"He kept with princes due decorum; "Had he but spar'd his tongue and pen, And pity'd those who meant the wound; To merit well of human-kind; Nor made a sacrifice of those Who still were true, to please his foes. "In exile, with a steady heart, He spent his life's declining part, Alas, poor Dean! his only scope Was to be held a misanthrope. This into general odium drew him, Which if he lik'd, much good may't do him. His zeal was not to lash our crimes, But discontent against the times: 1 In England for the publication of "The Public Spirit of the Whigs:" in Ireland for his" Proposal for the univeral use of Irish Manufactures, &c. ;" and for the "Drapier's' fourth letter. Of the Dean's stern independence of character under these proscriptions more than one anecdote is related. See Scott's Life of Swift, pp. 296, 297. Perhaps he might have truckled down, For party he would scarce have bled:- "I hear they're of a different kind : To palliate his friend Oxford's crimes; But not one sermon, you may swear.' And friends would let him have his way. Nor can I tell what critics thought them; (6 All human race would fain be wits, 1 See Young's Satires on the Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. A sprig of bays in fifty years; And, where his genius least inclines, * * Hobbes clearly proves that every creature And strive to tear you limb from limb; While others do as much for him. The vermin only tease and pinch Their foes superior by an inch. So, naturalists observe, a flea Hath smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller still to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Thus every poet in his kind Is bit by him that comes behind : Who, though too little to be seen, Can tease, and gall, and give the spleen. 1 See the "Leviathan," chap. xiii. А Я JOSEPH ADDISON. (1672-1719.) ADDISON was the son of a clergyman, and was born in Wiltshire. His success at the University of Oxford, the friendships he had formed, and the elegance of his accomplishments, brought him early into the sphere of fortunate patronage. In reward for some complimentary verses on King William, through the interest of his friends, Somers and Montague, he obtained a pension of L.300 a-year. This enabled him to travel. His epistle from Italy to Montague (then Lord Halifax) displays great splendour of versification, and the enthusiasm of a scholar and a poet.. On the accession of Queen Anne his pension ceased, but, a year or two after, the victory of Blenheim afforded to his muse another opportunity of preferment. Halifax recommended Addison to the Lord Treasurer Godolphin, for the celebration of Marlborough's triumph. His poem, "the Campaign," was rewarded with the post of Commissioner of Appeals. He afterwards went to Ireland as Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, the Marquis of Wharton. While he was in Ireland the "Tatler" was started by his friend Steele. The publication of this periodical and its successors, the Spectator and the Guardian, stretches over the years between 1709 and 1714. Addison and Steele contributed the greater portion of the papers. The year 1713 was what Johnson calls the "grand climacteric of Addison's reputation," by the production of his tragedy of" Cato." This piece, a great part of which had been finished for several years, was reluctantly yielded to the stage by the author, in consequence of the party zeal of his Whig friends, during their exclusion from power in the latter years of Anne's reign. It was vehemently applauded by both political parties; and as vehemently abused, especially by the cynical critic John Dennis, who seemed to dog the heels of every great reputation of his time. (See Johnson's Life of Addison.) Shortly after the accession of George I., Addison gave his literary services to the new government in the conduct of a political periodical, the "Freeholder." In 1716 he married, after a long probation of courtship, the Countess Dowager of Warwick. Addison, like Dryden, was unhappy in the possession of his noble spouse. His domestic discomfort is said to have forced him in his later years into the convivial enjoyments of a tavern life, the effects of which on his constitution shortened his days. In 1717 he became Secretary of State; but from the shrinking timidity of his character, and in particular from his total want of the power of fluent oratory, he soon felt himself unfitted for the office. He retired on the plea of declining health, with a pension of L.1500 a year. He died in 1719. The interesting anecdote of his last words to his dissolute step-son Lord Warwick, is said to rest on doubtful authority. As a prose writer. Addison holds the first rank for elegance and purity of style. He and Steele may be called the fathers of our periodical literature, at least in the shape of general popular instruction. Addison may also be distinguished as the founder of popular literary criticism. As a poet he is not estimated very highly by Johnson. "His poetry," says the critic, "is polished and pure, the product of a mind too judicious to commit faults, but not sufficiently vigorous to attain excellence." Their sweetness and beauty of sentiment, however, have made several of his smaller pieces permanent portions of our literature. "Cato," as a drama, abounds in faults of plot and character; it should be read simply as a poem embodying a series of elevated and noble sentiments. Addison's Latin poetry is praised, and he indulged to a considerable extent in the taste of the age for classical translation. FROM THE LETTER FROM ITALY," ADDRESSED TO LORD HALIFAX. Wheresoe'er I turn my ravished eyes, Gay gilded scenes in shining prospect rise; O'er the warm bed of smoking sulphur glide! Sometimes, misguided by the tuneful throng, (Dumb are their fountains and their channels dry), And in the smooth description murmur still. ΗΥΜΝ.1 How are thy servants blest, oh Lord! Eternal wisdom is their guide, Their help Omnipotence. In foreign realms and lands remote, Through burning climes I passed unhurt, A thanksgiving for preservation during his continental travels. |