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THE

HE course of English literature was now in prose and verse. These are now all forgotten, becoming more correct, regular, and artificial, and Walsh is remembered only as the friend of descending from Dryden, as from a new fountain Dryden and Pope. He directed the youthful of English thought, expression, and harmony, but studies of Pope, invited him to his seat of Abberlosing in its progress some of the old native ley, in Worcestershire-which county Walsh repower and freedom. To be refined and critical, presented in parliament-and generally extended rather than original and inventive, was the ambi- to the young poet a degree of favour and kindness tion of our authors. The poets enjoyed a degree which was generous and never forgotten. The of worldly prosperity and importance in society great patron of poetry at this time was CHARLES that has too rarely blessed the general community MONTAGU, Earl of Halifax (1661-1715), who first of authors. Some filled high diplomatic and distinguished himself by some verses on the death other official situations, or were engaged in of Charles II. and by joining with Prior in a schemes of politics and ambition. The reigns of burlesque poem, The City Mouse and the Country Queen Anne and George I. have been designated Mouse, written in ridicule of Dryden's Hind and the Augustan age of English literature, but except- Panther. Becoming a member of the House of ing in the amount of patronage extended to Commons, Montagu evinced a knowledge of public authors, this eulogy has not been confirmed by affairs and talents for business which soon raised later generations. The writings preceding the him to honours and emoluments. He filled some Restoration and those of our own times are more of the highest offices of the state; in 1700 he was original, more imaginative, and at the same time created Baron Halifax, and on the accession of more natural. The poetry of this period, exquisite George I. he was made Earl of Halifax, Knight of as much of it is in the works of Prior and Pope, the Garter, and first commissioner of the Treasury. possesses none of the lyrical grandeur and enthu- Halifax was, as Pope says, 'fed with soft dedisiasm which redeem so many errors in the elder cation all day long.' Steele, Congreve, Rowe, poets. Where excellence is attained, it is seldom Tickell, and numerous other authors, dedicated in the delineation of strong passion, and never in works to the literary statesman; Swift solicited bold fertility of invention. Pope was at the head his patronage, but was disappointed; Pope said of this school of artificial life and manners. He Halifax was one of the first to favour him, but the was master of higher powers; he had access to poet afterwards satirised him in the character of the haunted ground of imagination, but it was not Bufo; Addison-whom Halifax nobly patronised his favourite or ordinary walk. Others were content-inscribed to him his best poetical production, A with humbler worship, with propitiating a minister Letter from Italy. Thus Halifax continued the or a mistress, reviving the forms of classic myth-liberal patronage of literature begun in the preology, or satirising without seeking to reform the fashionable follies of the day. Several authors, however, were, each in his own line, masters. Satire, conveyed in language forcible and copious, was certainly carried to its utmost pitch of excellence by Swift. The wit of Arbuthnot is not yet eclipsed. The art of describing the manners and discussing the morals of the passing time was practised with unrivalled felicity by Steele and Addison; and with all the licentiousness of Congreve and Farquhar, it may fairly be said that English comedy was in their hands what it had never been before, and what it has scarcely in any instance but that of Sheridan subsequently

attained.

POETS.

WALSH-CHARLES MONTAGU.

Among the minor poets, contemporaries of Dryden, may be mentioned WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1708), who was popular as a critic and scholar, and author of some miscellaneous pieces

vious reign by the Earl of Dorset; and the Tory leaders, Harley and Bolingbroke, 'vied with the chiefs of the Whig party,' as Macaulay remarks, in zeal for the encouragement of letters.' This fostering influence declined under the House of Hanover; but during the period now before us, the change was little felt.

JOSEPH ADDISON.

His

JOSEPH ADDISON, the son of an English dean,
was born at Milston, Wiltshire, in 1672.
prose works constitute the chief source of his
fame; but his muse proved the architect of his
fortune, and led him first to distinction. From
his character, station, and talents, no man of his
day exercised a more extensive or beneficial influ-
ence on literature. He distinguished himself at
Oxford by his Latin poetry, and appeared first in
in his twenty-second year. It opens thus:
English verse by an address to Dryden, written

How long, great poet! shall thy sacred lays
Provoke our wonder, and transcend our praise!

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