with ease. 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 verfe. And fo it would have proved, 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 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 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 prefent 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 same things of her in profe, which I have done in verse.

I therefore think myself 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 fpite of any proteftation which I can enter against the pre

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 against general rules and tho one of them has deferved a greater commendation than I could give her, they have taken care that I should not tire my pen with frequent exercife on the like subjects; that praises, like taxes, fhould be appropriated, and left almost as individual as the person. 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 fuch a harveft: they have fown the dragons teeth themfelves, 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 small remainders of the English nobility, truly fuch, and, unhurt yourselves, behold the mad combat. If I have pleased you, and fome few others, I have obtained my end.

You fee I have disabled myself, like an elected speaker of the house: yet like him I have undertaken the charge, and find the burden fufficiently recompenfed 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

Moft obedient fervant,

JOHN DRYDEN.

A PANEGYRICAL POEM,

Dedicated to the MEMORY of the Late

COUNTESS of ABINGDON.

A Swhen fome great and gracious monarch dies,

Soft whispers, firft, and mournful murmurs

rife

Among the fad attendants; then the found
Soon gathers voice, and spreads the news around,
Thro town and country, till the dreadful blast
Is blown to distant colonies at laft:

Who, then, perhaps, were offering vows in vain,
For his long life, and for his happy reign:
So flowly, by degrees, unwilling fame
Did matchless Eleonora's fate proclaim,
Till public as the lofs the news became.

The nation felt it in th' extremeft parts,
With eyes o'erflowing, and with bleeding hearts;
But most the poor, whom daily she supply'd,

Beginning to be fuch, but when she dy'd,

For, while the liv'd, they flept in peace by night,
Secure of bread, as of returning light;
And with such firm dependence on the day,
That need grew pamper'd, and forgot to pray:
So fure the dole, fo ready at their call,
They ftood prepar'd to see the manna fall.

Such multitudes the fed, the cloth'd, she nurft,
That she herself might fear her wanting first.
Of her five talents, other five she made;
Heaven, that had largely given, was largely paid ;
And in few lives, in wond'rous few, we find
A fortune better fitted to the mind,
Nor did her alms from oftentation fall,
Or proud defire of praise; the foul gave all:
Unbrib'd it gave; or, if a bribe appear,

No lefs than heaven; to heap huge treasures there,
Want pafs'd for merit at her open door :
Heaven saw, he safely might increase his poor,
And truft their sustenance with her fo well,
As not to be at charge of miracle.

None could be needy, whom she saw, or knew;
All in the compass of her sphere the drew:
He, who could touch her garment, was as fure,
As the first Chriftians of th' apoftles' cure.
The diftant heard, by fame, her pious deeds,
And laid her up for their extremest needs