The general character of his poetry is elegance and gaiety. He is never pathetick, and very rarely fublime. He feems neither to have had a mind much elevated by nature, nor amplified by learning. His thoughts are fuch as a liberal converfation and large acquaintance with life would easily supply. They had however then, perhaps, that grace of novelty, which they are now often fuppofed to want by thofe who, having already found them in later books, do not know or enquire who produced them firft. This treatment is unjust. Let not the original author lose by his imi tators. Praife however should be due before it is given. The author of Waller's Life afcribes to him the first practice, of what Erythræus and fome late critics call Alliteration, of using in the fame verfe many words beginning with the fame letter. But this knack, whatever be its value, was fo frequent among early writers, that Gascoign, a writer of the fixteenth century, warns the young poet against affecting it; Shakspeare in the Midsummer Night's Dream is fuppofed to ridicule it; and in another play the fonnet of Holofernes fully difplays it. He borrows too many of his fentiments and illustrations from the old Mythology, for which it is vain to plead the example of ancient poets: the deities which they introduced fo frequently, were confidered as realities, fo far as to be received by the imagination, whatever sober reason might even then determine. But of these images time has tarnished the fplendor. A fiction, not only detected but despised, can never afford a folid bafis to any pofition, though fometimes it may furnish a tranfient allufion, or flight illuftration. No modern modern monarch can be much exalted by hearing that, as Hercules had had his club, he has his navy. But of the praise of Waller, though much may be taken away, much will remain; for it cannot be denied that he added fomething to our elegance of diction, and fomething to our propriety of thought; and to him may be applied what Taffo faid, with equal fpirit and justice of himself and Guarini, when, having perufed the Paftor Fido, he cried out, "If he had not "read Aminta, he had not excelled it.' AS Waller profeffed himself to have learned the art of verfification from Fairfax, it has been thought proper to fubjoin a fpecimen of his work, which, after Mr. Hoole's tranflation, will perhaps not be foon reprinted. By knowing the state in which Waller found our poetry, the reader may judge how much he improved it. 1. Erminiaes fteed (this while) his miftreffe bore But her flit courfer fpared nere the more, To beare her through the defart woods unfeene Of her strong foes, that chas'd her through the plaine, 2. Like as the wearie hounds at laft retire, Yet Yet ftill the fearfull Dame fied, fwift as winds, Nor euer ftaid, nor euer lookt behinde. 3. Through thicke and thinne, all night, all day, fhe driued, Her plaints and teares with euery thought reuiued, On Jordans fandie banks her courfe fhe ftaid, 4. Her teares, her drinke; her food, her forrowings, But fleepe (that sweet repofe and quiet brings) The birds awakte her with their morning fong, The murmuring brookes and whistling windes among Of fwaines and fhepherd groomes, that dwellings weare; And that sweet noife, birds, winds, and waters fent, Prouokte againe the virgin to lament. 6.. Her plaints were interrupted with a found, Thither Thither fhe went, an old man there fhe found, Sat making baskets, his three fonnes among, 7. Beholding one in fhining armes appeare You happie folke, of heau'n beloued deare, 8. But father, fince this land, these townes and towres, In fafetie thus, applie your harmleffe toile? Is euer fafe from ftorme of warlike broile; This wilderneffee doth vs in fafetie keepe, 9. Haply iuft heau'ns defence and shield of right, By pouertie, neglected and despised. 10. O pouertie, chefe of the heau'nly brood, VOL. II. 274 II. We little wish, we need but little wealth, From cold and hunger vs to cloath and feed; These are my fonnes, their care perferues from stealth 12. Time was (for each one hath his doting time, 13. Entifed on with hope of future gaine, I fuffred long what did my foule displease; I gan my loffe of luftie yeeres complaine, 34. While |