то

THE RIGHT HON. JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ.

HIS MAJESTY's PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE.

I

DEAR SIR,

CANNOT wish that any of my writings fhould laft longer than the memory of our friendship and, therefore, I thus publicly bequeath them to you, in return for the many valuable inftances of your affection.

That they may come to you with as little difadvantage as poffible, I have left the care of them to one*, whom, by the experience of fome years, I know well qualified to answer my intentions. He has already the honour and happiness of being under your protection; and, as he will very much stand in need of it, I cannot wish him better, than that he may continue to deferve the favour and countenance of fuch a patron.

I have no time to lay out in forming such compliments, as would but ill fuit that familiarity between us, which was once my greatest pleasure, and will be my greatest honour hereafter. Inftead of them, accept of my hearty wishes, that the great reputation you have acquired fo early, may increafe more and more: and that you may long ferve your country with thofe excellent talents, B 2

* Mr. Tickell.

and

and unblemished integrity, which have fo powerfully recommended you to the moft gracious and amiable Monarch that ever filled a throne. May the franknefs and generofity of your fpirit continue to foften and fubdue your enemies, and gain you many friends, if poffible, as fincere as yourself. When you have found fuch, they cannot wish you more true happinefs than I, who am, with the greatest zeal,

Dear Sir,

Your most entirely affectionate friend,

and faithful obedient fervant,

June 4, 1779,

J. ADDISON

OW long, great Poet, fhall thy facted lays

tranfcend our praife?

Can neither injuries of time, or age,

Damp thy poetic heat, and quench thy rage?
Not fo thy Ovid in his exile wrote,

Grief chill'd his breast, and check'd his rifing thought
Penfive and fad, his drooping Mufe betrays
The Roman genius in its last decays.

Prevailing warmth has ftill thy mind possest,
And second youth is kindled in thy breast;
Thou mak'ft the beauties of the Romans known,
And England boafts of riches not her own;
Thy lines have heighten❜d Virgil's majesty,
And Horace wonders at himself in thee.
Thou teacheft Perfius to inform our isle
In fmoother numbers, and a clearer ftyle;
And Juvenal, instructed in thy page,
Edges his fatire, and improves his rage.
Thy copy cafts a fairer light on all,
And still out-fhines the bright original.

Now Ovid boasts th' advantage of thy fong,
And tells his ftory in the British tongue;

Thy charming verfe, and fair translations, show
How thy own laurel first began to grow:
How wild Lycaon, chang'd by angry gods,

And frighted at himself, ran howling through the woods. may'st thou still the noble task prolong,

Nor age, nor fickness, interrupt thy song :
Then may we wondering read, how human limbs
Have water'd kingdoms, and dissolv'd in streams;
Of thofe rich fruits that on the fertile mold
Turn'd yellow by degrees, and ripen'd into gold:
How fome in feathers, or a ragged hide,

Have liv'd a fecond life, and different natures try'd.
Then will thy Ovid, thus transform'd, reveal
A nobler change than he himself can tell.

Magd. College, Oxon.

June 2, 1693.

The Author's age 22.

A POEM

A PO E M

то

HIS MAJESTY *.

PRESENTED TO THE LORD REEFR.

TO

THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN SOMERS. LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL,

I

1695.

F yet your thoughts are loofe from state affairs,

Nor feel the burden of a kingdom's cares;
If yet your time and actions are your own;
Receive the prefent of a Muse unknown:
A Mufe that, in adventurous numbers, fings
The rout of armies, and the fall of Kings,
Britain advanc'd, and Europe's peace restor'd,
By Somers' counfels, and by Naffau's fword.

To you, my Lord, these daring thoughts belong
Who help'd to raise the subject of my song ;*
Το
you the hero of my verse reveals
His great designs, to you in council tells
His inmoft thoughts, determining the doom
Of towns unftorm'd, and battles yet to come.
And well could

you, in your immortal ftrains, Defcribe his conduct, and reward his pains :

B 4

*King William.

Attend