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 eafily fupply. They had however then, perhaps, that grace of novelty, which they are now often fuppofed to want by those who, having already found them in later books, do not know or enquire who produced them firft. This treatment is unjuft. Let not the original author lofe by his imi tators. Praise 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 ufing in the fame verfe many words beginning with thie 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 dif plays it. He borrows too many of his fentiments and illuftrations 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 fober reafon might even then determine. But of thefe images time has tarnished the fplendor. A fiction, not only detected but despised, can never afford a folid basis 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 professed 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. I. 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 ftrong foes, that chas'd her through the plaine, 2. Like as the wearie hounds at last retire, Yet Yet ftill the fearfull Dame fled, fwift as winde, Nor euer ftaid, nor euer lookt behinde. 3. Through thicke and thinne, all night, all day, the driued, Her plaints and teares with euery thought reuiued, On Iordans fandie banks her courfe fhe ftaid, 4. Her teares, her drinke; her food, her forrowings, But fleepe (that fweet repofe and quiet brings) 5. The birds awakte her with their morning fong, Of fwaines and fhepherd groomes, that dwellings weare; 6. Her plaints were interrupted with a found, Thither Thither she went, an old man there fhe found, 7 Beholding one in fhining armes appeare The feelie man and his were fore difmaid; You happie folke, of heau'n beloued deare, 8. But father, fince this land, these townes and towres, This wilderneffee doth vs in fafetie keepe, 9. Haply iuft heau'ns defence and shield of right, By pouertie, neglected and defpised. 10. O pouertie, chefe of the heau'nly brood, Dearer to me than wealth or kingly crowne ! VOL. II. T No 274 No wish for honour, thirft of others good, II. We little wifh, we need but little wealth, From cold and hunger vs to cloath and feed; These are my fonnes, their care perferues from ftealth 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 difpleafe; But when my youth was spent, my hope was vaine I gan my loffe of luftie yeeres complaine, ́ 14. While |