* Or is it Fortune's work, that in your head No atoms casually together hurled 25 30 'Tis your strong genius then, which does not feel 35° Those weights would make a weaker spirit reel. Great Hercules himself could ne'er do more Than not to feel those heavens and gods he bore. Your easier Odes, which for delight were penned, 40 Of moral knowledge Poesy was queen, We're both enriched and pleased, like them that woo And still she might, had wanton wits not been, 45 Who, like ill guardians, lived themselves at large, And, not content with that, debauched their charge 50 And gives us hope, that having seen the days Your kindness great Achilles doth confess, 55 60 65 * "Rete Mirabile," is Dryden's note on the "curious net" of this line. Rete mirabile is the name given to the network of blood-vessels at the base of the brain of quadrupeds (Hooper's Medical Dictionary). Derrick has a note, which some succeeding editors have copied, explaining that this line is "a compliment to a poem of Sir Robert's, entitled Rete Mirabile." But there is no such poem of Sir Robert's. Referring to the translation of the Fourth Book of the Eneid, "Of the Loves of Dido and Æneas," in Sir R. Howard's volume. Elisa, another name of Dido. Who, dressed by Statius in too bold a look,* That wealth, which his your bounty only makes. 80 More for their dressing than their substance prized. That, since in that dark night we needs must stray, 85 But what we most admire, your verse no less Of light, you saw great Charles his morning break. 90 So skilful seamen ken the land from far, Which shows like mists to the dull passenger. To Charles your Muse first pays her dutious love, As still the ancients did begin from Jove; With Monk you end, whose name preserved shall be,|| 95 * The translation of the "Achilleis" of Statius. The accent is on the first syllable of perspective. See the Address to Sir Godfrey Kneller, 37, 39, and Elegy on Mrs. Killigrew, 115. The use of be for are which occurs twice in this poem (see line 22 is severely censured by Dryden in Ben Jonson in the part of his "Defence of the Epilogue to the Conquest of Granada," where he enumerates several of Ben Jonson's faults of grammar. "When we, whose wishes conquered thee, Thus by thy vices ruined be," is a couplet in Ben Jonson's "Catiline." Dryden says, "Be there is false English for are, though the rhyme hides it." See also line 21 of Poem to Hoddesdon. $ Annotations on Statius." Sir R. Howard's volume of poems begins with a Panegyric on Charles and ends with one on Monk. ་ "Hic situs est Rufus, pulso qui Vindice quondam This epitaph, composed by Virginius Rufus for himself, is preserved in Pliny's Letters (vi. 1o, and IX. 19). Rufus was Governor of Germany in the last year of Nero's reign A. D. 68, when Julius Vindex, proprætor of Gaul, revolted from Nero and offered the emperorship to Galba, then in Spain. Rufus was urged by his own soldiers to try to make himself emperor: he refused, and he marched against Vindex and defeated him. Then his soldiers again urged him to make himself emperor: again he refused. When Nero perished, Galba was recognised emperor by the Senate. Rufus accompanied Galba to Rome. Galba soon perished, and was succeeded by Otho, who soon committed suicide. Then again Rufus was entreated and urged by his soldiers to make himself emperor; and on his refusing again, they threatened him, and their love so turned to hate that when he was accused of taking part in a conspiracy against Vitellius, they flocked to the Emperor to demand the death of Rufus. At the age of 83 he was made Consul for the second time by the Emperor Nerva, A.D. 97. He had been Consul for the first time, thirty-four years before, with Caius Memmius, Will venture in your right to prophesy : This work, by merit first of fame secure, Is likewise happy in its geniture; For, since 'tis born when Charles ascends the throne, It shares at once his fortune and its own, 100 105 TO MY HONOURED FRIEND DR. CHARLETON, ON HIS LEARNED AND USEFUL WORKS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY THIS OF STONEHENGE, BY HIM RESTORED TO THE TRUE FOUNDERS.* Until 'twas bought, like empiric wares or charms, The feverish air fanned by a cooling breeze, 15 20 * This poem is prefixed to a work in which Dr. Charleton endeavoured to prove that Stonehenge was a work of the Danes, in opposition to Inigo Jones, who assigned its origin to the Romans. Charleton's work, which bears the date 1663 on the title-page, was probably published in the end of 1662. The dedication to the King bears date April 27, 1662, and it was licensed September 21, 1662. Its full title is "Chorea Gigantum, or the most famous antiquity of Great Britain, Stonehenge, standing on Salisbury Plain, restored to the Danes, by Walter Charleton, M.D. and Physician in Ordinary to his Majesty.” Charleton was born in 1619; he had been physician to Charles I.; he was a man of science, and author of several works; he died in 1707. Dryden's poem is here printed as it originally appeared in Dr. Charleton's work, 1663. The poem was republished in 1704, after Dryden's death, in the Fifth Part of the "Miscellany Poems," with some variations, most of which are not improvements, but which have been generally followed by subsequent editors. The poem is signed "John Driden." Until t'was in original edition changed into till it was in Derrick, followed by Scott, into still it was; which spoils the sense. Miscellany Poems," and by Among the asserters of free reason's claim, 25 The circling streams, once thought but pools, of blood 30 From dark oblivion Harvey's names shall save; And here be chose again to sway the land. These ruins sheltered once his sacred head, 35 40 45 50 ** 55 And mighty visions of the Danish race, "Our *Th English are of the original edition replaced in the "Miscellany Poems" by nation's." This change is an improvement; but it is not necessary, and there is no proof that Dryden authorized the changes in this piece which appeared when Tonson reprinted it after his death. ↑ Dr. William Gilbert, chief physician to Queen Elizabeth and James I. He was author of a treatise on the magnet, and inventor of an instrument for calculating the latitude. Robert Boyle, the famous natural philosopher, son of the Earl of Cork, "His great brother, read in states and men," was Roger, Earl of Orrery, known as Lord Broghill before the Restoration. Dryden dedicated to Lord Orrery his play of "The Rival Ladies," published in 1664, in a similar strain of high panegyric. Lord Orrery was a poet as well as a politician. § Dr. William Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood. Dr. George Ent, an eminent physician, knighted by Charles II. He was an intimate friend of Harvey, and edited Harvey's last work, entitled "Exercitatio de Generatione Animalium,” published in 1651. He also wrote a defence of Harvey's theory of circulation. ¶ Scott states that the first edition contains the words chose by instead of joyed with: but the statement appears to be a mistake. ** This line was changed, when reprinted in the "Miscellany Poems," into "When he from Worcester's fatal battle fled." TO THE LADY CASTLEMAINE, UPON HER ENCOURAGING HIS FIRST PLAY.* As seamen, shipwracked on some happy shore, And what their art had laboured long in vain So my much-envied Muse, by storms long tost, While they the victor, † he the vanquished chose : From your own knowledge, not from Nature's laws. 30 Lady Castlemaine was daughter of Viscount Grandison. She married Roger Palmer, Esq. who was created by Charles II. Earl of Castlemaine. She became Charles II's mistress immediately after the Restoration, and maintained for a long time favour and power. She was ultimately made Duchess of Cleveland. Dryden's first play, The Wild Gallant." produced in the beginning of 1663, was not successful on the stage; but it pleased the King, as Dryden inforins us in his Preface on the publication of the play, and his Majesty may have been influenced by his mistress, Lady Castlemaine, who, it appears from this poem, consoled Dryden in his failure by her encouragement. In a "Session of the Poets," in imitation of Suckling's poem, printed in the State Poems (vol. i. p. 206), Dryden is named with this poem: "Dryden, who one would have thought had more wit, The censure of every man did disdain, Pleading some pitiful rhymes he had writ This poem was reprinted by Dryden in his third volume of "Miscellany Poems," 1693. "Victrix causa Deis placuit, sed victa Catoni." X OVID, Fast. i. 525. |