Who on their fingers learn'd to tell the day 135 On which their father promis'd to return.

35.

Such are the proud defigns of human-kind,
And fo we fuffer fhipwreck every where!
Alas! what port can fuch a pilot find,
Who in the night of fate muft blindly fteer!

36.

141

The undiftinguifh'd feeds of good and ill, Heav'n, in his bofom, from our knowledge

hides:

And draws them in contempt of human skill, Which oft for friends mistaken foes provides.

37.

Let Munster's prelate ever be accurst,

145

In whom we seek the German faith in vain :

In vain for him th' officious wife prepares,
The fire fair-blazing and the vestment warm-
In vain his little children, peeping out
Into the mingling storm demand their fire
With tears of artlefs innocence-alas!

Nor wife, nor children, more fhall he behold;
Nor friends nor facred home.

Omnia dixiffet!

-Si fic

In point of melody Dryden had in his eye Lucretius. At jam non domus accipiet te læta, nec uxor Optima, nec dulces occurrent ofcula nati Præripere, et tacitâ pectus dulcedine tangent. The latter part of the defcription is natural and his own. JOHN WARTON. Ver. 137. Such are, &c.] From Petronius. Si bene calcu lum ponas, ubique fit naufragium. Orig. ed. Ver. 141. The undistinguish'd feeds of good and ill,] Prudens futuri temporis, exitum Caliginofa nocte premit deus.

JOHN WARTON.

Ver. 145. Let Munster's prelate, &c.] The famous Bernard

Alas! that he fhould teach the English firft, That fraud and avarice in the Church could

Happy, who never trust a stranger's will,

Whofe friendship's in his intereft understood! Since money giv'n but tempts him to be ill, 151 When pow'r is too remote to make him good.

39.

Till now, alone the mighty nations ftrove;
The rest, at gaze, without the lifts did ftand:
And threat'ning France, plac'd like a painted

Jove,

Kept idle thunder in his lifted hand.

40.

155

That eunuch guardian of rich Holland's trade, Who envies us what he wants pow'r t'enjoy; Whofe noiseful valour does no foe invade,

159

And weak affiftance will his friends deftroy.

41*.

Offended that we fought without his leave,

He takes this time his fecret hate to fhew:

Vanghalen, bishop of Munfter, excited by Charles, marched twenty thousand men into the province of Overyffell, under the dominion of the republic of Holland, where he committed great outrages, acting rather like a captain of banditti than the leader DERRICK. of an army.

Ver. 146.

the German faith] Tacitus faith of them, Nullos mortalium fide aut armis ante Germanos effe. Orig. ed. * War declared by France. Orig, ed.

Which Charles does with a mind fo calm receive, As one that neither feeks nor fhuns his foe.

42.

With France, to aid the Dutch, the Danes

unite:

165

France as their tyrant, Denmark as their

flave.

But when with one three nations join to fight, They filently confefs that one more brave.

43.

Lewis had chas'd the English from his shore; But Charles the French as fubjects does in

vite :

170

Would heaven for each fome Solomon reftore, Who, by their mercy, may decide their right!

44.

Were fubjects fo but only by their choice,
And not from birth did forc'd dominion take,
Our prince alone would have the publick voice;
And all his neighbours' realms would deferts
make.

176

Ver. 165. With France to aid] Mad. Charlotte Elizabeth of Bavaria, fays in her memoirs, that Louis XIV. afterwards attacked Holland with fo much impetuofity and injustice, merely from the jealoufy of M. de Lionne, who urged him to this meafure, againft Prince William of Furftenberg, who was in love with this minifter's wife. She adds in another place, that Louis XIV. returned fo fuddenly from his expedition against Holland, folely to have an interview with Madame De Montefpan. Dr. J. WARTON.

45.

He without fear a dangerous war pursues,

Which without rashness he began before : As honour made him firft the danger choose, So ftill he makes it good on virtue's fcore. 180

46.

The doubled charge his fubjects' love fupplies, Who, in that bounty, to themselves are kind: So glad Egyptians fee their Nilus rife,

And in his plenty their abundance find. 47*.

With equal pow'r he does two chiefs create, 185 Two fuch as each feem'd worthieft when

alone;

Each able to fustain a nation's fate,

Since both had found a greater in their own.

48.

Both great in courage, conduct, and in fame, Yet neither envious of the other's praife; 190 Their duty, faith, and int'reft too the fame, Like mighty partners equally they raise.

49.

The prince long time had courted fortune's love,
But once poffefs'd did abfolutely reign:
Thus with their Amazons the heroes ftrove, 195
And conquer'd first those beauties they would

gain.

* Prince Rupert and Duke of Albemarle, fent to fea. Orig. ed.

50.

The duke beheld, like Scipio, with disdain, That Carthage, which he ruin'd, rife once

more;

And shook aloft the fafces of the main,

To fright those slaves with what they felt be

fore.

51.

Together to the wat❜ry camp they haste,

200

Whom matrons paffing to their children fhew:

Infants' firft vows for them to heav'n are caft, And future people bless them as they go.

52.

With them no riotous pomp, nor Asian train,
T'infect a navy with their gawdy fears;
To make flow fights, and victories but vain :
But war, feverely, like itself, appears.

53.

206

Diffufive of themfelves, where'er they pass,
They make that warmth in others they expect;
Their valour works like bodies on a glass,
And does its image on their men project,

Ver. 204.

211

future people] Examina infantium futurufque populus. Plin. Jun. in Pan. ad Traj. Orig. ed.

Ver. 205. With them no riotous pomp,] Dryden follows his great mafter, Milton, in making riotous only two fyllables.— Again, in ft. 59, elephant is contracted in like manner. Other examples of this kind occur.

Todd.