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In the Davideis are fome hemiftichs, or verfes left imperfect by the author, in imitation of Virgil, whom he fuppofes not to have intended to complete them that this opinion is erroneous, may be proba-` bly concluded, because this truncation is imitated by no fubfequent Roman poet; because Virgil himself filled up one broken line in the heat of recitation;/ because in one the fenfe is now unfinished; and because all that can be done by a broken verse, a line interfected by a cafura, and a full ftop, will equally effect.

Of triplets in his Davideis he makes no ufe, and perhaps did not at firft think them allowable; but: he appears afterwards to have changed his mind, for in the verses on the government of Cromwell he inferts them liberally with great happiness.

After fo much criticifm on his Poems, the Effays which accompany them muft not be forgotten. What is faid by Sprat of his converfation, that no man could draw from it any fufpicion of his excellence in poetry, may be applied to thefe compofitions. No author ever kept his verfe and his profe, at a greater distance from each other. His thoughts are natural, and his ftyle has a fmooth and placid. equability, which has never yet obtained its due commendation. Nothing is far-fought, or hardlaboured; but all is cafy without feeblenefs, and. familiar without groffnefs.

It has been obferved by Felton, in his Effay on the Clafficks, that Cowley was beloved by every Mufe that he courted; and that he has rivalled the Ancients in every kind of poetry but tragedy.

It

may be affirmed, without any encomiaftick fervour, that he brought to his poetick labours a mind replete with learning, and that his pages are embellifhed with all the ornaments which books could fupply; that he was the first who imparted to Englifh numbers the enthusiasm of the greater ode, and the gaiety of the lefs; that he was equally qualified for fpritely fallies, and for lofty flights; that he was among those who freed tranflation from fervility, and, instead of following his author at a distance, walked by his fide; and that, if he left verfification yet improveable, he left likewife from time to time such specimens of excellence as enabled fucceeding poets to improve it.

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DENHA M.

OF Sir JOHN DENHAM very little is known but what is related of him by Wood, or by himself.

He was born at Dublin in 1615; the only fon of Sir John Denham, of Little Horfely in Effex, then chief baron of the Exchequer in Ireland, and of Eleanor, daughter of Sir Garret More, baron of Mellefont,

Two years afterwards, his father, being made one of the barons of the Exchequer in England, brought him away from his native country, and educated him in London.

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In 1631 he was fent to Oxford, where he was confidered as a dreaming young man, given more to dice and cards than ftudy;" and therefore gave no prognosticks of his future eminence; nor was fufpected to conceal, under fluggishness and laxity, a genius born to improve the literature of his country.

When he was, three years afterwards, removed to Lincoln's Inn, he profecuted the common law with fufficient appearance of application; yet did not lofe

his propenfity to cards and dice; but was very often plundered by gamefters.

Being feverely reproved for this folly, he profeffed, and perhaps believed, himself reclaimed; and, to teftify the fincerity of his repentance, wrote and published "An Effay upon Gaming."

He seems to have divided his ftudies between law and poetry; for, in 1636, he tranflated the fecond book of the Æneid.

Two years after, his father died; and then, notwithstanding his refolutions and profeffions, he returned again to the vice of gaming, and lost several thousand pounds that had been left him.

In 1642, he published "The Sophy." This feems to have given him his firft hold of the publick attention; for Waller remarked, "that he broke out "like the Irish rebellion, three-fcore thousand ftrong, "when nobody was aware, or in the least suspected "it ;" an observation which could have had no propriety, had his poetical abilities been known before.

He was after that pricked for fheriff of Surrey, and made governor of Farnham Castle for the king; but he foon refigned that charge, and retreated to Oxford, where, in 1643, he published "Cooper's "Hill."

This poem had fuch reputation as to excite the common artifice by which envy degrades excellence.

A report was spread, that the performance was not his own, but that he had bought it of a vicar for forty pounds. The fame attempt was made to rob Addifon of Cato, and Pope of his Effay on Criti cifm,

In

In 1647, the diftreffes of the royal family required him to engage in more dangerous employments. He was entrusted by the queen with a meffage to the king; and, by whatever means, fo far foftened the ferocity of Hugh Peters, that by his interceffion admiffion was procured. Of the king's condefcenfion he has given an account in the dedication of his works.

He was afterwards employed in carrying on the king's correfpondence; and, as he fays, difcharged this office with great fafety to the royalifts: and, being accidentally discovered by the adverse party's knowledge of Mr. Cowley's hand, he escaped happily both for himfelf and his friends.

He was yet engaged in a greater undertaking. In April, 1648, he conveyed James the Duke of York from London into France, and delivered him there to the queen and prince of Wales. This year he published his tranflation of Cato Major."

He now refided in France, as one of the followers of the exiled king; and, to divert the melancholy of their condition, was fometimes enjoined by his mafter to write occafional verfes; one of which amusements was probably his ode or fong upon the Embaffy to Poland, by which he and lord Crofts procured a contribution of ten thousand pounds from the Scotch, that wandered over that kingdom. Poland was at that time very much frequented by itinerant traders, who, in a country of very little commerce and of great extent, where every man refided on his own eftate, contributed very much to the accommodation of life, by bringing to every man's houfe thofe little neceffaries which it was very incon

venient

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