The Poetical Works of John Dryden Volume Ii Part 2

Still it was bought, like empiric wares, or charms, Hard words seal'd up with Artistotle's arms.

Columbus was the first that shook his throne, And found a temperate in a torrid zone, 10 The feverish air fann'd by a cooling breeze, The fruitful vales set round with shady trees: And guiltless men, who danced away their time, Fresh as their groves, and happy as their clime.

Had we still paid that homage to a name, Which only G.o.d and nature justly claim, The western seas had been our utmost bound, Where poets still might dream the sun was drown'd: And all the stars that shine in southern skies, Had been admired by none but savage eyes. 20

Among the a.s.serters of free reason's claim, Our nation's not the least in worth or fame.

The world to Bacon does not only owe Its present knowledge, but its future too.

Gilbert[7] shall live, till loadstones cease to draw, Our British fleets the boundless ocean awe.

And n.o.ble Boyle, not less in nature seen, Than his great brother read in states and men.

The circling streams, once thought but pools, of blood (Whether life's fuel, or the body's food) 30 From dark oblivion Harvey's[8] name shall save; While Ent[9] keeps all the honour that he gave.

Nor are you, learned friend, the least renown'd, Whose fame, not circ.u.mscribed with English ground, Flies like the nimble journeys of the light; And is, like that, unspent too in its flight.

Whatever truths have been, by art or chance, Redeem'd from error, or from ignorance, Thin in their authors, like rich veins of ore, Your works unite, and still discover more. 40 Such is the healing virtue of your pen, To perfect cures on books, as well as men.

Nor is this work the least: you well may give To men new vigour, who make stones to live.

Through you, the Danes, their short dominion lost, A longer conquest than the Saxons boast.

Stonehenge, once thought a temple, you have found A throne, where kings, our earthly G.o.ds, were crown'd; Where by their wondering subjects they were seen, Joy'd with their stature, and their princely mien. 50 Our sovereign here above the rest might stand, And here be chose again to rule the land.

These ruins[10] shelter'd once his sacred head, When he from Worcester's fatal battle fled; Watch'd by the genius of this royal place, And mighty visions of the Danish race.

His refuge then was for a temple shown: But, he restored, 'tis now become a throne.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 6: 'Treatise of Stonehenge:' Charleton wrote a book proving, against Inigo Jones, that Stonehenge was built by the Danes.]

[Footnote 7: 'Gilbert:' Dr William Gilbert, a physician both to Queen Elizabeth and King James, and author of a treatise on the magnet.]

[Footnote 8: 'Harvey:' discoverer of the circulation of the blood.]

[Footnote 9: 'Ent:' a physician of the day.]

[Footnote 10: 'These ruins,' &c.: in the dedication of this book to Charles II. is the following pa.s.sage, which gave occasion to the last six lines of this poem:--'I have had the honour to hear from your majesty's own mouth, that you were pleased to visit this monument, and entertain yourself with the delightful view thereof, after the defeat of your army at Worcester.']

EPISTLE III.

TO THE LADY CASTLEMAIN,[11] UPON HER ENCOURAGING HIS FIRST PLAY.

As seamen, shipwreck'd on some happy sh.o.r.e, Discover wealth in lands unknown before; And, what their art had labour'd long in vain, By their misfortunes happily obtain: So my much-envied Muse, by storms long tost, Is thrown upon your hospitable coast, And finds more favour by her ill success, Than she could hope for by her happiness.

Once Cato's virtue did the G.o.ds oppose; While they the victor, he the vanquish'd chose: 10 But you have done what Cato could not do, To choose the vanquish'd, and restore him too.

Let others triumph still, and gain their cause By their deserts, or by the world's applause; Let merit crowns, and justice laurels give, But let me happy by your pity live.

True poets empty fame and praise despise; Fame is the trumpet, but your smile the prize.

You sit above, and see vain men below Contend for what you only can bestow: 20 But those great actions others do by chance, Are, like your beauty, your inheritance; So great a soul, such sweetness join'd in one, Could only spring from n.o.ble Grandison.[12]

You, like the stars, not by reflection bright, Are born to your own heaven, and your own light; Like them are good, but from a n.o.bler cause, From your own knowledge, not from nature's laws.

Your power you never use, but for defence, To guard your own, or other's innocence: 30 Your foes are such as they, not you, have made, And virtue may repel, though not invade.

Such courage did the ancient heroes show, Who, when they might prevent, would wait the blow: With such a.s.surance as they meant to say, We will o'ercome, but scorn the safest way.

What further fear of danger can there be?

Beauty, which captives all things, sets me free.

Posterity will judge by my success.

I had the Grecian poet's happiness, 40 Who, waving plots, found out a better way; Some G.o.d descended, and preserved the play.

When first the triumphs of your s.e.x were sung By those old poets, beauty was but young, And few admired the native red and white, Till poets dress'd them up to charm the sight; So beauty took on trust, and did engage For sums of praises till she came to age.

But this long-growing debt to poetry You justly, madam, have discharged to me, 50 When your applause and favour did infuse New life to my condemn'd and dying Muse.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 11: 'Lady Castlemain' this lady was for many years a favourite mistress of Charles II., and was afterwards created d.u.c.h.ess of Cleveland.]

[Footnote 12: 'Grandison:' her father, killed at Edgehill.]

EPISTLE IV.

TO MR LEE, ON HIS "ALEXANDER."

The blast of common censure could I fear, Before your play my name should not appear; For 'twill be thought, and with some colour too, I pay the bribe I first received from you; That mutual vouchers for our fame we stand, And play the game into each other's hand; And as cheap pen'orths to ourselves afford, As Bessus[13] and the brothers of the sword.

Such libels private men may well endure, When states and kings themselves are not secure: 10 For ill men, conscious of their inward guilt, Think the best actions on by-ends are built.

And yet my silence had not 'scaped their spite; Then, envy had not suffer'd me to write; For, since I could not ignorance pretend, Such merit I must envy or commend.

So many candidates there stand for wit, A place at court is scarce so hard to get: In vain they crowd each other at the door; For even reversions are all begg'd before: 20 Desert, how known soe'er, is long delay'd; And then, too, fools and knaves are better paid.

Yet, as some actions bear so great a name, That courts themselves are just, for fear of shame; So has the mighty merit of your play Extorted praise, and forced itself away.

'Tis here as 'tis at sea; who farthest goes, Or dares the most, makes all the rest his foes.

Yet when some virtue much outgrows the rest, It shoots too fast and high to be express'd; 30 As his heroic worth struck envy dumb, Who took the Dutchman, and who cut the boom.

Such praise is yours, while you the pa.s.sions move, That 'tis no longer feign'd, 'tis real love, Where nature triumphs over wretched art; We only warm the head, but you the heart.

Always you warm; and if the rising year, As in hot regions, brings the sun too near, 'Tis but to make your fragrant spices blow, Which in our cooler climates will not grow. 40 They only think you animate your theme With too much fire, who are themselves all phlegm.

Prizes would be for lags of slowest pace, Were cripples made the judges of the race.

Despise those drones, who praise, while they accuse The too much vigour of your youthful Muse.

That humble style which they your virtue make, Is in your power; you need but stoop and take.

Your beauteous images must be allow'd By all, but some vile poets of the crowd. 50 But how should any sign-post dauber know The worth of t.i.tian or of Angelo?

Hard features every bungler can command; To draw true beauty shows a master's hand.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 13: 'Bessus:' a cowardly character in Beaumont and Fletcher's comedy of 'A King and no King.']

EPISTLE V.