He spoke Dutch, French, English, and German equally well; and he understood the Latin, Spanish, and Italian; so that he was well fitted to command armies composed of several nations. He had a memory that amazed all about him, for it never failed him. He was an exact observer of men and things. His strength lay rather in a true discerning and sound judgment than in imagination or invention. His designs were always great and good; but it was thought he trusted too much to that, and that he did not descend enough to the humors of his people to make himself and his notions more acceptable to them. This, in a government that has so much of freedom in it as ours, was more necessary than he was inclined to believe. His reservedness grew on him; so that it disgusted most of those who served him. But he had observed the errors of too much talking more than those of too cold a silence. He did not like contradiction, nor to have his actions censured; but he loved to employ and favor those who had the arts of complaisance; yet he did not love flatterers. His genius lay chiefly in war, in which his courage was more admired than his conduct. Great errors were often committed by him; but his heroical courage set things right, as it inflamed those who were about him. He was too lavish of money on some occasions, both in his buildings and to his favorites; but too sparing in rewarding services, or in encouraging those who brought intelligence. He was apt to take ill impressions of people, and these stuck long with him; but he never carried them to indecent revenges. He gave too much way to his own humor almost in everything, not excepting that which related to his own health. He knew all foreign affairs well, and understood the state of every court in Europe very particularly. He instructed his own ministers himself; but he did not apply enough to affairs at home. He believed the truth of the Christian religion very firmly, and he expressed a -horror of atheism and blasphemy; and though there was much of both in his court, yet it was always denied to him and kept out of his sight.

JOHN EVELYN.

From his DIARY.

THE LAST SUNDAY OF CHARLES II.

I can never forget the inexpressible luxury, and profaneness, gaming and all dissoluteness, and, as it were, total forgetfulness of God-it being Sunday evening-which this day se'en night I was witness of the king sitting and toying with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland, and Mazarin, etc., a French boy singing love songs in that glorious gallery,

whilst about twenty of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons were at basset round a large table, a bank of at least £1000 in gold before them, upon which two gentlemen who were with me made reflections with astonishment. Six days after, all was in the dust.

SAMUEL PEPYS.

From his DIARY.

Sept. 1st, 1660.-I did send for a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I never had drank before.

Oct. 20th.-I dined with my Lord and Lady; he was very merry and did talk very high how he would have a French cooke, and a master of his horse, and his lady and child to wear black patches. *** He is become a perfect courtier. * * * This afternoon going through London, and calling at Crowe's the Upholsterer's, I saw limbs of some of our new traytors set upon Aldersgate, which was a sad sight; and a bloody week this and the last have been, there being ten hanged, drawn and quartered.

Oct. 19th, 1662 (Lord's day).-Put on my first new lace band, and so neat it is, that I am resolved my great expense shall be lace bands, and it will set off anything else the more. I am sorry to hear that the news of the selling of Dunkirke is taken so generally ill, as I find it is among the merchants.

Oct. 24th.-Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, tells me how ill things go at Court; that the king do show no countenance to any that belong to the

Queen. May 10th, 1663.-Put on a black cloth suit with white lynings under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear under the breeches.

19th.-Waked with a very high wind and said to my wife, "I pray God I hear not the death of any great person, this wind is so high!" fearing that the Queen might be dead. So up and by coach to St. James's and hear that Sir W. Compton died yesterday.

22d. This morning, hearing that the Queene grows worse again, I sent to stop the making of my velvet cloak, till I see whether she lives or dies.

March 13th, 1664.-This day my wife began to wear light-colored locks, quite white almost, which, though it makes her look very pretty, yet not being natural vexes me, that I will not let her wear them.

August 7th.-I saw several poor creatures carried by, by constables, for being at a conventicle. They go like lambs, without any resistance. I would to God they would either conform, or be more wise and not be catched.

August 31st, 1665.—It is feared that the true number of the dead this week is near ten thousand, partly from the poor that cannot be taken notice of, through the greatness of the number, and partly from the Quakers and others, that will not have any bell ring for them.

23d. In the street did overtake two women crying and carrying a man's coffin between them, I suppose the husband of one of them, which, methinks, is a sad thing.

November 20th, 1666.-To church, it being thanksgiving day for the cessation of the plague; but, Lord! how the town do say that it is hastened before the plague is quite over, there being some people still ill of it, but only to get ground of plays to be quickly acted, which the bishops would not suffer till the plague was over.

February 2d, 1667.—I am very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought home with me last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden's, upon the present war; a very good poem.

March 2d, 1667.-After dinner with my wife to the king's house to see the "Mayden Queene," a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the strain of wit; and the truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell, which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the like done again by man or woman. The King and Duke of York were at the play. But so great a performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad girle, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young gallant, and hath the motions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I confess, admire her.

December 29th, 1667.—At night comes Mrs. Turner to see us; and there, among other talk, she tells me that Mr. William Penn, who is lately come over from Ireland, is a Quaker again, or some very melancholy thing.

May 30th, 1668.-Up and put on a new summer black bombazin suit; and being come now to an agreement with my barber to keep my perriwig in good order at 20s. a year, I am like to go very spruce, more than I used to do. To the King's Playhouse, and there saw "Philaster," where it is pretty to see how I could remember almost all along ever since I was a boy, Arethusa, the part which I was to have acted at Sir Robert Cooke's; and it was very pleasant to me, but more to think what a ridiculous thing it would have been for me to have acted a beautiful

woman.

September 3d.—To my booksellers for "Hobb's Leviathan," which is now mightily called for; and what was heretofore sold for 8s., I now give 248. at the second hand, and is sold for 30s., it being a book the bishops will not let be printed again.

SYLLABUS.

The court of Charles II. in England copied the manners of the court of Louis XIV. of France.

Charles II. was succeeded by his brother James II.

James II. being a Catholic was compelled to abdicate.

The Protestant William and Mary succeeded.

The prevailing taste in literature was low.

Theatres were reopened on the accession of Charles II. (1660)—the Corrupt Drama ensued.

Shakespeare's plays ceased to please.

Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton, had had no guidance in writing but their own genius.

This age sought methods, rules.

Dryden was the founder of a correct style or a critical school in writing. Dryden in character was a type of the age.

Dryden's works, are, 1st. The Death of Cromwell; 2d. Astrea Redux on the return of Charles II.; 3d. Annus Mirabilis; 4th. Essay on Dramatic Poetry; 5th. Absalom and Achitophel; 6th. The Medal; 7th. MacFlecknoe; 8th. Religio Laici; 9th. The Hind and Panther; 10th. Ode for St. Cecilia's Day; 11th. Stories from Chaucer and Boccaccio; 12th. Transla tions, etc.

The Artificial Age of poetry begins with Dryden.

It was the Golden Age of French Literature. The three prominent French dramatists were Corneille, Racine, and Moliere.

English dramatists of the time were Dryden, Otway, Lee, Wycherly, Congreve, Vanbrugh, Farquhar, Southerne, Nicholas, Rowe, etc.

Congreve, Wycherly, and Etherege represented the "comedy of manners."

Jeremy Collier reproved the dramatists.

Inquiry was beginning to be made into Science, Religion, and Politics. The Royal Society was established.

Newton was the great light in science.

Other names in Science were Boyle, Hooke, Sydenham, Ray, Halley. In Metaphysics, John Locke.

Writers on Theology were South, Ken, Tillotson, Burnet, and William Penn.

Gilbert Burnet wrote a History of his Own Times.

Algernon Sidney's life was a contrast to that of Roger L'Estrange.

The Diaries of Evelyn and Pepys throw light on the manners of the times.

The writings of Sir Wm. Temple are bombastic.

The growth of political and religions liberty began to be noticeable.

M

POPE

CHAPTER VIII.

THE

THE AUGUSTAN AGE.

1700-1727.

HE period of literature now to be considered is usually styled the "Augustan Age," but in brilliancy of creative genius it can, in no respect, be compared with the Elizabethan period, nor with the age immediately preceding its own; and in no way did it resemble the Augustan age of Roman literature but in the patronage extended to authors, who, by the partisan spirit of their writings, kept alive the flame of animosity which was raging between the political parties.

The Revolution of 1688, which placed William and Mary on the throne, settled the British Constitution, defined the rights of the people and the prerogative of the King, and secured the Protestant Succession. At the death of William III., in 1702, Anne, the sister of Mary, succeeded to the throne. Her reign is distinguished by the military achievements of the Duke of Marlborough and the constitutional union of England and Scotland. Although since the first Stuart king of England (James I. of England and VI. of Scotland) these two countries had acknowledged but one sovereign, their laws and Parliaments were distinct. In the new ratification the Scots were to send their commoners and peers to represent them in the English Parliament. Their own Presbyterian form of church government, their laws concerning property, and the administration of justice they were to retain inviolate. With the death of Anne in 1714 the Stuart line of kings was ended. Not one of her numerous children survived her, and