subjects; that praises, like taxes, should be appropriated, and left almost as individual as the person. They say, my talent is satire; if it be so, it is a fruitful age, and there is an extraordinary crop to gather. But a single hand is insufficient for such a harvest. They have sown the dragon's teeth themselves, and it is but just they should reap each other in lampoons. You, my lord, who have the character of honour, though it is not my happiness to know you, may stand aside, with the small remainders of the English nobility, truly such, and unhurt yourselves, behold the mad combat. If I have pleased you and some few others, I have obtained my end. You see, I have disabled myself, like an elected Speaker of the House; yet, like him, I have undertaken the charge; and find the burden sufficiently recompensed by the honour. Be pleased to accept of these my unworthy labours, this paper monument; and let her pious memory, which I am sure is sacred to you, not only plead the pardon of my many faults, but gain me your protection, which is ambitiously sought by,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's

Most obedient servant,

JOHN DRYDEN.

* The practice of appropriating taxes to particular specifick purposes, was a novelty at this time, having commenced at the Revolution.

CHARACTER

OF

M. ST. EVREMONT.

I

Know, how nice an undertaking it is to write of a living author: yet the example of Father Bouhours has somewhat encouraged me in this attempt. Had not Monsieur St. Evremont

A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays, translated from the French of Monsieur de St. Evremont, (who was born in 1613, and died in London, where he had lived near thirty years, September 9th, 1703,) was published in 8vo. anonymously, in 1692. To this collection was prefixed A CHARACTER, which is said in the title-page to be written by a person of honour here in England," who, according to Desmaizeaux, was Dr. Knightly Chetwood; and such probably was the fact, though at that period, by "a person of honour," was generally meant either the son or brother of a nobleman; and at the end of the character we find the letters-Mr. D. Cha., which are not very easy to decipher. Dr. Chetwood, of whom I shall again have occasion to speak, was an intimate friend of Lord Roscomand of our author; and Desmaizeaux wrote so near the time (1706) that he was probably rightly informed.To this character of St. Evremont, by Dr. Chetwood, who was doubtless the translator of the pieces in this volume, Dryden added a supplement longer than the original, which is here given.

mon,

been very considerable in his own country, that famous jesuit would not have ventured to praise a person in disgrace with the government of France, and living here in banishment. Yet in his PENSEES INGENIEUSES, he has often cited our author's thoughts and his expressions, as the standard of judicious thinking, and graceful speaking: an undoubted sign that his merit was sufficiently established, when the disfavour of the court could not prevail against it. There is not only a justness in his conceptions, which is the foundation of good writing, but also a purity of language, and a beautiful turn of words, so little understood by modern writers; and which indeed was found at Rome but at the latter end of the Commonwealth, and ended with Petronius, under the monarchy. If I durst extend my judgment to particulars, I would say that our author has determined very nicely in his opinion of Epicurus; and that what he has said of his morals, is according to nature, and

reason.

It is true, that as I am a religious admirer of Virgil, I could wish that he had not discovered our father's nakedness.* But after all, we must

none of the greatest

confess that Æneas was heroes, and that Virgil was sensible of it himself. But what could he do? the Trojan on whom he was to build the Roman empire, had been already vanquished; he had lost his country, and was a

* In his Reflections on Segrais' Translation of Virgil.

fugitive. Nay more, he had fought unsuccessfully with Diomedes, and was only preserved from death by his mother goddess, who received a wound in his defence. So that Virgil, bound as he was to follow the footsteps of Homer, who had thus described him, could not reasonably have altered his character, and raised him in Italy to a much greater height of prowess than he found him formerly in Troy. Since therefore he could make no more of him in valour, he resolved not to give him that virtue, as his principal; but chose another, which was piety. It is true, this latter, in the composition of a hero, was not altogether so shining as the former; but it entitled him more to the favour of the gods, and their protection, in all his undertakings; and, which was the poet's chiefest aim, made a nearer resemblance betwixt Æneas and his patron, Augustus Cæsar, who, above all things, loved to be flattered for being pious, both to the gods and his relations. And that very piety, or gratitude, (call it which you please,) to the memory of his uncle, Julius, gave him the preference, amongst the soldiers, to Mark Antony; and consequently raised him to the empire. As for per

2

2 A Dissertation founded on this notion, may be found in the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres at Paris; in which the writer attempts to prove, that Virgil's principal object in writing the Æneid was to induce the Romans quietly to submit to him, whom hereditary claim, personal merit, and the Divine Will, pointed out for their ruler.