When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell; 375 And he a god who could but read or spell : 385 In those dark times they learn'd their knack so well, At last, a knowing age began to inquire And sav'd himself as cheap as e'er he could. 400 Which each presum'd he best could understand, The common rule was made the common prey, And at the mercy of the rabble lay. The tender page with horny fists was gall'd; And every member of a company Was of his trade and of the Bible free. 410 Plain truths enough for needful use they found : The danger's much the same; on several shelves What then remains, but, waving each extreme, The tides of ignorance and pride to stem? Neither so rich a treasure to forego; Nor proudly seek beyond our power to know : 435 But since men will believe more than they need, (For no man's faith depends upon his will;) 440 445 4.50 Thus have I made my own opinions clear: Yet neither praise expect, nor censure fear: And this unpolish'd rugged verse I chose,. As fittest for discourse, and nearest prose: For while from sacred truth I do not swerve, 455 Tom Sternhold's, or Tom Shadwell's rhymes will serve. THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS: A FUNERAL PINDARIC POEM. SACRED TO THE HAPPY MEMORY OF KING CHARLES II. I. THUS long my grief has kept me dumb: But, unprovided for a sudden blow, Like Niobe we marble grow; And petrify with grief. Our British heaven was all serene, 5 1 Thus long my grief] The following just, though severe sentence, has been passed on this Threnodia, by one who was always willing, if possible, to extenuate the blemishes of our poet. Its first and obvious defect is the irregularity of its metre, to which the ears of that age, however, were accustomed. What is worse, it has neither tenderness nor dignity; it is neither magnificent nor pathetic. He seems to look round him for images which he cannot find, and what he has he distorts by endeavouring to enlarge them. He is, he says, petrified with grief, but the marble relents, and trickles in a joke. There is throughout the composition a desire of splendour without wealth. In the conclusion, he seems too much pleased with the prospect of the new reign, to have lamented his old master with much sincerity.' Dr. Johnson. Dr. J. W. No threat'ning cloud was nigh, Supine amidst our flowing store, We slept securely, and we dreamt of more : When suddenly the thunder-clap was heard, It took us unprepar'd and out of guard, Already lost before we fear'd. 10 15 The amazing news of Charles at once were spread, At once the general voice declar'd, 'Our gracious prince was dead.' No sickness known before, no slow disease, But like a hurricane on Indian seas The tempest rose; An unexpected burst of woes: With scarce a breathing space betwixt, Should sink beneath his heavenly weight, And with a mighty flaw, the flaming wall (As once it shall,) Should gape immense, and rushing down, o'erwhelm this nether ball; So swift and so surprising was our fear: 20 25 30 Out Atlas fell indeed; but Hercules was near. 35 II. His pious brother, sure the best Who ever bore that name, |