The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) - Vol. III | Page 3

against Peace at the Close Committee.
13. To the Five Members of the honourable House of Commons: The humble Petition of the Poets.
14. A Western Wonder.
15. A Second Western Wonder.
16. News from Colchester; or, a proper new Ballad, of certain carnal Passages betwixt a Quaker and a Colt, at Horsley in Essex.
17. A Song.
18. On Mr. John Fletcher's Works.
19. To Sir Richard Fanshaw, on his translation of Pastor Fido.
20. A Dialogue between Sir John Pooley, and Mr. Thomas Killegrew.
21. An occasional Imitation of a modern Author, upon a Game at Chess.
22. The Passion of Dido for ?neas.
23. Of Prudence, of Justice.
24. The Progress of Learning.
25. Cato Major of old Age, a Poem: It is taken from the Latin of Tully, though much alter'd from the original, not only by the change of the stile, but by addition and subtraction. Our author tells us, that intending to translate this piece into prose (where translation ought to be strict) finding the matter very proper for verse, he took the liberty to leave out what was only necessary, to that age and place, and to take or add what was proper to this preset age and occasion, by laying the scene clearer and in fewer words, according to the stile and ear of the times.
26. The Sophy, a Tragedy; the above pieces have been several times printed together, in one volume in 12mo. under the Title of Poems and Translations; with the Sophy, a Tragedy, written by Sir John Denham.
Besides these, Wood mentions a Panegyric on his excellency general Monk 1659, in one sheet quarto. Though Denham's name is not to it, it is generally ascribed to him. A Prologue to his majesty, at the first play represented at the Cock-pit in White-hall, being part of that noble entertainment, which their majesties received, November 19, 1660, from his grace the duke of Albemarle. A new Version of the Psalms of David. The True Presbyterian, without Disguise; or, a Character of a Presbyterian's Ways and Actions, London 1680, in half a sheet in folio. In the year 1666 there were printed by stealth, in octavo, certain Poems, intitled Directions to a Painter, in four copies or parts, each dedicated to King Charles the IId. They were very satyrically written against several persons engaged in the Dutch war, in 1661. At the end of them was a piece entitled Clarendon's Housewarming; and after that his Epitaph, both containing bitter reflexions against that earl. Sir John Denham's name is to these pieces, but they were generally thought to be written by Andrew Marvel, Esq; a Merry Droll in Charles the IId's Parliaments, but so very honest, that when a minister once called at his lodgings, to tamper with him about his vote, he found him in mean apartments up two pair of stairs, and though he was obliged to send out that very morning to borrow a guinea, yet he was not to be corrupted by the minister, but denied him his vote. The printer of these poems being discovered, he was sentenced to stand in the pillory for the same.
We have met with no authors who have given any account of the moral character of Sir John Denham, and as none have mentioned his virtues, so we find no vice imputed to him but that of gaming; to which it appears he was immoderately addicted. If we may judge from his works, he was a good-natur'd man, an easy companion, and in the day of danger and tumult, of unshaken loyalty to the suffering interest of his sovereign. His character as a poet is well known, he has the fairest testimonies in his favour, the voice of the world, and the sanction of the critics; Dryden and Pope praise him, and when these are mentioned, other authorities are superfluous.
We shall select as a specimen of Sir John Denham's Poetry, his Elegy on his much loved and admired friend Mr. Abraham Cowley.
Old mother Wit and nature gave?Shakespear, and Fletcher all they have;?In Spencer and in Johnson art,?Of slower nature, got the start.?But both in him so equal are,?None knows which bears the happiest share.?To him no author was unknown,?Yet what he wrote was all his own:?He melted not the ancient gold,?Nor, with Ben Johnson, did make bold.?To plunder all the Roman stores?Of poets and of orators.?Horace's wit, and Virgil's state,?He did not steal, but emulate;?And he would like to them appear,?Their garb, but not their cloaths did wear.?He not from Rome alone but Greece,?Like Johnson, brought the golden fleece.?And a stiff gale, (as Flaccus sings)?The Theban swan extends his wings,?When thro' th' ?thereal clouds he flies,?To the same pitch our swan doth rise:?Old Pindar's flights by him new-reach'd,?When on that gale, his wings are stretch'd.
[Footnote 1: Ath. Oxon. vol. ii.]
[Footnote 2: Wood.]
[Footnote 3: In the preface to 2d edition, 1736, 4to.]

THOMAS KILLEGREW,
A Gentleman, who was page of honour to king Charles