed for want of oeconomy, &c. yet was he +the most agreeable, and if we may be allowed the expression, the most +innocent rake, that ever trod the rounds of indulgence. + +He wrote several poetical pieces, particularly the Englishman's thanks +to the duke of Marlborough, printed in 1711; a letter to Sir Miles +Wharton, concerning Occasional Peers, dated March 5th, 1713. The +Guardian of August the 7th, 1713; and the importance of Dunkirk +considered, in defence of that Guardian, in a letter to the bailiff +of Stockbridge: The French Faith represented in the present state of +Dunkirk: The Crisis, a Letter to a Member of Parliament, concerning +the bill to prevent the present Growth of Schism, dated May 28, 1714; +and his Apology for himself and his Writings. + +These pieces shew how much he was displeased with the last measures +of Queen Anne, and were written to combat the Tory ministry; to oppose +which he set about procuring a seat in Parliament; for which purpose +he resigned his place of commissioner of the stamp-office, in June +1713, in a letter to the earl of Oxford, lord high treasurer, and was +chosen member of the House of Commons, for the Borough of Stockbridge. +But he did not long enjoy his seat in that house before he was +expelled, on the 18th of March 1713, for writing the Englishman, being +the close of the paper so called; and the Crisis[B]. + +In 1714 he published the Romish Ecclesiastical History of late years, +and a paper intitled The Lover; the first of which appeared Thursday +February 25, 1714, and another intitled the Reader, which began on +Thursday April 22, the same year. In the sixth Number of this last +paper, he gave an account of his design of writing the History of +the Duke of Marlborough, from proper materials in his custody: the +relation to commence from the date of his grace's commission, as +captain-general, and plenipotentiary; and to end with the expiration +of these commissions. But this noble design he lived not to execute, +and the materials were afterwards returned to the duchess of +Marlborough, who left them to Mr. Mallet, with a handsome gratuity for +the execution of Sir Richard's design. + +Soon after the accession of king George the 1st to the throne, Mr. +Steele was appointed surveyor of the royal stables at Hampton-Court, +and governor of the royal company of Comedians, by a patent, dated +January 19, 1714-15. He was likewise put into the commission of the +peace for the county of Middlesex; and in April 1715 received the +honour of knighthood from his majesty. In the first parliament of that +king, he was chosen for Borough-brigg in Yorkshire; and after the +suppressing the Rebellion in the North, was appointed one of the +commissioners of the forfeited estates in Scotland, where he received +from several of the nobility and gentry of that part of the united +kingdom the most distinguishing marks of respect. He contracted a +friendship while in Scotland, with one Hart, a Presbyterian minister +in Edinburgh, whom he afterwards honoured with his correspondence: +This Hart he used merrily to stile the Hangman of the Gospel, for +though he was a facetious good-natur'd man, yet he had fallen into a +peculiar way of preaching what he called the Terrors of the Law, and +denounced anathemas from the pulpit without reserve. + +Sir Richard held frequent conversations with Hart, and other +ministers, concerning the restoration of episcopacy, the antient +church-government of that nation, and often observed that it was pity, +when the two kingdoms were united in language, in dress, in politics, +and in all essential points, even in religion, should yet be divided +in the ecclesiastical administration, which still serves to maintain a +kind of alienation between the people. He found many of the Scots +well disposed towards prelacy; but the generality, who were taught +to contemplate the church of England, with as much horror as that of +Rome, could not soon be prevailed upon to return to it. + +Sir Richard wished well to the interests of religion, and as he +imagined that Union would promote it, he had some thoughts of +proposing it at court, but the times were unfavourable. The +Presbyterians had lately appeared active against the rebels, and were +not to be disobliged; but such is now the good understanding between +the episcopal and presbyterian parties, that a few concessions on the +one side, and not many advances on the other, possibly might produce +an amicable coalition, as it is chiefly in form, rather than in +articles of religion, in which they differ. + +In the year 1715 he published an account of the state of the Roman +Catholic Religion throughout the World, translated from an Italian +manuscript, with a dedication to the Pope, giving him a very +particular account of the state of religion amongst the Protestants, +and several other matters of importance, relating to Great-Britain; +but this dedication is supposed to be written by another very eminent +hand, more conversant in subjects of that nature than Sir Richard. + +The same year our author published a Letter from the earl of Marr to +the king, before his majesty's arrival in England; with some remarks +on my lord's subsequent conduct; and the year following a second +volume of the Englishman, and in 1718 an account of a Fish-Pool, which +was a project of his for bringing fish to market alive, for which he +obtained a patent. + +In 1719 he published a pamphlet called the Spinster, and a Letter +to the Earl of Oxford, concerning the Bill of Peerage, which bill he +opposed in the House of Commons. Some time after, he wrote against the +South-Sea-Scheme; his Crisis of posterity; and another piece intitled, +A Nation a Family; and on Saturday January the 2d, 1719-20, he began +a paper called the Theatre, during the course of which his patent of +governor of the Royal Company of Comedians, being suspended by his +majesty, he published, The State of the Case. + +In the year 1722, he brought his Conscious Lovers on the stage, with +prodigious success. This is the last and most finished of all Sir +Richard's Comedies, and 'tis doubtful if there is upon the stage, any +more instructing; that tends to convey a finer moral, or is better +conducted in its design. We have already observed, that it is +impossible to witness the tender scenes of this Comedy without +emotion; that is, no man of feeling and humanity, who has experienced +the delicate solicitudes of love and affection, can do it. Sir Richard +has told us, that when one of the players told Mr. Wilks, that there +was a General weeping for Indiana; he politely observed, that he +would not fight the worse for that; and indeed what a noble school +of morality would the stage be, if all those who write for it would +observe such delicate chastity; they would then inforce an honourable +and virtuous deportment, by the most insinuating and easy means; +they would so allure the audience by the amiable form of goodness +represented in her native loveliness, that he who could resist her +charms, must be something more than wicked. + +When Sir Richard finished this Comedy, the parts of Tom and Phillis +were not then in it: He read it to Mr. Cibber, who candidly told him, +that though he liked his play upon the whole, both in the cast of the +characters and execution of them; yet, that it was rather too grave +for an English audience, who want generally to laugh at a Comedy, and +without which in their opinion, the end is not answered. Mr. Cibber +then proposed the addition of some comic characters, with which Sir +Richard agreed, and saw the propriety and force of the observation. +This comedy (at Sir Richard's request) received many additions from, +and were greatly improved by Mr. Cibber.--Our author dedicated this +work to the king, who made him a present of 500 l. + +Some years before his death, he grew paralytic, and retired to his +seat at Langunner, near Caermarthen in Wales, where he died September +the 1st, 1729; and was privately interred according to his own desire, +in the church of Caermarthen. + +Besides his writings above-mentionened, he began on Saturday the 17th +of December, a weekly paper in quarto, called the Town-Talk, in a +letter to a lady in the country; and another, intitled the Tea-Table: +He had likewise planned a comedy which he intended to call The School +of Action.--As Sir Richard was beloved when living, so his loss was +sincerely regretted at his death. He was a man of undissembled, and +extensive benevolence; a friend to the friendless, and as far as his +circumstances would permit, the father of every orphan: His works +are chaste, and manly, he himself admired virtue, and he drew her as +lovely as she is: of his works it may be said, as Sir George Lyttleton +in his prologue to Coriolanus observes of Thomson, that there are not +in them + + One corrupted, one immoral thought, + A line which dying he could wish to blot. + +He was a stranger to the most distant appearance of envy or +malevolence, never jealous of any man's growing reputation, and so far +from arrogating any praise to himself, from his conjunction with Mr. +Addison, that he was the first who desired him to distinguish his +papers in the Spectator, and after the death of that great man was a +faithful executor of his fame, notwithstanding an aspersion which Mr. +Tickell was so unjust to throw upon him. Sir Richard's greatest error +was want of oeconomy, as appears from the two following instances +related by the elegant writer of Mr. Savage's Life, to whom that +gentleman communicated them. + +'Savage was once desired by Sir Richard, with an air of the utmost +importance, to come very early to his house the next morning. Mr. +Savage came as he had promised, found the chariot at the door, and +Sir Richard waiting for him ready to go out. What was intended, and +whither they were to go, Savage could not conjecture, and was not +willing to inquire, but immediately seated himself with Sir Richard: +The coachman was ordered to drive, and they hurried with the utmost +expedition to Hyde-Park Corner, where they stopped at a petty tavern, +and retired to a private room. Sir Richard then informed him, that +he intended to publish a pamphlet, and that he desired him to come +thither, that he might write for him. They soon sat down to the work, +Sir Richard dictated, and Savage wrote, till the dinner which had been +ordered, was put upon the table. Savage was surprised at the meanness +of the entertainment, and after some hesitation, ventured to ask for +wine, which Sir Richard, not without reluctance ordered to be brought. +They then finished their dinner, and proceeded in their pamphlet, +which they concluded in the afternoon. Mr. Savage then imagined his +task over, and expected that Sir Richard would call for the reckoning +and return home; but his expectations deceived him, for Sir Richard +told him he was without money and that the pamphlet must be sold +before the dinner could be paid for; and Savage was therefore obliged +to go and offer their new production to sale for two guineas, which +with some difficulty he obtained. Sir Richard then returned home, +having retired that day only to avoid his creditors, and composed the +pamphlet only to discharge his reckoning.' As Savage has said nothing +to the contrary, it is reasonable to conjecture that he had Sir +Richard's permission to use his name to the Bookseller, to whom he +made an offer of it for two guineas, otherwise it is very improbable +that the pamphlet should be sold at all in so short a time. + +The other instance is equally uncommon with the former: Sir Richard +having incited to his house a great number of persons of the +first quality, they were surprized at the number of liveries which +surrounded the table; and after dinner, when wine and mirth had +set them free from the observation of rigid ceremony, one of them +enquired of Sir Richard, how such an expensive train of domestics +could be consistent with his fortune? Sir Richard frankly confessed, +that they were fellows of whom he would very willingly be rid. And +being then asked why he did not discharge them; he declared that they +were Bailiffs who had introduced themselves with an execution, and +whom, since he could not send them away, he had thought it convenient +to imbellish with liveries, that they might do him credit whilst they +staid. + +His friends were diverted with the expedient, and by paying the debt, +discharged the attendance, having obliged Sir Richard to promise that +they should never find him again graced with a retinue of the same +kind. + +He married to his first wife a gentlewoman of Barbadoes, with whom he +had a valuable Plantation there on the death of her brother, who was +taken by the French at Sea as he was coming to England, and died in +France. This wife dying without issue, he married Mary, the daughter +of Jonathan Scurlock of Langunnoc in Carmarthanshire, esq; by whom he +had one son, Eugene, who died young: of his two daughters, one only is +living; which lady became sole heiress to a handsome estate in Wales. +She was married, when young, to the hon. John Trevor, esq; one of the +judges of the principality of Wales; who since, by the death of his +brother, has taken his seat in the House of Lords, as Baron Trevor, +&c. + + +[Footnote A: General Dictionary, vol. ix, p. 395.] + +[Footnote B: His expulsion was owing to the spleen of the then +prevailing party; what they design'd as a disgrace, prov'd an honour +to him.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ANDREW MARVEL, Esq;[A] + + +This ingenious gentleman was the son of Mr. Andrew Marvel, Minister +and Schoolmaster of Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire, and was born in +that town in the year 1620[B]. He was admitted into Trinity College +in Cambridge December 14, 1633, where he had not been long before his +studies were interrupted by the following accident: + +Some Jesuits with whom he familiarly conversed, observing in him a +genius beyond his years, used their utmost efforts to proselyte him +to their faith, which they imagined they could more easily accomplish +while he was yet young. They so far succeeded as to seduce him +from the college, and carry him to London, where, after some months +absence, his father found him in a Bookseller's shop, and prevailed +upon him to return to the college. + +He afterwards pursued his studies with the most indefatigable +application, and in the year 1638, took the degree of bachelor of +arts, and the same year was admitted scholar of the house, that is, +of the foundation at Trinity College[C]. We have no farther account of +him for several years after this, only that he travelled through +the most polite parts of the world, but in what quality we are not +certain, unless in that of secretary to the embassy at Constantinople. + +While our author was in France, he wrote his poem entitled Cuidam, qui +legendo Scripturam, descripsit Formam, Sapientiam, Sortemque Authoris. +Illustrissimo Viro Domino Lanceloto Josepho de Maniban Grammatomanti. + +The person to whom he addresses these verses was an Abbot, famous +for entering into the qualities of those whom he had never seen, and +prognosticating their good, or bad fortune from an inspection of their +hand-writing. + +During the troubles of the Republic we find him tutor to one Mr. +Dutton, a young gentleman; as appears from an original letter of his +to Oliver Cromwel. This letter sent to so extraordinary a person by +a man of Mr. Marvel's consequence, may excite the reader's curiosity, +with which, he shall be gratified. It carries in it much of that +stiffness and pedantry peculiar to the times, and is very different +from the usual stile of our author. + + +'May it please your LORDSHIP, + +'It might perhaps seem fit for me to seek out words to give your +excellence thanks for myself. But indeed the only civility, which it +is fit for me to practise with so eminent a person, is to obey +you, and to perform honestly this work which you have set me about. +Therefore I shall use the time that your lordship is pleased to allow +me for writing, only to that purpose for which you have given me it, +that is to render you some account of Mr. Dutton. I have taken care +to examine him several times in the presence of Mr. Oxenbridge[D], as +those who weigh and tell over money, before some witnesses e'er they +take charge of it; for I thought that there might be possibly some +lightness in the coin, or error in the telling, which hereafter I +might be bound to make good. Therefore Mr. Oxenbridge is the best to +make your excellence an impartial relation thereof; I shall only say, +that I shall strive according to my best understanding to increase +whatsoever talent he may have already. Truly he is of a gentle, and +waxen disposition; and, God be praised, I cannot say that he hath +brought with him any evil impression; and I hope to set nothing upon +his spirit, but what shall be of a good sculpture. He hath in him two +things, which make youth most easily to be managed, modesty, which is +the bridle to vice, and emulation, which is the spur to virtue. And +the care which your excellency is pleased to take of him, is no small +encouragement, and shall be represented to him; but above all, I shall +labour to make him sensible of his duty to God, for then we begin to +serve faithfully, when we consider that he is our master; and in this +both he and I owe infinitely to your lordship, for having placed in so +godly a family as that of Mr. Oxenbridge, whose doctrine and +example are like a book and a map, not only instructing the ear, but +demonstrating to the eye which way we ought to travel. I shall upon +occasion henceforward inform your excellency of any particularities +in our little affairs. I have no more at present but to give thanks to +God for your lordship, and to beg grace of him, to approve myself. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Marvel's first appearance in public business at home, was, in +being assistant to Milton as Latin secretary to the Protector. He +himself tells us, in a piece called The Rehearsal Transposed, that +he never had any, not the remotest relation to public matters, nor +correspondence with the persons then predominant, until the year 1657, +when indeed, says he, 'I entered into an employment, for which I +was not altogether improper, and which I considered to be the most +innocent, and inoffensive towards his Majesty's affairs of any in that +usurped, and irregular government, to which all men were then exposed; +and this I accordingly discharged, without disobliging any one person, +there having been opportunities, and endeavours since his Majesty's +happy return, to have discovered, had it been otherwise.' + +A little before the Restoration, he was chosen by his native +town, Kingston upon Hull, to sit in that Parliament which began at +Westminster April 25, 1660, and again after the Restoration for that +which began at the same place May 8, 1661. In this station our author +discharged his trust with the utmost fidelity, and always shewed a +peculiar regard for those he represented; for he constantly sent the +particulars of every proceeding in the House, to the heads of the town +for which he was elected; and to those accounts he always joined +his own opinion. This respectful behaviour gained so much on their +affections, that they allowed him an honourable pension to his death, +all which time he continued in Parliament. Mr. Marvel was not endowed +with the gift of eloquence, for he seldom spoke in the house; but was +however capable of forming an excellent judgment of things, and was so +acute a discerner of characters, that his opinion was greatly valued, +and he had a powerful influence over many of the Members without +doors. Prince Rupert particularly esteemed him, and whenever he voted +agreeable to the sentiments of Mr. Marvel, it was a saying of the +opposite party, he has been with his tutor. The intimacy between this +illustrious foreigner, and our author was so great, that when it was +unsafe for the latter to have it known where he lived, on account of +some mischief which was threatened him, the prince would frequently +visit him in a disguised habit. Mr. Marvel was often in such danger of +assassination, that he was obliged to have his letters directed to him +in another name, to prevent any discovery that way. He made himself +obnoxious to the government, both by his actions, and writings; and +notwithstanding his proceedings were all contrary to his private +interest, nothing could ever make his resolution, of which the +following is a notable instance, and transmits our author's name with +lustre to posterity. + +One night he was entertained by the King, who had often been delighted +with his company: his Majesty next day sent the lord treasurer Danby +to find out his lodging; Mr. Marvel, then rented a room up two pair of +stairs, in a little court in the Strand, and was writing when the lord +treasurer opened the door abruptly upon him. Surprized at the sight +of so unexpected a visitor, Mr. Marvel told his lordship, that he +believed he had mistaken his way; the lord Danby replied, not now I +have found Mr. Marvel: telling him that he came with a message from +his Majesty, which was to know what he could do to serve him? his +answer was, in his usual facetious manner, that it was not in his +Majesty's power to serve him: but coming to a serious explanation of +his meaning, he told the lord treasurer, that he well knew the nature +of courts, and that whoever is distinguished by a Prince's favour, is +certainly expected to vote in his interest. The lord Danby told him, +that his Majesty had only a just sense of his merits, in regard to +which alone, he desired to know whether there was any place at +court he could be pleased with. These offers, though, urged with +the greatest earnestness, had no effect upon him; he told the lord +treasurer, that he could not accept it with honour, for he must either +be ungrateful to the King by voting against him, or betray his country +by giving his voice against its interest, at least what he reckoned +so. The only favour therefore which he begged of his Majesty, was, +that he would esteem him as dutiful a subject as any he had, and +more in his proper interest in rejecting his offers, than if he had +embraced them. The lord Danby finding no arguments would prevail, told +him, the King had ordered a thousand pounds for him, which he hoped he +would accept, 'till he could think what farther to ask of his Majesty. +This last temptation was refused with the same stedfastness of mind as +the first. + +The reader must have already taken notice that Mr. Marvel's chief +support was the pension allowed him by his constituents, that his +lodgings, were mean, and consequently his circumstances at this time +could not be affluent. His resisting these temptations therefore in +such a situation, was perhaps one of the most heroic instances of +patriotism the Annals of England can furnish. But his conduct will be +still heightened into a more amiable light, when it is related, that +as soon as the lord treasurer had taken his leave, he was obliged to +send to a friend to borrow a guinea. As the most powerful allurements +of riches, and honour, could never seduce him to relinquish the +interest of his country, so not even the most immense dangers could +deter him from pursuing it. In a private letter to a friend from +Highgate, in which he mentions the insuperable hatred of his foes to +him, and their design of murthering him, he has these words; Praeterea +magis eccidere metuo quam occidi, non quod vitam tanti aestimem, sed +ne imparatus moriar, i.e., 'Besides, I am more apprehensive of killing, +than being killed, not that I value life so much, but that I may not +die unprepared.' Mr. Marvel did not remain an unconcerned member of +the state, when he saw encroachments made upon it both by the civil, +and ecclesiastical powers. He saw that some of the bishops had formed +an idea of protestantism very different from the true one, and +were making such advances towards popery, as would soon issue in a +reconciliation. Amongst these ecclesiastics, none was so forward +as Dr. Samuel Parker, who published at London 1672 in 8vo. bishop +Bramhal's Vindication of himself, and the Episcopal Clergy, from the +Presbyterian charge of Popery, as it is managed by Mr. Baxter in his +Treatise on the Grotian Religion. Dr. Parker likewise preached up +the doctrine of Non-resistance, which slavish principle is admirably +calculated to prepare the people for receiving any yoke. Marvel, whose +talent consisted in drollery, more than in serious reasoning, took +his own method of exposing those opinions. He wrote a piece called +The Rehearsal Transposed, in which he very successfully ridiculed Dr. +Parker. This ludicrous essay met with several answers, some serious, +and others humorous; we shall not here enumerate all the Rejoinders, +Replies, and Animad-versions upon it. Wood himself confesses, who was +an avowed enemy to Marvel, 'that Dr. Parker judged it more prudent +rather to lay down the cudgels, than to enter the lists again, with an +untowardly combatant, so hugely well versed, and experienced, in +the then newly refined art of sporting, and jeering buffoonery.' +And bishop Burnet tells us in the History of his own Time, 'That +Dr. Parker, after he had for some years entertained the nation with +several virulent books, was attacked by the liveliest droll of +the age, who wrote in a burlesque stile, but with so peculiar, and +entertaining a conduct, that from the King down to the tradesman, his +book was read with great pleasure. This not only humbled Parker, but +the whole party, for the author of The Rehearsal Transposed, had all +the men of wit on his side.' Dr. Swift likewise in his Apology for +the Tale of a Tub, speaking of the usual fate of common answerers to +books, and how short-lived their labours are, observes, 'That there is +indeed an exception, when any great genius thinks it worth his while +to expose a foolish piece; so we still read Marvel's answer to Parker +with pleasure, though the book it answers be sunk long ago.' + +The next controversy in which we find Mr. Marvel engaged, was with +an antagonist of the pious Dr. Croft, bishop of Hereford, who wrote a +discourse entitled The Naked Truth, or A True State of the Primitive +Church: By an humble Moderator. Dr. Turner, fellow of St. John's +College, wrote Animadversions upon this book; Mr. Marvel's answer to +these Animadversions, was entitled Mr. Smirk, or The Divine in Mode; +being certain Annotations upon the Animadversions on The Naked Truth, +together with a Short Historical Essay concerning General Councils, +Creeds, and Impositions in Matters of Religion, printed 1676. + +Our author's next work was An Account of the Growth of Popery, and +Arbitrary Government in England; more particularly from the long +prorogation of November 1675, ending February 15, 1676, 'till the +meeting of Parliament July 15, 1677, printed in folio 1678. Our author +in a letter dated June 10, 1678, wrote thus; 'There came out about +Christmas last here, a large book concerning the Growth of Popery, +and Arbitrary Government. There have been great rewards offered in +private, and considerable, in the Gazette, to any, who would inform of +the author, and Printer, but not yet discovered. Three or four printed +books since have described (as near as was proper to go, the man being +a member of Parliament) Mr. Marvel to be the author, but if he had, he +surely could not have escaped being questioned in Parliament, or 'Some +other place.' This book was so offensive to the court at that time, +that an order was published in these words, + +'Whereas there have been lately printed, and published several +seditious, and scandalous libels against the proceedings of both +Houses of Parliament, and other his Majesty's Courts of Justice, +to the dishonour of his Majesty's government, and the hazard of the +public peace, these are to give notice, that what person soever shall +discover unto one of the secretaries of state, the printer, publisher, +author, or hander to the press of any of the said libels, so that +full evidence may be made thereof to a Jury, without mentioning the +informer, especially one libel, entitled An Account of the Growth +of Popery; and another called A Reasonable Argument to all the Grand +Juries, &c. the discoverer shall be rewarded as follows; he shall +have fifty pounds for such discovery as aforesaid, of the printer or +publisher of it from the press, and for the hander of it to the press, +one hundred pounds.' + +Mr. Marvel begins this book with a panegyric on the constitution of +the English government, shewing how happy the people are under such +wholesome laws, which if faithfully observed, must make a people +happy, and a monarch great. He observes, that the king and the subject +are equally under the laws; and that the former is no longer king than +he continues to obey them. 'So that, says he, the kings of England, +are in nothing inferior to other princes, save in being more abridg'd +from injuring their own subjects, but have as large a field as any of +external felicity, wherein to exercise their own virtue, and to reward +and encourage it in others. In short there is nothing that comes +nearer the divine perfection, than when the monarch, as with us, +enjoys a capacity of doing all the good imaginable to mankind, under a +disability of all that is evil.' + +After slightly tracing popery from earlier times, he begins with the +Dutch war in 1665; but dwells most upon the proceedings at Rome, from +November 1675, to July 1677. He relates the occasion of the Dutch war, +shews that the papists, and the French in particular, were the true +springs of all our councils; and draws the following picture of +popery. + +'It is such a thing, as cannot but for want of a word to express it, +be called a religion; nor is it to be mentioned with that civility, +which is otherwise decent to be used in speaking of the differences of +human opinions about divine matters; were it either open Juadism, +or plain Turkery, or, there is yet a certain Bona Fides in the most +extravagant belief, and the sincerity of an erroneous profession may +render it more pardonable: But this is a compound of all the three, +an extract of whatever is most ridiculous or impious in them, +incorporated with more peculiar absurdities of its own, in which those +were deficient; and all this deliberately contrived, and knowingly +carried on, by the solid imposture of priests, under the name of +Christianity.' + +This great man died, not without strong suspicions of being poisoned, +August 16, 1678, in the 58th year of his age, and was interred in the +church of St. Giles's in the Fields; and in the year 1688 the town of +Kingston upon Hull contributed a sum of money to erect a monument over +him, in St. Giles's church, for which an epitaph was composed by an +able hand; but the minister of that church, piously forbad both the +inscription and monument to be placed there. + +Mr. Wood tells us, that in his conversation, he was very modest, and +of few words; and Mr. Cooke observes, 'that he was very reserved among +people he did not very well know; but a most delightful, and improving +companion amongst his friends.' + +In the year 1680, his miscellaneous poems were published, to which +is prefixed this advertisement. 'These are to certify every ingenious +reader, that all these poems, as also the other things in this book +contained, are printed according to the exact copies of my late dear +husband, under his own hand writing, both found since his death, among +his other papers. + +Witness my hand, + +MARY MARVEL. + +But Mr. Cooke informs us, 'that these were published with a mercenary +view; and indeed not at all to the honour of the deceased, by a woman +with whom he lodged, who hoped by this stratagem to share in what he +left behind him.' + +He was never married, and the same gentleman observes in another +place, that in the editions of 1681, there are such gross errors, +especially in the Latin Poems, as make several lines unintelligible; +and that in the volume of Poems on Affairs of State, the same mistakes +are as frequent; and in those, some pieces are attributed to our +author, which he never wrote. Most of his Poems printed in Dryden's +Miscellanies are so imperfect, that whole stanzas are omitted in many +places. + +These Mr. Cooke has restored in his edition of the works of Andrew +Marvel, Esq; printed at London 1725, in two volumes, and corrected +such faults as in either of the two former editions obscure the sense: +in this edition are also added, some poems from original manuscripts. +Great care has likewise been taken by Mr. Cooke, to retrench such +pieces as he was sure were not genuine. + +Mr. Marvel, considered as a statesman, makes a more conspicuous +figure than any of the age in which he lived, the proceeding, or the +subsequent: He possessed the first quality of a statesman, that is, +inviolable integrity, and a heart so confirmed against corruption, +that neither indigence, a love of pomp or even dangers the most +formidable, could move his settled purpose, to pursue in every +respect, the interest of his country. + +That Marvel understood the true interest of his country, is abundantly +clear, from the great reverence paid to his opinion, by such persons +as were most able to discern, and most disposed to promote its +welfare. He has succeeded to a miracle in the droll way of writing; +and when he assumes a severity, and writes seriously his arguments and +notions are far removed from imbecility. + +As a poet, I cannot better delineate his character than in the words +of Mr. Cooke, 'There are few of his poems (says he) that have not +something very pleasing in them, and some he must be allowed to have +excelled in; most of them seem to be the effect of a lively genius, +and manly sense, but at the same time seem to want that correctness +he was capable of making. His most finished pieces are upon Milton's +Paradise Lost, and upon Blood's stealing the crown; the latter of +which is very satirical.' + + On BLOOD's stealing the Crown. + + + When daring Blood, his rent to have regain'd, + Upon the English diadem distrain'd; + He chose the cassoc, circingle, and gown, + The fittest mask for one that robs the crown: + But his lay-pity underneath prevail'd, + And, while he sav'd the keeper's life, he fail'd. + With the priest's vestment had he but put on + The prelate's cruelty, the crown had gone. + +'In his state Poems, is contained much of the secret history of +king Charles the IId, in which time they were all written. They +were composed on various occasions, and chiefly to expose a corrupt +ministry, and the violence of those who were for persecuting all who +differed from them in opinion. He has several Poems in Latin, some +of which he translated into English, and one in Greek. They have each +their proper merit; he discovers a great facility in writing the Latin +tongue. There are some small pieces of his in prose, which ought not +to escape observation. From his letter to Sir John Trott, there seems +to have been a friendly correspondence between him and that gentleman. +By his Familiar Letters, we may easily judge what part of his works +are laboured, and what not. But of all his pieces in Prose, the King's +Mock-Speech to both Houses of Parliament, has most of spirit, and +humour. As it will furnish the best specimen of Mr. Marvel's genius +for drollery, as well as the character of that prince and ministry, we +shall here insert it, as a performance of the most exquisite humour we +have ever seen. + + His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both + Houses of Parliament. + + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + 'I told you, at our last meeting, the winter was + the fittest time for business, and truly I thought + so, till my lord treasurer assured me the spring was + the best season for sallads and subsidies. I hope + therefore, that April will not prove so unnatural a + month, as not to afford some kind showers on my + parched exchequer, which gapes for want of them. + Some of you, perhaps, will think it dangerous to + make me too rich; but I do not fear it; for I promise + you faithfully, whatever you give me I will + always want; and although in other things my + word may be thought a slender authority, yet in + that, you may rely on me, I will never break it. + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + I can bear my straits with patience; but my lord + treasurer does protest to me, that the revenue, as it + now stands, will not serve him and me too. One + of us must suffer for it, if you do not help me. I + must speak freely to you, I am under bad circumstances, + for besides my harlots in service, my Reformado + Concubines lie heavy upon me. I have a + passable good estate, I confess, but, God's-fish, I + have a great charge upon't. Here's my lord treasurer + can tell, that all the money designed for next + summer's guards must, of necessity, be applyed to + the next year's cradles and swadling-cloths. What + shall we do for ships then? I hint this only to you, + it being your business, not mine. I know, by experience, + I can live without ships. I lived ten years + abroad without, and never had my health better in + my life; but how you will be without, I leave to + yourselves to judge, and therefore hint this only by + the by: I do not insist upon it. There's another + thing I must press more earnestly, and that is this: + It seems, a good part of my revenue will expire in + two or three years, except you will be pleased to + continue it. I have to say for't; pray why did you + give me so much as you have done, unless you resolve + to give as fast as I call for it? The nation + hates you already for giving so much, and I'll hate + you too, if you do not give me more. So that if + you stick not to me, you must not have a friend in + England. On the other hand, if you will give me + the revenue I desire, I shall be able to do those + things for your religion and liberty, that I have had + long in my thoughts, but cannot effect them without + a little more money to carry me through. + Therefore look to't, and take notice, that if you + do not make me rich enough to undo you, it shall + lie at your doors. For my part, I wash my hands + on't. But that I may gain your good opinion, the + best way is to acquaint you what I have done to deserve + it, out of my royal care for your religion and + your property. For the first, my proclamation is a + true picture of my mind. He that cannot, as in a + glass, see my zeal for the church of England, does + not deserve any farther satisfaction, for I declare + him willful, abominable, and not good. Some + may, perhaps, be startled, and cry, how comes + this sudden change? To which I answer, I am a + changling, and that's sufficient, I think. But to + convince men farther, that I mean what I say, there + are these arguments. + + First, I tell you so, and you know I never break + my word. + + Secondly, my lord treasurer says so, and he never + told a lye in his life. + + Thirdly, my lord Lauderdale will undertake it + for me; and I should be loath, by any art of mine, + he should forfeit the credit he has with you. + + If you desire more instances of my zeal, I have + them for you. For example, I have converted my + natural sons from Popery; and I may say, without + vanity, it was my own work, so much the more + peculiarly mine than the begetting them. 'Twould + do one's heart good to hear how prettily George can + read already in the Psalter. They are all fine children, + God bless 'em, and so like me in their understandings! + But, as I was saying, I have, to please + you, given a pension to your favourite, my lord + Lauderdale; not so much that I thought he wanted + it, as that you would take it kindly. I have made + Carwel duchess of Portsmouth, and marry'd her + sister to the earl of Pembroke. I have, at my brother's + request, lent my lord Inchequin into Barbary, + to settle the Protestant religion among the Moors, + and an English interest at Tangier. I have made + Crew bishop of Durham, and, at the first word of + my lady Portsmouth, Prideaux bishop of Chichester. + I know not, for my part, what factious men would + have; but this I am sure of, my predecessors never + did any thing like this, to gain the good-will of their + subjects. So much for your religion, and now for + your property. My behaviour to the bankers is + a public instance; and the proceedings between + Mrs. Hyde and Mrs. Sutton, for private ones, are + such convincing evidences, that it will be needless + to say any more to't. + + I must now acquaint you, that, by my lord treasurer's + advice, I made a considerable retrenchment + upon my expences in candies and charcoal, and do + not intend to stop there, but will, with your help, + look into the late embezzlements of my dripping-pans + and kitchenstuff; of which, by the way, upon + my conscience, neither my lord treasurer, nor my + lord Lauderdale, are guilty. I tell you my opinion; + but if you should find them dabling in that business, + I tell you plainly, I leave 'em to you; for, I would + have the world to know, I am not a man to be + cheated. + + My Lords and Gentlemen, + + I desire you to believe me as you have found me; + and I do solemnly promise you, that whatsoever + you give me shall be specially managed with the + same conduct, trust, sincerity, and prudence, that + I have ever practiced, since my happy restoration.' + +In order to shew the versification of Mr. Marvel, we shall add a +beautiful dialogue between the resolved soul, and created pleasure. It +is written with a true spirit of poetry, the numbers are various, +and harmonious, and is one of the best pieces, in the serious way, of +which he is author. + + A DIALOGUE between the Resolved SOUL + and Created PLEASURE. + + + Courage, my Soul, now learn to weild + The weight of thine immortal shield. + Close on thy head thy helmet bright; + Ballance thy sword against the fight. + See where an army, strong as fair, + With silken banners spreads the air. + Now, if thou be'st that thing divine, + In this day's combat let it shine; + And shew that nature wants an art + To conquer one resolved heart. + + PLEASURE. + + Welcome the creation's guest, + Lord of earth, and heaven's heir; + Lay aside that warlike crest, + And of nature's banquet share: + Where the Souls of fruits and flow'rs, + Stand prepar'd to heighten yours. + + SOUL. + + I sup above, and cannot stay, + To bait so long upon the way. + + PLEASURE. + + On these downy pillows lye, + Whose soft plumes will thither fly: + On these roses, strew'd so plain + Lest one leaf thy side should strain. + SOUL. + + My gentler rest is on a thought, + Conscious of doing what I ought. + + PLEASURE. + + If thou be'st with perfumes pleas'd, + Such as oft the gods appeas'd, + Thou in fragrant clouds shalt show + Like another god below. + + SOUL. + + A Soul that knows not to presume, + Is heaven's, and its own, perfume. + + PLEASURE. + + Every thing does seem to vye + Which should first attract thine eye; + But since none deserves that grace, + In this crystal view thy face. + + SOUL. + + When the creator's skill is priz'd, + The rest is all but earth disguis'd. + + PLEASURE. + + Hark how music then prepares, + For thy stay, these charming airs; + Which the posting winds recall, + And suspend the river's fall. + SOUL. + + Had I but any time to lose, + On this I would it all dispose. + Cease Tempter. None can chain a mind, + Whom this sweet cordage cannot bind. + + CHORUS. + + Earth cannot shew so brave a sight, + As when a single Soul does fence + The batt'ry of alluring sense, + And Heaven views it with delight. + Then persevere; for still new charges sound; + And if thou overcom'st thou shalt be crown'd. + + PLEASURE. + + All that's costly, fair, and sweet, + Which scatteringly doth shine, + Shall within one beauty meet, + And she be only thine. + + SOUL. + + If things of sight such heavens be, + What heavens are those we cannot see? + + PLEASURE. + + Wheresoe'er thy foot shall go + The minted gold shall lye; + Till thou purchase all below, + And want new worlds to buy. + + SOUL. + + Wer't not for price who'd value gold? + And that's worth nought that can be sold. + + PLEASURE. + + Wilt thou all the glory have + That war or peace commend? + Half the world shall be thy slave, + The other half thy friend. + + SOUL. + + What friends, if to my self untrue? + What slaves, unless I captive you? + + PLEASURE. + + Thou shalt know each hidden cause; + And see the future time: + Try what depth the centre draws; + And then to heaven climb. + + SOUL. + + None thither mounts by the degree + Of knowledge, but humility. + + CHORUS. + + Triumph, triumph, victorious Soul; + The world has not one pleasure more; + The rest does lye beyond the pole, + And is thine everlasting store. + +We shall conclude the life of Mr. Marvel, by presenting the reader +with that epitaph, which was intended to be inscribed upon his tomb, +in which his character is drawn in a very masterly manner. + + Near this place + Lieth the body of ANDREW MARVEL, Esq; + A man so endowed by nature, + So improved by education, study, and travel, + So consummated, by experience and learning; + That joining the most peculiar graces of wit + With a singular penetration and strength of judgment, + And exercising all these in the whole course of his life, + With unalterable steadiness in the ways of virtue, + He became the ornament and example of his age, + Beloved by good men, fear'd by bad, admired by all, + Tho' imitated, alas! by few; + And scarce paralleled by any. + But a tombstone can neither contain his character, + Nor is marble necessary to transmit it to posterity. + It is engraved in the minds of this generation, + And will be always legible in his inimitable writings. + Nevertheless + He having served near twenty-years successively in + parliament, + And that, with such wisdom, integrity, dexterity, + and courage, + As became a true patriot, + The town of Kingiton upon Hull, + From whence he was constantly deputed to that + Assembly, + Lamenting in his death the public loss, + Have erected this monument of their grief and + gratitude, + 1688. + + He died in the 58th year of his age + On the 16th day of August 1678. + + Heu fragile humanum genus! heu terrestria vana! + Heu quem spectatum continet urna virum! + + +[Footnote A: A disappointment occasioned our throwing this life out +of the chronlogical order. But we hope the candid reader will pardon +a fault of this kind: we only wish he may find nothing of more +consequence to accuse us of.] + +[Footnote B: Cook's Life of Andrew Marvel, Esq; prefixed to the first +volume of Mr. Marvel's Works, London 1726.] + +[Footnote C: Life ubi supri.] + +[Footnote D: Mr. John Oxenbridge, who was made fellow of Eton College +curing the civil war, but ejected at the Restoration; he died in New +England, and was a very enthusiastic person.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. ELIZABETH THOMAS, + + +This lady, who is known in the world by the poetial name of Corinna, +seems to have been born for misfortunes; her very bitterest enemies +could never brand her with any real crime, and yet her whole life +has been one continued scene of misery[A]. The family from which she +sprung was of a rank in life beneath envy, and above contempt. She was +the child of an ancient, and infirm parent, who gave her life when +he was dying himself, and to whose unhappy constitution she was sole +heiress. From her very birth, which happened 1675, she was afflicted +with fevers and defluxions, and being over-nursed, her constitution +was so delicate and tender, that had she not been of a gay +disposition, and possessed a vigorous mind, she must have been more +unhappy than she actually was. Her father dying when she was scarce +two years old, and her mother not knowing his real circumstances, as +he was supposed from the splendour of his manner of life to be very +rich, some inconveniencies were incurred, in bestowing upon him a +pompous funeral, which in those times was fashionable. The mother of +our poetess, in the bloom of eighteen, was condemned to the arms of +this man, upwards of 60, upon the supposition of his being wealthy, +but in which she was soon miserably deceived. When the grief, which +so young a wife may be supposed to feel for an aged husband, had +subsided, she began to enquire into the state of his affairs, and +found to her unspeakable mortification, that he died not worth one +thousand pounds in the world. As Mrs. Thomas was a woman of good +sense, and a high spirit, she disposed of two houses her husband kept, +one in town, the other in the county of Essex, and retired into a +private, but decent country lodging. The chambers in the Temple her +husband possessed, she sold to her brother for 450 l. which, with her +husband's books of accounts, she lodged in her trustee's hands, who +being soon after burnt out by the fire in the paper buildings in the +temple (which broke out with such violence in the dead of night, that +he saved nothing but his life) she lost considerably. Not being +able to make out any bill, she could form no regular demand, and was +obliged to be determined by the honour of her husband's clients, who +though persons of the first fashion, behaved with very little honour +to her. The deceased had the reputation of a judicious lawyer, and +an accomplished gentleman, but who was too honest to thrive in his +profession, and had too much humanity ever to become rich. Of all +his clients, but one lady behaved with any appearance of honesty. The +countess dowager of Wentworth having then lost her only daughter the +lady Harriot (who was reputed the mistress of the duke of Monmouth) +told Mrs. Thomas, 'that she knew she had a large reckoning with the +deceased, but, says she, as you know not what to demand, so I know +not what to pay; come, madam, I will do better for you than a random +reckoning, I have now no child, and have taken a fancy to your +daughter; give me the girl, I will breed her as my own, and provide +for her as such when I die.' The widow thank'd her ladyship, but with +a little too much warmth replied, 'she would not part with her child +on any terms;' which the countess resented to such a degree, that she +would never see her more, and dying in a few years, left 1500 l. per +annum inheritance, at Stepney, to her chambermaid. + +Thus were misfortunes early entailed upon this lady. A proposal which +would have made her opulent for life, was defeated by the unreasonable +fondness of her mother, who lived to suffer its dismal consequences, +by tasting the bitterest distresses. We have already observed, that +Mrs. Thomas thought proper to retire to the country with her daughter. +The house where she boarded was an eminent Cloth-worker's in the +county of Surry, but the people of the house proved very disagreeable. +The lady had no conversation to divert her; the landlord was an +illiterate man, and the rest of the family brutish, and unmannerly. +At last Mrs. Thomas attracted the notice of Dr. Glysson, who observing +her at church very splendidly dressed, sollicited her acquaintance. He +was a valuable piece of antiquity, being then, 1684, in the hundredth +year of his age. His person was tall, his bones very large, his hair +like snow, a venerable aspect, and a complexion, which might shame +the bloom of fifteen. He enjoyed a sound judgment, and a memory so +tenacious, and clear, that his company was very engaging. His visits +greatly alleviated the solitude of this lady. The last visit he +made to Mrs. Thomas, he drew on, with much attention, a pair of +rich Spanish leather gloves, embost on the backs, and tops with gold +embroidery, and fringed round with gold plate. The lady could not help +expressing her curiosity, to know the history of those gloves, which +he seemed to touch with so much respect. He answered, 'I do respect +them, for the last time I had the honour of approaching my mistress, +Queen Elizabeth, she pulled them from her own Royal hands, saying, +here Glysson, wear them for my sake. I have done so with veneration, +and never drew them on, but when I had a mind to honour those whom +I visit, as I now do you; and since you love the memory of my Royal +mistress, take them, and preserve them carefully when I am gone.' The +Dr. then went home, and died in a few days. + +This gentleman's death left her again without a companion, and an +uneasiness hung upon her, visible to the people of the house; who +guessing the cause to proceed from solitude, recommended to her +acquaintance another Physician, of a different cast from the former. +He was denominated by them a conjurer, and was said to be capable +of raising the devil. This circumstance diverted Mrs. Thomas, who +imagined, that the man whom they called a conjurer, must have more +sense than they understood. The Dr. was invited to visit her, and +appeared in a greasy black Grogram, which he called his Scholar's +Coat, a long beard, and other marks of a philosophical negligence. +He brought all his little mathematical trinkets, and played over his +tricks for the diversion of the lady, whom, by a private whisper, he +let into the secrets as he performed them, that she might see there +was nothing of magic in the case. The two most remarkable articles of +his performance were, first lighting a candle at a glass of cold water +(performed by touching the brim before with phosphorus, a chymical +fire which is preserved in water and burns there) and next reading +the smallest print by a candle of six in the pound, at a hundred yards +distance in the open air, and darkest night. This was performed by a +large concave-glass, with a deep pointed focus, quick-silvered on the +backside and set in tin, with a socket for a candle, sconce fashion, +and hung up against a wall. While the flame of the candle was +diametrically opposite to the centre, the rays equally diverging, gave +so powerful a light as is scarce credible; but on the least variation +from the focus, the charm ceased. The lady discerning in this man a +genius which might be improved to better purposes than deceiving +the country people, desired him not to hide his talents, but to push +himself in the world by the abilities of which he seemed possessed. +'Madam, said he, I am now a fiddle to asses, but I am finishing a +great work which will make those asses fiddle to me.' She then asked +what that work might be? He replied, 'his life was at stake if it took +air, but he found her a lady of such uncommon candour, and good sense, +that he should make no difficulty in committing his life and hope +to her keeping.' All women are naturally fond of being trusted with +secrets; this was Mrs. Thomas's failing: the Dr. found it out, and +made her pay dear for her curiosity. 'I have been, continued he, many +years in search of the Philosopher's Stone, and long master of the +smaragdine-table of Hermes Trismegistus; the green and red dragons of +Raymond Lully have also been obedient to me, and the illustrious sages +themselves deign to visit me; yet is it but since I had the honour to +be known to your ladyship, that I have been so fortunate as to obtain +the grand secret of projection. I transmuted some lead I pulled off +my window last night into this bit of gold.' Pleased with the sight of +this, and having a natural propension to the study, the lady snatched +it out of the philosopher's hand, and asked him why he had not +made more? He replied, 'it was all the lead I could find.' She then +commanded her daughter to bring a parcel of lead which lay in the +closet, and giving it to the Chymist, desired him to transmute it into +gold on the morrow. He undertook it, and the next day brought her an +ingot which weighed two ounces, which with the utmost solemnity he +avowed was the very individual lead she gave him, transmuted to gold. + +She began now to engage him in serious discourse; and finding by his +replies, that he wanted money to make more powder, she enquired how +much would make a stock that would maintain itself? He replied, one +fifty pounds after nine months would produce a million. She then +begged the ingot of him, which he protested had been transmuted +from lead, and flushed with the hopes of success, hurried to town to +examine whether the ingot was true gold, which proved fine beyond the +standard. The lady now fully convinced of the truth of the empyric's +declaration, took fifty pounds out of the hands of a Banker, and +entrusted him with it. + +The only difficulty which remained, was, how to carry on the work +without suspicion, it being strictly prohibited at that time. He was +therefore resolved to take a little house in another county, at a few +miles distance from London, where he was to build a public laboratory, +as a professed Chymist, and deal in such medicines as were most +vendible, by the sale of which to the apothecaries, the expence of the +house was to be defrayed during the operation. The widow was accounted +the housekeeper, and the Dr. and his man boarded with her; to which +she added this precaution, that the laboratory, with the two lodging +rooms over it, in which the Dr. and his man lay, was a different +wing of the building from that where she and her little daughter, and +maid-servant resided; and as she knew some time must elapse before any +profit could be expected, she managed with the utmost frugality. The +Dr. mean time acted the part of a tutor to miss, in Arithmetic, Latin, +and Mathematics, to which she discovered the strongest propensity. All +things being properly disposed for the grand operation, the vitriol +furnace was set to work, which requiring the most intense heat +for several days, unhappily set fire to the house; the stairs were +consumed in an instant, and as it surprized them all in their first +sleep, it was a happy circumstance that no life perished. This unlucky +accident was 300 l. loss to Mrs. Thomas: yet still the grand project +was in a fair way of succeeding in the other wing of the building. But +one misfortune is often followed by another. The next Sunday evening, +while she was reading to, and instructing her little family, a sudden, +and a violent report, like a discharge of cannon was heard; the house +being timber, rocked like a cradle, and the family were all thrown +from their chairs on the ground. They looked with the greatest +amazement on each other, not guessing the cause, when the operator +pretending to revive, fell to stamping, tearing his hair, and raving +like a madman, crying out undone, undone, lost and undone for ever. +He ran directly to the Athanor, when unlocking the door, he found +the machine split quite in two, the eggs broke, and that precious +amalgamum which they contained was scattered like sand among the +ashes. Mrs. Thomas's eyes were now sufficiently opened to discern the +imposture, and, with a very serene countenance, told the empyric, that +accidents will happen, but means might be fallen upon to repair this +fatal disappointment. The Dr. observing her so serene, imagined +she would grant him more money to compleat his scheme, but she soon +disappointed his expectation, by ordering him to be gone, and made +him a present of five guineas, left his desperate circumstances should +induce him to take some violent means of providing for himself. + +Whether deluded by a real hope of finding out the Philosopher's Stone, +or from an innate principle of villainy, cannot be determined, but he +did not yet cease his pursuit, and still indulged the golden delusion. +He now found means to work upon the credulity of an old miser, +who, upon the strength of his pretensions, gave him his daughter +in marriage, and embarked all his hoarded treasure, which was very +considerable, in the same chimerical adventure. In a word, the miser's +stock was also lost, the empyric himself, and the daughter reduced to +beggary. This unhappy affair broke the miser's heart, who did not many +weeks survive the loss of his cash. The Dr. also put a miserable +end to his life by drinking poison, and left his wife with two young +children in a state of beggary. But to return to Mrs. Thomas. + +The poor lady suffered on this occasion a great deal of inward +anguish; she was ashamed of having reduced her fortune, and +impoverished her child by listening to the insinuations of a madman. +Time and patience at last overcame it; and when her health, which by +this accident had been impaired, was restored to her, she began +to stir amongst her husband's great clients. She took a house in +Bloomsbury, and by means of good economy, and an elegant appearance, +was supposed to be better in the world than she really was. Her +husband's clients received her like one risen from the dead: They came +to visit her, and promised to serve her. At last the duke of Montague +advised her to let lodgings, which way of life she declined, as her +talents were not suited for dealing with ordinary lodgers; but added +she, 'if I knew any family who desired such a conveniency, I would +readily accommodate them.' I take you at your word, replied the duke, +'I will become your sole tenant: Nay don't smile, for I am in earnest, +I love a little freedom more than I can enjoy at home, and I may come +sometimes and eat a bit of mutton, with four or five honest fellows, +whose company I delight in.' The bargain was bound, and proved matter +of fact, though on a deeper scheme than drinking a bottle: And his +lordship was to pass in the house for Mr. Freeman of Hertfordshire. + +In a few days he ordered a dinner for his beloved friends, Jack and +Tom, Will and Ned, good honest country-fellows, as his grace called +them. They came at the time appointed; but how surprized was the +widow, when she saw the duke of Devonshire, the lords Buckingham, and +Dorset, and a certain viscount, with Sir William Dutton Colt, under +these feign'd names. After several times meeting at this lady's house, +the noble persons, who had a high opinion of her integrity, entrusted +her with the grand secret, which was nothing less than the project for +the Revolution. + +Tho' these meetings were held as private as possible, yet suspicions +arose, and Mrs. Thomas's house was narrowly watched; but the +messengers, who were no enemies to the cause, betrayed their trust, +and suffered the noblemen to meet unmolested, or at least without any +dread of apprehension. + +The Revolution being effected, and the state came more settled, that +place of rendezvous was quitted: The noblemen took leave of the lady, +with promises of obtaining a pension, or some place in the houshold +for her, as her zeal in that cause highly merited; besides she had a +very good claim to some appointment, having been ruined by shutting up +the Excheqner. But alas! court promises proved an aerial foundation, +and these noble peers never thought of her more. The duke of Montague +indeed made offers of service, and being captain of the band of +pensioners, she asked him to admit Mr. Gwynnet, a gentleman who had +made love to her daughter, into such a post. This he promised, but +upon these terms, that her daughter should ask him for it. The widow +thanked him, and not suspecting that any design was covered under this +offer, concluded herself sure of success: But how amazed was she to +find her daughter (whom she had bred in the most passive subjection) +and who had never discovered the least instance of disobedience, +absolutely refuse to ask any such favour of his grace. She could be +prevailed upon neither by flattery, nor threatning, and continuing +still obstinate in her resolution; her mother obliged her to explain +herself, upon the point of her refusal. She told her then, that the +duke of Montague had already made an attack upon her, that his designs +were dishonourable; and that if she submitted to ask his grace one +favour, he would reckon himself secure of another in return, which he +would endeavour to accomplish by the basest means. This explanation +was too satisfactory; Who does not see the meanness of such an +ungenerous conduct? He had made use of the mother as a tool, for +carrying on political designs; he found her in distress, and as a +recompence for her service, and under the pretence of mending her +fortune, attempted the virtue of her daughter, and would provide for +her, on no other terms, but at the price of her child's innocence. + +In the mean time, the young Corinna, a poetical name given her by Mr. +Dryden, continued to improve her mind by reading the politest authors: +Such extraordinary advances had she made, that upon her sending some +poems to Mr. Dryden, entreating his perusal, and impartial sentiments +thereon, he was pleased to write her the following letter. + + Fair CORINNA, + + 'I have sent your two poems back again, after + having kept them so long from you: They were + I thought too good to be a woman's; some of my + friends to whom I read them, were of the same + opinion. It is not very gallant I must confess to + say this of the fair sex; but, most certain it is, + they generally write with more softness than + strength. On the contrary, you want neither + vigour in your thoughts, nor force in your expression, + nor harmony in your numbers; and me-thinks, + I find much of Orinda in your manner, + (to whom I had the honour to be related, and + also to be known) but I am so taken up with my + own studies, that I have not leisure to descend to + particulars, being in the mean time, the fair + Corinna's + + Most humble, and + + Most faithful servant + Nov. 12, 1699. JOHN DRYDEN. + +Our amiable poetess, in a letter to Dr. Talbot, Bishop of Durham, has +given some farther particulars of her life. We have already seen that +she was addressed upon honourable terms, by Mr. Gwynnet, of the +Middle Temple, son of a gentleman in Gloucestershire. Upon his +first discovering his passion to Corinna, she had honour enough to +remonstrate to him the inequality of their fortune, as her affairs +were then in a very perplexed situation. This objection was soon +surmounted by a lover, especially as his father had given him +possession of the greatest part of his estate, and leave to please +himself. Mr. Gwynnet no sooner obtained this, than he came to London, +and claimed Corinna's promise of marriage: But her mother being then +in a very weak condition, she could not abandon her in that distress, +to die among strangers. She therefore told Mr. Gwynnet, that as she +had not thought sixteen years long in waiting for him, he could not +think six months long in expectation of her. He replied, with a deep +sigh, 'Six months at this time, my Corinna, is more than sixteen years +have been; you put it off now, and God will put it off for ever.'--It +proved as he had foretold; he next day went into the country, made his +will, sickened, and died April the 16th, 1711, leaving his Corinna the +bequest of six-hundred pounds; and adds she, 'Sorrow has been my food +ever since.' + +Had she providentially married him, she had been secure from the +insults of poverty; but her duty to her parent was more prevalent than +considerations of convenience. After the death of her lover, she was +barbarously used: His brother, stifled the will, which compelled her +to have recourse to law; he smothered the old gentleman's conveyance +deed, by which he was enabled to make a bequest, and offered a large +sum of money to any person, who would undertake to blacken Corinna's +character; but wicked as the world is, he found none so compleatly +abandoned, as to perjure themselves for the sake of his bribe. At last +to shew her respect to the memory of her deceased lover, she consented +to an accommodation with his brother, to receive 200 l. down, and +200 l. at the year's end. The first payment was made, and distributed +instantly amongst her mother's creditors; but when the other became +due, he bid her defiance, stood suit on his own bond, and held out +four terms. He carried it from one court to another, till at last +it was brought to the bar of the House of Lords; and as that is +a tribunal, where the chicanery of lawyers can have no weight, he +thought proper to pay the money without a hearing: The gentlemen +of the long-robe had made her sign an instrument, that they should +receive the money and pay themselves: After they had laid their cruel +hands upon it, of the 200 l. the poor distressed lady received but +13 l. 16 s. which reduced her to the necessity of absconding from her +creditors, and starving in an obscure corner, till she was betrayed by +a false friend, and hurried to jail. + +Besides all the other calamities of Corinna, she had ever a bad state +of health, occasioned by an accident too curious to be omitted. + +In the year 1730 her case was given into the college of physicians, +and was reckoned a very surprizing one. It is as follows. + +'In April 1711 the patient swallowed the middle bone of the wing of +a large fowl, being above three inches long; she had the end in +her mouth, and speaking hastily it went forcibly down in the act of +inspiration. After the first surprize, feeling no pain she thought no +more of it; in a few days after, she complained what she eat or drank +lay like a stone in her stomach, and little or nothing pass'd through +her. After three weeks obstruction, she fell into a most violent +bloody flux, attended with a continual pain at the pit of her stomach, +convulsions, and swooning fits; nor had she any ease but while her +stomach was distended with liquids, such as small beer, or gruel: +She continued in this misery, with some little intervals, till the +Christmass following, when she was seized with a malignant fever, and +the convulsions encreased to so high a degree, that she crowed like a +cock, and barked like a dog, to the affrightment of all who saw her, +as well as herself. Dr. Colebatch being called to her relief, and +seeing the almost incredible quantity of blood she voided, said it +was impossible she could live, having voided all her bowels. He was +however prevailed with to use means, which he said could only be by +fetching off the inner coat of her stomach, by a very strong vomit; +he did so, and she brought the hair-veel in rolls, fresh and bleeding; +this dislodged the bone, which split length ways, one half pass'd off +by siege, black as jet, the cartilaginous part at each end consumed, +and sharp on each side as a razor; the other part is still lodged +within her. In this raw and extream weak condition, he put her into a +salivation, unknown to her mother or herself, to carry off the other +part, which shocked them to such a degree, that they sent for Dr. +Garth, who with much difficulty, and against his judgment, was +prevailed on to take it off, and using a healing galenical method, +she began to recover so much strength as to be turned in her bed, +and receive nourishment: But she soon after was seized with the Iliac +Passion, and for eleven days, her excrements came upwards, and no +passage could be forced through her, till one day by Dr. Garth, +with quick-silver. After a few weeks it returned again, and the same +medicine repeated, upon which she recovered, and for some months was +brought to be in a tolerable state of health, only the region of +the spleen much swelled; and at some times, when the bone moved +outwards, as it visibly did to sight and touch, was very painful.--In +July 1713, on taking too strong a purge, a large imposthume bag came +away by stool, on which it was supposed, the cystus, which the bone +had worked for itself, being come away, the bone was voided also; but +her pains continued so extraordinary, she willingly submitted to the +decree of four surgeons, who agreed to make an incision in the left +side of the abdomen, and extract the bone; but one of the surgeons +utterly rejecting the operation, as impracticable, the bone being +lodged in the colon, sent her to Bath, where she found some relief by +pumping, and continued tolerably well for some years, even to bear the +fatigue of an eight years suit at law, with an unjust executor; save +that in over-walking, and sudden passion, she used to be pained, but +not violent; and once or twice in a year a discharge of clean gall, +with some portions of a skin, like thin kid leather, tinged with gall, +which she felt break from the place, and leave her sore within; but +the bone never made any attempt out-wards after the first three years. +Being deprived of a competent fortune, by cross accidents, she has +suffered all the extremities of a close imprisonment, if want of all +the necessaries of life, and lying on the boards for two-years may +be termed such, during which time she never felt the bone. But on her +recovering liberty, and beginning to use exercise, her stomach, and +belly, and head swelled to a monstrous degree, and she was judged in a +galloping dropsy; but no proper medicines taking place, she was given +over as incurable, when nature unexpectedly helped itself, and in +twelve hours time by stool, and vomit, she voided about five gallons +of dirty looking water, which greatly relieved her for some days, but +gathered again as the swelling returned, and always abounded with +a hectic, or suffocating asthma in her stomach, and either a canine +appetite or loathing. She has lately voided several extraneous +membranes different from the former, and so frequent, that it keeps +her very low, some of which she has preserved in spirits, and humbly +implores your honours judgment thereon.' + +Under all these calamities, of which the above is a just +representation, did poor Corinna labour; and it is difficult to +produce a life crouded with greater evils. The small fortune which her +father left her, by the imprudence of her mother, was soon squandered: +She no sooner began to taste of life, than an attempt was made upon +her innocence. When she was about being happy in the arms of her +amiable lover Mr. Gwynnet, he was snatched from her by an immature +fate. Amongst her other misfortunes, she laboured under the +displeasure of Mr. Pope, whose poetical majesty she had innocently +offended, and who has taken care to place her in his Dunciad. Mr. Pope +had once vouchsafed to visit her, in company with Henry Cromwel, +Esq; whose letters by some accident fell into her hands, with some of +Pope's answers. As soon as that gentleman died, Mr. Curl found means +to wheedle them from her, and immediately committed them to the press. +This so enraged Pope, that tho' the lady was very little to blame, yet +he never forgave her. + +Not many months after our poetess had been released from her gloomy +habitation, she took a small lodging in Fleet street, where she died +on the 3d of February 1730, in the 56th year of her age, and was two +days after decently interred in the church of St. Bride's. + +Corinna, considered as an authoress, is of the second rate, she had +not so much wit as Mrs. Behn, or Mrs. Manley, nor had so happy a power +of intellectual painting; but her poetry is soft and delicate, her +letters sprightly and entertaining. Her Poems were published after her +death, by Curl; and two volumes of Letters which pass'd between her +and Mr. Gwynnet. We shall select as a specimen of her poetry, an Ode +addressed to the duchess of Somerset, on her birth-day. + + An ODE, &c. + + + I. + + Great, good, and fair, permit an humble muse, + To lay her duteous homage at your feet: + Such homage heav'n itself does not refuse, + But praise, and pray'rs admits, as odours sweet. + + II. + + Blest be forever this auspicious day, + Which gave to such transcendent virtue birth: + May each revolving year new joys display, + Joys great as can supported be on earth. + + III. + + True heiress of the Finch and Hatton line, + Formed by your matchless parents equal care + (The greatest statesman he, yet best divine, + She bright example of all goodness here). + + IV. + + And now incircled in the dearest tye, + To godlike Seymour, of connubial love; + Seymour illustrious prince, whose family + Did heretofore the kingly race improve. + + V. + + Adorns the nation still, and guards the throne, + In noble Somerset, whose generous breast, + Concenters all his ancestors in one, + That were in church, and state, and arms profest. + VI. + + Yet 'midst the plaudits of a grateful land, + His heaven-born soul reviews his pristine state; + And in obedience to divine command, + Numberless poor are feasted at his gate. + + VII. + + Thrice happy greatness, true philosophy, + That does so well the use of riches know, + And can by charity transpire the sky, + Encompass'd round with splendour here below. + + VIII. + + O may posterity from such a pair, + Enjoy a progeny almost divine, + Great as their fire, and as their mother fair, + And good as both, till last extent of time. + + +[Footnote A: See the Memoirs of Mrs. Thomas's Life, prefixed to a +volume of Letters between her and Mr. Gwynnet; the only account that +is preserved concerning her.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ELIJAH FENTON, + + +This worthy gentleman was born at Shelton, near Newcastle under the +Line, in Staffordshire[A]. In this county, though there are several +families of the name of Fenton, yet they are all branches from one +flock, which is a very antient and opulent family: Our author's mother +being immediately descended from one Mare, an officer in William the +Conqueror's army. + +Our poet was the youngest of twelve children, and was intended by his +parents for the ministry: He was sent to the university of Cambridge, +where he embraced the principles very opposite to the government, by +which he became disqualified for entering into holy orders. We find +him soon after his quitting the university, secretary to the earl of +Orrery, but how long he remained in that station we cannot ascertain. +After he quitted the service of this noble peer, it was his custom to +perform a visit annually to his eldest brother's house in the country, +who possessed an estate of 1000 l. per annum. He was caressed in the +country, by all his relations, to whom he endeared himself, by his +affable and genteel behaviour. Mr. Fenton was a man of the most tender +humanity, and discovered it upon every proper occasion: A gentleman +resident in that county, who has transmitted to us some account of Mr. +Fenton, has given us the following instance of his humane disposition. + +He had a great number of sisters, some of whom were less happy in +their marriages than others; one in particular was exposed to many +misfortunes, by the indiscretion and extravagance of her husband. It +is the custom of some people to make very great distinctions between +their rich and poor relations; Mr. Fenton's brother was of this stamp, +and it seems treated his unfortunate sister with less ceremony than +the rest. One day, while Mr. Fenton, was at his brother's house, he +observed the family going to dinner without this sister, who was in +town, and had as good a right to an invitation, as any of the rest who +dined there as a compliment to him. He could not help discovering his +displeasure at so unnatural a distinction, and would not sit down to +table till she was sent for, and in consequence of this slight shewn +her by the rest of the family, Mr. Fenton treated her with more +tenderness and complaisance than any of his sisters. + +Our author carried through life a very fair reputation, he was beloved +and esteemed by Mr. Pope, who honoured him with a beautiful +epitaph. Mr. Fenton after a life of ease and tranquility, died at +East-Hampstead-Park, near Oakingham, the 13th of July 1730, much +regretted by all men of taste, not being obnoxious to the resentment +even of his brother writers. + +In the year 1723, Mr. Fenton introduced upon the stage his Tragedy of +Mariamne, built upon the story related of her in the third volume of +the Spectator, Numb. 171, which the ingenious author collected out of +Josephus. As this story so fully displays the nature of the passion of +jealousy, and discovers so extraordinary a character as that of Herod, +we shall here insert it, after which we shall consider with what +success Mr. Fenton has managed the plot. In a former paper, the author +having treated the passion of jealousy in various lights, and marked +its progress through the human mind, concludes his animadversions with +this story, which he says may serve as an example to whatever can be +said on that subject. + + 'Mariamne had all the charms that beauty, + birth, wit, and youth could give a woman, and + Herod all the love that such charms are able to raise + in a warm and amorous disposition. In the midst of + his fondness for Mariamne, he put her brother + to death, as he did her father not many years + after. The barbarity of the action was represented + to Mark Anthony, who immediately summoned + Herod into Egypt, to answer for the crime + that was laid to his charge: Herod attributed the + summons to Anthony's desire of Mariamne, whom + therefore before his departure, he gave into the custody + of his uncle Joseph, with private orders to + put her to death, if any such violence was offered + to himself. This Joseph was much delighted + with Mariamne's conversation, and endeavoured + with all his art and rhetoric to set out the excess + of Herod's passion for her; but when he still + found her cold and incredulous, he inconsiderately + told her, as a certain instance of her lord's affection, + the private orders he had left behind him, which + plainly shewed, according to Joseph's interpretation, + that he could neither live nor die without + her. This barbarous instance of a wild unreasonable + passion quite put out for a time those little + remains of affection, she still had for her lord: + Her thoughts were so wholly taken up with the + cruelty of his orders, that she could not consider + the kindness which produced them; and therefore + represented him in her imagination, rather + under the frightful idea of a murderer, than a + lover. + + 'Herod was at length acquitted, and dismiss'd + by Mark Anthony, when his soul was all in flames + for his Mariamne; but before their meeting he was + not a little alarmed at the report he had heard + of his uncle's conversation and familiarity with + her in his absence. This therefore was the first + discourse he entertained her with, in which she + found it no easy matter to quiet his suspicions. + But at last he appeared so well satisfied of her + innocence; that from reproaches, and wranglings, + he fell to tears and embraces. Both of them + wept very tenderly at their reconciliation and + Herod pour'd out his whole soul to her in the + warmest protestations of love and constancy; when, + amidst all his sighs and languishings, she asked + him, whether the private orders he left with his + uncle Joseph were an instance of such an enflamed + affection? The jealous king was immediately + roused at so unexpected a question, and concluded + his uncle must have been too familiar with her, + before he would have discovered such a secret. + In short he put his uncle to death, and very difficultly + prevailed on himself to spare Mariamne. + + 'After this he was forced on a second journey + into Egypt, when he committed his lady to the + care of Sohemus, with the same private orders he + had before given his uncle, if any mischief befel + himself: In the meantime Mariamne had so won + upon Sohemus, by her presents and obliging behaviour, + that she drew all the secret from him, + with which Herod had entrusted him; so that + after his return, when he flew to her, with all the + transports of joy and love, she received him coldly + with sighs and tears, and all the marks of indifference + and aversion. This reception so stirred up + his indignation, that he had certainly slain her + with his own hands, had not he feared he himself + should become the greater sufferer by it. It + was not long after this, when he had another + violent return of love upon him; Mariamne was + therefore sent for to him, whom he endeavoured + to soften and reconcile with all possible conjugal + caresses, and endearments; but she declined his + embraces, and answered all his fondness, with bitter + invectives for the death of her father and + her brother. + + 'This behaviour so incensed Herod, that he + very hardly refrained from striking her; when + in the heat of their quarrel, there came in a + witness, suborned by some of Mariamne's enemies, + who accused her to the king of a design + to poison him. Herod was now prepared to hear + any thing in her prejudice, and immediately ordered + her servant to be stretched upon the rack; + who in the extremity of his tortures confest, that + his mistresses aversion to the king arose from + something Sohemus had told her; but as for any + design of poisoning, he utterly disowned the least + knowledge of it. This confession quickly proved + fatal to Sohemus, who now lay under the same + suspicions and sentence, that Joseph had before + him, on the like occasion. Nor would Herod + rest here; but accused her with great vehemence + of a design upon his life, and by his authority + with the judges had her publickly condemned + and executed. + + 'Herod soon after her decease grew melancholy + and dejected, retiring from the public administration + of affairs, into a solitary forest, and there + abandoned himself to all the black considerations, + which naturally arise from a passion made up of + love, remorse, pity and despair. He used to rave + for his Mariamne, and to call upon her in his distracted + fits; and in all probability, would have + soon followed her, had not his thoughts been + seasonably called off from so sad an object, by + public storms, which at that time very nearly + threatened him.' + +Mr. Fenton in the conduct of this design, has shewn himself a very +great master of stage propriety. He has softened the character of +Herod, well knowing that so cruel a tyrant as the story makes him, +could not be born upon the English stage. He has altered the character +of Sohemus, from an honest confident, to a crafty enterprising +statesman, who to raise his master to the throne of Judea, murthered +the natural heir. He has introduced in his drama, a character under +the name of Salome, the king's sister, who bore an implacable hatred +to Mariamne; and who in league with Sohemus pursues her revenge, at no +less a price than that of her brother's and the queen's life. + +After the wars, which had subsided between Caesar and Anthony, had +subsided, and the world fell to the share of the former; Herod is +represented as having just returned from Rome, where, as an hostage +to the emperor, he has stipulated to send his younger son there, and +Flaminius, a noble Roman accompanies him into Jewry, to carry off the +young prince. The day in which this dramatic action begins, is upon a +grand festival, appointed in honour of Herod's safe return from Rome, +and being still permitted to enjoy his kingdom. The hard condition of +sending the prince to Rome, greatly affects the heart of the queen, +whom the poet has drawn a most tender mother. This throws a cloud over +the ceremony, and furnishes an opportunity for Sohemus and Salome, to +set their infernal engines at work; who, in conjunction with Sameas +the king's cup bearer, contrive to poison the king and queen at the +feast. But the poisoned cup is first tasted by Hazeroth, a young lord +related to the queen, and the sudden effect which it has upon him +discovers the villainy. + +The queen's absence from the feast proves a fatal circumstance, and +as managed by Sohemus, fixes the appearance of guilt upon her. While +Herod was absent at Rome, Sohemus made addresses to Arsinoe, a Roman +lady, confidant to Mariamne; to whom in the ardour of his passion he +revealed the secret entrusted to him by Herod, of putting Mariamne +to death, in case he by any calamitous accident should lose his life. +Arsinoe from a motive of affection communicated this to Mariamne; as +an instance of the violent passion which Herod had for her. This she +did immediately before her departure for Rome, with Flaminius the +Roman envoy, who proved to be the lord of her wishes, whom she +imagined to have been killed in fighting against Mark Anthony. +Mariamne thrown into this imminent danger, orders Arsinoe to be +intercepted, whose return clears up her innocence, as she declares +that no correspondence had ever been carried on between the queen and +Sohemus, of whom he was now jealous, as Mariamne had upbraided him +with his cruel resolutions of putting her to death, entrusted to that +minister. Herod is satisfied of her innocence, by the evidence of +Arsinoe; but as he had before given the cruel orders for patting the +queen to death, she, to prevent the execution of such barbarity, drank +poison. The Queen is conducted in by the high priest in the agonies +of death, which gives such a shock to Herod, that not able to survive +her, he dies in the sight of the audience. + +Sohemus, who knew what tortures would be reserved for him, kills +himself, after having sacrificed Sameas, by whose treachery the plot +was discovered, and who in his falling stabs Salome to the heart, as +the last effort of his revenge. + +As the plan of this play is regular, simple, and interesting, so +are the sentiments no less masterly, and the characters graphically +distinguished. It contains likewise many beautiful strokes of poetry. + +When Narbal, a lord of the queen's party, gives an account to +Flaminius the Roman general, of the queen's parting with her son; he +says, + + ----A while she stood, + Transform'd by grief to marble, and appear'd + Her own pale monument; + +Flaminius consistent with his character as a soldier, answers, + + Give me, ye gods! the harmony of war, + The trumpet's clangor, and the clash of arms, + That concert animates the glowing breast, + To rush on death; but when our ear is pierc'd + With the sad notes which mournful beauty yields; + Our manhood melts in symphathising tears. + +The character of Sameas the king's cup-bearer, is one of the most +villainous ever shewn upon a stage; and the poet makes Sohemus, in +order to give the audience a true idea of him, and to prepare them for +those barbarities he is to execute, relate the following instance of +his cruelty. + + ----Along the shore + He walk'd one evening, when the clam'rous rage + Of tempests wreck'd a ship: The crew were sunk, + The master only reach'd the neighb'ring strand, + Born by a floating fragment; but so weak + With combating the storm, his tongue had lost + The faculty of speech, and yet for aid + He faintly wav'd his hand, on which he wore + A fatal jewel. Sameas, quickly charm'd + Both by its size, and lustre, with a look + Of pity stoop'd, to take him by the hand; + Then cut the finger off to gain the ring, + And plung'd him back to perish in the waves; + Crying, go dive for more.--I've heard him boast + Of this adventure. + +In the 5th act, when Herod is agitated with the rage of jealousy, his +brother Pheroras thus addresses him, + + Sir, let her crime + Erase the faithful characters which love + Imprinted on your heart, + + HEROD. Alas! the pain + We feel, whene'er we dispossess the soul + Of that tormenting tyrant, far exceeds + The rigour of his rule. + + PHERORAS. With reason quell + That haughty passion; treat it as your slave: + Resume the monarch. + +The observation, which Herod makes upon this, is very affecting. The +poet has drawn him so tortured with his passion, that he seems almost +sufficiently punished, for the barbarity of cutting off the father and +brother of Mariamne, + + HEROD. Where's the monarch now? + The vulgar call us gods, and fondly think + That kings are cast in more than mortal molds; + Alas! they little know that when the mind + Is cloy'd with pomp, our taste is pall'd to joy; + But grows more sensible of grief or pain. + The stupid peasant with as quick a sense + Enjoys the fragrance of a rose, as I; + And his rough hand is proof against the thorn, + Which rankling in my tender skin, would seem + A viper's tooth. Oh blissful poverty! + Nature, too partial! to thy lot assigns + Health, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, + Her real goods; and only mocks the great + With empty pageantries! Had I been born + A cottager, my homely bowl had flow'd + Secure from pois'nous drugs; but not my wife! + Let me, good heav'n! forget that guilty name, + Or madness will ensue. + +Some critics have blamed Mariamne, for yielding her affections to +Herod, who had embrued his hands in her father and brother's blood; in +this perhaps she cannot be easily defended, but the poet had a right +to represent this as he literally found it in history; and being the +circumstance upon which all the others depended. Tho' this play is +one of the most beautiful in our language, yet it is in many places +exposed to just criticism; but as it has more beauties than faults, it +would be a kind of violence to candour to shew the blemishes. + +The life of Fenton, like other poets who have never been engaged in +public business, being barren of incidents, we have dwelt the longer +on his works, a tribute which his genius naturally demanded from us. + +Mr. Fenton's other poetical works were published in one volume 1717, +and consist chiefly of the following pieces. + +An Ode to the Sun, for the new year 1707, as a specimen of which we +shall quote the three following stanza's. + + I. + + Begin celestial source of light, + To gild the new revolving sphere; + And from the pregnant womb of night; + Urge on to birth the infant year. + Rich with auspicious lustre rife, + Thou fairest regent of the skies, + Conspicuous with thy silver bow! + To thee, a god, 'twas given by Jove + To rule the radiant orbs above, + To Gloriana this below. + + II. + + With joy renew thy destin'd race, + And let the mighty months begin: + Let no ill omen cloud thy face, + Thro' all thy circle smile serene. + While the stern ministers of fate + Watchful o'er the pale Lutetia wait. + To grieve the Gaul's perfidious head; + The hours, thy offspring heav'nly fair, + Their whitest wings should ever wear, + And gentle joys on Albion shed. + + III. + + When Ilia bore the future fates of Rome, + And the long honours of her race began, + Thus, to prepare the graceful age to come, + They from thy stores in happy order ran. + Heroes elected to the list of fame, + Fix'd the sure columns of her rising state: + Till the loud triumphs of the Julian name + Render'd the glories of her reign compleat, + Each year advanc'd a rival to the rest, + In comely spoils of war, and great achievements drest. + +Florelio, a Pastoral, lamenting the death of the marquis of Blandford. + +Part of the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah Paraphrased. Verses on the +Union. + +Cupid and Hymen. + +Olivia, a small Poem of humour against a Prude. + +The fair Nun, a Tale. + +An Epistle addressed to Mr. Southern, written in the year 1711. + +The eleventh Book of Homer's Odyssey, translated in Milton's stile. + +The Widow's Will; a Tale. + +A-La-Mode, a very humorous representation of a fond, doating Husband, +injured by his Wife. + +Sappho to Phaon. A Love Epistle, translated from Ovid. + +Phaon to Sappho. + +A Tale devised in the pleasant manner of Chaucer; in which the Poet +imitates that venerable old Bard, in the obsolete Language of his +Verse. + +Verses addressed to Mr. Pope. + +The Platonic Spell. + +Marullus de Neaera. + +Marullus imitated. + +Joannis Secundi Basium I. + +Kisses. Translated from Secundus. I know not if all poetry ever +exceeded the smoothness and delicacy of those lines. They flow with +an irresistable enchantment, and as the inserting them will shew the +spirit both of the original and translation, we shall make no further +apology for doing it. + + When Venus, in the sweet Idalian shade, + A violet couch for young Ascanius made; + Their op'ning gems, th' obedient roses bow'd + And veil'd his beauties with a damask cloud: + While the bright goddess with a gentle show'r, + Of nectar'd dews, perfum'd the blissful bow'r; + Of sight insatiate, she devours his charms. + Till her soft breast re-kindling ardour warms: + New joys tumultuous in her bosom rowl, + And all Adonis rusheth on her soul. + Transported with each dear resembling grace, + She cries, Adonis!--Sure I see thy face! + Then stoops to clasp the beauteous form, but fears + He'd wake too soon, and with a sigh forbears; + Yet, fix'd in silent rapture, stands to gaze, + Kissing each flow'ring bud that round him plays. + Swell'd with the touch, each animated rose + Expands; and strait with warmer purple glows: + Where infant kisses bloom, a balmy store! + Redoubling all the bliss she felt before. + Sudden, her swans career along the skies, + And o'er the globe the fair celestial flies. + Then, as where Ceres pass'd, the teeming plain, + Yellow'd with wavy crops of golden grain; + So fruitful kisses fell where Venus flew; + And by the power of genial magic grew: + A plenteous harvest! which she deign'd t'impart + To sooth an agonizing love-sick heart. + All hail, ye Roseat kisses! who remove + Our cares, and cool the calenture of love. + Lo! I your poet in melodious lays, + Bless your kind pow'r; enamour'd of your praise: + Lays! form'd to last, 'till barb'rous time invades + The muses hill, and withers all their shades. + Sprung from the Guardian[B] of the Roman name, + In Roman numbers live secure of fame. + +Joannis Secundi Basum IId. translated. + +An Epistle to Thomas Lambard Esq; + +An Ode to the right hon. John lord Gower. + + An EPITAPH + + On Mr. ELIJAH FENTON, + + At EAST-HAMPSTEAD in BERKS, 1730. + + + This modest stone, what few vain marbles can, + May truly say, here lies an honest man: + A Poet, bless'd beyond a Poet's fate, + Whom Heav'n kept sacred from the proud and great: + Foe to loud praise, and friend to learned ease, + Content with science in the vale of peace. + Calmly he look'd on either life, and here + Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear; + From nature's temp'rate feast rose satisfy'd + Thank'd Heav'n, that he had liv'd, and that he died. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob, p. 55.] + +[Footnote B: Venus.] + + * * * * * + + + + +BARTON BOOTH, Esq; + + +It[A] is but justice to the memory of this great actor to give him +a place among the poets, if he had been less considerable in that +province than he really was; for he appears early to have understood +the Latin classics, and to have succeeded in occasional pieces, and +little odes, beyond many persons of higher name in poetry. Mr. Booth +was descended from a very ancient, and honourable family, originally +seated in the County Palatine of Lancaster. His father, John Booth, +esq; was a man of great worth and honour; and though his fortune was +not very considerable, he was extremely attentive to the education of +his children, of whom Barton (the third) was born in 1681. + +When about nine years of age, he was put under the tuition of the +famous Dr. Busby, head-master of Westminster school, under whom some +of the ablest men have been educated, that in the last and present +age have done honour to the nation. The sprightliness of Booth's parts +early recommended him to the notice of Dr. Busby: he had a strong +passion for learning, and a peculiar turn for Latin poetry, and by +studying the best authors in it, he fixed many of the finest passages +so firmly in his memory, that he was able to repeat them with such +propriety, and graceful action, with so fine a tone of voice, and +peculiar emphasis, that it was taken notice of by the whole school. + +In consequence of this happy talent, when, according to the custom of +the school, a Latin play was to be acted, a considerable part thereof +was given to young Booth, who drew by the melody of his voice, and +the gracefulness of his action, the applause of all the spectators, +a circumstance which first fired him with theatrical ambition, much +against the inclination of his father, who intended him for the +church, and was therefore careful of his education. This propension +in our young Roscius, recommended him still more to the favour of +Dr. Busby, who bestowed the most lavish encomiums upon him: Busby was +himself a great admirer of theatrical elocution, and admirably fitted +by nature for the stage; when he was young, he obtained great applause +in a part he performed in a play of Cartwright's, and from that moment +held theatrical accomplishments in the highest esteem. + +When Booth had reached the age of eighteen, and the time approached +when he was to have been sent to the university, he resolved to run +any risk, rather than enter upon a course of life inconsistent +with the liveliness of his temper, and the natural bent of his +inclinations. It happened that there was then in London one Mr. +Ashbury, who had been long master of a company at Dublin, with whom +young Booth became acquainted, and finding that under his direction +there was no danger of his getting a livelihood, he quitted all other +views, stole away from school, and went over to Ireland with Mr. +Ashbury in 1698.[B] + +He very soon distinguished himself on the stage at Dublin, where +he had great natural advantages over most of his cotemporaries, +especially in tragedy; he had a grave countenance, a good person, an +air of dignity, a melodious voice, and a very manly action. He spoke +justly, his cadence was grateful to the ear, and his pronunciation was +scholastically correct and proper. He so far insinuated himself into +the favour of English gentlemen in Ireland, and found his reputation +growing to so great a heighth, that he returned home in 1701, to make +a trial of his talents on the British stage. He accordingly applied to +lord Fitzharding, of the bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark, and +was by him recommended to Mr. Betterton, who took him under his care, +and gave him all the assistance in his power, of which Mr. Booth +greatly profited. + +Never were a tutor and pupil better met; the one was capable of giving +the best instructions in his own performance, and the other had a +promptness of conception, a violent propensity, and a great genius. +The first part Booth performed in London was Maximus in Valentinian, +a play of Beaumont and Fletcher's originally, but altered, and brought +upon the stage by the earl of Rochester. The reception he met with +exceeded his warmest hopes, and the favour of the town had a happy +effect upon him, in inspiring him with a proper degree of confidence +without vanity. The Ambitious Step-mother, a tragedy written by Mr. +Rowe, in which that author has thrown out more fire, and heat of +poetry, than in any other of his plays, was about this time introduced +upon the stage; the part of Artaban was assigned to Booth, in which he +raised his character to such a heighth, as to be reckoned only second +to his great master. + +In the year 1704 he married Miss Barkham, daughter to Sir William +Barkham of Norfolk, bart. who lived with him six years, and died +without issue. In the theatrical revolutions which happened in those +days, Mr. Booth, notwithstanding his great capacity, and reputation +with the town, had very little share. He adhered constantly to Mr. +Betterton, while he could be of any service to him, and when his tutor +retired from the management of the stage, he trusted to his merit, and +the taste of the public, in which he was never deceived. + +Mr. Booth was particularly turned for tragedy, he never could bear +those parts which had not strong passion to inspire him; and Mr. +Cibber observes, that he could not so well melt in the lover, as rage +in the jealous husband. Othello was his master-piece, but in all his +parts he was often subject to a kind of indolence, which some people +imagined he affected, to shew that even in his lazy fits he was +superior to every body upon the stage; _as if secure of all beholders +hearts, neglecting he could take them._[C] The late ingenious Mr. +Whitingham, who perfectly understood theatrical excellence, and +who was, beyond any man I ever knew, distinct, and accurate in his +relations of things, often told me, that such was the dignity of +Booth's appearance, such his theatrical ease, and gracefulness, that +had he only crossed the stage without uttering a word, the house would +be in a roar of applause. + +We come now to that period of time, when Mr. Booth's sole merit raised +him to the greatest height, and procured for him that reward he had +long deserved. The tragedy of Cato, which had been written in the year +1703, or at least four acts of it, was brought upon the stage in 1712, +chiefly on a political principle; the part of Cato was given to Booth, +for the managers were very well satisfied that nobody else could +perform it. As party prejudice never than higher than at that time, +the excellency of the play was distinguished by the surprizing +contests between both factions, which should applaud it most, so +the merit of the actor received the same marks of approbation, both +parties taking care to shew their satisfaction, by bestowing upon him, +most liberal presents, the particulars of which are already inserted +in the life of Addison. The run of Cato being over at London, the +managers thought fit to remove to Oxford in the summer, where the play +met with so extraordinary a reception, that they were forced to open +the doors at noon, and the house was quite full by one o'clock. The +same respect was paid it for three days together, and though the +universal applause it met with at London, surpassed any thing that had +been remembered of that kind, yet the tribute of praise it received +from this famous university, surpassed even that. Booth, whose +reputation was now at its heighth, took the advantage of it, and +making his application to lord Bolingbroke, then at the head of the +ministry, he procured a new licence, recalling all former ones, and +Mr. Booth's name was added to those of Cibber, Dogget, and Wilks. +Tho' none of the managers had occasion to be pleased with this act of +justice done to Booth's merit, at the expence of, what they deemed, +their property, yet none of them carried their resentment so high as +Mr. Dogget, who absolutely refused to accept of any consideration for +his share in the scenes and clothes; this obstinacy had however no +other effect, than depriving him of his share, which brought him in +1000 l. a year; though Mr. Cibber informs us, that this was only a +pretence, and that the true reason of quitting the stage, was, +his dislike to another of the managers, whose humour was become +insupportable. This person we conjecture to have been Mr. Wilks, who, +according to Cibber's account, was capricious in his temper, though +he had otherwise great merit as a player, and was a good man, morally +considered; some instances of the generosity and noble spirit of +Wilks, are taken notice of in the life of Farquhar. + +A few years after Mr. Booth rose to the dignity of manager, he married +the celebrated Miss Santlowe, who, from her first appearance as an +actress in the character of the Fair Quaker of Deal, to the time she +quitted the stage, had always received the strongest marks of public +applause, which were repeated when after a retreat of some years, she +appeared there again. By her prudence in managing the advantages +that arose to her from her reputation as an actress, and her great +diligence in her profession, she acquired a considerable fortune, +which was very useful to Mr. Booth, who, from the natural turn of +his temper, though he had a strict regard to justice, was not much +inclined to saving. + +During the few years they lived together, there was the greatest +harmony between them, and after the death of Booth, his disconsolate +widow, who is yet alive, quitted the stage, and devoted herself +entirely to a private course of life. By degrees the health of Mr. +Booth began to decline, so that it was impossible for him to continue +to act with so much diligence as usual, but at whatever time he was +able to return to the stage, the town demonstrated their respect +for him by crowding the house. Being attacked by a complication of +distempers, he paid the debt to nature May 10, 1733. A copy of his +Will was printed in the London Magazine for 1733, p. 126, in which +we find he testified his esteem for his wife, to whom he left all his +fortune, for reasons there assigned, which he declared amounted to no +more than two thirds of what he had received from her on the day of +marriage. His character as an actor, has been celebrated by the best +judges, and was never questioned by any. And here we cannot resist the +opportunity of shewing Mr. Booth in that full, and commanding light in +which he is drawn by the late ingenious Aaron Hill, esq; who had long +experience in the affairs of the stage, and could well distinguish the +true merits of an actor. His words are, + +'Two advantages distinguished him in the strongest light from the rest +of his fraternity: he had learning to understand perfectly what it +was his part to speak, and judgment to know how far it agreed, or +disagreed with his character. Hence arose a peculiar grace, which was +visible to every spectator, though few were at the pains of examining +into the cause of their pleasure. He could soften, and slide over, +with a kind of elegant negligence, the improprieties in the part he +acted, while, on the contrary, he would dwell with energy upon the +beauties, as if he exerted a latent spirit which had been kept back +for such an occasion, that he might alarm, awaken, and transport in +those places only, where the dignity of his own good sense could +be supported by that of his author. A little reflexion upon this +remarkable quality, will teach us to account for that manifest +languor which has sometimes been observed in his action, and which was +generally, though I think falsly, imputed to the natural indolence of +his temper. For the same reason, though in the customary round of +his business, he would condescend to some parts in comedy; he seldom +appeared in any of them with much advantage to his character. The +passions which he found in comedy, were not strong enough to excite +his fire, and what seemed want of qualification, was only the absence +of impression. He had a talent at discovering the passions where they +lay hid in some celebrated parts, by the injudicious practice of other +actors; when he had discovered he soon grew able to express them; and +his secret of his obtaining this great lesson of the theatre, was +an adaption of his look to his voice, by which artful imitation of +nature, the variations in the sound of his words, gave propriety to +every change in his countenance, so that it was Mr. Booth's peculiar +felicity to be heard and seen the same, whether as the _pleased,_ the +_grieved,_the _pitying,_the _reproachful,_or the _angry_. One would be +almost tempted to borrow the aid of a very bold figure, and to express +this excellence more significantly, beg permission to affirm, that the +blind might have seen him in his voice, and the deaf have heard him in +his visage. His gesture, or as it is commonly called his action, was +but the result, and necessary consequence of his dominion over his +voice and countenance; for having by a concurrence of two such causes, +impressed his imagination with such a stamp, and spirit of passion, he +ever obeyed the impulse by a kind of natural dependency, and relaxed, +or braced successively into all that fine expressiveness with which he +painted what he spoke, without restraint, or affectation.' + +But it was not only as a player that Mr. Booth excelled; he was a man +of letters also, and an author in more languages than one. He had a +taste for poetry which we have observed discovered itself when he was +very young, in translations of some Odes of Horace; and in his riper +years he wrote several songs, and other original poems, which did him +honour. He was also the author of a masque, or dramatic entertainment, +called Dido and Aeneas, which was very well received upon the stage, +but which however did not excite him to produce any thing of the +same kind afterwards. His master-piece was a Latin inscription to the +memory of a celebrated actor, Mr. William Smith, one of the greatest +men of his profession, and of whom Mr. Booth alway spoke in raptures. +It is a misfortune that we can give no particular account of the +person this excellent inscription referred to, but it is probable he +was of a good family, since he was a Barrister at Law of Gray's-Inn, +before he quitted that profession for the stage. + +The inscription is as follows, + + Scenicus eximius + Regnante Carolo secundo: + Bettertono Coaetaneus & Amicus, + Necnon propemodum Aequalis. + Haud ignobili stirpe oriundus, + Nec literarum rudis humaniorum, + Rem fenicam + Per multos feliciter annos administravit; + Justoque moderamine & morum suavitate, + Omnium intra Theatrum + Observantiam, extra Theatrum Laudem, + Ubique benevolentiam & amorem fibi conciliavit. + +In English thus; + + An excellent player + In the reign of Charles the Second; + The cotemporary, and friend of Betterton, and almost his equal. + Descended of no ignoble family, + Nor destitute of polite learning. + The business of the stage + He for many years happily managed, + And by his just conduct, and sweetness of manners + Obtained the respect of all within the theatre, + The applause of those without, + And the good will, and love of all mankind. + +Such the life and character of Mr. Booth, who deservedly stood very +high in the esteem of mankind, both on account of the pleasure which +he gave them, and the native goodness of heart which he possessed. +Whether considered as a private gentleman, a player, a scholar, or +a poet, Mr. Booth makes a very great figure, and his extraordinary +excellence in his own profession, while it renders his memory dear to +all men of taste, will ever secure him applause amongst those +happy few, who were born to instruct, to please, and reform their +countrymen. + + +[Footnote A: N.B. As Mr. Theophilus Cibber is publishing (in a work +entirely undertaken by himself) The Lives, and Characters of all our +Eminent Actors, and Actresses, from Shakespear, to the present time; +he leaves to the other gentlemen, concerned in this collection, the +accounts of some players who could not be omitted herein, as Poets.] + +[Footnote B: History of the English stage.] + +[Footnote C: Dryden's All for Love.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Dr. GEORGE SEWEL, + + +This ingenious gentleman was the eldest son of Mr. John Sewel, +treasurer, and chapter-clerk of the college of Windsor, in which +place our poet was born. He received his education at Eton school, was +afterwards sent to the university of Cambridge, and took the degree +of bachelor of physic at Peter-house College. He then passed over +to Leyden, and studied under the famous Boerhaave, and afterwards +returned to London, where for several years he practised as a +Physician. He had a strong propension for poetry, and has favoured +the world with many performances much applauded. In the year 1719 he +introduced upon the stage his tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, taken +from the historical account of that great man's fate. He was chiefly +concerned in writing the fifth volume of the Tatler, and the ninth +of the Spectator. He translated, with some other gentlemen, the +Metamorphoses of Ovid, with very great success, and rendered the Latin +poems of Mr. Addison into English. Dr. Sewel made an attempt, which he +had not leisure to execute, of translating Quillet's Callipedia, which +was afterwards done by Rowe. He is the author of several miscellanous +poems, of which the following is as accurate an account as we could +possibly obtain. On Conscience, Beauty, the Force of Music, Song of +Troilus, &c. dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle. + +To his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, upon his going into Germany +1712. This poem begins thus, + + Go, mighty prince, and those great nations see, + Which thy victorious arms made free; + View that fam'd column, where thy name's engrav'd, + Shall tell their children who their empire fav'd. + Point out that marble where thy worth is shewn + To every grateful country but thy own. + +A Description of the Field of Battle, after Caesar was Conqueror at +Pharsalia, from the Seventh Book of Lucan. + +The Patriot. + +Translations from Lucan, occasioned by the Tragedy of Cato. + +The Fifth Elegy of the First Book of Tibullus, translated, and +addressed to Delia. + +An Apology for Loving a Widow. + +The Fifth Psalm Paraphrased. + +A Poetical Epistle, written from Hampstead to Mr. Thornhill, upon Mr. +Addison's Cato. + +An Epistle to Mr. Addison on the Death of the Earl of Hallifax. This +poem begins thus, + + And shall great Hallifax resign to fate, + And not one bard upon his ashes wait? + Or is with him all inspiration fled, + And lye the muses with their patron dead? + Convince us, Addison, his spirit reigns, + Breathing again in thy immortal strains: + To thee the list'ning world impartial bends, + Since Hallifax and envy now are friends. + +Cupid's Proclamation, or a Defence of Women; a Poem from Chaucer. + +Dr. Sewel, in his state principles, was inclined to the cause of +the Tories, and takes every occasion to combat with the bishop of +Salisbury, who had so eminently appeared in the cause of the Whigs. + +The following is a list of his prose works, in which there are some +letters addressed to, and animadversions upon that eminent prelate's +works. + +The Clergy, and the Present Ministry defended; being a Letter to the +Bishop of Salisbury, occasioned by his Lordship's new Preface to his +Pastoral Case, 8vo. 1713, third Edition that year. In a fourth Edition +(same date) this is called Mr. Sewel's First Letter to the Bishop of +Salisbury, the Clergy, &c. + +A Second Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, upon the Publication of +his new Volume of Sermons, wherein his Lordship's Preface concerning +the Revolution, and the Case of the Lord Russel are examined, &c. 8vo. +1713. + +Remarks upon a Pamphlet entitled Observations upon the State of the +Nation 1712-13, third Edition; to which is added a Postscript to the +Vindicator of the Earl of Nottingham, 8vo. 1714. + +An Introduction to the Life and Writings of G----t Lord Bishop of +S----m, &c. being a Third Letter to the Bishop of Salisbury, 8vo. +1716. + +A Vindication of the English Stage, exemplified in the Cato of Mr. +Addison. In a Letter to a Nobleman, 8vo. 1716. + +Schism destructive of the Government, both in Church and State; +being a Defence of the Bill intitled An Act to prevent the Growth of +Schism; wherein all the Objections against it, and particularly those +in 'Squire Steele's Letter are fully Refuted. Humbly offered to the +Consideration of the House of Lords, 8vo. 1714, second Edition. + +More News from Salisbury, viz. I. An Examination of some Parts of the +Bishop of Sarum's Sermon and Charge, &c. 8vo. 1714. + +The Reasons for writing against the Bishop of Salisbury, 8vo. 1714. + +The Life of Mr. John Philips, Author of the Poem on Cyder. + +Dr. Sewel died at Hampstead in Middlesex, where, in the latter part +of his life, he had practised physic, on the 8th of February 1726, +and was buried there. He seems to have been a man of an amiable +disposition, and to have possessed a very considerable genius. + + * * * * * + + + + +ANTHONY HAMMOND, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from a good family, of Somersham-Place, +in the county of Huntingdon, and was born in the year 1668[A]. When he +arrived at a proper age, he was chosen member of Parliament, and did +not remain long in the house before he distinguished himself as a +very eminent speaker. Having espoused the court interest, his zeal +and merit recommended him to very considerable public employments, +particularly that of being one of the commissioners of the royal navy, +which place he quitted in the year 1712. The ingenious Mr. Southern in +his dedication of his Innocent Adultery, to Mr. Hammond, speaks thus +of him. 'If generosity with friendship, learning with good sense, +true wit and humour, with good-nature, be accomplishments to qualify a +gentleman for a patron, I am sure I have hit right in Mr. Hammond.' + +Our author obliged the public with a Miscellany of Original Poems, by +the Most Eminent Hands; in which himself had no small share. In this +miscellany are several poetical performances of Mrs. Martha Fowkes, +a lady of exquisite taste in the belle accomplishments. As to Mr. +Hammond's own pieces, he acknowleges in his preface, that they were +written at very different times, and particularly owned by him, lest +they should afterwards be ascribed to other persons; as the Ode on +Solitude, was falsely ascribed to the earl of Roscommon, and other +pieces of his, were likewise given to other authors. + +This author wrote the Life of Walter Moyle Esq; prefixed to his +works.----Mr. Hammond died about the year 1726. + + +[Footnote A: Coxeter's Miscellaneous Notes.] + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. Mr. LAWRENCE EUSDEN. + + +This gentleman was descended from a very good family in the kingdom of +Leland, but received his education at Trinity college in Cambridge. +He was honoured with the encouragement of that eminent patron of the +poets the earl of Halifax, to whom he consecrated the first product of +his Muse. He enjoyed likewise the patronage of the duke of Newcastle, +who being lord chamberlain, at the death of Mr. Rowe, preferred him to +the Bays. + +Mr. Eusden was for some part of his life chaplain to Richard lord +Willoughby de Brook: In this peaceful situation of life, one would not +expect Mr. Eusden should have any enemies, either of the literary, or +any other sort. But we find he has had many, amongst whom Mr. Pope is +the most formidable both in power and keenness. In his Dunciad, Book +I. Line 101. where he represents Dulness taking a view of her sons, he +says + + She saw old Pryn, in restless Daniel shine, + And Eusden eke out Blackmore's endless line. + +Mr. Oldmixon likewise in his Art of Logic and Rhetoric, page 413, +affirms, 'That of all the Galimatias he ever met with, none comes up +to some verses of this poet, which have as much of the ridiculum and +the fustian in them, as can well be jumbled together, and are of that +sort of nonsense, which so perfectly confounds all ideas, that there +is no distinct one left in the mind. Further he says of him, that he +hath prophesy'd his own poetry shall be sweeter than Catullus, Ovid +and Tibullus; but we have little hope of the accomplishment of it from +what he hath lately published.' Upon which Mr. Oldmixon has not spared +a reflexion, that the placing the laurel on the head of one who wrote +such verses, will give posterity a very lively idea of the justice and +judgment of those who bestowed it. + +Mr. Oldmixon no doubt by this reflexion insinuates, that the laurel +would have better become his own brows than Eusden's; but it would +perhaps have been more decent for him to acquiesce in the opinion of +the duke of Buckingham (Sheffield) who in his Session of the Poets +thus mentions Eusden. + + --In rush'd Eusden, and cry'd, who shall have it, + But I the true Laureat to whom the king gave it? + Apollo begg'd pardon, and granted his claim, + But vow'd that till then, he ne'er heard of his name. + +The truth is, Mr. Eusden wrote an Epithalamium on the marriage of +his grace the duke of Newcastle, to the right honourable the lady +Henrietta Godolphin; which was considered as so great a compliment by +the duke, that in gratitude for it, he preferred him to the laurel. +Nor can I at present see how he could have made a better choice: We +shall have occasion to find, as we enumerate his writings, that he +was no inconsiderable versifier, and though perhaps he had not the +brightest parts; yet as we hear of no moral blemish imputed to him, +and as he was dignified with holy-orders, his grace acted a very +generous part, in providing for a man who had conferred an obligation +on him. The first rate poets were either of principles very different +from the government, or thought themselves too distinguished to +undergo the drudgery of an annual Ode; and in this case Eusden seems +to have had as fair a claim as another, at least a better than his +antagonist Oldmixon. He succeeded indeed a much greater poet than +himself, the ingenious Mr. Rowe, which might perhaps draw some +ridicule upon him. + +Mr. Cooke, in his Battle of the Poets, speaks thus of our author. + + Eusden, a laurel'd bard, by fortune rais'd + By very few was read, by fewer prais'd. + +A fate which some critics are of opinion must befall the very poet +himself, who is thus so ready to expose his brother. + +The chief of our author's poetical writings are these, + +To the lord Hallifax, occasioned by the translating into Latin his +lordship's Poem on the Battle of the Boyne. + +On the duke of Marlborough's victory at Oudenaid. + +A Letter to Mr. Addison. + +On the king's accession to the throne. +To the reverend doctor Bentley, on the opening of Trinity-College Chapel, +Cambridge. + +On a Lady, who is the most beautiful and witty when she is angry. + + This poem begins with these lines. + + + Long had I known the soft, inchanting wiles, + Which Cupid practised in Aurelia's smiles. + 'Till by degrees, like the fam'd Asian taught, + Safely I drank the sweet, tho' pois'nous draught. + Love vex'd to see his favours vainly shown, + The peevish Urchin murthered with a frown. + +Verses at the last public commencement at Cambridge, spoken by the +author. + +The Court of Venus, from Claudian. + +The Speech of Pluto to Proserpine. + +Hero and Leander, translated from the Greek of Musaeus. + + This Piece begins thus, + + + Sing Muse, the conscious torch, whose mighty flame, + (The shining signal of a brighter dame) + Thro' trackless waves, the bold Leander led, + To taste the dang'rous joys of Hero's bed: + Sing the stol'n bliss, in gloomy shades conceal'd, + And never to the blushing morn reveal'd. + +A Poem on the Marriage of his grace the duke of Newcastle to the +right honourable Henrietta Godolphin, which procured him, as we have +observed already, the place of laureat. The lord Roscommon's Essay on +translated verse, rendered into Latin. + +An Epistle to Sir Robert Walpole. + +Three Poems; I. On the death of the late king; II. On the Accession of +his present majesty. III. On the Queen. + +On the arrival of Prince Frederic. + +The origin of the Knights of the Bath, inscribed to the Duke of +Cumberland. + +An Ode for the Birth-Day, in Latin and English, printed at Cambridge. + +He died at his rectory at Conesby in Lincolnshire, the 27th of +September, 1730. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. MR. LAWRENCE EACHARD, + + +This Gentleman, who has been more distinguished as an historian than +a poet, was the son of a clergyman, who by the death of his elder +brother, became master of a good estate in Suffolk. + +He received his education at the university of Cambridge, entered into +holy-orders, and was presented to the living of Welton and Elkington +in Lincolnshire, where he spent above twenty years of his life; and +acquired a name by his writings, especially the History of England. +This history was attacked by Dr. Edmund Calamy, in a letter to the +author; in which, according to the Dr. the true principles of the +Revolution, the Whigs and the Dissenters are vindicated; and many +persons of distinction cleared from Mr. Eachard's aspersions. + +Mr. John Oldmixon, who was of very opposite principles to Eachard, +severely animadverted upon him in his Critical History of England, +during the reigns of the Stuarts; but as Oldmixon was a hireling, and +a man strongly biassed by party prejudices, little credit is due to +his testimony: Which is moreover accompanied with a perpetual torrent +of abuse. Mr. Eachard's general Ecclesiastical History, from the +nativity of Christ to the first establishment of Christianity by human +laws, under the emperor Constantine the Great, has been much esteemed. +Our author was in the year 1712 installed archdeacon of Stowe, and +prebend of Lincoln. He published a translation of Terence's Comedies, +translated by himself and others; but all revised and corrected by him +and Sir Roger L'Estrange: To which is prefixed the life of Terence. +Besides these, Mr. Eachard has translated three Comedies from Plautus, +viz. + + AMPHITRYON, + EPIDICUS. + RUDENS. + +With critical remarks upon each play. To which he has prefixed a +judicious parallel between Terence and Plautus; and for a clearer +decision of the point, that Terence was the more polite writer of +Comedy, he produces the first act of Plautus's Aulularia, and the +first act of his Miles Gloriosus, against the third act of Terence's +Eunuch. It ought to be observed (says Mr. Eachard) 'That Plautus was +somewhat poor, and made it his principal aim to please, and tickle +the common people; and since they were almost always delighted with +something new, strange, and unusual, the better to humour them, he was +not only frequently extravagant in his expressions, but likewise in +his characters too, and drew them often more vicious, more covetous, +and more foolish than they really were, and this so set the people a +gazing and wondering. With these sort of characters many of our modern +Comedies abound, which makes them too much degenerate into farce, +which seldom fails of pleasing the mob.' + +Mr. Eachard has, in justice to Mr. Dryden, given us some instances +of his improvement of Amphitryon, and concludes them with this just +remark in compliment to our nation; 'We find that many fine things of +the ancients, are like seeds, that when planted on English ground, by +a poet's skilful hand, thrive and produce excellent fruit.' + +These three plays are printed in a pocket-volume, dedicated to Sir +Charles Sedley; to which is prefixed a recommendatory copy of verses, +by Mr. Tate. + +Mr. Eachard died in the year 1730. + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN OLDMIXON, + + +Was descended from the ancient family of the Oldmixons, of Oldmixon +near Bridgewater in Somersetshire[A]. We have no account of the +education of this gentleman, nor the year in which he was born. The +first production we meet with of his was Amyntas, a pastoral, acted at +the Theatre-Royal, taken from the Amynta of Tasso. The preface informs +us, that it met with but ill success, for pastoral, though never +so well written, is not fit for a long entertainment on the English +Theatre: But the original pleased in Italy, where the performance of +the musical composer is generally more regarded than that of the poet. +The Prologue was written by Mr. Dennis. Mr. Oldmixon's next piece was +entitled the Grave, or Love's Paradise; an Opera represented at +the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, 1700. In the preface, the author +acquaints the critics, 'That this play is neither translation, nor +parody; that the story is intirely new; that 'twas at first intended +for a pastoral, tho' in the three last acts the dignity of the +character raised it into the form of a tragedy.' The scene a Province +of Italy, near the Gulph of Venice. The Epilogue was written by Mr. +Farquhar. + +Our author's next dramatic piece is entitled: The Governor of Cyprus, +a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, +dedicated to her grace the duchess of Bolton. + +Mr. Oldmixon, in a Prose Essay on Criticism, unjustly censures Mr. +Addison, whom also, in his imitation of Bouhour's Arts of Logic and +Rhetoric, he misrepresents in plain matter of fact: For in page 45 he +cites the Spectator, as abusing Dr. Swift by name, where there is not +the least hint of it; and in page 304 is so injurious as to suggest, +that Mr. Addison himself wrote that Tatler, Numb. XLIII. which says of +his own simile, 'That it is as great as ever entered into the mind of +man.' This simile is in Addison's poem, entitled the Campaign. Where, +says the author of the Letter, 'The simile of a ministering Angel, +sets forth the most sedate and the most active courage, engaged in +an uproar of nature, a confusion of elements, and a scene of divine +vengeance.' + + 'Twas then great Marlbro's mighty soul was prov'd, + That, in the shock of charging hosts unmov'd, + Amidst confusion, horror, and despair, + Examin'd all the dreadful scenes of war; + In peaceful thought, the field of death survey'd + To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid, + Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + So when an Angel by divine command, + With rising tempests shakes a guilty hand, + Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past, + Calm and serene, he drives the furious blast, + And, pleas'd th' Almighty's orders to perform, + Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm. + +That this letter could not be written by Mr. Addison, there is all the +evidence the nature of the thing will admit, to believe; for first, +Sir Richard Steele avow'd it to be his, and in the next place, it is +not probable that Mr. Addison himself had so high an opinion of this +simile, as to call it as great as ever entered into the thought of +man; for it has in reality no uncommon greatness in it. The image +occurs a thousand times in the book of Psalms; so that it has not +novelty to recommend it, and the manner of its being expressed, is no +way extraordinary. The high terms in which it is celebrated, is the +language of friendship, not of judgment. It is very probable Sir +Richard Steele, warm'd with a favourite subject, and zealous for the +fame of Addison, might express himself thus hyperbolically concerning +it; but Mr. Addison was too judicious a critic, to think or speak of +it in these terms, and was besides too cautious to run the risk of +doing it himself in so public a manner. In a word, Mr. Oldmixon was an +envious man, and we have seen with how little ground of resentment +he railed against Eusden, because that gentleman was preferred to the +Laurel. + +Mr. Oldmixon joined the general cry of the underling writers against +Mr. Pope; and wrote many letters in the Flying Post, with an intention +to reduce his reputation, with as little success as his other +antagonists had done. In his prose Essay on Criticism, and in the Arts +of Logic and Rhetoric, he frequently reflects on Pope, for which he +has received a place in his Dunciad. + +When that eminent satyrist in his second Book, line 270, represents +the Dunces diving for the Prize of Dulness, he in a particular manner +dignifies Oldmixon, for he makes him climb a lighter, that by leaping +from it, he may sink the deeper in the mud. + + In naked majesty Oldmixon stands, + And, Milo-like, surveys his arms and hands, + Then sighing thus: 'And am I now threescore? + 'Ah why, ye Gods! should two and two make 'four? + He said and climb'd a stranded lighter's height, + Shot to the black abyss, and plung'd down-right. + The Senior's judgment all the crowd admire, + Who but to sink the deeper, rose the higher. + +Mr. Oldmixon wrote a history of the Stuarts in folio, and a Critical +History of England, in two volumes octavo. The former of these +pieces was undertaken to blacken the family of the Stuarts. The most +impartial writers and candid critics, on both sides, have held this +work in contempt, for in every page there breathes a malevolent +spirit, a disposition to rail and calumniate: So far from observing +that neutrality and dispassionate evenness of temper, which should +be carefully attended to by every historian, he suffers himself to +be transported with anger: He reviles, wrests particular passages and +frequently draws forced conclusions. A history written in this spirit +has no great claim to a reader's faith. The reigns of the Stuarts +in England were no doubt chequer'd with many evils; and yet it is +certainly true, that a man who can fit deliberately down to search +for errors only, must have a strong propension to calumny, or at least +take delight in triumphing over the weakness of his fellow creatures, +which is surely no indication of a good heart. + +Mr. Oldmixon, being employ'd by bishop Kennet, in publishing the +Historians in his collection, he perverted Daniel's Chronicle in +numberless places. Yet this very man, in the preface to the first of +these, advanced a particular fact, to charge three eminent persons +of interpolating the lord Clarendon's History, which fact has been +disproved by the bishop of Rochester, Dr. Atterbury, then the only +survivor of them; and the particular part he pretended to be falsifed +produced since, after almost ninety years, in that noble author's own +hand. + +He was all his life a virulent Party-Writer, and received his reward +in a small part in the revenue at Liverpool, where he died in an +advanced age, but in what year we cannot learn. + +Mr. Oldmixon, besides the works we have mentioned, was author of a +volume of Poems, published in 1714. + +The Life of Arthur Maynwaring, Esq; prefixed to the works of that +author, by Mr. Oldmixon. + +England's Historical Epistles (Drayton's revived). + +The Life of queen Anne. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob's Lives of the Poets, p. 197.] + + * * * * * + + + + +LEONARD WELSTED, Esq; + + +This gentleman was descended from a very good family in +Leicestershire, and received the rudiments of his education in +Westminster school. We are informed by major Cleland, author of a +Panegyric on Mr. Pope, prefixed to the Dunciad, that he was a member +of both the universities. + +In a piece said to have been written by Mr. Welsted, called The +Characters of the Times, printed in 8vo. 1728, he gives this account +of himself; 'Mr. Welsted had in his youth raised so great expectations +of his future genius, that there was a kind of struggle between the +two universities, which should have the honour of his education; to +compound this, he civilly became a member of both, and after having +passed some time at the one, he removed to the other. From thence he +returned to town, where he became the darling expectation of all the +polite writers, whose encouragement he acknowledged in his occasional +poems, in a manner that will make no small part of the fame of his +protectors. It also appears from his works, that he was happy in +the patronage of the most illustrious characters of the present age. +Encouraged by such a combination in his favour, he published a book of +poems, some in the Ovidian, some in the Horatian manner, in both which +the most exquisite judges pronounced he even rivalled his masters. +His love verses have rescued that way of writing from contempt. In his +translations he has given us the very soul and spirit of his author. +His Odes; his Epistles; his Verses; his Love Tales; all are the most +perfect things in all poetry.' + +If this representation of our author's abilities were just, it would +seem no wonder, if the two universities should strive with each other +for the honour of his education, but it is certain the world have +not coincided with this opinion of Mr. Welsted; who, by the way, can +hardly be thought the author of such an extravagant self-approbation, +unless it be an irony, which does not seem improbable. + +Our author, however, does not appear to have been a mean poet; he had +certainly from nature an exceeding fine genius, but after he came to +town he became a votary to pleasure, and the applauses of his friends, +which taught him to overvalue his talents, perhaps slackened his +diligence, and by making him trust solely to nature, flight the +assistance of art. + +In the year 1718 he wrote the Triumvirate, or a Letter in Verse from +Palemon to Celia from Bath, which was meant as a satire against Mr. +Pope. He wrote federal other occasional pieces against this gentleman, +who, in recompence of his enmity, has mentioned him twice in his +Dunciad. In book ii. 1. 200 where he represents the poets flattering +their patrons with the fulsome strains of panegyric, in order to +procure from them that which they very much wanted, viz. money, he +shews Welsted as unsuccessful. + + But Welsted most the poet's healing balm, + Strives to extract from his soft giving palm; + Unlucky Welsted! thy unfeeling master, + The more thou ticklest, gripes his fist the faster. + +Mr. Welsted was likewise characterised in the Treatise of the Art of +Sinking, as a Didapper, and after as an Eel. He was likewise described +under the character of another animal, a Mole, by the author of the +following simile, which was handed about at the same time. + + Dear Welsted, mark in dirty hole + That painful animal a Mole: + Above ground never born to go, + What mighty stir it keeps below? + To make a molehill all this strife! + It digs, pukes, undermines for life. + How proud a little dirt to spread! + Conscious of nothing o'er its head. + 'Till lab'ring on, for want of eyes, + It blunders into light--and dies. + +But mentioning him once was not enough for Mr. Pope. He is again +celebrated in the third book, in that famous Parody upon Benham's +Cooper's Hill, + + O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream + My great example, as it is my theme; + Tho' deep, yet clear; tho' gentle, yet not dull; + Strong without rage; without o'er flowing full. + + Denham. + + + +Which Mr. Pope has thus parodied; + + Flow Welsted, flow; like thine inspirer, beer, + Tho' stale, not ripe; tho' thin, yet never clear; + So sweetly mawkish, and so smoothly dull; + Heady, not strong; and foaming, tho' not full. + +How far Mr. Pope's insinuation is true, that Mr. Welsted owed his +inspiration to beer, they who read his works may determine for +themselves. Poets who write satire often strain hard for ridiculous +circumstances, in order to expose their antagonists, and it will be +no violence to truth to say, that in search of ridicule, candour is +frequently lost. + +In the year 1726 Mr. Welsted brought upon the stage a comedy called +The Dissembled Wantons or My Son get Money. He met with the patronage +of the duke of Newcastle, who was a great encourager of polite +learning; and we find that our author had a very competent place in +the Ordnance-Office. + +His poetical works are chiefly these, + +The Duke of Marlborough's Arrival, a Poem printed in fol. 1709, +inscribed to the Right Hon the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. + +A Poem to the Memory of Mr. Philips, inscribed to Lord Bolingbroke, +printed in fol. 1710. + +A Discourse to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Walpole; to which is annexed +Proposals for Translating the whole Works of Horace, with a Specimen +of the Performance, viz. Lib. Ist. Ode 1, 3, 5 and 22, printed in 4to. +1727. + +An Ode to the Hon. Major General Wade, on Occasion of his disarming +the Highlands, imitated from Horace. + +To the Earl of Clare, on his being created Duke of Newcastle. An Ode +on the Birth-Day of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. To the +Princess, a Poem. Amintor and the Nightingale, a Song. These four were +printed together in 1716. + +Of False Fame, an Epistle to the Right Hon. the Earl of Pembroke, 8vo. +1732. + +A Letter to his Grace the Duke of Chandois. + +To the Duke of Buckingham, on his Essay on Poetry. + +Several small pieces in the Free Thinker. + +Epistles, Odes, &c. written on several Subjects; with a Disseration +concerning the Perfection of the English Language. + +Mr. Welsted has translated Longinus's Treatise on the Sublime. + + * * * * * + + + + +JAMES MORE SMYTH, Esq; + + +This gentleman was son of Arthur More, esq; one of the lords +commissioners of trade, in the reign of Queen Anne; his mother was the +daughter of Mr. Smyth, a man of considerable fortune, who left this +his grandson a handsome estate, on which account he obtained an Act of +Parliament to change his name to Smyth. + +Our author received his education at Oxford, and while he remained +at the university he wrote a comedy called The Rival Modes, his only +dramatic performance. This play was condemned in the representation, +but he printed it in 1727, with the following motto, which the author +of the Notes to the Dunciad, by way of irony, calls modest. + + Hic coestus, artemque repono. + +Upon the death of our author's grandfather, he enjoyed the place of +paymaster to the band of gentlemen-pensioners, in conjunction with his +younger brother, Arthur More; of this place his mother procured the +reversion from his late Majesty during his father's lifetime. Being a +man of a gay disposition, he insinuated himself into the favour of his +grace the duke of Wharton, and being, like him, destitute of prudence, +he joined with that volatile great man in writing a paper called the +Inquisitor, which breathed so much the spirit of Jacobitism, that the +publisher thought proper to sacrifice his profit to his safety, and +discontinue it. + +By using too much freedom with the character of Pope, he provoked that +gentleman, who with great spirit stigmatized him in his Dunciad. +In his second book Mr. Pope places before the eyes of the dunces +the phantom of a poet. He seems willing to give some account of the +possibility of dulness making a wit, which can be done no otherwise +than by chance. The lines which have relation to Mr. More are so +elegantly satyric, that it probably will not displease our readers to +find them inserted here. + + A poet's form she plac'd before their eyes, + And bad the nimblest racer seize the prize; + No meagre muse-rid mope, adult and thin, + In a dun night gown of his own loose skin, + But such a bulk as no twelve bards could raise, + Twelve starv'ling bards of these degenerate days. + All as a partridge plump, full-fed, and fair, + She form'd this image of well-bodied air, + With pert, slat eyes, she window'd well its head, + A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead, + And empty words she gave, and sounding strain, + But senseless, lifeless! idol void and vain! + Never was dash'd out at one lucky hit, + A fool so just a copy of a wit; + So like, that critics said, and courtiers swore, + A wit it was, and call'd the phantom More. + +Though these lines of Pope are sufficiently satirical, yet it seems +they very little affected Mr. More. A gentleman intimately acquainted +with him informs us, that he has heard Mr. More several times repeat +those lines, without discovering any chagrin; and he used to observe, +that he was now secure of being transmitted to posterity: an honour +which, says he, I could never have arrived at, but by Pope's means. +The cause of the quarrel between this gentleman and that great poet +seems to have been this. + +In a letter published in the Daily Journal March 18, 1728, written by +Mr. More, he has the following words, 'Upon reading the third volume +of Pope's Miscellanies, I found five lines which I thought excellent, +and happening to praise them, a gentleman produced a modern comedy, +the Rival Modes, published last year, where were the same verses to +a tittle. These gentlemen are undoubtedly the first plagiaries that +pretend to make a reputation, by stealing from a man's works in his +own life-time, and out of a public print.' But it is apparent from the +notes to the Dunciad, that Mr. More himself borrowed the lines from +Pope; for in a letter dated January 27, 1726, addressed to Mr. Pope, +he observes, 'That these verses which he had before given him leave to +insert in the Rival Modes, would be known for his, some copies being +got abroad. He desires, nevertheless, that since the lines in his +comedy have been read to several, Mr. Pope would not deprive it of +them.' + +As a proof of this circumstance, the testimony of lord Bolingbroke +is adduced, and the lady of Hugh Bethel, esq; to whom the verses were +originally addressed, who knew them to be Mr. Pope's long before the +Rival Modes was composed. + +Our author further charges Mr. Pope with being an enemy to the church +and state. 'The Memoirs of a Parish Clerk, says he, was a very dull, +and unjust abuse of the bishop of Sarum (who wrote in defence of our +religion and constitution) who has been dead many years.' 'This also, +continues the author of the Notes to the Dunciad, is likewise untrue, +it being known to divers, that these Memoirs were written at the +seat of the lord Harcourt in Oxfordshire, before the death of bishop +Burnet, and many years before the appearance of that history, of which +they are pretended to be an abuse. Most true it is that Mr. More had +such a design, and was himself the man who pressed Dr. Arbuthnot, and +Mr. Pope to assist him therein; and that he borrowed those Memoirs of +the latter, when that history came forth, with intent to turn them to +such abuse, but being able to obtain from Pope but one single hint, +and either changing his mind, or having more mind than ability, he +contented himself to keep the said Memoirs, and read them as his own +to all his acquaintance. A noble person there is, into whose +company Pope once chanced to introduce him, who well remembered the +conversation of Mr. More to have turned upon the contempt he had for +that reverend prelate, and how full he was of a design he declared +himself to have of exposing him; this noble person is the earl of +Peterborough.' + +Thus Mr. Pope was obliged to represent this gentleman as a plagiary, +or to pass for one himself. His case indeed, as the author of the +notes to the Dunciad observes, was like that of a man who, as he +was sitting in company, perceived his next neighbour had stolen his +handkerchief. 'Sir, said the thief, finding himself detected, do not +expose me, I did it for mere want; be so good but to take it privately +out of my pocket again, and say nothing.' The honest man did so, but +the other cried out, See, gentlemen! what a thief we have among us! +look, he is stealing my handkerchief.' The plagiarism of this person +gave occasion to the following epigram; + + More always smiles whenever he recites; + He smiles (you think) approving what he writes; + And yet in this no vanity is shown; + A modest man may like what's not his own. + +The smaller pieces which we have heard attributed to this author, are, +An Epigram on the Bridge at Blenheim, by Dr. Evans; Cosmelia, by Mr. +Pitt, Mr. Jones, &c. The Saw-Pit, a Simile, by a Friend; and some +unowned Letters, Advertisements, and Epigrams against Mr. Pope in +the Daily Journal. He died in the year 1734, and as he wrote but one +comedy unsuccessfully, and no other pieces of his meeting with any +applause, the reader will probably look upon him as a man of little +genius; he had a power however of rendering his conversation agreeable +by a facetious and gentleman-like manner, without any of the stiffness +of the scholar, or the usual petulance of a poet. He always lived in +affluent circumstances, and by mixing with genteel company, his habit +of elegance was never lost, a fate which too frequently happens to +those, who, notwithstanding the brightest parts, are excluded the +circle of politeness by the oppressions of poverty. In this light Mr. +Pope must have considered him, or he, who was one of the politest men +of the age, as well as the greatest poet, would never have introduced +him to the earl of Peterborough. It does not appear that Mr. More had +parts otherwise sufficient to entitle him to the notice of Pope, and +therefore he must have considered him only as a gentleman. Had he +possessed as much prudence, as politeness, he would have avoided +by all means incurring the displeasure of Pope, who, as he was the +warmest friend, was likewise a very powerful and implacable enemy. In +this controversy, however, it is evident enough that Mr. Moore was +the aggressor, and it is likewise certain that his punishment has been +equal to his offence. + +He died October 18, 1734, at Whister, near Isleworth in Middlesex, for +which county he was a justice of peace. + + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN DENNIS, + + +This celebrated critic was born in London in the year 1657, his father +being a Sadler, and an eminent citizen[A]. + +He received his early education at Harrow on the Hill, under the pious +and learned Dr. William Horn, having for his schoolfellows many young +noblemen, who afterwards made a considerable figure in the state. +He removed from Harrow to Caius College in Cambridge, where he was +admitted January 13, 1675, in the 18th year of his age. In due time +Mr. Dennis took the degree of bachelor of arts, and after quitting +the university he indulged a passion which he had entertained for +travelling, and set out for France and Italy. In the course of his +travels he, no doubt, made such observations upon the government and +genius of the people whom he visited, as enabled him to make a +just comparison between foreign states and his own country. In +all probability, while he was in France and Italy, he conceived an +abhorrence of despotic government, the effects of which he then had +an opportunity more intimately to discern; for he returned home still +more confirmed in Whig principles, by which his political conduct was +ever governed. + +Our author in his early years became acquainted with some of the +brightest geniuses which then illuminated the regions of wit, such as +Dryden, Wycherly, Congreve, and Southern. Their conversation was +in itself sufficient to divert his mind from the acquisition of any +profitable art, or the exercise of any profession. He ranked himself +amongst the wits, and from that moment held every attainment in +contempt, except what related to poetry, and taste. + +Mr. Dennis, by the instances of zeal which he gave for the Protestant +succession in the reign of King William, and Queen Anne, obtained the +patronage of the duke of Marlborough, who procured him the place +of one of the Queen's waiters in the Custom-house, worth 120 l. +per annum, which Mr. Dennis held for six years. During the time he +attended at the Custom-house, he lived so profusely, and managed +his affairs with so little economy, that in order to discharge some +pressing demands, he was obliged to dispose of his place. When the +earl of Hallifax, with whom he had the honour of being acquainted, +heard of Mr. Dennis's design, he sent for him, and in the most +friendly manner, expostulated with him upon the folly, and rashness +of disposing of his place, by which (says his lordship) you will +soon become a beggar. Mr. Dennis represented his exigences, and the +pressing demands that were then made upon him: which did not however +satisfy his lordship, who insisted if he did sell it, it should be +with some reversion to himself for the space of forty years, a term +which the earl had no notion Mr. Dennis could exceed. But he was +mistaken in his calculation upon our poet's constitution, who +out-lived the term of forty years stipulated when he sold his place, +and fulfilled in a very advanced age, what his lordship had prophesied +would befal him. This circumstance our author hints at in his +dedication of his poem on the Battle of Ramellies, to lord Hallifax, +'I have lately, says he, had very great obligations to your lordship, +you have been pleased to take some care of my fortune, at a time when +I most wanted it, and had the least reason to expect it from you.' +This poem on the Battle of Ramellies is a cold unspirited performance; +it has neither fire, nor elevation, and is the true poetical sister +of another poem of his, on the Battle of Blenheim, addressed to Queen +Anne, and for which the duke of Marlborough rewarded him, says Mr. +Coxeter, with a present of a hundred guineas. In these poems he +has introduced a kind of machinery; good and bad angels interest +themselves in the action, and his hero, the duke of Marlborough, +enjoys a large share of the celestial protection. + +Mr. Dennis had once contracted a friendship[B] with Sir Richard +Steele, whom he afterwards severely attacked. Sir Richard had promised +that he would take some opportunity of mentioning his works in public +with advantage, and endeavour to raise his reputation. When Sir +Richard engaged in a periodical paper, there was a fair occasion +of doing it, and accordingly in one of his Spectators he quotes the +following couplet, which he is pleased to call humorous, but which +however is a translation from Boileau. + + One fool lolls his tongue out at another, + And shakes his empty noddle at his brother. + +The citation of this couplet Mr. Dennis imagined, was rather meant to +affront him, than pay a compliment to his genius, as he could discover +nothing excellent in the lines, and if there was, they being only a +translation, in some measure abated the merit of them. Being fired with +resentment at this affront, he immediately, in a spirit of fury, wrote +a letter to the Spectator, in which he treated him with very little +ceremony, and informed him, that if he had been sincere in paying a +compliment to him, he should have chosen a quotation from his poem on +the Battle of Ramellies; he then points out a particular passage, +of which he himself had a very high opinion, and which we shall here +insert as a specimen of that performance. + +A coelestial spirit visits the duke of Marlborough the night before +the battle, and after he has said several other things to him, goes on +thus, + + A wondrous victory attends thy arms, + Great in itself, and in its sequel vast; + Whose ecchoing sound thro' all the West shall run, + Transporting the glad nations all around, + Who oft shall doubt, and oft suspend their joy, + And oft imagine all an empty dream; + The conqueror himself shall cry amaz'd, + 'Tis not our work, alas we did it not; + The hand of God, the hand of God is here! + For thee, so great shall be thy high renown, + That same shall think no music like thy name, + Around the circling globe it shall be spread, + And to the world's last ages shall endure; + And the most lofty, most aspiring man, + Shall want th' assurance in his secret prayers + To ask such high felicity and fame, + As Heav'n has freely granted thee; yet this + That seems so great, so glorious to thee now, + Would look how low, how vile to thy great mind, + If I could set before th' astonished eyes, + Th' excess of glory, and th' excess of bliss + That is prepar'd for thy expiring soul, + When thou arriv'st at everlasting day. + +The quotation by Mr. Dennis is longer, but we are persuaded the reader +will not be displeased that we do not take the trouble to transcribe +the whole, as it does not improve, but rather grows more languid. +How strangely are people deceived in their own productions! In the +language of sincerity we cannot discover a poetical conception, one +striking image, or one animated line in the above, and yet Mr. Dennis +observes to Sir Richard Steele, that these are the lines, by quoting +which, he would really have done him honour. + +But Mr. Dennis's resentment did not terminate here; he attempted to +expose a paper in the Spectator upon dramatic conduct, in which +the author endeavours to shew that a poet is not always obliged to +distribute poetical justice on this very reasonable account, that +good and evil happen alike to all men on this side the grave. To this +proposition our critic objects, 'that it is not only a very false, but +a dangerous assertion, that we neither know what men really are, nor +what they suffer. Besides, says he, let it be considered, that a man +is a creature, who is created immortal, and a creature consequently +that will find a compensation in futurity, for any seeming inequality +in his destiny here; but the creatures of a poetical creator, are +imaginary, and transitory; they have no longer duration than the +representation of their respective fables, and consequently if +they offend, they must be punished during that representation, and +therefore we are very far from pretending, that poetical justice is +an equal representation of the justice of the Almighty.' In support +of this opinion our critic produces the example of Euripides, and the +best poets amongst the ancients, who practised it, and the authority +of Aristole, who established the rule. But nature, or Shakespear, +which is another word for nature, is by no means in favour of this +equal distribution. No character can be represented in tragedy +absolutely perfect, as no such character exists; but a character which +possesses more virtues than vices, may be upon the whole amiable, and +yet with the strictest propriety may be made the chief sufferer in the +drama. If any passion strongly predominates in the heart of man, +it will often expose him to such snares, entangle him in such +difficulties, and oppress him with such wants, that in the very nature +of things, he must sink under the complicated weight of misery. This +may happen to a character extremely amiable, the passion which governs +him may be termed unhappy, but not guilty, or if it should partake the +nature of guilt, fallible creatures cannot always combat with success +against guilty passions. + +The drama being an imitation of nature, the poet causes a composition +of characters formed in his imagination to be represented by players; +these characters charm, or displease, not only for what they do; +during the representation of the fable, but we love, or hate them for +what they have done before their appearance; and we dread, or warmly +expect the consequences of their resolutions after they depart the +stage. The illusion would not be sufficiently strong, if we did not +suppose the dramatic persons equally accountable to the powers above +us, as we are ourselves. This Shakespear has taken care forcibly to +impress upon his audience, in making the ghost of the murthered king +of Denmark, charge his son not to touch his mother's life, but leave +her to heaven; and the reflexions of her own conscience to goad and +sting her. + +Mr. Dennis's reasoning, upon the whole amounts to this, that no +perfect character should suffer in the drama; to which it may be +answered, that no perfect character ever did suffer in the drama; +because no poet who draws from nature, ever introduced one, for this +very good reason, that there are none in existence. + +Mr. Dennis, who was restless in attacking those writers, who met with +success, levelled some more criticisms against the Spectators; and +amongst the rest endeavoured to expose Mr. Addison's Illustrations of +the Old Ballad, called Chevy Chace; of which we shall only say, +that he performed this talk more successfully than he executed his +Animadversions upon Poetical Justice. + +We have already taken notice of the warm attachment Mr. Dennis always +had to the Whig-Interest, and his particular zeal for the +Hanoverian succession. Ht wrote many letters and pamphlets, for the +administration of the earl of Godolphin, and the duke of Marlborough, +and never failed to lash the French with all the severity natural to +him. + +When the peace (which the Whigs reckoned the most inglorious that +ever was made) was about to be ratified, Mr. Dennis, who certainly +over-rated his importance, took it into his imagination, that when the +terms of peace should be stipulated, some persons, who had been +most active against the French, would be demanded by that nation as +hostages; and he imagined himself of importance enough to be made +choice of, but dreaded his being given up to the French, as the +greatest evil that could befall him. Under the influence of this +strong delusion, he actually waited on the duke of Marlborough, and +begg'd his grace's interposition, that he might not be sacrificed to +the French, for says he, 'I have always been their enemy.' To this +strange request, his grace very gravely replied, 'Do not fear, Mr. +Dennis, you shall not be given up to the French; I have been a +greater enemy to them than you, and you see I am not afraid of being +sacrificed, nor am in the least disturbed.' Mr. Dennis upon this +retired, well satisfied with his grace's answer, but there still +remained upon his spirits a dread of his becoming a prey to some of +the enemies of Great Britain. + +He soon after this retired into the country, to spend some time at a +friend's house. While he was walking one day by the sea side, he saw a +ship in full sail approaching towards the shore, which his distracted +imagination dictated, was a French ship sent to carry him off. He +hurried to the gentleman's house with the utmost precipitation, +upbraided him with treachery, as being privy to the attempts of the +French against his life, and without ceremony quitted his house, and +posted to London, as fast as he could. + +Mr. Dennis, who never cared to be an unconcerned spectator, when any +business of a public or important nature was in agitation, entered +the lists with the celebrated Mr. Sacheverel, who in the year 1702 +published at Oxford a piece called the Political Union, the purport +of which was to shew, that the Church and the State are invariably +connected, and that the one cannot subsist without the other. Mr. +Dennis in answer to this, in a letter to a member of parliament, with +much zeal, force of argument, and less ferocity than usual, endeavours +to overthrow the proposition, and shew the danger of priestcraft, both +to religion and government. + +In this letter he very sensibly observes, 'That since the very spirit +of the christian religion, is the spirit of union and charity, it +follows by consequence, that a spirit of division, is a spirit of +malice, and of the Devil. A true son of the church, is he who appears +most for union, who breathes nothing but charity; who neglects all +worldly greatness to bear his master's yoke; and, who has learned of +him to be meek and lowly of heart.' + +He shews that the moderate part of the Church of England are the +truest church; and that violent party which differs from the moderate +ought to be called Dissenters, because they are at a greater distance +from charity, which is the characteristic of a true church, than any +Dissenters. By which, says he, 'It appears that Mr. Sacheverel has +made a rod to whip himself, for if only the true Church of England +is to remain, and if the moderate part is the true church, the most +violent ought the least to be tolerated, because they differ from +charity; and consequently are more ready to disturb the public peace.' + +In 1703 he published proposals for putting a speedy end to the war, by +ruining the commerce of the French and Spaniards, and securing our own +without any additional expence to the nation. This was thought a very +judicious, and well designed plan. + +In 1706 our author published an Essay on the Italian Opera, in +which, with an irresistable force, he shews the extreme danger that a +generous nation is exposed to, by too much indulging effeminate +music. In the preface he quotes a passage from Boileau, in which that +satirist expresses himself with much severity against emasculating +diversions; and the Italian music in particular. + +He observes, 'That the modern Italians have the very same sun and soil +with the antient Romans, and yet are their manners directly opposite. +Their men are neither virtuous, wise, or valiant, and they who have +reason to know their women, never trust them out of their sight. 'Tis +impossible to give any reason for so great a difference between the +ancient Romans, and the modern Italians, but only luxury; and the +reigning luxury of modern Italy, is that soft and effeminate music, +which abounds in the Opera.' + +In this Essay Mr. Dennis remarks, that entertainments entirely made +up of music can never instruct the mind, nor promote one excellent +purpose in human nature. 'Perhaps, says he, the pride and vanity that +is in mankind, may determine the generality to give into music, at the +expence of poetry. Men love to enjoy their pleasures entirely, and not +to have them restrained by awe, or curbed by mortification. Now there +are but few judicious spectators at our dramatic representations, +since none can be so, but who with great endowments of nature have had +a very generous education; and the rest are frequently mortified, by +passing foolish judgments: But in music the case is vastly different; +to judge of that requires only use, and a fine ear, which the footman +oft has a great deal finer than his master. In short, a man without +common sense may very well judge of what a man writes without common +sense, and without common sense composes.' He then inquires what +the consequence will be if we banish poetry, which is, that taste, +politeness, erudition and public spirit will fall with it, and all for +a Song. The declension of poetry in Greece and Rome was soon followed +by that of liberty and empire; according to Roscommon in his Essay on +Translated Verse. + + True poets are the guardians of a state, + And when they fail, portend approaching fate: + For that which Rome to conquest did inspire, + Was not the Vestal, but the Muses fire; + Heav'n joins the blessings, no declining age + E'er felt the raptures of poetic rage. + +In 1711 Mr. Dennis published an Essay upon Public Spirit, being a +satire in prose, upon the Manners and Luxury of the Times, the chief +sources of our present Parties and Divisions. This is one of the most +finished performances of our author; the intention is laudable, and +the execution equal to the goodness of the design. He begins the +Essay, with a definition, of the love of our country, shews how +much the phrase has been prostituted, and how seldom understood, or +practised in its genuine sense. He then observes how destructive it is +to indulge an imitation of foreign fashions; that fashions are often +followed by the manners of a people from whom they are borrowed; as +in the beginning of king Charles the IId's reign. After the general +distraction which was immediately consequent upon the Restoration, +lord Halifax informs us, the people began to shake off their slavery +in point of dress, and to be ashamed of their servility in that +particular; 'and that they might look the more, says his lordship, +like a distinct people, they threw off their fashions, and put on +vests: The French did not like this independence, this slight shewn to +their taste, as they thought it portended no good to their politics, +considering that it is a natural introduction, first to make the world +their asses, that they may afterwards make them their slaves. +They sent over the duchess of Portsmouth, who, besides many other +commissions, bore one to laugh us out of our vests, which she +performed so effectually, that in a moment we were like so many +footmen, who had quitted their masters livery, we took it again, and +returned to our old service. So that the very time of doing this gave +a very critical advantage to France, since it looked like an evidence +or returning to their interests, as well as their fashions.' + +After giving this quotation from the marquis of Halifax, he proceeds +to inveigh against the various kinds of luxury, in which people of +fashion indulge themselves. + +He observes that luxury has in a particular manner been destructive +to the ladies: 'That artificial dainties raise in their constitutions +fierce ebullitions, and violent emotions, too rude for the delicate +texture of their fibres; and for half the year together, they +neither take any air, nor use any exercise to remove them. From hence +distempers of body and mind; from hence an infinity of irregular +desires, unlawful amours, intrigues, vapours, and whimsies, and all +the numerous, melancholy croud of deep hysterical symptoms; from +hence it comes to pass that the fruit of their bodies lie in them like +plants in hot-beds; from hence it proceeds that our British maids, who +in the time of our Henrys, were not held marriageable till turned +of twenty, are now become falling ripe at twelve, and forced to +prematureness, by the heat of adventitious fire. Nor has luxury only +changed our natures, but transformed our sexes: We have men that are +more soft, more languid, and more passive than women. On the other +side we have women, who, as it were in revenge, are masculine in their +desires, and masculine in their practices.' + +In a pretty advanced age Mr. Dennis, who then laboured under severe +necessities, published two volumes of Letters, by subscription, which +are by far the most entertaining part of his writings. They have more +sprightliness and force in them than, from reading his other works, +we would be disposed to imagine. They are addressed to persons +distinguished by their fortune, genius, and exalted station; the +duke of Marlborough, the Lord Lansdowne, earl of Godolphin, earl of +Halifax, Mr. Dryden, Mr. Prior, Mr. Wycherley, Henry Cromwel, Esq; +Walter Moyle, Esq; and Sir Richard Blackmore. He entitles them +Letters, Moral and Critical. The Critical are chiefly imployed upon +Mr. Addison's Cato, which he censures in some places with great +justice, and critical propriety: In other places he only discovers +spleen, and endeavours to burlesque noble passages, merely from +resentment to the author. + +There is likewise published amongst these letters, an enquiry into +the genius and writings of Shakespear. He contends for Shakespear's +ignorance of the ancients, and observes, that it would derogate +much from his glory to suppose him to have read, or understood them, +because if he had, his not practicing their art, and not restraining +the luxuriance of his imagination would be a reproach to him. After +bestowing the highest panegyric upon Shakespear, he says, 'That he +seems to have been the very original of our English tragical harmony; +that is the harmony of blank verse, diversified often by dissyllable +and trisyllable terminations. For that diversity distinguishes it from +heroic harmony, and bringing it nearer to common use, makes it more +proper to gain attention, and more fit for action, and dialogue. Such +verses we make when we are writing prose, we make such verse in common +conversation.' + +One of the reasons Mr. Dennis assigns for Shakespear's want of +learning, is, that Julius Caesar, in the play which goes by his name, +makes but a third rate figure, and had he (says the author) consulted +the Latin writers, he could not have been guilty of such an error; but +this is far from being conclusive, which might us well be owing to +his having a contempt for Caesar's character, and an enthusiastic +admiration for those of Brutus and Cassius. + +Another prose Essay of Mr. Dennis's, which does him very great honour, +is his Grounds of Criticism in Poetry. Amongst many masterly things, +which he there advances, is the following. 'The antient poets (says +he) derived that advantage which they have over the moderns, to the +constituting their subjects after a religious manner; and from the +precepts of Longinus, it appears that the greatest sublimity is to be +derived from religious ideas.' + +Mr. Dennis then observes, that one of the principal reasons, that has +made the modern poetry so contemptible, is that by divesting itself of +religion, it is fallen from its dignity, and its original nature and +excellence; and from the greatest production in the mind of man, it is +dwindled to an extravagant, and vain amusement. When subjects are in +themselves great, the ideas of the writer must likewise be great; and +nothing is in its nature so dignified as religion. This he illustrates +by many examples from Milton, who when he raises his voice to heaven, +and speaks the language of the divinity, then does he reach the true +sublime; but when he descends to the more trifling consideration of +human things, his wing is necessarily depressed, and his strains are +less transporting. We shall now take a view of Mr. Dennis, in that +part of his life and writings, in which he makes a less considerable +figure, by exposing himself to the resentment of one so much his +superior; and who, after a long provocation, at last, let loose his +rage against him, in a manner that no time can obliterate. Mr. Dennis +we have already observed, waged a perpetual war with successful +writers, except those few who were his friends; but never engaged with +so much fury, and less justice, against the writings of any poet, as +those of Mr. Pope. + +Some time after the death of Dryden, when Pope's reputation began to +grow, his friends who were sanguine in his interest, were imprudent +enough to make comparisons, and really assert, that Pope was the +greatest poet of the two: Dennis, who had made court to Dryden, and +was respected by him, heard this with indignation, and immediately +exerted all the criticism and force of which he was master, to reduce +the character of Pope. In this attempt he neither has succeeded, nor +did he pursue it like a gentleman. + +In his reflexions on Pope's Essay on Criticism, he uses the following +unmannerly epithets. 'A young squab, short gentleman, whose outward +form tho' it should be that of a downright monkey, would not differ +so much from human shape, as his unthinking, immaterial part does +from human understanding.--He is as stupid and as venomous as an +hunch-backed toad.--A book through which folly and ignorance, those +brethren so lame, and impotent, do ridiculously look very big, and +very dull, and strut, and hobble cheek by jowl, with their arms on +kimbo, being led, and supported, and bully-backed, by that blind +Hector impudence.' The reasons which our critic gives for this +extraordinary fury are equally ridiculous. 'I regard him (says he) as +an enemy, not so much to me, as to my king, to my country, and to my +religion. The epidemic madness of the times has given him reputation, +and reputation is power; and that has made him dangerous. Therefore +I look on it as my duty to king George, and to the liberties of my +country, more dear than life to me, of which I have now been 40 +years a constant assertor, &c. I look upon it as my duty I say to +do,--Reader observe what,--To pull the lion's skin from this little +ass, which popular error has thrown round him, and shew that this +little author, who has been lately so much in vogue, has neither sense +in his thoughts, nor English in his expressions. See his Remarks on +Homer, Pref. p. 2. and p. 91. + +Speaking of Mr. Pope's Windsor-Forrest, he says, 'It is a wretched +rhapsody, impudently writ in emulation of Cooper's-Hill. The author +of it is obscure, is ambiguous, is affected, is temerarious, is +barbarous.' + +After these provocations, it is no wonder that Pope should take an +opportunity of recording him in his Dunciad; and yet he had some +esteem for our author's learning and genius. Mr. Dennis put his name +to every thing he wrote against him, which Mr. Pope considered as +a circumstance of candour. He pitied him as a man subject to the +dominion of invidious passions, than which no severer sensations can +tear the heart of man. + +In the first Book of his Dunciad. line 103, he represents Dullness +taking a view of her sons; and thus mentions Dennis, + + She saw slow Philips creep like Tate's poor page, + And all the mighty mad in Dennis rage. + +He mentions him again slightly in his second Book, line 230, and in +his third Book, line 165, taking notice of a quarrel between him and +Mr. Gildon, he says, + + Ah Dennis! Gildon ah! what ill-starr'd rage + Divides a friendship long confirm'd by age? + Blockheads, with reason, wicked wits abhor, + But fool with fool, is barbr'ous civil war, + Embrace, embrace, my sons! be foes no more! + Nor glad vile poets, with true critic's gore. + +Our author gained little by his opposition to Pope, in which he must +either have violated his judgment, or been under the influence of the +strongest prejudice that ever blinded the eyes of any man; for not to +admire the writings of this excellent poet, is an argument of a total +deprivation of taste, which in other respects does not appear to be +the case of Mr. Dennis. + +We shall now take a view of our author in the light of a dramatist. +In the year 1697 a comedy of his was acted at the Theatre-Royal +in Drury-Lane, called A Plot and No Plot, dedicated to the Earl of +Sunderland. The scope of this piece is to ridicule the credulity and +principles of the Jacobites, the moral of which is this, 'That there +are in all parties, persons who find it their interest to deceive +the rest, and that one half of every faction makes a property in +fee-simple of the other, therefore we ought never to believe any thing +will, or will not be, because it is agreeable, or contrary to our +humours, but because it is in itself likely, or improbable. Credulity +in men, engaged in a party, proceeds oftner from pride than weakness, +and it is the hardest thing in the world to impose upon a humble man.' +In 1699 a tragedy called Rinaldo and Armida was acted at the Theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, dedicated to the Duke of Ormond. Scene the +top of a mountain in the Canaries. The hint of the chief characters +is owing to Tasso's Gierusalemme, but the manners of them being by our +author thought unequal in that great Italian, he has taken the liberty +to change them, and form his characters more agreeable to the subject. +The reasons for doing it are expressed in the preface and prologue to +the play. + +Our author's next tragedy was upon the subject of Iphigenia, daughter +to Agamemnon King of Argos, acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn +1704. Iphigenia was to have been sacrificed by her father, who was +deluded by the fraud of Calchas, who proclaimed throughout the Grecian +fleet, that the offended gods demanded of Agamemnon the sacrifice of +his daughter to Lucina, and till, that oblation was offered, the fleet +would remain wind-bound. Accordingly, under pretence of marrying +her to Achilles, she was betrayed from Argos, but her mother, +Clytemnestra, discovering the cheat, by a stratagem prevented its +execution, and effected her rescue without the knowledge of any one +but her husband Agamemnon. A Grecian virgin being sacrificed in her +place, Iphigenia is afterwards wrecked on the Coast of Scythia, and +made the Priestess of Diana. In five years time her brother Orestes, +and his friend Pylades, are wrecked on the same shore, but saved from +slaughter by the Queen of Scythia, because she loved Orestes. Orestes, +on the other hand, falls in love with the Priestess of Diana; they +attempt an escape, and to carry off the image of the Goddess, but are +prevented. The Queen then dooms Orestes to the altar, but Pylades, +from his great friendship, personates Orestes, and disconcerts the +design. The story and incidents of this play are interesting and +moving, but Mr. Dennis has not wrought the scenes much in the spirit +of a tragedian: This was a subject admirably suited for the talents +of Otway. The discovery of Orestes's being the brother of Iphigenia +is both surprizing and natural, and though the subject is not well +executed, yet is this by far the most affecting tragedy of our author; +it is almost impossible to read it without tears, though it abounds +with bombast. + +The fourth play introduced upon the stage by Mr. Dennis, 1704, was, a +tragedy called Liberty Asserted, dedicated to Anthony Henley, esq; +to whom he says he was indebted for the happy hint upon which it was +formed. Soon after this he wrote another tragedy upon the story of +Appius and Virginia, which Mr. Maynwaring, in a letter to Mr. Dennis, +calls one of our best modern tragedies; it is dedicated to Sidney Earl +of Godolphin. + +He altered Shakespear's Merry Wives of Windsor, and brought it on the +stage under the title of The Comical Gallant. Prefixed to this, is +a large account of Taste in Poetry, and the Causes of its Degeneracy +addressed to the Hon. George Granville, Esq; afterwards Lord +Lansdowne. + +Our author's next dramatic production was Coriolanus, the Invader +of his Country, or the Fatal Resentment, a Tragedy; altered from +Shakespear, and acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This piece +met with some opposition the first night; and on the fourth another +play was given out. The second night's audience was very small, though +the play was exceedingly well acted. The third night had not the +charges in money; the fourth was still worse, and then another play +was given out, not one place being taken in the boxes for any ensuing +night. The managers were therefore obliged to discontinue it. + +This usage Mr. Dennis highly resented; and in his dedication to the +duke of Newcastle, then lord chamberlain, he makes a formal complaint +against the managers. To this play Mr. Colley Cibber took the pains to +write an epilogue, which Mrs. Oldfield spoke with universal applause, +and for which poor peevish, jealous Dennis, abused them both. + +Mr. Dennis happened once to go to the play, when a tragedy was acted, +in which the machinery of thunder was introduced, a new artificial +method of producing which he had formerly communicated to the +managers. Incensed by this circumstance, he cried out in a transport +of resentment, 'That is my thunder by G--d; the villains will play my +thunder, but not my plays.' This gave an alarm to the pit, which +he soon explained. He was much subject to these kind of whimsical +transports, and suffered the fervor of his imagination often to subdue +the power of his reason; an instance of which we shall now relate. + +After he was worn out with age and poverty, he resided within the +verge of the court, to prevent danger from his creditors. One Saturday +night he happened to saunter to a public house, which he discovered in +a short time was out of the verge. He was sitting in an open drinking +room, and a man of a suspicious appearance happened to come in. There +was something about the man which denoted to Mr. Dennis that he was a +Bailiff: this struck him with a panic; he was afraid his liberty was +now at an end; he sat in the utmost solicitude, but durst not offer to +stir, lest he should be seized upon. After an hour or two had passed +in this painful anxiety, at last the clock struck twelve, when Mr. +Dennis, in an extasy, cried out, addressing himself to the suspected +person, 'Now sir, Bailiff, or no Bailiff, I don't care a farthing for +you, you have no power now.' The man was astonished at this behaviour, +and when it was explained to him, he was so much affronted with the +suspicion, that had not Mr. Dennis found his protection in age, he +would have smarted for his mistaken opinion of him. + +In the year 1705 a comedy of Mr. Dennis's called Gibraltar, or The +Spanish Adventure, was acted unsuccessfully at Drury-Lane Theatre. He +was also author of a masque called Orpheus and Euridice. + +Mr. Dennis, considered as a dramatic writer, makes not so good a +figure as in his critical works; he understood the rules of writing, +but it is not in the power of every one to carry their own theory into +execution. There is one error which he endeavoured to reform, very +material for the interest of dramatic poetry. He saw, with concern, +that love had got the entire possession of the tragic stage, contrary +to the authority of the ancients, and the example of Shakespear. He +resolved therefore to deviate a little from the reigning practice, and +not to make his heroes such whining slaves in their amours, which +not only debases the majesty of tragedy, but confounds most of the +principal characters, by making that passion the predominant quality +in all. But he did not think it safe at once to shew his principal +characters wholly exempt from it, lest so great and sudden a +transition should prove disagreeable. He rather chose to steer a +middle course, and make love appear violent, but yet to be subdued +by reason, and give way to the influence of some other more noble +passion; as in Rinaldo, to Glory; in Iphigenia, to Friendship; and +in Liberty Asserted, to the Public Good. He thought by these means an +audience might be entertained, and prepared for greater alterations, +whereby the dignity of tragedy might be supported, and its principal +characters justly distinguished. + +Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Dennis is +author of the following pieces, mostly in the Pindaric way. + +Upon our Victory at Sea, and burning the French Fleet at La Hogne in +1692. + +Part of the Te Deum Paraphrased, in Pindaric Verse. + +To Mr. Dryden, upon his Translation of the Third Book of Virgil's +Georgics. Pindaric Ode. + +A Pindaric Ode on the King, written in the beginning of August 1691; +occasioned by the Victory at Aghrim. + +To a Painter drawing a Lady's Picture, an Epigram. + +Prayer for the King's Safety in the Summer's Expedition in 1692, an +Epigram. + +The Court of Death, a Pindaric Poem; dedicated to the Memory of her +Most Sacred Majesty Queen Mary. + +The Passion of Byblis, made English from the Ninth Book of Ovid's +Metamorphosis. + +The Monument, a Poem; sacred to the Memory of the best, and greatest +of Kings, William III. + +Britannia Triumphans, or A Poem on the Battle of Blenheim; dedicated +to Queen Anne. + +On the Accession of King George to the Imperial Crown of Great +Britain. + +The following specimen, which is part of a Paraphrase on the Te Deum, +serves to shew, that Mr. Dennis wrote with more elegance in Pindaric +odes, than in blank verse. + + Now let us sing a loftier strain, + Now let us earth and earthly things disdain, + Now let our souls to Heaven repair, + Direct their most aspiring flight, + To fields of uncreated light, + And dare to draw empyreal air. + 'Tis done, O place divinely bright! + O Sons of God divinely fair! + O sight! unutterable sight! + O unconceivable delight! + O joy which only Gods can bear! + Heark how their blissful notes they raise, + And sing the Great Creator's praise! + How in extatic song they cry, + Lo we the glorious sons of light, + So great, so beautiful, so bright, + Lo we the brightest of created things, + Who are all flame, all force, all spirit, and all eye, + Are yet but vile, and nothing in thy sight! + Before thy feet O mighty King of kings, + O Maker of this bounteous all! + Thus lowly reverent we fall. + +After a life exposed to vicissitudes, habituated to many +disappointments, and embroiled in unsuccessful quarrels, Mr. Dennis +died on the 6th of January 1733, in the 77th year of his age. We have +observed that he outlived the reversion of his place, after which +he fell into great distress, and as he had all his life been making +enemies, by the ungovernable fury of his temper, he found few persons +disposed to relieve him. When he was near the close of his days, a +play was acted for his benefit. This favour was procured him by the +joint interest of Mr. Thomson, Mr. Martin, Mr. Mallet, and Mr. Pope. +The play was given by the company then acting at the little Theatre in +the Hay-market, under the direction of Mr. Mills sen. and Mr. Cibber +jun. the latter of whom spoke a prologue on the occasion, written by +Mr. Pope. + +Mr. Dennis was less happy in his temper, than his genius; he possessed +no inconsiderable erudition, which was joined to such natural parts, +as if accompanied with prudence, or politeness, might have raised him, +not only above want, but even to eminence. He was happy too in having +very powerful patrons, but what could be done for a man, who declared +war against all the world? Dennis has given evidence against himself +in the article of politeness; for in one of his letters he says, he +would not retire to a certain place in the country, lest he should be +disturbed in his studies by the ladies in the house: for, says he, +I am not over-fond of the conversation of women. But with all his +foibles, we cannot but consider him as a good critic, and a man of +genius. + +His perpetual misfortune was, that he aimed at the empire of wit, for +which nature had not sufficiently endowed him; and as his ambition +prompted him to obtain the crown by a furious opposition to all other +competitors, so, like Caesar of old, his ambition overwhelmed him. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob's Lives of the Poets.] + +[Footnote B: Which friendship he ill repaid. Sir Richard once became +bail for Dennis, who hearing that Sir Richard was arrested on his +account, cried out; "'Sdeath! Why did not he keep out of the way, as I +did?"] + + * * * * * + + + + +G. GRANVILLE, L. LANSDOWNE, + + +Was descended from an illustrious family, which traced their ancestry +from Rollo, the first duke of Normandy. He was second son of Bernard +Granville, and grandson of the famous Sir Bevil Granville, killed +at the battle of Lansdowne 1643. This nobleman received the first +tincture of his education in France, under the tuition of Sir +William Ellis, a gentleman, who was eminent afterwards in many public +employments. + +When our author was but eleven years of age, he was sent to Trinity +College in Cambridge, where he remained five years, but at the age of +thirteen was admitted to the degree of master of arts, having, before +he was twelve years old, spoken a copy of English verses, of his own +composition, to the Duchess of York, when her Royal Highness paid a +visit to that university. + +At the time when the nation was embroiled by the public distractions, +occasioned by the efforts of King James II. to introduce Popery, +lord Lansdowne did not remain an unconcerned spectator. He had early +imbibed principles of loyalty, and as some of his forefathers had +fallen in the cause of Charles I. he thought it was his duty to +sacrifice his life also, for the interest of his Sovereign. However +mistaken he might be in this furious zeal for a Prince, the chief +scope of whose reign was to overthrow the law, and introduce absolute +dominion, yet he appears to be perfectly sincere. In a letter he wrote +to his father upon the expected approach of the Prince of Orange's +fleet, he expresses the most ardent desire to serve the King in +person[A]. This letter we shall insert, but beg our readers patience +to make a digression, which will justify what we have said concerning +James II. + +The genuine mark of a tyrant is cruelty, and it is with concern we +can produce an instance of the most inhuman barbarity in that Prince, +which ever stained the Annals of any reign. Cruelty should be the +badge of no party; it ought to be equally the abhorrence of all; and +whoever is tainted with it, should be set up to view, as a terror +to the world, as a monster, whom it is the interest of mankind to +destroy. + +After the suppression of Monmouth's rebellion, many of the unfortunate +persons engaged In it fled to London, and took shelter there, 'till +the Act of Indemnity should be published. They who afforded them +shelter, were either of the Monmouth faction, or induced from +principles of humanity, to administer to their safety: what would +become of the world, if our friends were always to forsake us in +distress? There lived then in London an amiable lady, attached to no +party, who enjoyed a large fortune, which she spent in the exercise of +the most extensive beneficence. She made it her business to visit the +Jails, and the prisoners who were most necessitous and deserving, +she relieved. Her house was an asylum for the poor; she lived but for +charity, and she had every hour the prayers of the widow and orphan +poured out to her. It happened that one of the rebels found shelter in +her house; she suffered him to be screened there; she fed and cloathed +him. The King had often declared that he would rather pardon those +who were found in arms against him, than the people who harboured, or +secretly encouraged them. This miscreant, who sometimes ventured out +at night to a public house, was informed, that the King had made +such a declaration, and it entered into his base heart to betray his +benefactress. He accordingly went before a magistrate, and lodged an +information, upon which the lady was secured, brought to a trial, and +upon the evidence of this ungrateful villain, cast for her life. She +suffered at a stake with the most resigned chearfulness, for when +a woman is convicted of treason, it seems, she is sentenced to be +burnt[B]. The reader will easily judge what sort of bowels that King +must have, who could permit such a punishment to take place upon +a woman so compleatly amiable, upon the evidence of a villain so +consummately infamous, and he will, we are persuaded, be of opinion +that had his Majesty possessed a thousand kingdoms, he deserved to +lose them all for this one act of genuine barbarity. + +Lord Lansdowne. who did not consider, or was not then capable of +discovering, the dangers to which this prince exposed his people, +wrote the following letter to his father, earnestly pressing him to +permit his entering voluntarily into king James's service. + +'SIR, + +'Your having no prospect of obtaining a commission for me, can no way +alter, or cool my desire at this important juncture, to venture my +life, in some manner or other, for my King and country. I cannot bear +to live under the reproach of lying obscure and idle in a country +retirement, when every man, who has the least sense of honour, +should be preparing for the field. You may remember, sir, with what +reluctance I submitted to your commands upon Monmouth's rebellion, +when no importunity could prevail with you to permit me to leave the +academy; I was too young to be hazarded; but give me leave to say, it +is glorious, at any age, to die for one's country; and the sooner, the +nobler sacrifice; I am now older by three years. My uncle Bath was not +so old, when he was left among the slain at the battle of Newberry, +nor you yourself, sir, when you made your escape from your Tutors, to +join your brother in the defence of Scilly. The same cause is now come +round about again. The King has been misled, let those who misled +him be answerable for it. Nobody can deny but he is sacred in his +own person, and it is every honest man's duty to defend it. You are +pleased to say it is yet doubtful, if the Hollanders are rash enough +to make such an attempt. But be that as it will, I beg leave to be +presented to his Majesty, as one, whose utmost ambition is to devote +his life to his service, and my country's, after the example of all my +ancestors. The gentry assembled at York, to agree upon the choice of +representatives for the county, have prepared an Address to assure his +Majesty they are ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes for him +upon this, and all other occasions, but at the some time they humbly +beseech him to give them such magistrates as may be agreeable to the +laws of the land, for at present there is no authority to which they +can legally submit. By what I can hear, every body wishes well to the +King, but would be glad his ministers were hanged. The winds continue +so contrary, that no landing can be so soon as was apprehended, +therefore I may hope, with your leave and assistance, to be in +readiness before any action can begin; I beseech you, sir, most +humbly, and most earnestly, to add this one act of indulgence more, +to so many testimonies I have so constantly received of your +goodness, and be pleased to believe me always with the utmost duty and +submission, + +'Yours, &c.' + +We are not told whether his father yielded to his importunity, or +whether he was presented to his Majesty; but if he really joined the +army, it was without danger to his person, for the revolution was +effected in England without one drop of blood. In the year 1690 Lord +Lansdowne wrote a copy of verses addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth +Higgins, in answer to a poetical Address sent him by that lady in +his retirement. The verses of the lady are very elegant, and are only +exceeded by the polite compliments his lordship wrote in answer to +them. They both deserve a place here, + + I. + + Why Granville is thy life to shades confin'd, + Thou whom the Gods design'd + In public to do credit to mankind? + Why sleeps the noble ardour of thy blood, + Which from thy ancestors so many ages past, + From Rollo down to Bevil flowed, + And then appeared again at last, + In thee when thy victorious lance + Bore the disputed prize from all the youth of France. + + II. + + In the first trials which are made for fame, + Those to whom fate success denies, + If taking council from their shame, + They modestly retreat are wise; + But why should you, who still succeed, + Whether with graceful art you lead + The fiery barb, or with a graceful motion tread + In shining balls where all agree + To give the highest praise to thee? + Such harmony in every motion's sound, + As art could ne'er express by any sound. + + III. + + So lov'd and prais'd whom all admire, + Why, why should you from courts and camps retire? + If Myra is unkind, if it can be + That any nymph can be unkind to thee; + If pensive made by love, you thus retire, + Awake your muse, and string your lyre; + Your tender song, and your melodious strain + Can never be address'd in vain; + She needs must love, and we shall have you back again. + +His lordship's Answer thus begins. + + Cease, tempting syren, cease thy flattering strain, + Sweet is thy charming song, but song in vain: + When the winds blow, and loud the tempests roar, + What fool would trust the waves, and quit the shore? + Early and vain into the world I came, + Big with false hopes and eager after fame: + Till looking round me, e'er the race began, + Madmen and giddy fools were all that ran. + Reclaimed betimes, I from the lists retire, + And thank the Gods, who my retreat inspire. + In happier times our ancestors were bred, + When virtue was the only path to tread. + Give me, ye Gods, but the same road to fame, + Whate'er my father's dar'd, I dare the same. + Changed is the scene, some baneful planet rules + An impious world contriv'd for knaves and fools. + +He concludes with the following lines + + Happy the man, of mortals happiest he, + Whose quiet mind of vain desires is free; + Whom neither hopes deceive, nor fears torment, + But lives at peace, within himself content, + In thought or act accountable to none + But to himself, and to the Gods alone. + O sweetness of content, seraphic joy! + Which nothing wants, and nothing can destroy. + Where dwells this peace, this freedom of the mind? + Where but in shades remote from human kind; + In flow'ry vales, where nymphs and shepherds meet, + But never comes within the palace-gate. + Farewel then cities, courts, and camps farewel, + Welcome ye groves, here let me ever dwell, + From care and bus'ness, and mankind remove, + All but the Muses, and inspiring love: + How sweet the morn, how gentle is the night! + How calm the evening, and the day how bright! + From thence, as from a hill, I view below + The crowded world, a mighty wood in shew, + Where several wand'rers travel day and night, + By different paths, and none are in the right. + +In 1696 his Comedy called the She Gallants was acted at the +Theatre-Royal[C] in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. He afterwards altered this +Comedy, and published it among his other works, under the title of +Once a Lover and Always a Lover, which, as he observes in the preface, +is a new building upon an old foundation. + +'It appeared first under the name of the She-Gallants, and by the +preface then prefixed to it, is said to have been the Child of a +Child. By taking it since under examination; so many years after, the +author flatters himself to have made a correct Comedy of it; he found +it regular to his hand; the scene constant to one place, the time not +exceeding the bounds prescribed, and the action entire. It remained +only to clear the ground, and to plant as it were fresh flowers in the +room of those which were grown into weeds or were faded by time; to +retouch and vary the characters; enliven the painting, retrench the +superfluous; and animate the action, where it appeared the young +author seemed to aim at more than he had strength to perform.' + +The same year also his Tragedy, intitled Heroic Love, was acted at the +Theatre. Mr. Gildon observes, 'that this Tragedy is written after the +manner of the antients, which is much more natural and easy, than that +of our modern Dramatists.' Though we cannot agree with Mr. Gildon, +that the antient model of Tragedy is so natural as the modern; yet +this piece shall have very great merit, since we find Mr. Dryden +addressing verses to the author upon this occasion, which begin thus, + + Auspicious poet, wert thou not my friend, + How could I envy, what I must commend! + But since 'tis nature's law, in love and wit, + That youth should reign, and with'ring age submit, + With less regret, those laurels I resign, + Which dying on my brow, revive on thine. + +Our author wrote also a dramatic poem, called the British +Enchanters[D], in the preface to which he observes, 'that it is the +first Essay of a very infant Muse, rather as a task at such hours +as were free from other exercises, than any way meant for public +entertainment. But Mr. Betterton having had a casual sight of it, many +years after it was written, begged it for the stage, where it met with +so favourable a reception as to have an uninterrupted run of upwards +of forty nights. To this Mr. Addison wrote the Epilogue.' Lord +Lansdowne altered Shakespear's Merchant of Venice, under the title of +the Jew of Venice, which was acted with applause, the profits of which +were designed for Mr. Dryden, but upon that poet's death were given to +his son. + +In 1702 he translated into English the second Olynthian of +Demosthpracticewas returned member for the county of Cornwall, in +the parliament which met in November 1710, and was soon after +made secretary of war, next comptroller of the houshold, and then +treasurer, and sworn one of the privy council. The year following he +was created baron Lansdowne of Biddeford in Devonshire[E]. + +In 1719 he made a speech in the house of lords against the practicee +of occasional conformity, which is printed among his works, and among +other things, he says this. 'I always understood the toleration to +be meant as an indulgence to tender consciences, not a licence for +hardened ones; and that the act to prevent occasional conformity was +designed only to correct a particular crime of particular men, in +which no sect of dissenters was included, but these followers of +Judas, which came to the Lord's-Supper, from no other end but to sell, +and betray him. This crime however palliated and defended, by so many +right reverend fathers in the church, is no less than making the God +of truth, as it were in person subservient to acts of hypocrisy; no +less than sacrificing the mystical Blood and Body of our Saviour to +worldly and sinister purposes, an impiety of the highest nature! which +in justice called for protection, and in charity for prevention. The +bare receiving the holy Eucharist, could never be intended simply as +a qualification for an office, but as an open declaration, an +undubitable proof of being, and remaining a sincere member of the +church. Whoever presumes to receive it with any other view profanes +it; and may be said to seek his promotion in this world, by eating and +drinking his own damnation in the next.' + +This accomplished nobleman died in February, Anno 1735. By his lady, +Mary, widow of Thomas Thynne, Esq; (father of Thomas lord viscount +Weymouth) and daughter of Edward Villiers, earl of Jersey, he had +issue, four daughters, Anne, Mary, Grace and Elizabeth. + +His lady died but a few days before him. + +Mr. Pope, with many other poets of the first eminence, have celebrated +lord Lansdowne, who seems to have been a good-natur'd agreeable +nobleman. The lustre of his station no doubt procured him more +incense, than the force of his genius would otherwise have attracted; +but he appears not to have been destitute of fine parts, which were +however rather elegantly polished, than, great in themselves. + +Lord Landsdowne likewise wrote a Masque, called Peleus and Thetis. +His lordship's works have been often printed both in quarto and in +duo-decimo. + + +[Footnote A: Gen. Dict. Art. Granville.] + +[Footnote B: See Burnet's History of his own Times.] + +[Footnote C: General Dictionary, ubi supra.] + +[Footnote D: It was called a Dramatic Opera, and was decorated at a +great expence, and intermixed with Songs, Dances, &c.] + +[Footnote E: Upon the accession of King George the 1st, the lord +Lansdowne was seized, and imprisoned in the Tower, upon an impeachment +of high treason; but was soon after honourably discharged, without +being brought to a trial.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOHN GAY, + + +This eminent Wit was descended of an ancient family in Devonshire, and +educated at the free-school of Barnstaple in the same county, under +the care of Mr. William Rayner, an excellent master[A]. + +Mr. Gay had a small fortune at his disposal, and was bred, says Jacob, +a Mercer in the Strand; but having a genius for high excellences, he +considered such an employment as a degradation to it, and relinquished +that occupation to reap the laurels of poetry. + +About the year 1712 he was made secretary to the duchess of Monmouth, +and continued in that station 'till he went over to Hanover, in the +beginning of the year 1714, with the earl of Clarendon, who was sent +there by Queen Anne; upon whose death he returned to England, and +lived in the highest esteem and friendship with persons of the first +quality and genius. Upon Mr. Gay's arrival from Hanover, we find among +Mr. Pope's letters one addressed to him dated September 23, 1714, +which begins thus, + +Dear GAY, + +'Welcome to your native soil! welcome to your friends, thrice welcome +to me! whether returned in glory, blessed with court-interest, the +love and familiarity of the great, and filled with agreeable hopes; +or melancholy with dejection, contemplative of the changes of fortune, +and doubtful for the future. Whether returned a triumphant Whig, or a +desponding Tory, equally all hail! equally beloved and welcome to me! +If happy, I am to share in your elevation; if unhappy, you have still +a warm corner in my heart, and a retreat at Binfield in the worst of +times at your service. If you are a Tory, or thought so by any man, I +know it can proceed from nothing but your gratitude to a few people, +who endeavoured to serve you, and whose politics were never your +concern. If you are a Whig, as I rather hope, and as I think your +principles and mine, as brother poets, had ever a bias to the side +of liberty, I know you will be an honest man, and an inoffensive one. +Upon the whole, I know you are incapable of being so much on either +side, as to be good for nothing. Therefore, once more, whatever you +are, or in whatever state you are, all hail!'[B] + +In 1724 his tragedy entitled the Captives, which he had the honour to +read in MS. to Queen Caroline, then Princess of Wales, was acted at +the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane. + +In 1726 he published his Fables, dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland, +and the year following he was offered the place of gentleman usher to +one of the youngest Princesses, which, by reason of some slight shewn +him at court, he thought proper to refuse. He wrote several works of +humour with great success, particularly The Shepherd's Week, Trivia, +The What d'ye Call It, and The Beggars Opera, which was acted at the +Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1728. The author of the Notes on this +line of the Dunciad, b. iii. I. 326. + + Gay dies unpensioned with a hundred friends; + +observes that this opera was a piece of satire, which hits all tastes +and degrees of men, from those of the highest quality to the very +rabble. "That verse of Horace + + Primores populi arripuit populumque tributim, + +could never be so justly applied as in this case. The vast success of +it was unprecedented, and almost incredible. What is related of the +wonderful effects of the ancient music, or tragedy, hardly came up +to it. Sophocles and Euripides were less followed and famous; it was +acted in London sixty three days uninterrupted, and renewed the next +season with equal applause. It spread into all the great towns of +England, was played in many places to the thirtieth and fortieth time; +at Bath and Bristol fifty. It made its progress into Wales, Scotland +and Ireland, where it was performed twenty-four days together. It was +lastly acted in Minorca. The fame of it was not confined to the author +only; the ladies carried about with them the favourite songs of it in +fans; and houses were furnished with it in screens. The girl who acted +Polly, 'till then obscure, became all at once the favourite of the +town, her pictures were engraved, and sold in great numbers; her life +written; books of letters and verses to her, published; and pamphlets +made even of her sayings and jests. Furthermore, it drove out of +England, for that season, the Italian Opera, which had carried all +before it for ten years; that idol of the nobility and the people, +which Mr. Dennis by the labours and outcries of a whole life, could +not overthrow, was demolished by a single stroke of this gentleman's +pen." + +Dr. Swift in his Intelligencer Numb. 3. has given us a vindication of +Mr. Gay, and the Beggars Opera; he observes, 'that though an evil taste +be very apt to prevail both in Dublin and in London; yet, there is a +point which whoever can rightly touch, will never fail of pleasing a +very great majority; so great that the dislikers, out of dullness, or +affectation, will be silent, and forced to fall in with the herd; the +point I mean is, what we call humour, which, in its perfection, is +allowed to be much preferable to wit, if it he not rather the most +useful, and agreeable species of it.----Now I take the comedy, or +farce (or whatever name the critic will allow it) called The Beggar's +Opera, to excel in this article of humour, and upon that merit to have +met with such prodigious success, both here and in England.' The dean +afterwards remarks, 'that an opinion obtained, that in this opera, +there appears to be some reflexions on courtiers and statesmen. It is +true indeed (says he) that Mr. Gay hath been somewhat singular in the +course of his fortunes, attending the court with a large stock of real +merit, a modest and agreeable conversation, a hundred promises, and +five hundred friends, hath failed of preferment, and upon a very +weighty reason; he lay under the suspicion of having written a Libel, +or Lampoon, against a great minister, it is true that great minister +was demonstratively convinced, and publickly owned his conviction, +that Mr. Gay was not the author, but having laid under the suspicion, +it seemed very just that he should suffer the punishment, because in +this most reformed age the virtues of a great minister are no more to +be suspected, than the chastity of Caesar's wife.' The dean then tells +us, that our author in this piece has, by a turn of humour entirely +new, placed vices of all kinds in the strongest, and most odious +light, and thereby done eminent service both to religion and morality. +'This appears from the unparalleled success he has met with; all +ranks, parties, and denominations of men, either crowding to see his +Opera, or reading it with delight in their closets; even ministers of +state, whom he is thought most to have offended, appearing frequently +at the Theatre, from a consciousness of their own innocence, and +to convince the world how unjust a parallel, malice, envy and +disaffection to the government have made.----In this happy performance +of Mr. Gay, all the characters are just, and none of them carried +beyond nature, or hardly beyond practice. It discovers the whole +system of that commonwealth, or that imperium in imperio of iniquity +established among us, by which, neither our lives, nor our properties +are secure, either in highways, or in public assemblies, or even in +our own houses; it shews the miserable lives and constant fate of +those abandoned wretches; for how small a price they sell their souls, +betrayed by their companions, receivers, and purchasers of those +thefts and robberies. This comedy contains likewise a satire, which +though it doth by no means affect the present age, yet might have been +useful in the former, and may possibly be so in ages to come, I mean +where the author takes occasion of comparing those common robbers of +the public, and their several stratagems of betraying, undermining, +and hanging each other, to the several acts of politicians in the time +of corruption. This comedy likewise exposes, with great justice, that +unnatural taste for Italian music among us, which is wholly unsuitable +to our Northern climate, and the genius of the people, whereby we +are overrun with Italian effeminacy. An old gentleman said to me many +years ago, when the practice of an unnatural vice grew so frequent in +London, that many were prosecuted for it; he was sure it would be +the forerunner of Italian operas and singers, and then we would want +nothing but stabbing, or poisoning, to make us perfect Italians. Upon +the whole I deliver my judgment; that nothing but servile attachment +to a party, affectation of singularity, lamentable dullness, mistaken +zeal, or studied hypocrisy, can have any objection against this +excellent moral performance of Mr. Gay[C].' + +The astonishing success of the Beggar's Opera induced our author to +add a second part, in which, however, he was disappointed, both in +profit and fame. His opera entitled Polly, designed as a sequel of the +former, was prohibited by the lord chamberlain from being represented +on the stage, when every thing was ready for the rehearsal of it, but +was soon after printed in 4to. to which the author had a very large +subscription. In the preface Mr. Gay gives a particular account of the +whole affair in the following manner; 'On Thursday December 12 (says +he) I received this answer from the chamberlain, that it should not +be allowed to be acted, but suppressed. This was told me in general +without any reasons assigned, or any charge against me of my having +given any particular offence. Since this prohibition I have been +told, that I am accused, in general terms, of having written many +disaffected libels, and seditious pamphlets. As it hath ever been my +utmost ambition (if that word may be used upon this occasion) to +lead a quiet and inoffensive life, I thought my innocence in this +particular would never have needed a justification; and as this +kind of writing is what I ever detested, and never practiced, I am +persuaded so groundless a calumny can never be believed, but by those +who do not know me. But when general aspersions of this sort have been +cast upon me, I think myself called upon to declare my principles, and +I do with the strictest truth affirm, that I am as loyal a subject, +and as firmly attached to the present happy establishment, as any of +those who have the greatest places or pensions. I have been informed +too, that in the following play I have been charged with writing +immoralities; that it is filled with slander and calumny against +particular great persons, and that Majesty itself is endeavoured to be +brought into ridicule and contempt. + +As I know that every one of these charges was in every point +absolutely false, and without the least grounds, at first I was not at +all affected by them; but when I found they were still insisted upon, +and that particular passages which were not in the play were quoted, +and propagated to support what had been suggested, I could no longer +bear to lye under those false accusations; so by printing it, I have +submitted, and given up all present views of profit, which might +accrue from the stage, which will undoubtedly be some satisfaction +to the worthy gentlemen, who have treated me with so much candour and +humanity, and represented me in such favourable colours. But as I am +conscious to myself, that my only intention was to lash in general the +reigning and fashionable vices, and to recommend, and set virtue in as +amiable a light as I could; to justify and vindicate my own character, +I thought myself obliged to print the opera without delay, in the +manner I have done.' The large subscription Mr. Gay had to print it, +amply recompens'd any loss he might receive from it's not being acted. +Tho' this was called the Sequel to the Beggar's Opera, it was allowed +by his best friends, scarce to be of a piece with the first part, +being in every particular, infinitely beneath it. + +Besides the works which we have already mentioned, Mr. Gay wrote +several poems, printed in London in 2 vol. 12mo. + +A Comedy called The Wife of Bath, first acted 1715, and afterwards +revived, altered, and represented at the Theatre Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. + +Three Hours after Marriage, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal, in +which he was assisted by Pope and Arbuthnot, but had the mortification +to see this piece very ill received, if not damned the first night. + +He wrote likewise Achilles, an Opera; acted at the Theatre in Covent +Garden. This was brought on the stage after his death, and the profits +were given to his Sisters. + +After experiencing many vicissitudes of fortune, and being for some +time chiefly supported by the liberality of the duke and duchess +of Queensberry, he died at their house in Burlington Gardens, of a +violent inflammatory fever, in December 1732, and was interred +in Westminster, by his noble benefactors just mentioned, with +the following epitaph written by Mr. Pope, who had the sincerest +friendship for him on account of his amiable qualities. + + 'Of manners gentle, of affections mild; + In wit a man, simplicity a child; + Above temptation in a low estate, + And uncorrupted even amongst the great; + A safe companion, and an easy friend, + Unblamed thro' life, lamented in thy end: + These are thy honours! not that here thy bust + Is mix'd with heroes, or with kings thy dust, + But that the worthy and the good shall say, + Striking their pensive bosoms--here lies GAY;' + +Then follows this farther inscription, + + Here lie the ashes of Mr. John Gay; + The warmest friend; + The most benevolent man: + Who maintained + Independency + In low circumstances of fortune; + Integrity + In the midst of a corrupt age; + And that equal serenity of mind, + Which conscious goodness alone can give + Thro' the whole course of his life. + + Favourite of the muses + He was led by them to every elegant art; + Refin'd in taste + And fraught with graces all his own: + In various kinds of poetry + Superior to many, + Inferior to none, + His works continue to inspire + what his example taught, + Contempt of folly, however adorned; + Detestation of vice, however dignified; + Reverence of virtue, however disgraced. + +Charles and Catherine, duke and duchess of Queensberry, who loved this +excellent man living, and regret him dead, have caused this monument +to be erected to his memory. + +Mr. Gay's moral character seems to have been very amiable. He was of +an affable, sweet disposition, generous in his temper, and pleasant +in his conversation. His chief failing was an excessive indolence, +without the least knowledge of economy; which often subjected him to +wants he needed not otherwise have experienced. Dean Swift in many +of his letters entreated him, while money was in his hands, to buy +an annuity, lest old age should overtake him unprepared; but Mr. Gay +never thought proper to comply with his advice, and chose rather to +throw himself upon patronage, than secure a competence, as the dean +wisely advised. As to his genius it would be superfluous to say any +thing here, his works are in the hands of every reader of taste, and +speak for themselves; we know not whether we can be justified in our +opinion, but we beg leave to observe, that of all Gay's performances, +his Pastorals seem to have the highest finishing; they are perfectly +Doric; the characters and dialogue are natural and rurally simple; the +language is admirably suited to the persons, who appear delightfully +rustic. + + +[Footnote A: See Jacob.] + +[Footnote B: General Dictionary, Article Gay.] + +[Footnote C: Swift, ubi supra.] + + * * * * * + + + + +PHILIP Duke of WHARTON, + + +The unhappy nobleman, the memoirs of whose life we are now about to +relate, was endowed by nature with all those shining qualifications by +which a great man can be formed. He possessed a most extensive memory, +a strong and lively imagination, and quick and ready apprehension. + +By the immediate authority of his father, our noble author's studies +were confined to one particular branch of learning; with a view, no +doubt, that his son's uncommon genius might make the greater progress, +and shine with a superior lustre in that species of erudition he had +made choice of for him. On this account it was, that the earl his +father would not permit the young lord to go to public or private +schools, or to any college, or university, but had him carefully +instructed by domestic tutors; and as he gave an early display of the +most astonishing parts, the earl bent all his thoughts how to improve +them in the best manner, for his son's future advantage. + +As soon as this sprightly genius, had laid a sufficient foundation in +classical learning, he studied history, particularly that of his +own country, by which he was able to discern the principles of +the constitution, the revolutions it has undergone, the variety of +accidents by which it may be endangered, and the true policy by +which it can be preserved. While he thus read history, he became a +politician; and as he did not neglect other sciences, he acquired a +general knowledge both of life and things, before most other persons +of distinction begin to read, or think at all. + +By his not receiving an academical education, he escaped that +stiffness and moroseness of temper frequently contracted by those who +have been for some time condemned to a collegiate obscurity. Neither +had he the least tincture of a haughty superiority, arising from +the nobleness of his birth, and the lustre of his abilities. His +conversation was easy, pleasant, and instructive, always suited to his +company, of whatever quality, humour, or capacity they were. + +As it was the earl of Wharton's view, to qualify his son to fill +that high station, in which his birth would one day place him with +advantage to his country; his great care was to form him a compleat +orator. For this purpose some of the principal parts in the best +English Tragedies were assign'd him at times to study, particularly +those of Shakespear, which he used to repeat before a private +audience. Sometimes his father gave him speeches which had been +uttered in the house of peers, and which the young lord got by heart, +and delivered with all the graces of action and elocution; with so +much propriety of expression, emphasis of voice, and pronunciation +wherever it was requisite, as shewed his lordship was born for this +arduous province. Nor did the excellency of these performances receive +a small additional beauty from the gracefulness of his person, which +was at once soft and majestic. + +Thus endowed by nature to charm and persuade, what expectations might +not have been formed on him? A youth of a noble descent, who added to +that advantage the most astonishing parts ever man possessed, improved +by an uncommon and well regulated education. What pity is it, this +illustrious young man, born to have dictated to the senate, and +directed the business of a state, with the eyes of a people fixed upon +him, should fall so exceedingly short of those fair hopes, he had so +justly raised in every breath. He wanted one quality, without which +birth, fortune, and abilities, suffer a considerable diminution. That +quality is prudence; of which the duke of Wharton was so destitute, +that all his parts were lost to the world, and the world lost to him. + +The first prelude to his misfortunes, may justly be reckoned his +falling in love, and privately marrying a young lady, the daughter of +major general Holmes; a match by no means suited to his birth, fortune +and character; and far less to the ambitious views his father had of +disposing of him in such a marriage, as would have been a considerable +addition to the fortune and grandeur of his illustrious family. +However disappointed the earl of Wharton might be, in his son's +marrying beneath his quality; yet that amiable lady who became his +daughter-in-law deserved infinitely more felicity than she met with +by an alliance with his family; and the young lord was not so unhappy +through any misconduct of hers, as by the death of his father, which +this precipitate marriage is thought to have hastened. The duke being +so early freed from paternal restraints, plunged himself into those +numberless excesses, which became at last fatal to him; and he proved, +as Pope expresses it, + + A tyrant to the wife his heart approv'd; + A rebel to the very king he lov'd. + +The young lord in the beginning of the year 1716 indulged his desire +of travelling and finishing his education abroad; and as he was +designed to be instructed in the strictest Whig principles, Geneva was +judged a proper place for his residence. On his departure from England +for this purpose, he took the rout of Holland, and visited several +courts of Germany, and that of Hanover in particular. + +Though his lordship was now possessed of his family estate, as much as +a minor could be; yet his trustees very much limited his expences, +and made him too moderate remittances, for a person of his rank and +spirit. This gave him great uneasiness, and embarrassed him much in +his way of living, which ill suited with the profusion of his taste. +To remove these difficulties, he had recourse to mortgaging, and by +premiums and large interest paid to usurers, supplied his present +necessities, by rendering his affairs still worse. + +The unhappy divisions which reigned in England at the time this +young peer made his first entry into public life, rendered it almost +impossible for him to stand neuter, and on whatever side he should +declare himself, still there was danger. The world generally expected +he would follow the steps of his father, who was one of the first +English gentlemen who joined the prince of Orange, and continued firm +to the Revolution principles, and consequently approved the Hanoverian +succession, upon whose basis it was built. But whatever motives +influenced the young marquis (for king William had bestowed this title +on his father) he thought proper to join the contrary party. The cause +of his abandoning the principles of the Whigs is thought to be this. + +The marquis being arrived at Geneva, he conceived so great a disgust +at the dogmatical precepts of his governor, the restraints he +endeavoured to lay upon him, and the other instances of strict +discipline exercised in that meridian of Presbyterianism, that he fell +upon a scheme of avoiding these intolerable incumbrances; so, like +a torrent long confined within its bounds by strong banks, he broke +loose, and entered upon engagements, which, together with the natural +impetuosity of his temper, threw him into such inconveniencies, as +rendered the remaining part of his life unhappy. + +His lordship, as we have already observed, being very much disgusted +with his governor, left him at Geneva, and as if he had been flying +from a pestilence, set out post for Lyons, where he arrived about the +middle of October 1716. + +The author of the duke of Wharton's life has informed us, that the +reason of his lordship's leaving his governor so abruptly, was on +account of the freedom with which that gentleman treated him, a +circumstance very disgustful to a person of his quality. He took leave +of him in the following manner. + +His lordship somewhere in his travels had picked up a bear's cub, of +which he was very fond, and carried it about with him; but when he was +determined to abandon his tutor, he left the cub behind him, with the +following note addressed to him. + + 'Being no longer able to bear with your ill-usage, + I think proper to be gone from you; however, + that you may not want company, I have left you + the bear, as the most suitable companion in the + world, that could be picked out for you.' + +When the marquis was at Lyons he took a very strange step, little +expected from him. He wrote a letter to the Chevalier de St. +George, then residing at Avignon, to whom he presented a very fine +stone-horse. Upon receiving this present, the Chevalier sent a man of +quality to the marquis, who carried him privately to his court, where +he was received with the greatest marks of esteem, and had the title +of duke of Northumberland conferred upon him. He remained there +however but one day, and then returned post to Lyons; from whence he +set out for Paris. He likewise made a visit to the queen dowager of +England, consort to king James the IId. then residing at St. Germains, +to whom he paid his court, pursued the same rash measures as at +Avignon. + +During his stay at Paris, his winning address, and astonishing parts, +gained him the esteem and admiration of all British subjects of both +parties who happened to be there. The earl of Stair, then ambassador +at the court of France from the king of Great Britain, notwithstanding +all the reports to the marquis's disadvantage, thought proper to shew +some respect to the representative of so great a family, which had so +resolutely supported the present administration, especially as he was +a young man of such great personal accomplishments, both natural and +acquired, and blest with a genius so capable of serving his country +even in the most eminent station. + +These considerations induced lord Stair, who was a prudent, discerning +minister, to countenance the young marquis, give him frequent +invitations to his table, and to use him with distinguishing civility. +The earl was likewise in hopes, by these gentle measures, and this +insinuating behaviour, to win him to his party, which he had good +reason to think he hated. His excellency never failed to lay hold of +every opportunity, to give him some admonitions, which were not always +agreeable to the vivacity of his temper, and sometimes provoked him to +great indiscretions. Once in particular, the ambassador extolling the +merit, and noble behaviour of the marquis's father, added, 'That he +hoped he would follow so illustrious an example of fidelity to his +prince, and love to his country, by treading in the same steps.'--Upon +which the marquis immediately answered, 'That he thanked his +excellency for his good advice, and as his excellency had also a +worthy and deserving father, he hoped he would likewise copy so bright +an original and tread in all his steps.' This was a severe sarcasm, as +the ambassador's father had betrayed his master in a manner that was +quite shameful. He acted the same part in Scotland, which Sunderland +did in England. They pushed on king James the IId. to take violent and +unconstitutional measures, to make his ruin certain: They succeeded +in their scheme, and after the Revolution, boasted their conduct as +meritorious; but however necessary it might be for king William, upon +principles of policy to reward the betrayers, he had yet too good +a heart to approve the treachery.--But to return to the marquis, we +shall mention another of his juvenile fights, as an instance to what +extravagant and unaccountable excesses, the inconstancy of his temper +would sometimes transport him. + +A young English surgeon, who went to Paris, to improve himself in +his business, by observing the practice in the celebrated hospitals, +passing by the embassador's house on the 10th of June at night, took +the liberty to break his excellency's windows because there was no +bonfire before his door. Upon this outrage he was seized and committed +prisoner to Fort L'Eveque. This treatment of the young surgeon was +resented by the marquis; but he fought for no other satisfaction +than to break the ambassador's windows a second time. Accordingly his +lordship proposed it to an Irish lieutenant-general, in the service of +France, a gentleman of great honour and of the highest reputation for +abilities in military affairs, desiring his company and assistance +therein. The general could not help smiling at the extravagance of the +proposal, and with a great deal of good-nature advised his lordship +by all means not to make any such attempts; 'but if he was resolutely +bent upon it, he begg'd to be excused from being of the party, for it +was a method of making war to which he had never been accustomed.' +We might here enumerate more frolics of the same kind which he either +projected, or engaged in, but we chuse rather to omit them as they +reflect but little honour on the marquis.--We shall only observe, +that before he left France, an English gentleman of distinction +expostulating with him, for swerving so much from the principles of +his father and his whole family, his lordship answered, 'That he +had pawned his principles to Gordon the Pretender's banker for a +considerable sum; and till he could repay him, he must be a Jacobite, +but that when that was done he would again return to the Whigs.' + +About the latter end of December 1716, the marquis arrived in England, +where he did not remain long, till he set out for Ireland; in which +kingdom, on account of his extraordinary qualities, he had the honour +done him of being admitted, though under age, to take his seat in that +august assembly of the house of peers, to which he had a right as earl +of Rathfarnam, and marquis of Catherlough. Here he espoused a very +different interest from that which he had so lately embraced. He +distinguished himself on this occasion as a violent partizan for the +ministry; and acted in all other respects, as well in his private +as public capacity, with the warmest zeal for the government. The +speeches which he made in the house upon many occasions, uttered +with so much force of expression, and propriety of emphasis, were +an irrefutable demonstration of his abilities, and drew upon him the +admiration of both kingdoms. The marquis's arguments had very great +influence on which side of the question soever he happened to be.--No +nobleman, either in that or the English house of peers, ever acquitted +himself with greater reputation, or behaved with a more becoming +dignity than he did during this session of the Irish parliament. In +consequence of this zeal for the new government, shewn at a time when +they stood much in need of men of abilities, and so little expected +from the young marquis, the king who was no stranger to the most +refined rules of policy, created him a duke, the highest degree of a +subject. + +In the preamble to his patent, after a detail of the merit of his +father, and his services to the government are illustrated, his +lordship's behaviour in Ireland and his early endowments are thus +mentioned. + +'When we see the son of that great man, forming himself by so worthy +an example, and in every action exhibiting a lively resemblance of +his father; when we consider the eloquence he has exerted with so much +applause in the parliament of Ireland, and his turn and application, +even in early youth to the serious and weighty affairs of the public, +we willingly decree him honours which are neither superior to his +merits, nor earlier than the expectation of our good subjects.' + +As soon as the duke of Wharton came of age, he was introduced to the +house of lords in England, with the like blaze of reputation, and +raised jealousies in the breasts of the most consummately artful, and +best qualified in the house of peers. A little before the death of +lord Stanhope, his grace, who was constant in nothing but inconstancy, +again changed sides, opposed the court, and endeavoured to defeat all +the schemes of the ministry. + +He appeared one of the most forward and vigorous in the defence of the +bishop of Rochester, and in opposing the bill for inflicting pains and +penalties on that prelate. + +The judicious observations he made on the trial of the bishop, and the +manner in which he summed up and compared a long and perplexed kind +of evidence, with inimitable art and perspicuity, may be seen in the +duke's speech upon that extraordinary occasion, which is a lasting +proof of his amazing abilities in the legislative capacity, as well as +of his general knowledge of public business. + +He, however, did not confine this spirit of opposition to the house of +lords, but exerted it both in city and country, promoting in all kinds +of elections such persons as were supposed to be no fautors of the +court. Such was the hatred he now conceived to the ministry, and such +his desire of becoming eminent; that he even pushed himself into +the city of London; was invested with the rights and privileges of a +citizen, and was entered a member of the wax-chandler's company; by +virtue of which he appeared at all meetings, charmed all societies, +and voted in his own right upon all occasions. + +Notwithstanding his astonishing activity in opposition to the court, +he was not yet satisfied that he had done enough. He could not be in +all places, and in all companies at once. As much an orator as he was, +he could not talk to the whole nation, and therefore he printed his +thoughts twice a week, in a paper called the True-Briton, several +thousands of which being dispersed weekly, the duke was pleased to +find the whole kingdom giving attention to him, and admiring him as an +author, though they did not at all approve his reasoning. + +Those political papers, which were reckoned by some the standard +of good sense, and elegant writing, were collected together in his +life-time, and reprinted by his order, with a preface, in which he +gives his reasons for engaging in an undertaking so uncommon to a +person of his distinction. + +Here it will not be improper to remark, that notwithstanding all those +instances of the duke's zeal, his sincerity in opposing the ministry +was yet suspected, as his former behaviour was so very inconsistent +with it; but he never failed to justify himself throughout the +different and contrary courses of his conduct, pretending always to +have acted consistently with the honour and interest of the realm. But +he never was able in this particular to obtain the public judgment in +his favour. + +It is impossible to reconcile all the various actions of this +noble-man. He was certainly too much governed by whim and accident. +From this time forward, however, though he might deviate from the +strict rules of a moral life, he cannot be said to have done so with +respect to his politics. The same principles on which he set out, +he carried to his grave, with steadiness through all the events of +fortune, and underwent such necessities, as few of his quality ever +experienced, in a cause, the revival and success of which had long +been desperate, before he engaged in it. + +The duke's boundless profusion had by this time so burthened his +estate, that a decree of chancery took hold on it, and vested it in +the hands of trustees for the payment of his debts, but not without +making a provision of 1200 l. per annum for his subsistence. This +allowance not being sufficient to support his title with suitable +dignity at home, he proposed to go abroad for some years, 'till his +estate should clear itself of incumbrances. His friends, for his own +sake, were pleased with this resolution, and every body considered +this course as the most prudent, that in such circumstances could be +taken. But in this the world was deceived, for he went abroad from no +such prudent motive, oeconomy being a virtue of which he never had the +least notion in any part of his life. His business at Vienna was to +execute a private commission, not in favour of the English ministry, +nor did he ever shine to greater advantage, as to his personal +character, than at the Imperial court. + +From Vienna his grace made a tour to the court of Spain, where his +arrival alarmed the English minister so much, that two expresses were +sent from Madrid to London, upon the apprehension that his grace was +received there in the character of an ambassador, upon which the duke +received a summons under the Privy Seal to return home. His behaviour +on this occasion was a sufficient indication that he never designed to +return to England, whilst affairs remained in the same state, and +the administration in the same hands they then were in. This he often +declared from his going abroad the second time, which, no doubt, was +the occasion of his treating that solemn order with so much indignity, +and endeavouring to enflame the Spanish court, not only against the +person who delivered the warrant, but against the court of Great +Britain itself, for exercising an act of power, as he was pleased to +call it, within the jurisdiction of his Catholic Majesty. After this +he acted openly in the service of the Pretender, and appeared at his +court, where he was received with great marks of favour. + +While his grace was thus employed abroad, his duchess, who had been +neglected by him, died in England, on the 14th of April 1726, and left +no issue behind her. The lady's death gave the duke no great shock. +He was disencumbered of her and had now an opportunity of mending his +fortune by marriage. + +Soon after this, the duke fell violently in love with Mademoiselle +Obern, a beautiful young lady at the Spanish court, who was then one +of the maids of honour to the Queen of Spain. She was daughter of an +Irish colonel in that service, who being dead, her mother lived upon +a pension the King allowed her, so that this lady's fortune consisted +chiefly in her personal accomplishments. Many arguments were used by +their friends on both sides to dissuade them from the marriage. The +Queen of Spain, when the duke asked her consent, represented to him +in the most lively terms, that the consequence of the match would be +misery to both, and absolutely refused her consent. + +Having now no hopes of obtaining her, he fell into a violent +melancholy, which introduced a lingering fever, of which he languished +'till he was almost ready to drop into the ground. This circumstance +reaching her Majesty's ear, she was moved with his distress, and sent +him word to endeavour the recovery of his health, and as soon as he +was able to appear abroad, she would speak to him in a more favourable +manner, than at their last interview. The duke upon receiving this +news, imagined it the best way to take the advantage of the kind +disposition her Majesty was in; and summoning to his assistance his +little remaining strength, he threw himself at her Majesty's feet, and +begged of her either to give him Mademoiselle Obern, or not to order +him to live, assuring her, in the language of tragedy, that she was to +pronounce the sentence of his life, or death. The Queen consented, +but told him he would soon repent it, and the young lady being dazzled +with the lustre of a ducal title, and besides having a real value for +her lover, they were soon united by an indissoluble bond. + +After the solemnization of his marriage, he passed some time at Rome, +where he accepted of a blue garter, affected to appear with the title +of duke of Northumberland, and for awhile enjoyed the confidence of +the exiled Prince. But as he could not always keep himself within the +bounds of the Italian gravity, and having no employment to amuse his +active temper, he ran into his usual excesses, which giving offence, +it was thought proper for him to remove from that city for the +present, lest he should fall into actual disgrace. Accordingly the +duke quitted Rome, and went by sea to Barcelona, where hearing that +the trenches were opening before Gibraltar, he resolved upon a new +scene of life, which few suspected he would ever engage in. He wrote +a letter to the King of Spain, acquainting him, 'That he designed +to take up arms in his Majesty's service, and apprehending that his +forces were going to reduce the town of Gibraltar under his obedience, +he hoped he should have his permission to assist at the siege as a +volunteer.' + +This done, he went to the camp, taking his duchess along with him, +and was received with all the marks of respect due to his quality. +The Conde de la Torres, who commanded there, delivered him an obliging +letter from the King his master, thanking him for the honour he +intended him, by serving in his troops, and during that siege, +appointed him his aid-de-camp, by which, post the duke was to give an +account of all transactions to his Majesty himself, which obliged +him to be often in the trenches, and to expose his person to imminent +danger. During this siege want of courage was never imputed to him; on +the contrary, he was often guilty of the most imprudent rashness. One +evening he went close to the walls, near one of the posts of the town, +and threatened the soldiers of the garrison. They asked who he was? he +readily answered, the duke of Wharton; and though he appeared there as +an enemy, they suffered him to return to the trenches without firing +one shot at him. + +This siege was ended, and the duke received no other hurt, than a +wound in his foot by the bursting of a grenade, and when nothing more +was to be done in the camp, he went to court, where he was held in the +utmost respect by the principal nobility. The King likewise, as a +mark of his favour, was pleased to give him a commission of Colonel +Agregate (that was the term) to one of the Irish regiments, called +Hibernia, and commanded by the marquis de Castelar. + +Could the duke have been satisfied with that state of life, and +regulated his expences according to his income, he had it then in his +power to live, if not affluently, at least easily. But in a short time +he was for changing the scene of action; he grew weary of Madrid, and +set his heart on Rome. In consequence of this resolution, he wrote a +letter to the Chevalier de St. George, full of respect and submission, +expressing a desire of visiting his court; but the Chevalier returned +for answer, that he thought it more advisable for his grace to draw +near England, than make a tour to Rome, that he might be able to +accommodate matters with the government at home, and take some care +of his personal estate. The Chevalier very prudently judged, that so +wretched an oeconomist as the duke, would be too great a burden to a +person, whose finances were not in a much better condition than his +own. Be that as it may, the duke seemed resolved to follow his advice, +and accordingly set out for France, in company with his duchess, and +attended by two or three servants, arrived at Paris in May 1728. He +sent a letter to Mr. Walpole then embassador there, to let him know +he designed to visit him. That gentleman returned the duke a civil +answer, importing, 'that he should be glad to see his grace at his own +time, if he intended it a public visit; if a private one, they would +agree upon an hour, that should be most convenient.' The duke declared +that he would come publicly, which he did next day, and his discourse +with that minister was suitable to the usual gaiety of his temper; for +though he spoke of returning home, it was in such an undetermined way, +that Mr. Walpole could not guess his real intentions. He received the +duke however with his usual complaisance, and with a respect agreeable +to his quality, but was not a little surprized, when, at parting, his +grace told him, he was going to dine with the bishop of Rochester. Mr. +Walpole answered, 'That if he had a design of making that prelate a +visit, there was no manner of occasion for telling him of it.' Thus +they parted, and never again had another interview. + +The duke made little stay at Paris, but proceeded to Rouen in his +way, as some imagined, to England; but there he stopt, and took up +his residence, without reflecting in the least on the business that +brought him to France. He was so far from making any concession to the +government in order to make his peace, that he did not give himself +the least trouble about his personal estate, or any other concern in +England. The duke had about 600 l. in his possession, when he arrived +at Rouen, where more of his servants joined him from Spain. There he +formed his houshold, and made a calculation, in which there appeared +to be but one mistake, that is, he proportioned his expences, not +according to his income, but quality; and though every argument was +used to convince him of this error, at once so obvious and fatal, yet +he would hearken to no admonition while he had one crown left. + +At Rouen, as in every other place, the duke charmed all those who +conversed with him; he was warmly received by persons of the first +distinction in that province, with whom he took the diversion of +hunting twice a week, 'till some news arrived, which would have given +interruption to the mirth of any other man; but the alteration was +scarce to be perceived in him. + +This was a Bill of Indictment preferred against Philip duke of +Wharton, for high treason. The fact laid to his charge was, appearing +in arms before, and firing off cannon against, his Majesty's town of +Gibraltar. Here we cannot omit an anecdote, from which the reader +may draw what conclusion he pleases. During the time the proceedings +against the duke were at a stand in the long vacation, a gentleman +of character, intimately acquainted with the duke, and also with his +affairs in England; one who enjoyed the sunshine of court favour, and +was a Member of Parliament, went over to Rouen to visit his grace, in +company with another gentleman. These two visitants took a great deal +of pains to persuade him to submit to the government, and return to +his estate, which they assured him he might do, by writing a letter to +the King, or the ministry. This alone, without any other pretensions +to favour, was to re-establish him, and leave him the free enjoyment +of his estate, which, notwithstanding all the reductions, would +even then have yielded 6000 l. a year. This point they sollicited +incessantly, and their words of honour were given, to remove all +scruples his grace might have about the performance of the conditions. +Their interpositions were however in vain; he refused to submit to the +ministry, or write to the King, and thought it beneath him to ask a +favour. + +This conduct of the duke may be imputed, by some, to pride and +obstinacy, but a more natural construction is, that he was afraid of +treachery. He could not discover upon what motives, two persons whom +he looked upon as creatures of the court, would give themselves the +trouble to come to Rouen, in order to persuade him to act for his +own interest, unless they had some concealed views of such a nature, +perhaps, as would prove fatal to him, should he submit. + +He soon after this received advice from England, that his trustees +could remit him no more of his annuity, on account of the indictment +preferred against him. There was now a dreadful prospect before him; +his money was wasted; all future supplies cut off; and there was a +large family to support, without any hopes of relief. He began now to +feel the effects of the indictment, which he before held in so much +contempt; he complained of it as a rigorous proceeding, because it +laid him under a necessity of asking a favour, and receiving it in a +public manner, which he fancied neither consistent with his honour, +or reputation. Thus exasperated against the government, he wrote the +memorable paper which he contrived to get printed in Mist's Journal, +under the colour of an account of Mirevais and Sultan Ezref, which +contained severe reflexions on the administration. Mean time the +duke's credit at Rouen began to sink; he was attended every morning +with a considerable levee, consisting of the tradesmen of that city, +who came with importunate faces to demand payment of their bills, +which he discharged by quitting Rouen, leaving his horses and equipage +to be sold, and the money to be divided among them. The duke, before +this event, had thrown himself at the feet of the Chevalier de St. +George, as the only possible resource he had left. Accordingly he +wrote him a most moving letter, giving him a detail of his present +sufferings, very pathetically representing the distress to which he +was reduced, and humbly imploring his protection, with what little +assistance might be necessary to enable him to support such a burthen +of calamities, as he found otherwise too heavy to bear. + + * * * * * + +The duke having now returned to Paris, made a considerable reformation +in his houshold affairs, and placed himself in a private family, while +the duchess went to a relation's at St. Germains. In the mean while +the answer of the letter sent to Rome came in its proper time, in +which his imprudent conduct was represented; but at the same time was +touched with so light and delicate a hand, that it gave the duke +but little uneasiness. No hopes were given him, that he should be +gratified in his extravagancies, or flattered in his levities; on the +contrary he was told, 'That as his past conduct had not merited any +favour, nothing but his future behaviour could recommend him to it.' +The duke had sufficient penetration to discover by this hint, that he +was not likely to be abandoned, which was consolation enough to one +of his sanguine temper, in the then desperate situation of his +affairs.--The Chevalier de St. George soon after sent him 2000 l. +for his support, of which he was no sooner in possession, than he +squandered it away in a course of extravagance. In reality, money +seemed to be such a burthen to him, that he bent all his thoughts +to get rid of it as fast as possible; and he was as unwilling his +companions should be troubled with it as himself. As a proof of this +strange temper we shall quote one instance amongst many in the words +of the writer of his life, which will serve to shew the heedless +profusion of that unaccountable nobleman. + +'A young Irish lord of the duke's acquaintance, of a sweet obliging +and generous disposition, happening to be at St. Germains, at the time +his grace was paying a visit to his lady; the duke came to him one +night, with an air of business, and told his lordship that an affair +of importance called him instantly to Paris, in which no time was to +be lost, wherefore he begged the favour of his lordship's coach. The +young nobleman lent it very readily, but as the duke was stepping into +it, he added, that he should reckon it an additional obligation, if +his lordship would give him, his company: As the duke was alone, +the young lord either could not, or would not, refuse him. They went +together for Paris, where they arrived about midnight. The duke's +companion then supposing his grace's business might demand privacy, +offered to leave him and come again, when it should be finished; but +he assured his lordship it was not necessary; upon which they went +upon the following frolic together. The first thing to be done, was to +hire a coach and four horses; the next to find out the music belonging +to the Opera, six or eight of which his grace engaged at a set price: +The young lord could not imagine in what this would end; till they +returned to St. Germains, which was at five the next morning when the +duke marching directly with his troop to the castle, ordered them to +strike upon the stairs. Then the plot broke out into execution, being +no more than to serenade some young ladies, near whose apartments they +then were. + +'This piece of extravagant gallantry being over, the duke persuaded +the young lord to go about a mile off, to Poissy, where an English +gentleman 'of their acquaintance lived: His lordship consenting, the +duke took with him a pair of trumpets, and a kettle-drum, to give +the music a more martial air: But to this the Opera music made an +objection at first, because as they should be wanted that night +in their posts, they should forfeit half a louis d' or each, for +non-appearance. Half a louis d' or! says his grace, follow the duke +of Wharton, and all your forfeitures shall be paid. They did so, and +entered Poissy in such a musical manner, that they alarmed the whole +town, and their friend did not know whether he had best keep his +house, or fly for it; but the affair was soon explained, and the +musical troop was entertained by the gentleman their friend, in a very +handsome manner. This frolic being now finished, there was one thing +more absolutely necessary, viz. to discharge the reckoning, upon which +occasion the duke in a very laconic manner addressed himself to the +young lord.' My lord, says he, 'I have not one livre in my pocket, +wherefore I must desire you to pay these fellows, and I'll do as +much for you whenever I am able. Upon this his lordship with great +chearfulness, paid all demands, amounting to 25 louis d' ors.' + +It may seem a strange observation, but it is certainly true, that the +brute creation differs not more from the rational in many respects, +than a man from himself: That by suffering passions to usurp the +dominion of the soul, human nature is stript of its dignity, debased +to the beasts that perish, and still rendered more ignominious by the +complications of guilt. We have already seen the duke of Wharton set +up as the idol of an admiring people; an august senate listened to +the enchantments of his eloquence; a powerful ministry dreading his +resolutions; he was courted, flattered, feared; and obeyed. View him +now, and the scene is shifted. Observe him descending to the most +abject trifling, stooping to the meanest expedients, and the orator +and statesman transformed to the vagabond and the wanderer. + +No incident in this nobleman's life has been represented more to his +disadvantage, and is in itself more interesting than the following. +The account which is here inserted was sent to a friend by the duke's +express order. + +A Scots peer with whom both the duke, and the duchess lived in great +intimacy in Italy, happening to come to Paris, when the duke was +there, they renewed their acquaintance and friendship, and for some +time continued with mutual freedom, till the duke had reason to +believe from what he heard from others, that the peer had boasted +favours from the duchess of Wharton. + +This instance of wanton vanity, the duke could not help resenting, +though he often declared since the quarrel, that he never had the +least suspicion of the duchess's honour. He resolved therefore very +prudently to call the Scots lord to an account, without letting +him know it was for the duchess or so much as mentioning her name; +accordingly he took occasion to do it in this manner. + +It happened that the duke of Wharton and his lordship met at a lady's +whom they mutually visited, and the duke dropping his glove by chance, +his lordship took it up, and returned it to the duke; who thereupon +asked him if he would take it up in all it's forms? To which his +lordship answered, yes, my lord, in all its forms. + +Some days after, the duke gave a ball at St. Germains, to which he +invited the Scots nobleman, and some person indiscretely asked his +grace whether he had forbid the duchess's dancing with lord C----. +This gave the duke fresh reason to believe that the Scots peer had +been administring new grounds for his resentment, by the wantonness +of calumny. He dissembled his uneasiness for the present, and very +politely entertained the company till five o'clock in the morning, +when he went away without the ceremony of taking leave; and the next +news that was heard of him was from Paris, from whence he sent a +challenge to lord C----d, to follow him to Flanders. + +The challenge was delivered by his servant, and was to this effect: +'That his lordship might remember his saying he took up his glove in +all its forms, which upon mature reflexion, his grace looked upon to +be such an affront, as was not to be born, wherefore he desired his +lordship to meet him at Valenciennes, where he would expect him with a +friend and a pair of pistols; and on failure of his lordship's coming +his grace would post him, &c. + +The servant who delivered the letter, did not keep its contents a +secret; and lord C----d was taken into custody, when he was about +setting out to meet his grace. All that remained then for his lordship +to do, was to send a gentleman into Flanders, to acquaint the duke +with what happened to him. His grace upon seeing the gentleman, +imagining him to be his lordship's second, spoke to him in this +manner; 'Sir, I hope my lord will favour me so far as to let us use +pistols, because the wound I received in my foot before Gibraltar, +in some measure disables me from the sword.' Hereupon the gentleman +replied with some emotion, 'My lord duke, you might chuse what you +please; my lord C----d will fight you with any weapon, from a small +pin to a great cannon; but this is not the case, my lord is under an +arrest, by order of the duke of Berwick.' + +His grace being thus disappointed in the duel, and his money being +almost spent, he returned to Paris, and was also put under an arrest +till the affair was made up by the interposition of the duke of +Berwick, under whose cognizance it properly came as Marshal of France. + +The duke's behaviour on this occasion, so far from being reproachable, +seems to be the most manly action of his whole life. What man of +spirit would not resent the behaviour of another, who should boast +of favours from his wife, especially when in all probability he never +received any? + +His grace's conducting the quarrel, so as to save the reputation of +his duchess, by not so much as having her name called in question, was +at once prudent, and tender; for whether a lady is guilty or no, if +the least suspicion is once raised, there are detractors enough in +the world ready to fix the stain upon her. The Scots lord deserved the +severest treatment, for living in strict friendship with two persons +of quality, and then with an insidious cruelty endeavouring to sow +the seeds of eternal discord between them, and all to gratify a little +vanity: Than such a conduct nothing can be more reproachable. + +Not long after this adventure, a whim seized the duke of going into +a convent, in order to prepare for Easter; and while he was there, he +talked with so much force and energy upon all points of religion, that +the pious fathers beheld him with admiration. Mankind were for some +time in suspense, what would be the issue of this new course of life; +but he soon put an end to their speculations by appearing again in +the world, and running headlong into as wild courses of vice and +extravagance, as he had ever before done. He had for a companion, a +gentleman for whom he entertained a very high esteem; but one who +was as much an enemy as possible to such a licentious behaviour. In +another situation, our noble author would have found it a happiness +to be constantly attended by a person of his honour, probity, and good +sense; but the duke's strange and unaccountable conduct, rendered +the best endeavours to serve him ineffectual. In a letter which that +gentleman wrote to a friend in London, he concludes with a melancholy +representation of the duke's present circumstances; + +----'However, notwithstanding what I have suffered, and what my +brother 'madman' has done to undo himself, and every body who was so +unlucky as to have the least concern with him, I could not help being +sensibly moved on so extraordinary a vicissitude of fortune, to see a +great man fallen from that shining light, in which I have beheld him +in the house of lords, to such a degree of obscurity, that I have +beheld the meanest commoner here decline his company; and the Jew he +would sometimes fasten on, grow tired of it, for you know he is a +bad orator in his cups, and of late he has been seldom sober. A week +before he left Paris, he was so reduced, that he had not one single +crown at command, and was forced to thrust in with any acquaintance +for a lodging: Walsh and I have had him by turns, all to avoid a crowd +of duns, which he had of all sizes, from 1400 livres to 4, who hunted +him so close, that he was forced to retire to some of the neighbouring +villages for safety. I, sick as I was, hurried about Paris to get him +money, and to St. Germains to get him linen. I bought him one shirt +and a cravat, which, with 500 livres, his whole stock, he and his +duchess, attended by one servant, set out for Spain. All the news +I have heard of him since, is, that a day or two after he sent for +captain Brierly, and two or three of his domestics to follow him; but +none but the captain obeyed the summons. Where they are now I cannot +tell, but I fear they must be in great distress by this time, if he +has had no other supplies; and so ends my melancholy story.' + +In this deplorable situation did the duke leave Paris, an instance +indeed of the strange reverse of fortune, but for which he could not +blame the severity of providence, or the persecution of enemies, but +his own unbounded profusion, a slave to which he seems to have been +born. As a long journey did not very well suit with his grace's +finances, so he went for Orleans, thence fell down the river Loire +to Nantz in Britany, and there he stopt some time 'till he got +a remittance from Paris, which was squandered almost as soon as +received. At Nantz some of his ragged servants rejoined him, and +from thence he took shipping with them from Bilboa, as if he had been +carrying recruits to the Spanish regiment. From Bilboa he wrote a +humorous letter to a friend at Paris, such as his fancy, not his +circumstances, dictated, giving a whimsical account of his voyage, and +his manner of passing away his time. But at the end, as if he had +been a little affected with his late misconduct, he concludes thus, +'notwithstanding what the world may say of me, + + 'Be kind to my remains, and O! defend, + Against your judgment, your departed friend[A].' + +When the duke arrived at Bilboa, he had neither friends, money, +nor credit, more than what the reputation of his Spanish commission +procured him. Upon the strength of that he left his duchess and +servant there, and went to his regiment, where he was obliged to +support himself upon the pay of 18 pistoles a month, but could get no +relief for the poor lady and family he left behind him. The distress +of the duchess was inexpressible, nor is it easy to conceive what +would have been the consequence, if her unhappy circumstances had not +reached the ear of another exiled nobleman at Madrid, who could not +hear of her sufferings without relieving her. This generous exile, +touched with her calamities, sent her a hundred Spanish pistoles, +which relieved her grace from a kind of captivity, and enabled her to +come to Madrid, where she lived with her mother and grandmother, while +the duke attended his regiment. Not long after this, the duke's family +had a great loss in the death of his lady's mother, by which they were +deprived of a pension they before enjoyed from the crown of Spain; but +this was fortunately repaired by the interest of a nobleman at court, +who procured the duchess's two sisters to be minuted down for Maids of +Honour to the Queen of Spain, whenever a vacancy should happen, but +to enter immediately upon the salary of these places. Her Majesty +likewise took the duchess to attend her person. + +There have been many instances of people, who have sustained the +greatest shocks which adversity can inflict, through a whole life of +suffering, and yet at last have yielded to the influence of a trifling +evil: something like this was the case of the duke of Wharton, which +the following story will illustrate. + +He was in garrison at Barcelona, and coming from a ball one night, in +company with some ladies, a man in a masque, whom he did not know, +was guilty of some rudeness to him. The duke enquired who he was, +and being informed that he was valet de chambre to the marquis +de Risbourg, governour of Catalonia, he suffered himself to be +transported by the first motions of his passion, and caned him. The +fellow complained of this usage to his master, who at first took no +notice of it, imagining his grace would make some excuse to him for +such a procedure, but whether the duke thought it beneath his quality +to make any apology for beating a menial servant, who had been rude +to him, or would not do it upon another account, he spoke not a word +about it. The marquis resenting this behaviour, two days after ordered +the duke to prison. He obeyed, and went to Fort Montjuich: as soon as +he arrived there, the marquis sent him word, he might come out when he +pleased; the duke answered, he scorned to accept liberty at his hands, +and would not stir without an order from the court, imagining they +would highly condemn the governour's conduct; but the marquis had too +much credit with the minister, to suffer any diminution of his power +on that account; he received only a sharp rebuke, and the duke +had orders to repair to his quarters, without entering again into +Barcelona. This last mortification renewed the remembrance of all +his misfortunes; he sunk beneath this accident, and giving way to +melancholy, fell into a deep consumption. Had the duke maintained +his usual spirit, he would probably have challenged the marquis, and +revenged the affront of the servant upon the master, who had made the +quarrel his own, by resenting the valet's deserved correction. + +About the beginning of the year 1731 he declined so fast, being in his +quarters, at Lerida, that he had not the use of his limbs, so as to +move without assistance; but as he was free from pain, he did not +lose all his gaiety. He continued in this ill state of health for two +months, when he gained a little strength, and found some benefit +from a certain mineral water in the mountains of Catalonia; but his +constitution was too much spent to recover the shocks it had received. +He relapsed the May following at Terragana, whither he removed with +his regiment; and going to the above mentioned waters, the benefit +whereof he had already experienced, he fell into one of those fainting +fits, to which he had for some time been subject, in a small village, +and was utterly destitute of all the necessaries of life, 'till +some charitable fathers of a Bernardine convent, offered him what +assistance their house afforded. The duke accepted their kind +proposal, upon which they removed him to their convent, and +administered all the relief in their power. Under this hospitable +roof, after languishing a week, died the duke of Wharton, without one +friend, or acquaintance to close his eyes. His funeral was performed +in the same manner in which the fathers inter those of their own +fraternity. + +Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an adequate picture of the duke +of Wharton, a man whose life was as strongly chequered with +the vicissitudes of fortune, as his abilities were various and +astonishing. He is an instance of the great imbecility of intellectual +powers, when once they spurn the dictates of prudence, and the maxims +of life. With all the lustre of his understanding, when his fortune +was wasted, and his circumstances low, he fell into contempt; they +who formerly worshipped him, fled from him, and despised his wit when +attended with poverty. So true is it that, + + Want is the scorn of every wealthy fool, + And wit in rags is turn'd to ridicule. + +The duke of Wharton seems to have lived as if the world should be new +modelled for him; for he would conform to none of the rules, by which +the little happiness the world can yield, is to be attained. But we +shall not here enlarge on his character, as we can present it to the +reader, drawn in the most lively manner, by the masterly touches of +Pope, who in one of his familiar epistles, thus characterizes him. + + POPE's Epistle on the KNOWLEDGE + and CHARACTERS of MEN. + + + Wharton, the scorn and wonder of our days, + Whose darling passion was the lust of praise: + Born with whate'er could win it from the wise, + Women and fools must like him, or he dies; + Tho' wond'ring senates hung on all he spoke, + The club must hail him master of the joke. + Shall parts so various aim at nothing new? + He'll shine a Tully and a Wilmot too; + Then turns repentant, and his God adores, + With the same spirit that he drinks and whores; + Enough if all around him but admire, + And now the Punk applaud, and now the Friar. + Thus with each gift of nature and of art, + And wanting nothing but an honest heart; + Grown all to all, from no one vice exempt; + And most contemptible, to shun contempt; + His passion still to covet gen'ral praise, + His life, to forfeit it a thousand ways; + A constant bounty which no friend has made; + An angel tongue which no man can persuade; + A fool, with more of wit than half mankind, + Too rash for thought, for action too refin'd: + A tyrant to the wife his heart approves; + A rebel to the very King he loves; + He dies, sad out-cast of each church and state, + And, harder still! flagitious, yet not great. + Ask you why Wharton broke thro' ev'ry rule? + 'Twas all for fear the Knaves should call him Fool. + +Pope's Works, Vol. III. The duke is author of two volumes of poems, of +which we shall select the following as a specimen. + + The FEAR of DEATH. + + + Say, sov'reign queen of awful night, + Dread tyrant say! + Why parting throes this lab'ring frame distend, + Why dire convulsions rend, + And teeming horrors wreck th' astonish'd sight? + Why shrinks the trembling soul, + Why with amazement full + Pines at thy rule, and sickens at thy sway? + Why low'r the thunder of thy brow, + Why livid angers glow, + Mistaken phantom, say? + Far hence exert thy awful reign, + Where tutelary shrines and solemn busts + Inclose the hallow'd dust: + Where feeble tapers shed a gloomy ray, + And statues pity feign; + Where pale-ey'd griefs their wasting vigils keep, + There brood with sullen state, and nod with downy sleep. + Advance ye lurid ministers of death! + And swell the annals of her reign: + Crack every nerve, sluice every vein; + And choak the avenues of breath. + Freeze, freeze, ye purple tides! + Or scorch with seering flames, AEra's nature flows in tepid streams, + And life's meanders glide. + Let keen despair her icy progress make, + And slacken'd nerves their talk forsake; + Years damp the vital fire. + Yawn all ye horrors of the flood; + And curl your swelling surges higher. + Survey the road! + Where desolating storms, and vengeful fates, + The gawdy scene deface; + Ambition in its widest havock trace + Thro' widow'd cities, and unpeopl'd states. + And is this all! + Are these the threaten'd terrors of your reign? + O dream of fancy'd power! + Quit, quit, th' affected shew, + This pageantry of grief, and labour'd pomp of woe. + Draw the pleasing scene, + Where dreadful thunders never rowl, nor giddy tempests low'r. + Scenes delighting! + Peace inviting, + Passions sooth'd, and tumult dying; + Aera's rowling, + Fears controuling, + Always new, and always flying. + We dread we know not what, we fear we know not why, + Our cheated fancy shrinks, nor sees to die + Is but to slumber into immortality. + All reconciling name! + In space unbounded as in power; + Where fancy limits cannot frame; + Nor reason launch beyond the shore: + An equal state from all distinction free, + Spread like the wide expanse of vast immensity. + Seditious tumults there obey, + And feuds their zeal forget: + Debated empires own one common sway, + There learn'd disputes unite; + Nor crowded volumes the long war maintain: + There rival chiefs combine + To fill the gen'ral chorus of her reign. + So streams from either pole, + Thro' diff'rent tracks their wat'ry journies rowl; + Then in the blending ocean lose their name, + And with consenting waves and mingl'd tides forever flow the same. + + +[Footnote A: These two lines are taken from Dryden, who addressed them +to Congreve, when he recommended to him the care of his works.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Colonel CODRINGTON, + + +This gentleman was of the first rank of wit and gallantry. He received +his education at All Souls College in the university of Oxford, to +which he left a donation of 30,000 l. by his will, part of which was +to be appropriated for building a new library[A]. He was many years +governour of the Leeward Islands, where he died, but was buried at +Oxford. He is mentioned here, on account of some small pieces of +poetry, which he wrote with much elegance and politeness. Amongst +these pieces is an epilogue to Mr. Southern's tragedy called The Fate +of Capua, in which are the following verses; + + Wives still are wives, and he that will be billing, + Must not think cuckoldom deserves a killing. + What if the gentle creature had been kissing, + Nothing the good man married for was missing. + Had he the secret of her birth-right known, + 'Tis odds the faithful Annals would have shewn + The wives of half his race more lucky than his own. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + + * * * * * + + + + +EDWARD WARD, + + +A man of low extraction, and who never received any regular education. +He was an imitator of the famous Butler, and wrote his Reformation, a +poem, with an aim at the same kind of humour which has so remarkably +distinguished Hudibras. 'Of late years, says Mr. Jacob, he has kept a +public house in the city, but in a genteel way.' Ward was, in his +own droll manner, a violent antagonist to the Low Church Whigs and in +consequence, of this, drew to his house such people as had a mind +to indulge their spleen against the government, by retailing little +stories of treason. He was thought to be a man of strong natural +parts, and possessed a very agreeable pleasantry of temper. Ward was +much affronted when he read Mr. Jacob's account, in which he mentions +his keeping a public house in the city, and in a book called Apollo's +Maggot, declared this account to be a great falsity, protesting that +his public house was not in the City, but in Moorfields[A]. + +The chief of this author's pieces are, + +Hudibras Redivivus, a political Poem. + +Don Quixote, translated into Hudibrastic Verse. + +Ecclesiae & Fastio, a Dialogue between Bow-steeple Dragon, and the +Exchange Grasshopper. A Ramble through the Heavens, or The Revels of +the Gods. + +The Cavalcade, a Poem. + +Marriage Dialogues, or A Poetical Peep into the State of Matrimony. + +A Trip to Jamaica. + +The Sots Paradise, or The Humours of a Derby Alehouse. + +A Battle without Bloodshed, or Military Discipline Buffoon'd. + +All Men Mad, or England a Great Bedlam, 4to. 1704. + +The Double Welcome, a Poem to the Duke of Marlborough. + +Apollo's Maggot in his Cups, or The Whimsical Creation of a Little +Satirical Poet; a Lyric Ode, dedicated to Dickey Dickenson, the witty, +but deformed Governor of Scarborough Spaw, 8vo. 1729. + +The Ambitious Father, or The Politician's Advice to his Son; a Poem in +five Cantos, 1733, the last work he left finished. + + +Mr. Ward's works, if collected, would amount to five volumes in 8vo. +but he is most distinguished by his London Spy, a celebrated work in +prose. + + +[Footnote A: Notes on the Dunciad.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Sir ROGER L'ESTRANGE, + + +This gentleman was second son of Sir Hammon L'Estrange of Hunston in +Norfolk, knt. and was born anno 1617[A]. In the year 1644 Sir Roger +having obtained a commission from King Charles I. for reducing Lynne +in Norfolk, then in possession of the Parliament, his design was +discovered to colonel Walton the governour, and his person seized. +Upon the failing of this enterprize he was tried by a court-martial +at Guildhall, London, and condemned to lose his life as a spy, coming +from the King's quarters without drum, trumpet, or pass; but was +afterwards reprieved, and continued in Newgate several years. Sir +Roger in a work of his, called Truth and Loyalty Vindicated, has +informed us, that, when he received sentence of death, which was +pronounced against him by Dr. Mills, then judge advocate, and +afterwards chancellor to the bishop of Norwich, he was cast into +Newgate, where he was visited by Mr. Thorowgood and Mr. Arrowsmith, +two members of the assembly of divines, who kindly offered him their +utmost interest if he would make some petitionary acknowledgment, +and submit to take the covenant, which he refused. But that he +might obtain a reprieve, he wrote several letters to the earl of +Northumberland, the earl of Stamford, and others of the nobility, from +whom he received favours. In the House of Commons he was particularly +obliged to Sir John Corbet, and Sir Henry Cholmondley. He was +reprieved in order to a further hearing; but after almost thirty +months spent in vain endeavours, either to come to a hearing, or to +put himself into an exchangeable condition, he printed a state of his +case, as an Appeal from the Court-martial to the Parliament, dated at +Newgate in 1647. + +After almost four years imprisonment, with his keeper's privity, he +slipt into Kent, and then with much difficulty got beyond sea. About +the latter end of August 1653, upon the dissolution of the Long +Parliament, by Cromwel, he returned into England, and presently +acquainted the council, then sitting at Whitehall, that finding +himself within the Act of Indemnity, he thought it his duty to give +them notice of his return. Soon after this he was served with the +following order, + +Wednesday September 7, 1655, + +Ordered, + +That Roger L'Estrange be sent unto, to attend the committee of this +council for examination. + +JOHN THURLOE, Secretary. + +This order laid him under a necessity of attending for his discharge, +but perceiving his business to advance very slowly, and his father +at that time lying upon his death-bed, he was sollicitous to have his +discharge as much hastened as possible, that he might pay his duty to +his father, whom he had not seen for many years before. Mr. Strickland +was one of the commissioners appointed to examine him, and the person +from whom, in the judgment of his friends, he was to expect the least +favour. Mr. L'Estrange therefore to render him more propitious to his +purpose, paid him the compliment of a visit, telling him frankly +that he was returned upon the invitation of the Act of Indemnity; +and laying before him how much it concerned him, both in comfort +and interest, to see his dying father. Mr. Strickland, in place of +complying with Mr. L'Estrange's proposition, answered, that he would +find himself mistaken, and that his case was not included in that Act. +Mr. L'Estrange's reply to him was, 'that he might have been safe among +the Turks upon the same terms; and so he left him. From that time +matters beginning to look worse and worse, he considered it, as +his last expedient, to address Cromwel himself. After several +disappointments, for want of opportunity, he spoke to him at last +in the Cock-pit, and the sum of his desire was, either a speedy +examination, or that it might be deferred 'till he had seen his +father. Cromwel remonstrated against the restlessness of his party, +observed, 'that rigour was not his inclination, but that he was but +one man, and could do little by himself; and that Mr. L'Estrange's +party would do well to give some better testimony of their quiet, and +peaceable intentions.' Mr. L'Estrange told him, 'that every man was to +answer for his own actions, at his own peril;' and so Cromwel took +his leave. Some time after this Mr. L'Estrange was called, and Mr. +Strickland, with another gentleman, were his examiners; but the latter +pressed nothing against him. Mr. Strickland indeed insisted upon his +condemnation, and would have deprived him of the benefit of the Act of +Indemnity, telling him at last, 'that he had given no evidence of +the change of his mind, and consequently was not to be trusted.' +Mr. L'Estrange's final answer was to this effect, 'that it was his +interest to change his opinion, if he could, and that whenever he +found reason so to do, he would obey the sense of his own mind.' Some +few days after this he was discharged[B]. 'During the dependency of +this affair (says Mr. L'Estrange) I might well be seen at Whitehall, +but that I spake to Cromwel on any other business than this, that I +either sought, or pretended to, any privacy with him, or that I ever +spake to him after this time, I absolutely disown. Concerning the +story of the fiddle[C], this I suppose might be the rise of it: being +in St. James's Park, I heard an organ touched in a little low room +of one Mr. Henckson's; I went in, and found a private company of some +five or six persons. They desired me to take up a Viol, and bear a +part. I did so, and that part too, not much advance to the reputation +of my cunning. By and by, without the least colour of design, +or expectation, in comes Cromwel. He found us playing, and, as I +remember, so he left us.--As to bribing of his attendants, I disclaim +it. I never spake to Thurloe, but once in my life, and that was about +my discharge. Nor did I ever give bribe, little or great, in the +family.' + +The above declaration Sir Roger was obliged to make, as some of his +enemies wanted to turn those circumstances of favour he received from +the Oliverian government to his disadvantage, and prevent his rising +in court distinction. + +Sir Roger having little paternal fortune, and being a man rather +profuse than oeconomical, he had recourse to writing for bread. After +the restoration he set up a news-paper, which was continued 'till +the Gazette was first set on foot by Sir Joseph Williamson, under +secretary of state, for which, however, the government allowed Mr. +L'Estrange a consideration. Mr. Wood informs us, that our author +published his paper twice every week in 4to. under the title of The +Public Intelligence and News; the first of which came out August the +31st, 1663, and the other September the 3d, the same year. 'These +continued till the 9th of January 1665, at which time Mr. L'Estrange +desisted, because in the November before, there were other News-Papers +published twice every week, in half a sheet in folio. These were +called The Oxford Gazettes, and commenced the 7th of November, 1665, +the king and queen, with their courts being then at Oxford. These for +a little while were written by one Henry Muddeman; but when the court +removed to London, they were called the London Gazette. Soon after Mr. +Joseph Williamson, under secretary of State, procured the writing +of them for himself; and thereupon employed Charles Perrot, M.A. and +fellow of Oriel College in Oxford, who had a good command of his pen, +to do that office under him, and so he did, though not constantly, +till about 1671; after which time they were constantly written by +under secretaries, belonging to those that are principal, and do +continue so to this day.' + +Soon after the popish plot, when the Tories began to gain the +ascendant over the Whigs, Mr. L'Estrange became a zealous promoter of +the Tory interest. He set up a paper called the Observator, in which +he defended the court, and endeavoured to invalidate those evidences +which were given by Oates's party against the Jesuits. He likewise +wrote a pamphlet, in which he attempts to prove, that Sir Edmundbury +Godfrey's murther, for which so many suffered, and so great a flame +was raised in the nation, was really perpetrated by himself. He +attempts to shew that Sir Edmundbury was a melancholy enthusiastic +man; that he was weak in his undemanding, and absurd in his conduct. +The activity he discovered in Oates's plot, had raised him to such +reputation, that he was unable to bear it, and therefore the natural +enthusiasm of his temper prompted him to make himself a sacrifice, +from a view of advancing the Protestant cause, as he knew his murther +would be charged upon the Papists. + +Mr. L'Estrange's reasoning, being only conjectural, and very +improbable, is therefore far from conclusive: It is certain that there +never was a more intricate affair than this. We have read the trials +of all those who suffered for this murther, chiefly upon the evidence +of one Prance, and one Bedloe, who pretended to have been accomplices; +but their relation is so inconsistent; their characters so very +infamous, and their reward for being evidences supposed to be so +considerable, that the most candid enquirer after truth, can determine +nothing positively concerning it. All who suffered for the popish +plot, denied their knowledge of it; the four men who were executed, +as being the perpetrators persisted to the last in protesting their +innocence of it. After all, the murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey +is perhaps one of those secrets, which will ever remain so, till the +hearts of all men are laid open. + +The services, which Mr. L'Estrange rendered the court, procured him +the honour of knighthood; and he served as a member for Winchester, in +the parliament called by king James the IId. 1685. But things taking +quite a different turn in that prince's reign, in point of liberty +of conscience, to what most people expected, our author's Observators +were dropt, as not being suitable to the times. However he continued +licenser of the press 'till the accession of the prince of Orange to +the throne; in whose reign, on account of his Tory principles, and +his attachment to his late master, he met with some troubles. He was +suffered however to descend to the grave in peace, though he had in a +manner survived his understanding. He died December 12, 1705, in the +88th year of his age. + +[D]Besides his Observators, which make three volumes in folio, he +published a great number of poetical and other works. Winstanley, +in his Lives of the Poets, says, 'That those who shall consider the +number and greatness of his books, will admire he should ever write so +many; and those who have read them, considering the skill and method +they are written in, will admire he should write so well. Nor is he +less happy in verse than prose, which for elegance of language, and +quickness of invention, deservedly entitles him to the honour of a +poet.' + +The following are the titles of some of his works, viz. Collections in +Defence of the King. Toleration Discussed. Relapsed Apostate. Apology +for Protestants. Richard against Baxter. Tyranny and Popery. Growth +and Knavery. Reformed Catholic. Free-born Subjects. The Case Put. +Seasonable Memorials. Answer to the Appeal. L'Estrange no Papist; in +answer to a Libel, intitled L'Estrange a Papist, &c. with Notes and +Animadversions upon Miles Prance, Silver-Smith, cum multis aliis. The +Shammer Shamm'd. Account Cleared. Reformation Reformed. Dissenters +Sayings, in two Parts. Notes on Colledge, the Protestant Joiner. +Citizen and Bumpkin, in two Parts. Further Discovery in the Plot. +Discovery on Discovery. Narrative of the Plot. Zekiel and Ephraim. +Appeal to the King and Parliament. Papist in Masquerade. Answer to the +second Character of a Popish Successor. Confederations upon a Printed +Sheet intitled, The Speech of Lord Russel to the Sheriffs: Together +with the Paper delivered by him to them at the place of execution, +on July 1683. These pieces with many more, were printed in quarto; +besides which he wrote the following, viz. The History of the Plot in +Folio. Caveat to the Cavaliers. He translated into English Cicero's +Offices; Seneca's Mora's, Erasmus's Colloquies; Quevedo's Visions; +Bona's Guide to Eternity; Five Love Letters from a Nun to a Cavalier; +Josephus's Works; Aesop's Fables. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Gordon, author of the Independent Whig, and translator of Tacitus, +has very freely censured L'Estrange. He bestows very freely upon him +the epithet of a buffoon, an ignorant droll, &c.----He charges him +with having no knowledge of the Latin tongue; and says, he is unfit +to be read by any person of taste. That his stile is full of technical +terms, and of phrases picked up in the streets, from apprentices and +porters. + + * * * * * + +Sir Roger L'Estrange translated the third Book of Tacitus, an author +of whom Mr. Gordon made an entire translation. To raise the reputation +of his own performance, he has abused that of L'Estrange, in terms +very unfit for a gentleman to use, supposing the censure had been +true. Sir Roger's works indeed are often calculated for the meanest +capacities, and the phrase is consequently low; but a man must be +greatly under the influence of prejudice, who can discover no genius +in his writings; not an intimate acquaintance with the state of +parties, human life, and manners. + + * * * * * + +Sir Roger was but ill-rewarded by the Tories, for having been their +champion; the latter part of his life was clouded with poverty, +and though he descended in peace to the grave, free from political +turmoils, yet as he was bowed down with age and distress, he cannot be +said to have died in comfort. He had seen much of the world, examined +many characters, experienced the vicissitudes of fortune, and was as +well instructed as any man that ever lived, in the important lesson of +human life, viz. That all things are vanity. + + +[Footnote A: See Gen. Dict. Art. L'Estrange.] + +[Footnote B: Truth and Loyalty, ubi supra.] + +[Footnote C: Sir Roger L'Estrange was called, by way of derision, +Cromwell's Fidler.] + +[Footnote D: General Dictionary.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. EDMUND SMITH, + + +This distinguished poet was son of an eminent merchant, one Mr. Neal, +by a daughter of baron Lechemere[A]. Some misfortunes of his father, +which were soon followed by his death, occasioned our author's being +left very young in the care of a near relation (one who married Mr. +Neal's mother, whose name was Smith). + +This gentleman treated him with as much tenderness as if he had been +his own child, and placed him at Westminster-school, under the care +of Dr. Busby. After the death of his generous guardian (whose name +in gratitude he thought proper to assume) he was removed to Christ's +Church in Oxford, and was there by his aunt handsomely supported till +her death; after which he continued a member of that learned society, +till within five years of his own. Some time before his leaving +Christ-Church, he was sent for by his mother to Worcester, and +acknowledged by her as a legitimate son. We chuse to mention this +circumstance, in order to wipe off the aspersion which folly and +ignorance cast upon; his birth[B]. + +In honour to Mr. Smith it should be remembered, that when he stood a +candidate for one of the universities, at the Westminster election, he +so peculiarly distinguished himself by his conspicuous performances, +that there arose no small contention between the representative +electors of Trinity College in Cambridge, and Christ-Church College +in Oxon, which of those two illustrious societies should adopt him as +their own. But the electors of Trinity College having the preference +of choice that year, they resolutely elected him; but being invited +at the same time to Christ-Church, Mr. Smith chose to accept of a +studentship there. + +He passed through the exercises of the college, and the university, +with unusual applause; and tho' he often suffered his friends to call +him off from his retirement; yet his return to his studies was so much +the more passionate, and his love of reading and thinking being so +vehement, the habit grew upon him, and the series of meditation and +reflexion being kept up whole weeks together, he could better arrange +his ideas, and take in sundry parts of a science at one view without +interruption or confusion. Some of his acquaintance, who were +pleased to distinguish between the wit and the scholar, extoll'd him +altogether on account of the first of these excellencies; but others, +who were more candid, admired him as a prodigy in both. He had +acquired reputation in the schools, both as a philosopher and polemic +of extensive knowledge, and deep penetration, and went through all the +courses with a proper regard to the dignity, and importance of each +science. Mr. Smith had a long and perfect intimacy with all the Greek +and Latin Classics; with whom he had industriously compared whatever +was worth perusing in the French, Spanish, and Italian, and all the +celebrated writers in his own country. He considered the antients and +moderns, not as parties, or rivals for fame, but as architects upon +one and the same plan, the Art of Poetry. If he did not always commend +the compositions of others, it proceeded not from ill-nature (for that +was foreign to his temper) but a strict regard to justice would not +suffer him to call a few flowers elegantly adorned, without much art, +and less genius, by so distinguished a name as poetry. He was of Ben +Johnson's opinion, who could not admire, + + ----Verses, as smooth and soft as cream, + In which their was neither depth nor stream. + +Mr. Smith's Bodleian Oration, printed with his other works, though +taken from a remote and imperfect copy, has shewn the world, how great +a matter he was of Ciceronian Eloquence. Since Temple and Roscommon +(says Mr. Oldisworth) 'No man understood Horace better, especially +as to his happy diction, rolling numbers, beautiful imagery, and +alternate mixture of the soft and sublime. His friend Mr. Philips's +Ode to Mr. St. John, after the manner of Horace's Lusory, or Amatorian +Odes, is certainly a master-piece: But Mr. Smith's Pocockius is of the +sublimer kind; though like Waller's writings upon Cromwell, it wants +not the most delicate and surprizing turns, peculiar to the person +praised.' + +He was an excellent judge of humanity, and so good a historian, that +in familiar conversation, he would talk over the most memorable fads +in antiquity; the lives, actions, and characters of celebrated men, +with amazing facility and accuracy. As he had carefully read and +distinguished Thuanus's Works, so he was able to copy after him: And +his talent in this kind was so generally confess'd, that he was made +choice of by some great men, to write a history, which it was their +interest to have executed with the utmost art, and dexterity; but +this design was dropp'd, as Mr. Smith would not sacrifice truth to the +caprice, and interested views of a party. + + * * * * * + +Our author's Poem, condoling the death of Mr. Philips, is full of the +noblest beauties, and pays a just tribute to the venerable ashes of +that great man. Mr. Smith had contracted for Mr. Philips the most +perfect friendship, a passion of which he was very susceptible, and +whole laws he considered as sacred and inviolable. + + * * * * * + +In the year 1707 Mr. Smith's Tragedy called Phaedra and Hippolitus was +acted at the Theatre-Royal. This play was introduced upon the stage, +at a time when the Italian Opera so much engrossed the attention of +the polite world, that sense was sacrificed to sound. It was dress'd +and decorated, at an extraordinary expence:----and inimitably +perform'd in all its parts, by Betterton, Booth, Barry, and Oldfield. +Yet it brought but few, and slender audiences.----To say truth, +'twas a fine Poem; but not an extraordinary Play. Notwithstanding the +intrinsic merit of this piece, and the countenance it met with from +the most ingenious men of the age, yet it languished on the stage, +and was soon neglected. Mr. Addison wrote the Prologue, in which he +rallies the vitiated taste of the public, in preferring the unideal +entertainment of an Opera, to the genuine sense of a British Poet. + + The PROLOGUE. + + + Long has a race of Heroes fill'd the stage, + That rant by note, and thro' the gamut rage; + In songs, and airs, express their martial fire, + Combat in trills, and in a feuge expire; + While lull'd by sound, and undisturb'd by wit, + Calm and serene, you indolently fit; + And from the dull fatigue of thinking free, + Hear the facetious fiddle's rapartee; + Our home-spun authors must forsake the field, + And Shakespear to the soft Scarlatti yield. + To your new taste, the poet of this day, + Was by a friend advis'd to form his play; + Had Valentini musically coy, + Shun'd Phaedra's arms, and scorn'd the proffer'd joy, + It had not mov'd your wonder to have seen, + An Eunuch fly from an enamour'd queen. + How would it please, should me in English speak, + And could Hippolitus reply in Greek? + +We have been induced to transcribe these lines of Mr. Addison, in +order to have the pleasure of producing so great an authority in +favour of the English drama, when placed in contradistinction to an +entertainment, exhibited by Eunuchs and Fidlers, in a language, of +which the greatest part of the audience are ignorant; and from the +nature of which no moral instruction can be drawn. + +The chief excellence of this play certainly consists in the beauty and +harmony of the verification. The language is luxuriantly poetical. The +passion of Phaedra for her husband's son has been considered by some +critics as too unnatural to be shewn on the stage; and they have +observed that the poet would have written more successfully if he +had converted the son into a brother. Poetical justice is carefully +distributed; Phaedra and Lycon are justly made the sufferers, while +Hippolitus and Ismena escape the vengeance of Theseus. The play is not +destitute of the pathetic, tho' much more regard is paid to the purity +and elegance of the language, than a poet more acquainted with the +workings of the heart would have done. We shall give an example to +illustrate this observation. When Theseus reproaches Hippolitus for +his love to Ismena, and at the same time dooms him as the victim, of +his revenge and jealousy, he uses these words, + + Canst thou be only clear'd by disobedience, + And justified by crimes?--What! love my foe! + Love one descended from a race of tyrants, + Whose blood yet reeks on my avenging sword! + I'm curst each moment I delay thy fate: + Haste to the shades, and tell, the happy Pallas, + Ismena's flames, and let him taste such joys + As thou giv'st me; go tell applauding Minos, + The pious love you bore his daughter Phaedra; + Tell it the chatt'ring ghosts, and hissing furies, + Tell it the grinning fiends, till Hell found nothing + To thy pleas'd ears, but Phaedra and Ismena. + +We cannot suppose that a man wrought up to fury, by the flame of +jealousy, and a sense of afronted dignity, could be so particular in +giving his son directions how to behave in hell, and to whom he should +relate the story of his fate. When any passion violently overwhelms +the soul, the person who feels it, always speaks sententiously, avoids +repetitions, and is not capable of much recollection, at least of +making a minute detail of circumstances. In how few words, and with +greater force would Shakespear have conduced this speech of Theseus. +An example will prove it: when Othello is informed that Cassio is +slain, he replies, + + Had all his hairs been lives, + My great revenge had stomach for them all. + +When Phaedra is made acquainted with the ruin of Hyppolitus, the poet +makes her utter the following beautiful speech, which, however, is +liable to the same objection as the former, for it seems rather a +studied declamation, than an expression of the most agonizing throes +she is then supposed to experience. + + What's life? Oh all ye Gods! can life attone + For all the monstrous crimes by which 'tis bought? + Or can I live? when thou, O Soul of honour! + O early hero! by my crimes art ruin'd. + Perhaps even now, the great unhappy youth, + Falls by the sordid hands of butchering villains; + Now, now he bleeds, he dies,--O perjur'd traitor! + See his rich blood in purple torrents flows, + And nature sallies in unbidden groans; + Now mortal pangs distort his lovely form, + His rosy beauties fade, his starry eyes + Now darkling swim, and fix their closing beams; + Now in short gasps his lab'ring spirit heaves, + And weakly flutters on his falt'ring tongue, + And struggles into sound. Hear, monster hear, + With his last breath, he curses purjured Phaedra: + He summons Phaedra to the bar of Minos; + Thou too shalt there appear; to torture thee + Whole Hell shall be employ'd, and suff'ring Phaedra + Shall find some care to see thee still more wretched. + +No man had a juster notion of the difficulty of composing, than Mr. +Smith, and he sometimes would create greater difficulties than he +had reason to apprehend. Mr. Smith had, indeed, some defects in his +conduct, which those are more apt to remember, who could imitate him +in nothing else. Amongst the blemishes of an innocent kind, which +attended Mr. Smith, was his extreme carelessness in the particular of +dress; this oddity procured him the name of Captain Ragg. His person +was so well formed, and he possessed so much natural gracefulness, +that notwithstanding the disadvantage of his appearance, he was +called, by the Ladies, the Handsome Sloven. + +It is to be wondered at (says Mr. Oldisworth) that a man under +poverty, calamities, and disappointments, could make so many friends, +and those so truly valuable. He had, indeed, a noble idea of the +passion of friendship, in the success of which, consisted the +greatest, if not the only happiness of his Life. He was serene and +chearful under the dispensations of providence; he avoided having any +dealings with mankind in which he could not be just, and therefore +refused to embrace some opportunities of amending his fortune. + +Upon Mr. Smith's coming to town, no man was more surrounded by all +those who really had, or pretended to wit, or more courted by the +great men, who had then a power and opportunity of encouraging arts +and sciences. Mr. Smith's character grew upon his friends by intimacy, +and exceeded the strongest prepossessions which had been conceived in +his favour. A few years before his death, Mr. Smith engaged in some +considerable Undertakings; in all which he raised expectations in the +world, which he lived not to gratify. Mr. Oldisworth observes, that he +had seen about ten sheets of Pindar translated into English, which, he +says, exceeded any thing of that kind, he could ever hope for in our +language. He had drawn out a plan for a tragedy of Lady Jane Grey, and +had written several scenes of it: a subject afterwards nobly executed +by Mr. Rowe. His greatest undertaking was Longinus, which he executed +in a very masterly manner. He proposed a large addition to this work, +of notes and observations of his own, with an intire system of the +art of poetry in three books, under the title of Thoughts, Action, +and Figure; in this work he proposed to reform the art of Rhetoric, by +reducing that confused heap of Terms, with which a long succession +of Pedants had incumbered the world, to a very narrow compass; +comprehending all that was useful and ornamental in poetry under each +head, and chapter. He intended to make remarks upon all the ancients +and moderns, the Greek, Latin, English, French, Spanish, and Italian +poets, and to anamadvert upon their several beauties and defects. + +Mr. Smith died in the year 1710, in the 42d of his age, at the seat of +George Ducket esq; called Hartham, in Wiltshire; and was buried in the +parish church there. We shall give the character of this celebrated +poet in the words of Mr. Oldisworth:--"He had a quickness of +apprehension and vivacity of understanding, which easily took in, and +surmounted, the most knotty parts of mathematics and metaphysics. +His wit was prompt and flowing, yet solid and piercing; his taste +delicate, his head clear, and his manner of expressing his thoughts +perspicuous, and engaging; an eager, but generous, emulation grew +up in him, which push'd him upon striving to excel in every art and +science, that could make him a credit to his college: and it was his +happiness to have several cotemporaries, and fellow students, who +exercised and excited this virtue in themselves and others: his +judgment naturally good, soon ripened into an exquisite fineness, and +distinguishing sagacity, which as it was active and busy, so it +was vigorous and manly, keeping even pace with a rich and strong +imagination, always on the wing, and never tired with aspiring; there +are many of his first essays in oratory, in epigram, elegy and epic, +still handed about the university in manuscript, which shew a masterly +hand, and though maimed and injured by frequent transcribing, make +their way into our most celebrated miscellanies, where they mine with +uncommon lustre. As his parts were extraordinary, so he well knew how +to improve them; and not only to polish the diamond, but enchase it in +the most solid and durable metal. + +"Though he was an academic the greatest part of his life, yet he +contracted no sourness of temper, no tincture of pedantry, no itch of +disputation, or obstinate contention for the old, or new philosophy, +no assuming way of dictating to others, which are faults which some +are insensibly led into, who are constrained to dwell within the walls +of a private college." Thus far Mr. Oldisworth, who has drawn the +character of his deceased friend, with a laudable fondness. Mr. Smith, +no doubt, possessed the highest genius for poetry; but it is certain +he had mixed but too little in life. His language, however luxuriously +poetical, yet is far from being proper for the drama, and there is +too much of the poet in every speech he puts in the mouths of his +characters, which produces an uniformity, that nothing could teach him +to avoid, but a more general knowledge of real life and characters. +It is acknowledged that Mr. Smith was much inclined to intemperance, +though Mr. Oldisworth has glossed it over with the hand of a friend; +nor is it improbable, that this disposition sunk him in that vis +inertiae, which has been the bane of many of the brightest geniuses of +the world. Mr. Smith was, upon the whole, a good natured man, a great +poet, a finished scholar, and a discerning critic. + + +[Footnote A: See the Life and Character of Mr. Smith, by Mr. +Oldisworth, prefixed to his Phaedra and Hippolitus, edit. 1719.] + +[Footnote B: Oldisworth, ubi supra.] + + * * * * * + + + + +DANIEL DE FOE, + + +This gentleman acquired a very considerable name by his political and +poetical works; his early attachment to the revolution interest, and +the extraordinary zeal and ability with which he defended it. He +was bred, says Mr. Jacob, a Hosier, which profession he forsook, as +unworthy of him, and became one of the most enterprizing authors +this, or any other age, ever produced. The work by which he is most +distinguished, as a poet, is his True Born Englishman, a Satire, +occasioned by a poem entitled Foreigners, written by John Tutchin, +esq;[A]. This gentleman (Tutchin) was of the Monmouth faction, in the +reign of King Charles II. and when that unhappy prince made an attempt +upon his uncle's crown, Mr. Tutchin wrote a political piece in his +favour, for which, says Jacob, he was so severely handled by Judge +Jeffries, and his sentence was so very uncommon, and so rigorously +executed, that he petitioned King James to be hanged. + +Soon after the revolution, the people, who are restless in their +inclinations, and loath that, to-day, for which they would yesterday +have sacrificed their lives, began to be uneasy at the partiality +their new King discovered to his countrymen. The popular discontent +rose to such a heighth, that King William was obliged to dismiss +his Dutch guards, and though he died in possession of the crown of +England, yet it proved to him a crown of thorns, and he spent fewer +peaceful moments in his regal station, than before his head was +envisioned with an uneasy diadem. De Foe, who seems to have had a +very true notion of civil liberty, engaged the enemies of the new +government, and levelled the force of his satire against those, who +valued themselves for being true-born Englishmen. He exposes the +fallacy of that prepossession, by laying open the sources from whence +the English have sprung. 'Normans, Saxons, and Danes, says he, were +our forefathers; we are a mixed people; we have no genuine origin; and +why should not our neighbours be as good as we to derive from? and I +must add[B], that had we been an unmixed nation, I am of opinion, +it had been to our disadvantage: for to go no farther, we have three +nations about us clear from mixture of blood, as any in the world, and +I know not which of them we could wish ourselves to be like; I mean +the Scotch, Welsh, and Irish, and if I were to write a reverse to the +satire, I would examine all the nations of Europe, and prove, that +these nations which are the most mixed, are the best, and have least +of barbarism and brutality amongst them.' Mr. De Foe begins his satire +with the following lines, + + Wherever God erects a house of pray'r, + The devil always builds a chapel there: + And 'twill be found upon examination, + The latter has the largest congregation. + +After passing a general censure on the surrounding nations, Italy, +Germany, France, &c. he then takes a view of England, which he charges +with the black crime of ingratitude. He enumerates the several nations +from whence we are derived, Gauls, Saxons, Danes, Irish, Scots, &c. +and says, + + From this amphibious ill-born mob began + _That vain ill-natur'd thing,_ an Englishman. + +This satire, written in a rough unpolished manner, without art, or +regular plan, contains some very bold and masculine strokes against +the ridiculous vanity of valuing ourselves upon descent and pedigree. +In the conclusion he has the following strong, and we fear too just, +observation. + + Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate, + And see their offspring thus degenerate; + How we contend for birth, and names unknown, + And build on their past actions, not our own; + They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface, + And openly disown the vile degenerate race: + For fame of families is all a cheat, + 'Tis pers'nal virtue only makes us great. + +The next satire of any consequence which De Foe wrote, was entitled +Reformation of Manners, in which some private characters are severely +attacked. It is chiefly aimed at some persons, who being vested with +authority to suppress vice, yet rendered themselves a disgrace to +their country, encouraging wickedness by that very authority they have +to suppress it. + +Poetry was far from being the talent of De Foe. He wrote with more +perspicuity and strength in prose, and he seems to have understood, as +well as any man, the civil constitution of the kingdom, which indeed +was his chief study. + +In the first volume of his works there is a prose essay, which he +entitles The Original Power of the Collective Body of the People of +England, Examined and Asserted; this was intended to refute a very +ridiculous opinion, which politicians, more zealous than wise, had +industriously propagated, viz. 'That the representatives of the +people, i.e. the House of Commons had a right to enact whatever laws, +and enter into whatever measures they please, without any dependence +on, or even consulting the opinion of, their constituents; and that +the collective body of the people have no right to call them to an +account, or to take any cognizance of their conduct.' In answer to +which Mr. De Foe very sensibly observes, 'that it is possible for even +a House of Commons to be in the wrong. They may be misled by factions +and parties, and it is as ridiculous to suppose them infallible; as +to suppose the Pope of Rome, or the Popish conclave infallible, which +have more than once determined against one another. It is possible +(says he) for them to be bribed by pensions and places, and by either +of those extremes to betray their trust, and abuse the people who +entrust them; and if the people should have no redress in such a +case, then would the nation be in hazard of being ruined by their own +representatives. And it is a wonder to find it asserted in a certain +treatise, _That it is not to be supposed, that ever the House of +Commons can injure the people who entrust them._ There can be no +better way to demonstrate the possibility of a thing, than by proving +that it has been already; and we need go no further back than to the +reign of King Charles II. in which we have seen lists of 180 members, +who received private pensions from the court; and if any body should +ask whether that parliament preserved the ballance of power in the +three branches of our constitution, in the due distribution some have +mentioned? I am not afraid to answer in the negative. And why, even +to this day, are gentlemen so fond of spending their estates to sit +in the House, that ten thousand pounds have been spent at a time to be +chosen, and now that way of procuring elections is at an end, private +briberies, and clandestine contrivances are made use of to get into +the House? No man would give a groat to sit, where he cannot get +a groat himself for sitting, unless there were either parties to +gratify, profits to be made, or interest to support. In this case +it is plain a people may be ruined by their representatives, and the +first law of nature, self-preservation, give the people a right to +resent public encroachments upon their valuable liberties.' + +In the same volume is a tract entitled The Shortest Way with the +Dissenters, which contained reflexions against some ecclesiastics +in power, for breathing too much a spirit of perfection. He became +obnoxious to the ministry on this account, and was obliged to justify +himself by writing an explanation of it. Mr. De Foe in his preface to +the second volume of his works, collected by himself, takes occasion +to mention the severe hardships he laboured under, occasioned by +those Printers, more industrious than himself, who make a practice of +pirating every work attended with success. As an instance of this kind +of oppression, he mentions the True Born Englishman, by which, had he +enjoyed the full profit of his own labours, he must have gained near a +thousand pounds; for besides nine editions which passed under his own +inspection, this poem was twelve times pirated: but the insolence +of those fraudulent dealers did not stop here. A Printer of a bad +reputation collected a spurious and erroneous copy of several pieces +of De Foe, and entitled them The Works of the Author of the True Born +Englishman; and though he was then embroiled with the government for +one of the pamphlets which this collection contained, yet had this man +the impudence to print amongst them the same pamphlets, presuming so +far upon the partiality of the public resentment, that he should pass +with impunity for publishing that very thing for which the author +was to be prosecuted with the utmost severity. This, however, was an +irresistible testimony, that the resentment shewn to the author was on +some other, and less justifiable account, than the publication of that +book; so was it a severe satire on the unwariness of the ministry, +who had not eyes to discern their justice plainly exposed, and their +general proceedings bantered by a Printer, for publishing in defiance +of them that same book for which another man stood arraigned. + +Mr. De Foe, who possessed a resolute temper, and a most confirmed +fortitude of mind, was never awed by the threats of power, nor +deterred from speaking truth by the insolence of the great. Wherever +he found vice he lashed it, and frequently, as Pope says, he + + Dash'd the proud gam'ster from his gilded car, + Bar'd the mean breast that lurk'd beneath a star. + +For some vigorous attacks against the measures of a prevailing +party, which Mr. De Foe reckoned unconstitutional and unjust, he +was prosecuted, and received sentence to stand on the pillory; which +punishment he underwent. + +At the very time he was in the hands of the ministry, to shew the +invincible force of his mind, he wrote a Hymn to the Pillory, as a +kind of defiance of their power. 'The reader (says he)[C] is desired +to observe this poem was the author's declaration, even when in the +cruel hands of a merciless, as well as unjust ministry; that the +treatment he had from them was unjust, exorbitant, and consequently +illegal.' As the ministry did not think proper to prosecute him for +this fresh insult against them, that forbearance was construed a +confession of guilt in their former proceedings. + + * * * * * + +In the second volume of our author's works, is a piece entitled More +Reformation, a satire upon himself. We have already taken notice of +a satire of his called Reformation of Manners, in which some personal +characters are stigmatized, which drew much odium on Mr. De Foe. This +satire called More Reformation, is a kind of supplement to the former. +In the preface he complains of the severe usage he had met with, but, +says he, 'that the world may discern that I am not one of those who +practice what they reprove, I began this satire with owning in myself +those sins and misfortunes which I am no more exempted from, than +other men; and as I am far from pretending to be free from human +frailties, but forwarder to confess any of the errors of my life, +than any man can be to accuse me; I think myself in a better way to +reformation, than those who excuse their own faults by reckoning up +mine. + +'Some that have heard me complain of this hard usage, have told me, +there is something of a retaliation of providence in it, for my being +so very free with the character's of other men in a late satire called +The Reformation of Manners. To this I answer, first, in that satire, +or any other I ever wrote, I have always carefully avoided lashing any +man's private infirmities, as being too sensible of my own, but if +I have singled out any man by character, it has either been such, as +intending to reform others, and execute the laws against vice, +have been the greatest examples, and encouragers of it in their own +practice; or such as have been entrusted with the executive power of +justice, and having been called upon by the laws to reform us, have +been a public reproach to the magistracy of this nation, and ought to +be punished by the laws they have been protected by. + +'Secondly, I have never made any man's disasters, or misfortunes, the +subject of my satire. I never reproached any man for having his house +burnt, ships cast away, or his family ruined. I never lampooned a man +because he could not pay his debts, or for his being a cuckold. + +'Thirdly, I never reproached any man for his opinion in religion, or +esteemed him the worse for differing in judgment from me. + +'If therefore the scandalous treatment I have received is just on +me, for abusing others, I must ask such, who is the man? Where is the +character I have given that is not just? and where is the retaliation +of providence, that these men entitle themselves to in loading me with +falsities and lies, as a just punishment for my speaking truth. + +'But p-x on him, said a certain sober gentleman, he is a Whig, and +what need he have meddled with his own party, could not he have left +them out, there were characters enough on the other side? + +'Why really I must own, I know no Whig or Tory in vice; the vicious +and the virtuous are the only two parties I have to do with; if a +vicious, lewd, debauched magistrate happened to be a Whig, what then? +let him mend his manners, and he may be a Whig still, and if not, the +rest ought to be ashamed of him.' + +We have been induced to make this extract, as it seems to mew the +genius and spirit of the author in a more advantageous light, than we +could have otherwise done. Though he was a resolute asserter of Whig +principles, and a champion for the cause of liberty, yet was he never +blinded by party prejudice, but could discern designing, and selfish +men, and strip them of their disguises, though, joined with him in the +same political contests. + +In the conclusion of the Hymn to the Pillory, which is written with +great strength of expression, he assigns the reasons for his being +doomed to that ignominy. + + Thou Bugbear of the law stand up and speak, + Thy long misconstru'd silence break, + Tell us, who 'tis upon thy ridge stands there, + So full of fault, and yet so void of fear; + And from the paper in his hat. + Let all mankind be told for what. + + Tell them it was because he was too bold, + And told those truths which should not ha' been told. + Extol the justice of the land + Who punish what they will not understand; + Tell them that he stands there + For speaking what we would not hear; + And yet he might ha' been secure, + Had he said less, or would he ha' said more. + Tell them that it was his reward, + And worse is yet for him prepar'd, + Because his foolish virtue was so nice + As not to tell his friends, according to his friends advice. + + And thus he's an example made, + To make men of their honesty afraid, + That from the time to come they may + More willingly their friends betray, + Tell them the ministers that plac'd him here, + Are scandal to the times, + Are at a loss to find his guilt, + And can't commit his crimes. + +There are in the same volume many other poetical pieces, and +political, and polemical tracts, the greatest part of which are +written with great force of thought, though in an unpolished irregular +stile. The natural abilities of the author (for he was no scholar) +seem to have been very high. He had a great knowledge of men and +things, particularly what related to the government, and trade of +these kingdoms. He wrote many pamphlets on both, which were generally +well received, though his name was never prefixed. His imagination was +fertile, strong, and lively, as may be collected from his many works +of fancy, particularly his Robinson Crusoe, which was written in so +natural a manner, and with so many probable incidents, that, for some +time after its publication, it was judged by most people to be a +true story. It was indeed written upon a model entirely new, and +the success and esteem it met with, may be ascertained by the many +editions it has sold, and the sums of money which have been gained +by it. Nor was he lest remarkable in his writings of a serious and +religious turn, witness his Religious Courtship, and his Family +Instructor; both of which strongly inculcate the worship of God, the +relative duties of husbands, wives, parents, and children, not in +a dry dogmatic manner, but in a kind of dramatic way, which excites +curiosity, keeps the attention awake, and is extremely interesting, +and pathetic. + +We have already seen, that in his political capacity he was a declared +enemy to popery, and a bold defender of revolution principles. He was +held in much esteem by many great men, and though he never enjoyed any +regular pod under the government, yet he was frequently employed in +matters of trust and confidence, particularly in Scotland, where he +several times was sent on affairs of great importance, especially +those relative to the union of the kingdoms, of which he was one of +the negotiators. + +It is impossible to arrive at the knowledge of half the tracts and +pamphlets which were written by this laborious man, as his name is +not prefixed, and many of them being temporary, have perished like all +other productions of that kind, when the subjects upon which they were +written are forgot. His principal performances, perhaps, are these, + +A Plan of Commerce, an esteemed Work, in one large vol. 8vo. of which +a new edition was lately published. + +Memoirs of the Plague, published in 1665. + +Religious Courtship. + +Family Instructor. Two Volumes. + +History of Apparitions (under the name of Moreton.) + +Robinson Crusoe. Two Volumes. + +Political History of the Devil. + +History of Magic. + +Caledonia, a Poem in praise of Scotland. + +De Jure Divino, a Poem. + +English Tradesman, &c. + +History of Colonel Jack. + +Cleveland's Memoirs, &c. are also said to be his. Considered as a +poet, Daniel De Foe is not so eminent, as in a political light: he +has taken no pains in verification; his ideas are masculine, his +expressions coarse, and his numbers generally rough. He seems rather +to have studied to speak truth, by probing wounds to the bottom, than, +by embellishing his verification, to give it a more elegant keenness. +This, however, seems to have proceeded more from carelessness in that +particular, than want of ability: for the following lines in his True +Born Englishman, in which he makes Britannia rehearse the praises +of her hero, King William, are harmoniously beautiful, and elegantly +polished. + + BRITANNIA. + + + The fame of virtue 'tis for which I found, + And heroes with immortal triumphs crown'd. + Fame built on solid virtue swifter flies, + Than morning light can spread my eastern skies. + The gath'ring air returns the doubling sound, + And long repeating thunders force it round: + Ecchoes return from caverns of the deep; + Old Chaos dreamt on't in eternal sleep, + Time helps it forward to its latest urn, + From whence it never, never shall return; + Nothing is heard so far, or lasts so long; + 'Tis heard by ev'ry ear, and spoke by ev'ry tongue. + + My hero, with the sails of honour furl'd, + Rises like the great genius of the world. + By fate, and fame, wisely prepared to be + The soul of war, and life of victory. + He spreads the wings of virtue on the throne, + And every wind of glory fans them on. + Immortal trophies dwell upon his brow, + Fresh as the garlands he has won but now. + +What provocation De Foe had given to Pope we cannot determine, but +he has not escaped the lash of that gentleman's pen. Mr. Pope in his +second book of his Dunciad thus speaks of him; + + Earless on high flood unabash'd De Foe, + And Tutchin flagrant from the scourge below. + +It may be remarked that he has joined him with Tutchin, a man, whom +judge Jeffries had ordered to be so inhumanly whipt through the +market-towns, that, as we have already observed, he petitioned the +King to be hanged. This severity soured his temper, and after the +deposition and death of King James, he indulged his resentment in +insulting his memory. This may be the reason why Pope has stigmatized +him, and perhaps no better a one can be given for his attacking De +Foe, whom the author of the Notes to the Dunciad owns to have been a +man of parts. De Foe can never, with any propriety, be ranked amongst +the dunces; for whoever reads his works with candour and impartiality, +must be convinced that he was a man of the strongest natural powers, a +lively imagination, and solid judgment, which, joined with an unshaken +probity in his moral conduit, and an invincible integrity in his +political sphere, ought not only to screen him from the petulant +attacks of satire, but transmit his name with some degree of applause +to posterity. + +De Foe, who enjoyed always a competence, and was seldom subject to the +necessities of the poets, died at his house at Islington, in the +year 1731. He left behind him one son and one daughter. The latter +is married to Mr. Henry Baker, a gentleman well known in the +philosophical world. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob, vol. ii. p. 309.] + +[Footnote B: See Preface to the True Born Englishman.] + +[Footnote C: See Preface to vol. ii.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mrs. ELIZABETH ROWE, + + +This lady was born at Ilchester in Somersetshire September 11, 1674, +being the eldest of three daughters of Mr. Walter Singer, a gentleman +of good family, and Mrs. Elizabeth Portnel, both persons of great +worth and piety. Her father was not a native of Ilchester, nor an +inhabitant, before his imprisonment there for non-conformity in +the reign of King Charles II. Mrs. Portnel, from a principle of +tenderness, visited those who suffered on that account, and by this +accident an acquaintance Commenced, which terminated in the nuptial +union. They who were acquainted with the lady, who is the subject +of this article, in her early, years, perhaps observed an uncommon +display of genius as prophetic of that bright day which afterwards +ensued. + +There is so great a similitude between painting and poetry, that it is +no ways surprising, a person, who possessed the latter of these graces +in so high a degree, should very easily discover an inclination to the +former, which has often the same admirers. Accordingly we find Mrs. +Rowe discover a taste for painting; she attempted to carry her taste +into execution, when she had hardly steadiness of hand sufficient to +guide the pencil. Her father perceiving her fondness for this art, was +at the expence of a matter to instruct her in it; and she never failed +to make it an amusement 'till her death. Every one acquainted with her +writings, and capable of relishing the melifluent flow of her numbers, +will naturally suppose, that she had a genius for music, particularly +that of a grave and solemn kind, as it was best suited to the grandeur +of her sentiments, and the sublimity of her devotion. But her most +prevailing propension was to poetry. This superior grace was indeed +the most favourite employment of her youth, and in her the most +distinguished excellence. So powerful was her genius in this way, that +her prose hath all the charms of verse without the fetters; the same +fire and elevation; the same richness of imagery, bold figures, and +flowing diction. + +It appears by a life of Mrs. Rowe, prefixed to the first volume of +her miscellaneous works, that in the year 1696, the 22d of her age, +a Collection of her Poems on various Occasions was published at the +desire of two of her friends, which we suppose did not contain all she +had by her, since the ingenious author of the preface, Mrs. Elizabeth +Johnson, gives the reader room to hope, that Mrs. Rowe might, in a +little while, be prevailed upon to oblige the world with a second +part, no way inferior to the former. + +Mrs. Rowe's Paraphrase on the 38th Chapter of Job was written at the +request of bishop Kenn, which gained her a great reputation. She +had no other tutor for the French and Italian languages, than the +honourable Mr. Thynne, son to the lord viscount Weymouth, and father +to the right honourable the countess of Hertford, who willingly took +the talk upon himself, and had the pleasure to see his fair scholar +improve so fast by his lessons, that in a few months she was able to +read Tasso's Jerusalem with ease. Her shining merit, with the charms +of her person and conversation, had procured her many admirers: among +others, the celebrated Mr. Prior made his addresses to her; so +that allowing for the double licence of the poet and the lover, the +concluding lines in his Answer to Mrs. Singer's Pastoral on Love and +Friendship, were not without foundation in truth; but Mr. Thomas Rowe, +a very ingenious and learned gentleman, was the person destined to +fill the arms of this amiable poetess. + +As this gentleman was a poet of no inconsiderable rank, a man of +learning and genius, we shall here give some account of him, in place +of assigning him a particular Article, as the incidents of his life +will be more naturally blended with that of his wife.----He was born +at London, April the 25th, 1687, the eldest son of the revd. Mr. Rowe: +who with a very accurate judgment, and a considerable stock of useful +learning, joined the talents in preaching and a most lively and +engaging manner in conversation. He was of a genteel descent, both +on his father's and mother's side; but he thought too justly to value +himself on such extrinsic circumstances. His superior genius, and +insatiable thirst after knowledge were conspicuous in his earliest +years. He commenced his acquaintance with the Classics at Epsom, while +his father resided there, and by the swift advances in this part of +learning, quickly became the delight of his master, who treated him +with very particular indulgence, in spight of the natural ruggedness +and severity of his temper. + +When his father removed to London, he accompanied him, and was placed +under the famous Dr. Walker, master of the Charter-House-School. His +exercises here never failed of being distinguished even among those +who had the approbation of that excellent master, who would fain have +persuaded his father to place him at one of our English universities; +but how honourably soever Mr. Rowe might think of the learning of +those noble feats of the Muses, yet not having the same advantageous +notions of their political principles, he chose to enter him in a +private academy in London, and some time before his death sent him to +Leyden: Here he studied Jeuriel's Antiquities, civil law, the Belles +Lettres, and experimental philosophy; and established a reputation +for capacity, application, and an obliging deportment, both among +the professors and students. He returned from that celebrated seat of +literature, with a great accession of knowledge, entirely incorrupt in +his morals, which he had preferred as inviolate, as he could have done +under the most vigilant eye, though left without any restraints but +those of his own virtue and prudence. + +The love of liberty had always been one of Mr. Rowe's darling +passions. He was very much confirmed therein, by his familiar +acquaintance with the history and noble authors of Greece and Rome, +whose very spirit was transferred into him: By residing so long at +a Republic, he had continual examples of the inestimable value of +freedom, as the parent of industry, and the universal source of social +happiness. Tyranny of every kind he sincerely detested; but most of +all ecclesiastical tyranny, deeming the slavery of the mind the most +abject and ignominious, and in its consequences more pernicious than +any other. + +He was a perfect matter of the Greek, Latin and French languages; and, +which is seldom known to happen, had at once such a prodigious memory, +and unexhaustible fund of wit, as would have singly been admired, and +much more united. These qualities, with an easy fluency of speech, a +frankness, and benevolence of disposition, and a communicative temper, +made his company much sollicited by all who knew him. He animated the +conversation, and instructed his companions by the acuteness of his +observations. + +He had formed a design to compile the lives of all the illustrious +persons of antiquity, omitted by Plutarch; and for this purpose +read the antient historians with great care. This design he in part +executed. Eight lives were published since his decease, in octavo, by +way of Supplement to that admired Biographer; in which though so young +a guide, he strikes out a way like one well acquainted with the dark +and intricate paths of antiquity. The stile is perfectly easy, yet +concise, and nervous: The reflections just, and such as might be +expected from a lover of truth and of mankind. + +Besides these Lives, he had finished for the press, the Life of +Thrasybulus, which being put into the hands of Sir Richard Steele, for +his revisal, was unhappily lost, and could never since be recovered. + +The famous Mr. Dacier, having translated Plutarch's Lives into French, +with Remarks Historical and Critical, the Abbe Bellenger added in 1734 +a ninth tome to the other eight, consisting of the Life of Hannibal, +and Mr. Rowe's Lives made French by that learned Abbe: In the Preface +to which version, he transcribes from, the Preface to the English +edition, the character of the author with visible approbation; and +observes, that the Lives were written with taste; though being a +posthumous work, the author had not put his last hand to it. + +Such is the character of Mr. Rowe, the husband of this amiable lady; +and when so accomplished a pair meet in conjugal bonds, what great +expectations may not be formed upon them! A friend of Mr. Rowe's upon +that occasion wrote the following beautiful Epigram, + + No more proud Gallia, bid the world revere + Thy learned pair, Le Fevre and Dacier: + Britain may boast, this happy day unites, + Two nobler minds, in Hymen's sacred rites. + What these have sung, while all th' inspiring nine, + Exalt the beauties of the verse divine, + Those (humble critics of th' immortal strain,) + Shall bound their fame to comment and explain. + +Mr. Rowe being at Bath, in the year 1709, was introduced into the +company of Miss Singer, who lived in a retirement not far from the +city. The idea he had conceived of her from report and her writings, +charmed him; but when he had seen and conversed with her, he felt +another kind of impression, and the esteem of her accomplishments was +heightened into the rapture of a lover. During the courtship, he wrote +a poetical Epistle to a friend, who was a neighbour of Mrs. Singer, +and acquainted with the family, in which were the following lines. + + Youth's liveliest bloom, a never-fading grace, + And more than beauty sparkles in her face. + How soon the willing heart, her empire feels? + Each look, each air, each melting action kills: + Yet the bright form creates no loose desires; + At once she gives and purifies our fires, + And passions chaste, as her own soul inspires. + Her soul, heav'n's noblest workmanship design'd, + To bless the ruined age, and succour lost mankind, + To prop abandon'd virtue's sinking cause, + And snatch from vice its undeserv'd applause. + +He married her in the year 1710, and Mrs. Rowe's exalted merit, and +amiable qualities, could not fail to inspire the most generous and +lading passion. Mr. Rowe knew how to value that treasure of wit, +softness and virtue, with which heaven had blessed him; and made it +his study to repay the felicity with which she crowned his life. The +esteem and tenderness he had for her is inexpressible, and possession +seems never to have abated the fondness and admiration of the lover; +a circumstance which seldom happens, but to those who are capable +of enjoying mental intercourse, and have a relish for the ideal +transports, as well as those of a less elevated nature. It was some +considerable time after his marriage, that he wrote to her a very +tender Ode, under the name of Delia, full of the warmed sentiments +of connubial friendship and affection. The following lines in it may +appear remarkable, as it pleased Heaven to dispose events, in a manner +so agreeable to the wishes expressed in them, + + ----So long may thy inspiring page, + And bright example bless the rising age; + Long in thy charming prison mayst thou stay, + Late, very late, ascend the well-known way, + And add new glories to the realms of day! + At least Heav'n will not sure, this prayer deny! + Short be my life's uncertain date, + And earlier long than thine, the destin'd hour of fate! + When e'er it comes, may'st thou be by, + Support my sinking frame, and teach me how to die; + Banish desponding nature's gloom, + Make me to hope a gentle doom, + And fix me all on joys to come. + With swimming eyes I'll gaze upon thy charms, + And clasp thee dying in my fainting arms; + Then gently leaning on thy breast; + Sink in soft slumbers to eternal rest. + The ghastly form shall have a pleasing air, + And all things smile, while Heav'n and thou art there. + +This part of the Ode which we have quoted, contains the most tender +breathings of affection, and has as much delicacy and softness in +it, as we remember ever to have seen in poetry. As Mr. Rowe had not a +robust constitution, so an intense application to study, beyond what +the delicacy of his frame could bear, might contribute to that ill +state of health which allayed the happiness of his married life, +during the greater part of it. In the latter end of the year 1714, his +weakness increased, and he seemed to labour under all the symptoms of +a consumption; which distemper, after it had confined him some months, +put a period to his most valuable life, at Hampstead, in 1715, when +he was but in the 28th year of his age. The exquisite grief and +affliction, which his amiable wife felt for the loss of so excellent a +husband, is not to be expressed. + +She wrote a beautiful Elegy on his death, and continued to the last +moments of her life, to express the highest veneration and affection +for his memory, and a particular regard and esteem for his relations. +This Elegy of Mrs. Rowe, on the death of her much lamented husband, we +shall here insert. + + An ELEGY, &c. + + + In what soft language shall my thoughts get free, + My dear Alexis, when I talk of thee? + Ye Muses, Graces, all ye gentle train, + Of weeping loves, O suit the pensive train! + But why should I implore your moving art? + 'Tis but to speak the dictates of my heart; + And all that knew the charming youth will join, + Their friendly sighs, and pious tears to mine; + For all that knew his merit, must confess, + In grief for him, there can be no excess. + His soul was form'd to act each glorious part + Of life, unstained with vanity, or art, + No thought within his gen'rous mind had birth, + But what he might have own'd to Heav'n and Earth. + Practis'd by him, each virtue grew more bright, + And shone with more than its own native light. + Whatever noble warmth could recommend + The just, the active, and the constant friend, + Was all his own----But Oh! a dearer name, + And softer ties my endless sorrow claim. + Lost in despair, distracted, and forlorn, + The lover I, and tender husband mourn. + Whate'er to such superior worth was due, + Whate'er excess the fondest passion knew; + I felt for thee, dear youth; my joy, my care, + My pray'rs themselves were thine, and only where + Thou waft concern'd, my virtue was sincere. + When e'er I begg'd for blessings on thy head, + Nothing was cold or formal that I said; + My warmest vows to Heav'n were made for thee, + And love still mingled with my piety. + O thou wast all my glory, all my pride! + Thro' life's uncertain paths my constant guide; + Regardless of the world, to gain thy praise + Was all that could my just ambition raise. + Why has my heart this fond engagement known? + Or why has Heav'n dissolved the tye so soon? + Why was the charming youth so form'd to move? + Or why was all my soul so turn'd for love? + But virtue here a vain defence had made, + Where so much worth and eloquence could plead. + For he could talk----'Twas extacy to hear, + 'Twas joy! 'twas harmony to every ear. + Eternal music dwelt upon his tongue, + Soft, and transporting as the Muses song; + List'ning to him my cares were charm'd to rest, + And love, and silent rapture fill'd my breast: + Unheeded the gay moments took their flight, + And time was only measur'd by delight. + I hear the lov'd, the melting accents still, + And still the kind, the tender transport feel. + Again I see the sprightly passions rise, + And life and pleasure sparkle in his eyes. + My fancy paints him now with ev'ry grace, + But ah! the dear delusion mocks my fond embrace; + The smiling vision takes its hasty flight, + And scenes of horror swim before my sight. + Grief and despair in all their terrors rise; + A dying lover pale and gasping lies, + Each dismal circumstance appears in view, + The fatal object is for ever new. + + * * * * * + + For thee all thoughts of pleasure I forego, + For thee my tears shall never cease to flow: + For thee at once I from the world retire, + To feed in silent shades a hopeless fire. + My bosom all thy image shall retain; + The full impression there shall still remain. + As thou hast taught my constant heart to prove; + The noblest height and elegance of love; + That sacred passion I to thee confine; + My spotless faith shall be for ever thine. + +After Mr. Rowe's decease, and as soon as her affairs would permit, +our authoress indulged her inconquerable inclination to solitude, by +retiring to Froome in Somersetshire, in the neighbourhood of which +place the greatest part of her estate lay. When she forsook the town, +she determined to return no more but to spend the remainder of her +life in absolute retirement; yet upon some few occasions she thought +it her duty to violate this resolution. In compliance with the +importunate request of the honourable Mrs. Thynne, she passed some +months with her at London, after the death of her daughter the lady +Brooke, and upon the decease of Mrs. Thynne herself, she could not +dispute the commands of the countess of Hertford, who earnestly +desired her company, to soften the severe affliction of the loss of so +excellent a mother, and once or twice more, the power which this lady +had over Mrs. Rowe, drew her, with an obliging kind of violence, +to spend a few months with her in the country. Yet, even on these +occasions she never quitted her retreat without sincere regret, and +always returned to it, as soon as she could with decency disengage +herself from the importunity of her noble friends. It was in this +recess that she composed the most celebrated of her works, in twenty +Letters from the Dead to the Living; the design of which is to impress +the notion of the soul's immortality, without which all virtue and +religion, with their temporal and eternal good conferences must fall +to the ground. + + * * * * * + +Some who pretend to have no scruples about the being of a God, have +yet doubts about their own eternal existence, though many authors have +established it, both by christian and moral proofs, beyond reasonable +contradiction. But since no means should be left untried, in a point +of such awful importance, a virtuous endeavour to make the mind +familiar with the thoughts of immortality, and contract as it were +unawares, an habitual persuasion of it, by writings built on that +foundation, and addressed to the affections, and imagination, cannot +be thought improper, either as a doctrine or amusement: Amusement, for +which the world makes so large a demand, and which generally speaking +is nothing but an art of forgetting that immortality, the form, +belief, and advantageous contemplation, of which this higher amusement +would recommend. + +In the year 1736, the importunity of some of Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance +who had seen the History of Joseph in MS. prevailed on her to print +it. The publication of this piece did not long precede the time of her +death, to prepare for which had been the great business of her life; +and it stole upon her according to her earnest wishes, in her +beloved recess. She was favoured with a very uncommon strength of +constitution, and had pass'd a long series of years with scarce any +indisposition, severe enough to confine her to bed.----But about half +a year before her decease, she was attacked with a distemper, which +seemed to herself as well as others, attended with danger. Tho' this +disorder found her mind not quite so serene and prepared to meet death +as usual; yet when by devout contemplation, she had fortified herself +against that fear and diffidence, from which the most exalted piety +does not always secure us in such an awful hour, she experienced such +divine satisfaction and transport, that she said with tears of joy, +she knew not that she ever felt the like in all her life, and she +repeated on this occasion Pope's beautiful soliloquy of the dying +Christian to his soul. + + An ELEGY, &c. + The dying CHRISTIAN to his Soul. + + + I. + + Vital spark of heav'nly flame! + Quit, oh quit this mortal frame; + Trembling, hoping, lingr'ing, flying; + Oh the pain, the bliss of dying! + Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, + And let me languish into life. + II. + + Hark! they whisper; Angels say, + Sister spirit, come away! + What is this absorbs me quite, + Steals my senses, shuts my sight, + Drowns my spirits, draws my breath? + Tell me, my soul, can this be death? + + III. + + The world recedes; it disappears! + Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears + With sounds seraphic ring; + Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! + O grave! where is thy victory? + O death! where is thy sting? + +She repeated the above, with an air of intense pleasure. She felt all +the elevated sentiments of pious extasy and triumph, which breath in +that exquisite piece of sacred poetry. After this threatening illness +she recovered her usual good state of health; and though at the time +of her decease she was pretty far advanced in years, yet her exact +temperance, and the calmness of her mind, undisturbed with uneasy +cares, and turbulent passions, encouraged her friends to hope a much +longer enjoyment of so valuable a life, than it pleased heaven to +allow them. On the day when she was seized with that distemper, which +in a few hours proved mortal, she seemed to those about her to be +in perfect health and vigour. In the evening about eight o'clock +she converted with a friend, with her usual vivacity, mixed with an +extraordinary chearfulness, and then retired to her chamber. About 10 +her servant hearing some noise in her mistress's room, ran instantly +into it, and found her fallen off the chair on the floor, speechless, +and in the agonies of death. She had the immediate assistance of a +physician and surgeon, but all the means used were without success, +and having given one groan she expired a few minutes before two +o'clock, on Sunday morning, February the 20th, 1736-7: Her disease was +judged to be an apoplexy. A pious book was found lying open by her, as +also some loose papers, on which she had written the following devout +ejaculations, + + O guide, and council, and protect my soul from sin! + O speak! and let me know thy heav'nly will. + Speak evidently to my list'ning soul! + O fill my soul with love, and light of peace, + And whisper heav'nly comfort to my soul! + O speak celestial spirit in the strain + Of love, and heav'nly pleasure to my soul. + +In her cabinet were found letters to several of her friends, which she +had ordered to be delivered to the persons to whom they were directed +immediately after her decease. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe lived in friendship with people of the first fashion and +distinction in life, by whom she was esteemed and respected. To +enumerate them would be needless; let it suffice to remark, that her +life was honoured with the intimacy, and her death lamented with the +tears, of the countess of Hertford. Many verses were published to +celebrate her memory, amongst which a copy written by Mrs. Elizabeth +Carter are the best. + + * * * * * + +Thus lived honoured, and died lamented, this excellent poetess, whose +beauty, though not her highest excellence, yet greatly contributed to +set off her other more important graces to advantage; and whose piety +will ever shine as a bright example to posterity, and teach them how +to heighten the natural gifts of understanding, by true and unaffected +devotion.----The conduct and behaviour of Mrs. Rowe might put some +of the present race of females to the blush, who rake the town for +infamous adventures to amuse the public. Their works will soon be +forgotten, and their memories when dead, will not be deemed exceeding +precious; but the works of Mrs. Rowe can never perish, while exalted +piety and genuine goodness have any existence in the world. Her memory +will be ever honoured, and her name dear to latest posterity. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe's Miscellaneous Works were published a few years ago at +London, in octavo, and her Devotions were revised and published by the +reverend Dr. Watts, under the title of Devout Exercises, to which +that worthy man wrote a preface; and while he removes some cavils that +wantonness and sensuality might make to the stile and manner of these +Devotions, he shews that they contain the most sublime sentiments, +the most refined breathings of the soul, and the most elevated and +coelestial piety. + + * * * * * + +Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance with persons of fashion had taught her all +the accomplishments of good-breeding, and elegance of behaviour, and +without formality or affectation she practised in the most distant +solitude, all the address and politeness of a court. + +She had the happiest command over her passions, and maintained a +constant calmness of temper, and sweetness of disposition, that could +not be ruffled by adverse accidents. She was in the utmost degree +an enemy to ill-natured satire and detraction; she was as much +unacquainted with envy, as if it had been impossible for so base +a passion to enter into the human mind. She had few equals in +conversation; her wit was lively, and she expressed her thoughts in +the most beautiful and flowing eloquence. + +When she entered into the married state, the highest esteem and most +tender affection appeared in her conduct to Mr. Rowe, and by the most +gentle and obliging manner, and the exercise of every social and +good natured virtue, she confirmed the empire she had gained over +his heart. In short, if the most cultivated understanding, if an +imagination lively and extensive, a character perfectly moral, and a +soul formed for the most exalted exercises of devotion, can render a +person amiable, Mrs. Rowe has a just claim to that epithet, as well as +to the admiration of the lovers of poetry and elegant composition. + + * * * * * + + + + +The Revd. Dr. THOMAS YALDEN. + + +This Gentleman was born in the city of Exeter, and the youngest of +six sons of Mr. John Yalden of Sussex. He received his education at +a Grammar-school, belonging to Magdalen-College in Oxford. [A]In the +year 1690 he was admitted a commoner of Magdalen-Hall, under Mr. John +Fallen, who was esteemed an excellent tutor, and a very great +master of logic, and the following year he was chosen scholar of +Magdalen-College. Here he became a fellow-pupil with the celebrated +Mr. Addison and Dr. Henry Sacheverel, and early contracted a +particular friendship with those two gentlemen. This academical +affection Mr. Addison preserved not only abroad in his travels, but +also on his advancement to considerable employments at home, and kept +the same easy and free correspondence to the very last, as when their +fortunes were more on a level. This preservation of affection is +rendered more singular, by Mr. Yalden's having espoused a very +opposite interest to that of Mr. Addison, for he adhered to the +High-Church party, and was suspected of an attachment to an exiled +family, for which he afterwards was brought into very great trouble. + +In the year 1700 he was admitted actual and perpetual fellow of +Magdalen-College, and qualified himself the next year, by taking +orders, as the founder's statutes require. After his admission he +received two public marks of favour from that society: The first was +a presentation to a living in Warwickshire, consistent with his +fellowship; and the other, his being elected moral philosophy-reader, +an office for life, endowed with a handsome stipend and peculiar +privileges. + + * * * * * + +In 1706 he was received into the family of his noble and kind patron +the duke of Beaufort; with whom he was in very great favour, having in +many instances experienced his bounty and generosity. In the following +year he compleated his academical degrees, by commencing doctor in +divinity: He presented to the society their founder's picture in +full length, which now hangs up in the public-hall; and afterwards +he delivered in to the president a voluntary resignation of his +fellowship, and moral philosophy-lecture. He was afterwards preferred +to be rector of Chalten in Cleanville, two adjoining towns and +rectories in Hampshire. He was elected by the president and governors +of Bridewell, preacher of that hospital, upon the resignation of Dr. +Atterbury, afterwards lord bishop of Rochester. + + * * * * * + +Having mentioned this prelate, it will be proper here to observe, that +upon a suspicion of Dr. Yalden's being concerned with him in a plot +to restore the exiled family; and for which the bishop was afterwards +banished, he was seized upon by authority, and committed to prison. +When he was examined before the council, concerning his correspondence +and intimacy with Mr. Kelley the bishop's secretary; he did not deny +his knowledge of, and correspondence with, him, but still persisted +in averting, that no measures contrary to the constitution were ever +canvassed between them. There was found in his pocket book, a copy of +verses reflecting on the reigning family, and which might well bear +the construction of a libel; but when he was charged with them, he +denied that he ever composed such verses, or that the hand-writing was +his own, and asserted his innocence in every circumstance relating to +the plot. The verses in all probability were put into his pocket-book, +by the same person, who with so much dexterity placed a treasonable +paper in bishop Atterbury's close-stool, and then pretending to be the +discoverer of it, preferred it against his lordship, as an evidence of +his disaffection. The particulars of that memorable tryal are recorded +in the Life of Atterbury, written by the authors of Biographia +Britannica.--The heats raised by Atterbury's tryal subsiding, those +who were suspected of being concerned with him, as no evidence +appeared strong enough to convict them, were released. + +Dr. Yalden was still favoured with the patronage of the generous duke +of Beaufort, and his residence in that noble family recommended him +to the acquaintance of many of the first quality and character in the +kingdom, and as he was of a chearful temper, and of a pleasing and +instructive conversation, he retained their friendship and esteem till +his death, which happened the 16th of July, 1736, in the 66th year of +his age. + +His poetical works are chiefly these. + +On the Conquest of Namure; A Pindaric Ode, inscribed to his most +sacred and victorious majesty, folio 1695. + +The Temple of Fame; a Poem to the memory of the most illustrious +Prince, William Duke of Gloucester, folio 1700. On the late Queen's +Accession to the Throne, a Poem. + +AEsop at Court, or State Fables. + +An Essay on the Character on Sir Willoughby Ashton, a Poem. Fol. 1704. + +On the Mines of Sir Carbery Price, a Poem; occasioned by the +Mine-adventure Company. + +On the Death of Mr. John Partridge, Professor in Leather, and +Astrologer. + +Advice to a Lover. + +To Mr. Watson, on his Ephemeris on the Caelestial Motions, presented to +Queen Anne. + +Against Immoderate Grief. + +The Force of Jealousy. + +An Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, 1693, set to music by Dr. Purcel. + +A Hymn to the Morning in Praise of Light. + + * * * * * + +We shall extract the following stanza from this Hymn, as a specimen of +his poetry. + + Parent of day! whose beauteous beams of light + Spring from the darksome womb of night, + And midst their native horrors mow + Like gems adorning of the negro's brow. + Not Heaven's fair bow can equal thee, + In all its gawdy drapery: + Thou first essay of light, and pledge of day! + Rival of shade! eternal spring! still gay! + From thy bright unexhausted womb + The beauteous race of days and seasons come. + Thy beauty ages cannot wrong, + But 'spite of time, thou'rt ever young. + Thou art alone Heav'n's modest virgin light. + Whose face a veil of blushes hide from human sight. + At thy approach, nature erects her head; + The smiling universe is glad; + The drowsy earth and seas awake + And from thy beams new life and vigour take. + When thy more chearful rays appear, + Ev'n guilt and women cease to fear; + Horror, despair, and all the sons of night + Retire before thy beams, and take their hasty flight. + Thou risest in the fragrant east, + Like the fair Phoenix from her balmy nest; + But yet thy fading glories soon decay, + Thine's but a momentary stay; + Too soon thou'rt ravish'd from our fight, + Borne down the stream of day, and overwhelm'd with night. + Thy beams to thy own ruin haste, + They're fram'd too exquisite to last: + Thine is a glorious, but a short-liv'd state: + Pity so fair a birth should yield so soon to fate; + +Besides these pieces, this reverend gentleman has translated the +second book of Ovid's Art of Love, with several other occasional poems +and translations published in the third and fourth volumes of Tonson's +Miscellanies. + +The Medicine, a Tale in the second Volume of the Tatlers, and Mr. +Partridge's Appeal to the Learned World, or a Further Account of the +Manner of his Death, in Prose, are likewise written by him. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. JOSEPH MITCHEL, + + +This gentleman was the son of a Stone-cutter in Scotland, and was +born about the year 1684. He received an university education while +he remained in that kingdom, and having some views of improving his +fortune, repaired to the metropolis. We are not able to recover many +particulars concerning this poet, who was never sufficiently eminent +to excite much curiosity concerning him. By a dissipated imprudent +behaviour he rendered those, who were more intimately acquainted with +him, less sollicitous to preserve the circumstances of his life, which +were so little to his advantage. We find him enjoying the favour of +the earl of Stair, and Sir Robert Walpole, to whom he addresses some +of his poems. He received so many obligations from the latter, and was +so warm in his interest, that he obtained the epithet of Sir Robert +Walpole's Poet, and for a great part of his life had an entire +dependence on the bounty of that munificent statesman. Mr. Mitchel, +who was a slave to his pleasures, and governed by every gust of +irregular appetite, had many opportunities of experiencing the +dangerous folly of extravagance, and the many uneasy moments which it +occasions. Notwithstanding this, his conduct was never corrected, +even when the means of doing it were in his power. At a time when Mr. +Mitchel laboured under severe necessities, by the death of his wife's +uncle several thousand pounds devolved to him, of which he had no +sooner got possession, than he planned schemes of spending it, in +place of discharging the many debts he had contracted. This behaviour, +as it conveyed to his creditors no high idea of his honesty, so it +obliged him to be perpetually skulking, and must consequently have +embittered even those hours which he falsly dedidicated to pleasure; +for they who live under a perpetual dread of losing their liberty, can +enjoy no great comfort even in their most careless moments. + + +Of the many poems which Mr. Mitchel wrote, but few succeeded to any +degree, nor indeed much deserved it. At a time when the politicians +were engaged in settling the Land-Tax, and various opinions were +offered concerning the ability of that branch of the commonwealth, +so that a proper medium or standard might be fixed; he versified +the Totness Address, much about the time of his present Majesty's +accession to the throne; in which it is humourously proposed, that the +landed interest should pay twenty shillings in the pound. This poem +having a reference to a fashionable topic of conversation, was better +received than most of his other pieces. + + +There was likewise a poem of Mr. Mitchel's, called The Shoe-heel, +which was much read on account of the low humour it contains. He has +addressed to Dr. Watts a poem on the subject of Jonah in the Whale's +Belly. In the dedication he observes, 'That it was written for the +advancement of true virtue and reformation of manners; to raise an +emulation amongst our young poets to attempt divine composures, and +help to wipe off the censures which the numerous labours of the muses +are justly charged with. If (says he) it shall serve any of these +purposes, I shall be satisfied, though I gain no reputation by it +among those who read a new poem with no other view, than to pass a +judgment on the abilities of the author.' When the antagonists of Pope +were threatened with the publication of the Dunciad, Mr. Mitchel had +some suspicion that he himself was to be stigmatized in it: conscious +that he had never offended Mr. Pope, he took an opportunity to write +to him upon that subject. He informed him, that he had been an admirer +of his writings; that he declined all connexion with those men, who +combined to reduce his reputation, and that when no offence was given, +no resentment should be discovered. Mr. Pope, upon receiving this +letter from Mitchel, protesting his innocence as to any calumny +published against him, was so equitable as to strike him out of his +Dunciad, in which, by misrepresentation he had assigned him a place. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Mitchel lived in good correspondence with many of the most eminent +wits of the time, and was particularly honoured with the friendship of +Aaron Hill, esq; a gentleman of so amiable a disposition, that whoever +cultivated an intimacy with him, was sure to be a gainer. Once, +when Mr. Mitchel was in distress, Mr. Hill, who could not perhaps +conveniently relieve him by pecuniary assistance, gave him a higher +instance of friendship, than could be shewn by money. He wrote a +beautiful dramatic piece in two acts, called The Fatal Extravagant, in +which he exposed the hideous vice of gaming. This little dramatic +work is planned with such exquisite art, wrought up with so much +tenderness, and the scenes are so natural, interesting and moving, +that I know not if Mr. Hill has any where touched the passions with +so great a mastery. This play met the success it deserved, and +contributed to relieve Mr. Mitchel's necessities, who had honour +enough, however, to undeceive the world, and acknowledge his +obligations to Mr. Hill, by making mankind acquainted with the real +author of The Fatal Extravagant. As this was a favour never to be +forgotten, so we find Mr. Mitchel taking every proper occasion to +express his gratitude, and celebrate his patron. Amongst the first of +his poems, is An Ode, addressed to Mr. Hill, which is one of the best +of his compositions. The two last stanza's are as follow, + + Heedless of custom, and the vulgar breath, + I toil for glory in a path untrod, + Or where but few have dared to combat death, + And few unstaggering carry virtue's load. + Thy muse, O Hill, of living names, + My first respect, and chief attendance claims. + Sublimely fir'd, thou look'st disdainful down + On trifling subjects, and a vile renown. + In ev'ry verse, in ev'ry thought of thine, + There's heav'nly rapture and design. + Who can thy god-like Gideon view[A], + And not thy muse pursue, + Or wish, at least, such miracles to do? + + Sure in thy breast the ancient Hebrew fire + Reviv'd, glows hot, and blazes forth, + How strong, how fierce the flames aspire! + Of thy interior worth, + When burning worlds thou sett'st before our eyes[B], + And draw'st tremendous judgment from the flues! + O bear me on thy seraph wing, + And teach my weak obsequious muse to sing. + To thee I owe the little art I boast; + Thy heat first melted my co-genial frost. + Preserve the sparks thy breath did fan, + And by thy likeness form me into true poetic man. + +Mr. Mitchel died in the year 1738. He seems to have been a poet of the +third rate; he has seldom reached the sublime; his humour, in which he +more succeeded, is not strong enough to last; his verification holds a +state of mediocrity; he possessed but little invention, and if he was +not a bad rhimester, he cannot be denominated a fine poet, for there +are but few marks of genius in his writings. His poems were printed in +two vol. 8vo. in the year 1729. + +He wrote also, The Union of the Clans; or the Highland-Fair. A Scot's +Opera. 'Twas acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, about the year +1730; but did not succeed. + + +[Footnote A: An epic poem by Aaron Hill, esq;] + +[Footnote B: See The Judgment, a poem by Aaron Hill, esq;] + + * * * * * + + + + +Mr. John Ozell, + + +This gentleman added considerably to the republic of letters by his +numerous translations. He received the rudiments of his education from +Mr. Shaw, an excellent grammarian, master of the free school at Ashby +De la Zouch in Leicestershire: he finished his grammatical learning +under the revd. Mr. Mountford of Christ's Hospital, where having +attained the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues, he was designed to be +sent to the university of Cambridge, to be trained up for holy Orders. +But Mr. Ozell, who was averse to that confinement which he must expect +in a college life, chose to be sooner settled in the world, and be +placed in a public office of accounts, having previously qualified +himself by attaining a knowledge of arithmetic, and writing the +necessary hands. This choice of an occupation in our author, could no +other reasons be adduced, are sufficient to denominate him a little +tinctured with dulness, for no man of genius ever yet made choice of +spending his life behind a desk in a compting-house. + +He still retained, however, an inclination to erudition, contrary +to what might have been expected, and by much conversation with +travellers from abroad, made himself matter of most of the living +languages, especially the French, Italian, and Spanish, from all +which, as well as from the Latin and Greek, he has favoured the world +with a great[A] many translations, amongst which are the following +French plays; + +1. Britannicus and Alexander the Great, Two Tragedies from Racine. + +2. The Litigant, a Comedy of 3 Acts; Mandated from the French of M. +Racine, who took it from the Wasps of Aristophanes, 8vo. 1715. Scene +in a city of Lower Normandy. + +3. Manlius Capitolinus, a Tragedy from the French of M. La Fosse, +1715. When the earl of Portland was ambassador at the French court, +this play was acted at Paris threescore nights running; the subject is +related by Livy. This French author studied some time at Oxford, and, +upon his return home, applied himself to dramatic poetry, in which he +acquired great reputation. He died about the year 1713. + +4. The Cid, a Tragedy from Corneille. + +5. Cato of Utica, a Tragedy from M. Des Champs; acted at the Theatre +in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1716, dedicated to Count Volkra his Excellency +the Imperial Ambassador: to which is added a Parallel between this +Play and Mr. Addison's Cato. + +Besides these, Mr. Ozell has translated all Moliere's plays, which are +printed in 6 vol. 12mo. and likewise a collection of some of the best +Spanish and Italian plays, from Calderon, Aretin, Ricci, and Lopez de +Vega. Whether any of these plays, translated from the Spanish, were +ever printed, we cannot be positive. Mr. Ozell's translation of +Moliere is far from being excellent, for Moliere was an author to +whom none, but a genius like himself, could well do justice. His other +works are + +The History of Don Quixote, translated by several hands, published by +Peter Motteux; revised and compared with the best edition, printed at +Madrid, by Mr. Ozell, 5th edition, 1725. + +Reflexions on Learning, by M. de Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, made +English from the Paris Edition 12mo. 1718. + +Common Prayer not Common Sense, in several Places of the Portugueze, +Spanish, Italian, French, Latin, and Greek Translations of the English +Liturgy; Being a Specimen of the Manifold Omissions, &c. in all, or +most of the said Translations, some of which were printed at Oxford, +and the rest at Cambridge, or London, 1722. + +Vertot's Revolutions of Rome, translated by Mr. Ozell. + +Logic, or the Art of Thinking; from the French of M. Nicole, 1723. + +Mr. Ozell finished a Translation from the Portugueze, begun by Dr. +Geddes, of the most celebrated, popish, ecclesiastical Romance; being +the Life of Veronica of Milan, a book certified by the heads of +the university of Conimbra in Portugal, to be revised by the Angels, +and approved of by God. + + * * * * * + +These are the works of Mr. Ozell, who, if he did not possess any +genius, has not yet lived in, vain, for he has rendered into English +some very useful pieces, and if his translations are not elegant; they +are generally pretty just, and true to their original. + +Mr. Ozell is severely touched by Mr. Pope in the first book of the +Dunciad, on what account we cannot determine; perhaps that satyrist +has only introduced him to grace the train of his Dunces. Ozell was +incensed to the last degree by this usage, and in a paper called The +Weekly Medley, September 1729, he published the following strange +Advertisement[B]. 'As to my learning, this envious wretch knew, and +every body knows, that the whole bench of bishops, not long ago, were +pleased to give me a purse of guineas for discovering the erroneous +translations of the Common Prayer in Portugueze, Spanish, French, +Italian, &c. As for my genius, let Mr. Cleland shew better verses in +all Pope's works, than Ozell's version of Boileau's Lutrin, which the +late lord Hallifax was so well pleased with, that he complimented +him with leave to dedicate it to him, &c. &c. Let him shew better +and truer poetry in The Rape of the Lock, than in Ozell's Rape of the +Bucket, which, because an ingenious author happened to mention in the +same breath with Pope's, viz. + +'Let Ozell sing the Bucket, Pope the Lock, + +'the little gentleman had like to have run mad; and Mr. Toland and Mr. +Gildon publicly declared Ozell's Translation of Homer to be, as it was +prior, so likewise superior, to Pope's.----Surely, surely, every man +is free to deserve well of his country!' + +John Ozell. + + +This author died about the middle of October 1743, and was buried in +a vault of a church belonging to St. Mary Aldermanbury. He never +experienced any of the vicissitudes of fortune, which have been so +frequently the portion of his inspired brethren, for a person born in +the same county with him, and who owed particular obligations to his +family, left him a competent provision: besides, he had always enjoyed +good places. He was for some years auditor-general of the city and +Bridge accounts, and, to the time of his decease, auditor of the +accounts of St. Paul's Cathedral, and St. Thomas's Hospital. Though, +in reality, Ozell was a man of very little genius, yet Mr. Coxeter +asserts, that his conversation was surprizingly pleasing, and that he +had a pretty good knowledge of men and things. He possibly possessed +a large share of good nature, which, when joined with but a tolerable +understanding, will render the person, who is blessed with it, more +amiable, than the most flashy wit, and the highest genius without it. + + +[Footnote A: Jacob.] + +[Footnote B: Notes on the Dunciad.] + + + + + +End of the Fourth Volume. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753), by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS V4 *** + +***** This file should be named 12014.txt or 12014.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/1/12014/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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