for a painter to fet himself at work without the

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living original before him which, the more beautiful it is, will be fo much the more difficult for him to conceive, when he has only a relation given him of fuch and fuch features by an acquaintance or a friend, without the nice touches, which give the best resemblance, and make the graces of the picture. Every artist is apt enough to flatter himself (and I amongst the rest) that their own ocular obfervations would have difcovered more perfections, at least others, than have been delivered to them: tho I have received mine from the beft hands, that is, from perfons who neither want a just understanding of my lady's worth, nor a due veneration for her memory.

Doctor Donne, the greatest wit, tho not the greatest poet of our nation, acknowleges, that he had never feen Mrs. Drury, whom he has made immortal' in his admirable Anniversaries. I have had the fame fortune, tho I have not fucceeded to the fame genius. However, I have followed

his footsteps in the defign of his panegyric; 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 called

this poem, The Pattern: and tho, on a fecond confideration, I changed the title into the name of the illuftrious perfon, yet the defign continues, and Eleonora is still the pattern of charity, devotion, and humility; of the best wife, the best mother, and the best of friends.

And now, my lord, tho I have endeavored to anfwer your commands, yet I could not answer it to the world, nor to my confcience, if I gave not your lordship my teftimony of being the best hufband now living: I fay my teftimony only; for the praise of it is given you by yourself. 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 Countefs of Abingdon, to have been fo truly loved by you, while fhe was living, and fo gratefully honored, after fhe was dead. Few there are who have either had, or could have, fuch a lofs; and yet fewer who carried their love and conftancy beyond the grave. The exteriors of mourning, a decent funeral, and black habits, are the usual stints of common huf bands and perhaps their wives deferve no better than to be mourned with hypocrify, and forgot

with cafe. But you have distinguished yourself from ordinary lovers, by a real and lasting grief for the deceased; and by endeavoring to raise for her the most durable monument, which is that of verse. And fo it would have proved, if the workman had been equal to the work, and choice of the artificer as happy as your deyour fign. Yet, as Phidias, when he had made the ftatue of Minerva, could not forbear to ingrave his own name, as author of the piece: fo give me leave to hope, that, by fubfcribing mine to this poem, I may live by the goddess, and transmit my name to pofterity by the memory of hers. 'Tis no flattery to affure your lordship, that she is remembered, in the present age, by all who have had the honor 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 verse.

I therefore think myfelf obliged to thank your lordship for the commiffion which you have given me: how I have acquitted myself of it, must be left to the opinion of the world, in spite of any proteftation which I can enter against the pre

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fent 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 fexes are fo few, in England, that they ftand like exceptions againft general rules and tho one of them has deferved a greater commendation than I could give her, they have taken care that I fhould not tire my pen with frequent exercife on the like fubjects; that praises, like taxes, should be appropriated, and left almost as individual as the perfon. They fay, my talent is fatire : if it be fo, 'tis a fruitful age, and there is an extraordinary crop to gather. But a single hand is infufficient for such a harvest: they have sown the dragons teeth themselves, and 'tis but just they should reap each other in lampoons. You, my lord, who have the character of honor, tho 'tis not my happiness to know you, may stand afide, with the fmall remainders of the English nobility, truly fuch, and, unhurt yourselves, behold the mad combat. If I have pleafed you, and fome few others, I have obtained end.

my

You fee I have difabled myself, like an elected speaker of the houfe: yet like him I have undertaken the charge, and find the burden fufficiently recompensed by the honor. Be pleased to accept of these my unworthy labors, this papermonument; and let her pious memory, which I am fure is facred to you, not only plead the pardon of my many faults, but gain me your protection, which is ambitiously fought by,

My LORD,

Your lordship's

Most obedient fervant,

JOHN DRYDEN.