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"commended it the more, that we might feem to "be above the Cenfure, &c.

DRYDEN, Ibid.

« THIS is but doing Juftice to my Country; part of which Honour will reflect on your Lordfhip; whofe Thoughts are always juft, your "Numbers harmonious, your Words chofen, your Expreffions ftrong and manly, your Verse flowing, and your Turns as happy as they are easy. If you would fet us more copies, your Example "would make all Precepts needlefs. In the mean

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time, that little you have writ is own'd, and that

particularly by the Poets (who are a Nation not "over-lavish of Praise to their Contemporaries) as a "particular Ornament of our Language: But the "sweetest Effences are always confin'd in the " smallest Glaffes."

DRYDEN, Ded. to AURENGEZEB.

How great and manly in your Lordship, is your Contempt of popular Applause; and your retir'd Virtue, which fhines only to a few; with whom you live fo cafily and freely, that you make it evident, you have a Soul which is capable of all the Tenderness of Friendship, and that you only retire yourself from thofe, who are not capable of re

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turning it. Your Kindness, where you have once plac'd it, is inviolable: And 'tis to that only I attribute my Happiness in your Love. This makes me more eafily forfake an Argument, on which I could otherwise delight to dwell: I mean your Judgment your Choice of Friends; because I have the Honour to be one. After which, I am fure you will more easily permit me to be filent, in the Care you have taken of my Fortune; which you have rescu'd, not only from the Power of others, but from my worst of Enemies, my own Modesty and Laziness. Which Favour, had it been employ'd on a more deferving Subject, had been an effect of Justice in your Nature; but as plac'd on me, is only Charity. Yet withal, 'tis conferr'd on fuch a Man, as prefers your Kindness itself, before any of its Confequences; and who values, as the greatest of your Favours, those of your Love, and of your Converfation. From this Conftancy to your Friends, I might reafonably affume, that your Refentments would be as ftrong and lafting, if they were not reftrain'd by a nobler Principle of Good Nature and Generofity. For certainly, 'tis the fame Compofition of Mind, the fame Refolution and Courage, which makes the greatest Friendships, and the greatest Enmities. To this firmness in all your Actions (tho' you are wanting in no other Ornaments of Mind and Body, yet to this) I principally afcribe the Intereft your Merits

I

have

have acquir'd you in the Royal Family. A Prince, who is conftant to himself, and steady in all his Undertakings; one with whom the Character of HoRACE will agree,

Si fractus illabatur orbis,
Impavidum ferient ruina.

Such a one cannot but place an Esteem, and repose a Confidence on him, whom no Adverfity, no Change of Courts, no Bribery of Intereft, or Cabal of Factions, or Advantages of Fortune, can remove from the folid Foundations of Honour and Fidelity.

Ille meos, primus qui me fibi junxit, amores
Abftulit, ille habeat fecum, fervetque fepulcro.

How well your Lordship will deferve that Praise, I need no Inspiration to foretel. You have already left no room for Prophecy: Your early Undertakings have been fuch, in the Service of your King and Country, when you offer'd yourself to the most dangerous Employment, that of the Sea; when you chose to abandon those Delights, to which your Youth and Fortune did invite you, to undergo the Hazards, and, which was worse, the Company of common Scamen; that you have made it evident, you will refufe no Opportunity of rendring yourself useful

ufeful to the Nation, when either your Courage or Conduct fhall be requir'd.

Bishop BURNET, Pref. to Sir T. MORE's Utopia.

OUR Language is now certainly properer and more natural than it was formerly, chiefly fince the Correction that was given by the Rehearfal: And it is to be hoped that the Effay on Poetry, which may be well match'd with the best Pieces of its kind that even AUGUSTUS's Age produced, will have a more powerful Operation; if clear Senfe, joined with home, but gentle Reproofs, can work more on our Writers, than that unmerciful expofing of 'em has

done.

ADDISON, Spectat. N° 253.

WE have three Poems in our Tongue, which are of the fame nature, and cach of them a Mafterpiece in its kind: The Effay on Tranflated Verfe, the Effay on Poetry, and the Effay on Criticism.

Ld. LANSDOWN, Effay on Unnatural Flights, &c. ROSCOMMON firft, then MULGRAVE rofe, like Light, To clear our Darknefs, and to guide our Flight: With steady Judgment, and in lofty Sounds, They gave us Patterns, and they fet us Bounds.

The

The STAGYRITE and HORACE laid afide,
Inform'd by them, we need no foreign Guide;
Who seek from Poetry a lasting Name,

May from their Leffons learn the Road to Fame.
PRIOR, Alma, Cant. 2.

Happy the Poet! bleft the Lays!

Which BUCKINGHAM has deign'd to praife.

GARTH, Difpenfary.

Now Tyber's Streams no courtly GALLUS fèe,
But fmiling Thames enjoys his NORMANBY.

POPE, Effay on Criticism.

Yet fome there were among the founder few,
Of those who lefs prefum'd, and better knew,
Who durft affert the jufter ancient Cause,

And here reftor'd Wit's Fundamental Laws.

Such was the Mufe, whofe Rules and Practice tell, Nature's chief Masterpiece is writing well.

POPE, Mifcellanies.

Mufe, 'tis enough, at length thy Labour ends:

And thou fhalt live; for BUCKINGHAM Commends.

Let

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