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DENHA M.

OF Sir JOHN DENHAM very little is

known but what is related of him by Wood, or by himself.

He was born at Dublin in 1615; the only fon of Sir John Denham, of Little Horsely in Effex, then chief baron of the Exchequer in Ireland, and of Eleanor, daughter of Sir Garret Moore baron of Mellefont.

Two years afterwards, his father, being made one of the barons of the Exchequer in England, brought him away from his native country, and educated him in London.

In 1631 he was fent to Oxford, where he was confidered "as a dreaming young man,

given more to dice and cards than study;" and therefore gave no prognosticks of his future eminence; nor was fufpected to conceal, under sluggishness and laxity, a genius born to improve the literature of his country.

When he was, three years afterwards, removed to Lincoln's Inn, he profecuted the common law with fufficient appearance of application ; yet did not lose his propenfity to cards. and dice; but was very often plundered by gamesters.

Being feverely reproved for this folly, he profeffed, and perhaps believed, himself reclaimed; and, to teftify the fincerity of his repentance, wrote and published " An Essay upon Gaming."

He feems to have divided his ftudies between law and poetry; for, in 1636, he tranflated the second book of the Eneid.

Two years after, his father died; and then, notwithstanding his refolutions and profeffions, he returned again to the vice of gaming, and loft several thousand pounds that had been left him.

In 1641, he published "The Sophy." This feems to have given him his first hold of the publick attention; for Waller remarked, "that "he broke out like the Irish rebellion three"fcore thousand strong, when nobody was

aware, or in the least fufpected it." An obfervation which could have had no propriety, had his poetical abilities been known before.

He was after that pricked for sheriff of Surrey, and made governor of Farnham Castle for the king; but he foon refigned that charge, and retreated to Oxford, where, in 1643, he published "Cooper's Hill."

This poem had fuch reputation as to excite the common artifice by which envy degrades excellence. A report was spread that the performance was not his own, but that he had bought it of a vicar for forty pounds. The fame attempt was made to rob Addifon of his Cato, and Pope of his Effay on Criticism.

In 1647, the diftreffes of the royal family required him to engage in more dangerous employments.

ployments. He was entrusted by the queen with a message to the king; and, by whatever means, fo far foftened the ferocity of Hugh Peters, that, by his interceffion, admiffion was procured. Of the king's condefcenfion he has given an account in the dedication of his works.

He was afterwards employed in carrying on the king's correfpondence; and, as he fays, discharged this office with great fafety to the royalifts and being accidentally difcovered by the adverfe party's knowledge of Mr. Cowley's hand, he happily escaped both for himself and

his friends.

He was yet engaged in a greater、undertaking. In April 1648, he conveyed James the duke of York from London into France, and delivered him there to the Queen and prince of Wales. This year he published his translation of "Cato Major.

He now refided in France, as one of the followers of the exiled king; and, to divert the melancholy of their condition, was fometimes enjoined by his master to write occasional verfes; one of which amufements was probably his ode or fong upon the Embaffy to Poland, by which he and lord Crofts procured a contribution of ten thousand pounds from the Scotch, that wandered over that kingdom. Poland was at that time very much frequented by itinerant traders, who, in a country of very little commerce and of great extent, where every man refided on his own eftate, contributed very much to the accommodation of life, by bringing to every man's house those little neceffaries which it was very inconvenient to want, and very troublesome to fetch. I have formerly

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