younger Pliny, amongst the Romans, have left us their Precedents for our fecurity: For I think I need not mention the inimitable Pindar, who stretches on thefe Pinnions out of fight and is carried upward, as it were into another World This at least my Lord I may justly plead, that if I have not perform'd fo well as I think I have, yet I have us'd my best endeavours to excel my felf. One Difadvantage I have had, which is, never to have known or feen my Lady: And to draw the Li neaments of her Mind, from the Defcription which I have receiv'd from others, is for a Painter to fet himself at work without the living Original before him. Which the more beautiful it is will be so much the more difficult for him to conceive; when he has only a Relation given him, of fuck and fuch Features by an Acquaintance or a Friend; without the Nice Touches which give the best Refemblance and make the Graces of the Picture. Every Artist is apt enough to flatter himself (and I amongst the reft) that their own ocular Obfervations, would have discover'd more Perfections, at least others, than have been deliver'd to them: Though I have receiv'd mine from the best Hands, that is from Persons who neither want a just Understanding of my Lady's Worth, nor à due Veneration for her Memory. Doctor Doane, the greatest Wit, though not the greatest Poet of our Nation, acknowledges, that he had never feen Mrs. Drury, whom he has made Immortal in his admirable Anniversaries. I have had the fame Fortune; though I have not fucceeded to the fame Genius. However, I have follow'd his Footsteps in the Defign of his Panegyrick; which was to raise an Emulation in the Living, to Copy out the Example of the Dead. And therefore it was, that I once intended to have call'd this Poem the Pattern: And though on a fecond Confideration, I chang'd the Title into the Name of that Illuftrious Perfon, yet the Defign continues, and Eleonora is fill the Pattern of Charity, Devotion, and Humility; of the best Wife, the beft Mother, and the best of Friends. " And now, my Lord, though I have endeavour'd to answer Your Commands yet I cou'd not answer it to the World, nor to my Confcience if I gave not Your Lordship my Teftimony of being the beft Husband now living: Ifay my Teftimony only: For the Praise of it, is given You by Your felf. They who defpife the Rules of Virtue both in their Practice and their Morals, will think this a very trivial Commendation. But I think it the peculiar Happiness of the Countess of Abingdon, to have been fo truly lov'd by you. while he was living, and fo gratefully honour'd, after fhe was dead. Few there are who have either had or cou'd have fuch a loss; and yet fewer who carried their Love and Conftancy beyond the Grave. The exteriours of Mourning, a decent Funeral, and black Habits, are the ufual stints of Common Husbands: and perhaps their Wives deferve no better than to be mourn'd with Hypocrifie, and forgot with eafe. But you have diftinguifh'd your felf from or dinary Lovers by a real and lafting Grief for the Deceas'd: And by endeavouring to raise for her, the moft durable Monument, which is that of Verfe. And fo it would have prov'd if the Workman had been equal to the Work; and your Choice of the Artificer, as happy as your Defign. Yet, as Phidias when he had made the Statue of Minerva, cou'd not forbear to ingrave his own Name, as Author of the Piece: fo give me leave to hope that by Subfcribing mine to this Poem, I may live by the Goddefs, and tranfmit my name to Pofterity by the Memory of Hers. 'Tis no flattery, to affure your Lordship, that he is remember'd in the prefent Age, by all who have had the Honour of her Converfation and Acquaintance: And that I have never been in any Company fince the News of her Death was first brought me, where they have not extoll'd her Virtues; and even spoken the fame things of her in Profe, which I have done in Verfe. I therefore think my felf oblig'd to thank Your Lordship for the Commiffion which you have given me: How I have acquitted my felf of it, must be Left to the Opinion of the World, in spight of any Proteftation, which I can enter against the prefent Age, as Incompetent, or corrupt Judges. For my Comfort they are but Englishmen, and as fuch, if they Think ill of me to Day, they are inconftant enough to Think well of me to Morrow. And after all, I have not much to thank my Fortune that I was born amongst them. The good of both Sexes are fo few, in England, that they ftand like Exceptions against General Rules: And though one of them has defer'd a greater Commendation, than I cou'd give ber, they have taken care. that I should not tire my Pen, with frequent exercife on the like Subjects; that Praifes, like Taxes, shou'd be appropriated; and left almost as Individual as the Perfon. They fay my Talent is Satyr; if it be fo, 'tis a fruitful Age; and there is an extraordinary Crop to gather. a fingle Hand is infufficient for fuch a Harveft: They have fown the Dragons Teeth themselves, and 'tis but just they should reap each other in Lampoons. You, my Lord, who have the Character of Honour, though 'tis not my Happiness to know You may stand afide, with the fmall Remainders of the English But Nobility, truly fuch, and unhurt your selves, behold the mad Combat. If I have pleas'd you, and some few others, I have obtain’d my end. You fee, Ihave difabled my felf like an Elected Speaker of the House; yet like him I have undertaken the Charge; and find the Burden fufficiently recompenc'd by the Honour. Be pleas'd to accept of thefe my Unworthy Labours, this Paper Monument; and let her Pious Memory, which I am fure 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 Moft Obedient Servant, John Dryden MELE RISTRAMOD RONRECARG ELEONORA: A Panegyrical Poem, Dedicated to the Memory of the late Countess of ABINGDON. S when fome Great and Gracious Mo- Soft Whispers, firft, and mournful Among the fad Attendants; then the Soon gathers Voice, and fpreads the Through Town and Country, till the dreadful blast Who, then perhaps, were offering Vows in vain, The Nation felt it, in th' extreameft Parts; For, while the liv'd; they flept in Peace by Night; M Such Multitudes fhe fed, the cloath'd, fhe nurft, That fhe, her felf, might fear her wanting first. Of her five Talents, other five fhe made; ·Heaven, that had largely giv'n, was largely pay'de: K-S |