replete with learning, and that his pages are embellished with all the ornaments which books could fupply; that he was the first who imparted to English numbers the enthufiafm of the greater ode, and the gaiety of the lefs; that he was equally qualified for fpritely fallies, and for lofty flights; that he was among those who freed tranflation from fervility, and, instead of following his author at a distance, walked by his fide; and that, if he left verfification yet improveable, he left likewife from time to time fuch fpecimens of excellence as enabled fucceeding poets to improve it.

F 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 son of Sir John Denham, of Little Horfely in Effex, then chief baron of the Exchequer in Ireland, and of Eleanor, daughter of Sir Garret More, 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 ftudy ;" and therefore gave no prognofticks of his future eminence; nor was fufpected to conceal, under fluggishness and laxity, a genius born to improve the literature of his

country.

When he was, three years afterwards, removed to Lincoln's Inn, he prosecuted 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 testify the fincerity of his repentance, wrote and published "An Effay upon Gaming."

He seems to have divided his ftudies between law and poetry; for, in 1636, he tranflated the fecond book of the Æneid.

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

In 1642, he published "The Sophy." This feems to have given him his firft hold of the publick attention; for Waller remarked, "that he broke out "like the Irish rebellion three score thousand strong "when nobody was aware, or in the leaft fufpected "it" an observation which could have had no propriety, had his poetical abilities been known before.

He was after that pricked for fheriff of Surrey, and made governor of Farnham Caftle 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 Addison of Cato, and Pope of his Effay on Criticifm.

In 1647, the diftreffes of the royal family required him to engage in more dangerous employments. He was entrusted by the queen with a meffage 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 safety to the royalists: and being accidentally difcovered by the adverfe party's knowledge of Mr. Cowley's hand, he escaped hap pily 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 publifhed his tranflation 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 occafional verfes; one of which amusements 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 incon

venient

venient to want, and very troublesome to fetch. I have formerly read, without much reflection, of the multitude of Scotchmen that travelled with their wares in Poland; and that their numbers were not fmall, the fuccefs of this negociation gives fufficient evidence.

About this time, what eftate the war and the gamefters had left him was fold, by order of the parliament; and when, in 1652, he returned to England, he was entertained by the Earl of Pembroke.

Of the next years of his life there is no account. At the Restoration he obtained that which many miffed, the reward of his loyalty; being made furveyor of the king's buildings, and dignified with the order of the Bath. He feems now to have learned some attention to money; for Wood fays, that he got by this place feven thousand pounds.

After the Restoration, he wrote the poem on Prudence and Juftice, and perhaps fome of his other pieces and as he appears, whenever any ferious queftion comes before him, to have been a man of piety, he confecrated his poetical powers to religion,

and made a metrical verfion of the Pfalms of David. In this attempt he has failed; but in facred poetry who has fucceeded?

It might be hoped that the favour of his mafter and efteem of the publick would now make him happy. But human felicity is fhort and uncertain; a fecond marriage brought upon him fo much difquiet, as for a time difordered his understanding; and Butler lampooned him for his lunacy. I know not whether the malignant lines were then made pub