ANNUS MIRABILIS.
149
before Dryden conformed to the same religion. | to be told, that the ten concluding years of his life,
This step has been the cause of much obloquy on
one side, and has found much excuse on the other;
but if it be considered, from a view of his past life,
that, in changing his religious profession, he could
have had little difficulty to encounter, it will appear
no breach of candour to suppose that his immediate
motive was nothing more than personal interest.
The reward he obtained from his compliance was an
addition to his pension of 1001. per annum.
time after he was engaged in a work which was the
longest single piece he ever composed. This was
his elaborate controversial poem of "The Hind
and Panther." When completed, notwithstanding
its unpromising subject, and signal absurdity of
plan, such was the power of Dryden's verse, that it
was read with avidity, and bore every mark of oc-
The birth of a
cupying the public attention.
prince called forth a congratulatory poem from Dry-
den, entitled "Britannia Rediviva," in which he
ventured to use a poet's privilege of prophesy, fore-
telling a commencing era of prosperity to the nation
and the church from this auspicious event; but in
vain! for the revolution took place within a few
months, and the hopes of the party were blasted for
in which he wrote for bread, and composed at a cer-
tain rate per line, were those of many of the pieces
They were those of his translation of Juve-
which have most contributed to immortalise his
name.
nal and Persius; of that of Virgil entire, a work
which enriches the English language, and has
greatly promoted the author's fame; of his cele-
brated Alexander's Feast; and of his Fables, con-
taining some of the richest and most truly poetical
pieces which he ever composed. Of these, several
the critical essays pre-
will appear in the subsequent collection of his works.
Nor ought his prose writings to be neglected,
which, chiefly consisting
fixed to his poems, are performances of extraordi-
nary vigour and comprehension of mind, and afford,
perhaps, the best specimens of genuine English.
Some
ever.
Dryden was a severe sufferer from the change: his posts and pensions were taken away, and the poetical laurel was conferred upon his insignificant He was now, in advanced life, to rival, Shadwell. depend upon his own exertions for a security from absolute indigence. His faculties were equal to the emergency; and it will surprise some theorists
Dryden died of a spreading inflammation in one of his toes, on the first of May, 1700, and was No monument marked his grave, till a buried in Westminster Abbey, next to the tomb of Chaucer. His plain one, with his bust, was erected, at the expence of Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. He left behind him three sons, all brought up to letters. personal advances to the great, and rather heavy in own character was cold and reserved, backward in conversation. In fact, he was too much engaged in literature to devote much of his time to society. Few writers of his time delighted so much to approach the verge of prophaneness; whence it may be inferred, that though religion was an interesting topic of discussion to him, he had very little of its spirit in his heart.
THE YEAR OF WONDERS,
1666.
Is thriving arts long time had Holland grown,
Crouching at home and cruel when abroad:
Scarce leaving us the means to claim our own;
Our king they courted, and our merchants aw'd.
Trade, which like blood should circularly flow,
Stopp'd in their channels, found its freedom lost: Thither the wealth of all the world did go,
And seem'd but shipwreck'd on so base a coast.
For them alone the Heavens had kindly heat;
In eastern quarries ripening precious dew:
For them the Idumæan balm did sweat,
And in hot Ceilon spicy forests grew.
The Sun but seem'd the labourer of the year;
Each waxing Moon supply'd her watery store,
To swell those tides which from the line did bear
Their brim-full vessels to the Belgian shore.
Thus, mighty in her ships, stood Carthage long,
And swept the riches of the world from far;
Yet stoop'd to Rome, less wealthy, but more strong:
And this may prove our second Punic war.
Such deep designs of empire does he lay
O'er them, whose cause he seems to take in han And prudently would make them lords at sea,
To whom with ease he can give laws by land.
This saw our king; and long within his breast
His pensive counsels balanc'd to and fro :
He griev'd the land he freed should be oppress'e
And he less for it than usurpers do.
His generous mind the fair ideas drew
Of fame and honour, which in dangers lay ; Not to be gather'd but by birds of prey Where wealth, like fruit on precipices, grew,
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