made a poet as immediately as a child is made an eunuch. With these affections of mind, and my heart wholly set upon letters, I went to the university; but was soon torn from thence by that violent public storm, which would suffer nothing to stand where it did, but rooted up every plant, even from the princely cedars to me the hyssop. Yet, I had as good fortune as could have befallen me in such a tempest; for I was cast by it into the family of one of the best persons, and into the court of one of the best princesses, of the world. Now, though I was here engaged in ways most contrary to the original design of my life, that is, into much company, and no small business, and into a daily sight of greatness, both militant and triumphant (for that was the state then of the English and French courts); yet all this was so far from altering my opinion, that it only added the confirmation of reason to that which was before but natural inclination. I saw plainly all the paint of that kind of life, the nearer I came to it; and that beauty, which I did not fall in love with, when, for aught I knew, it was real, was not like to bewitch or entice me, when I saw that it was adulterate. I met with several great persons, whom I liked very well; but could not perceive that any part of their greatness was to be liked or desired, no more than I would be glad or content to be in a storm, though I saw many ships which rid safely and bravely in it: a storm would not agree with my stomach, if it did with my courage. Though I was in a crowd of as good company as could be found any where; though I was in business of great and honourable trust; though I ate at the best table, and enjoyed the best conveniences for present subsistence that ought to be desired by a man of my condition in banishment and public distresses: yet I could not abstain from renewing my old school-boy's wish, in a copy of verses to the same effect: Well then'; I now do plainly see This busy world and I shall ne'er agree, &c. And I never then proposed to myself any other advantage from his majesty's happy restoration, but the getting into some moderately convenient retreat in the country; which I thought in that case I might easily have compassed, as well as some others, with no greater probabilities or pretences, have arrived to extraordinary fortunes: but I had before written a shrewd prophecy against myself; and I think Apollo inspired me in the truth, though not in the elegance of it: "Though neither great at court, nor in the war, Nor at the' exchange, shalt be, nor at the wrangling bar. Content thyself with the small barren praise, Which neglected verse does raise." She spake; and all my years to come Their several ways of life let others choose, But I was born for Love, and for a Muse. 2 We have these verses, under the name of The Wish, in THE MISTRESS, vol. ii. p. 29. With Fate what boots it to contend?. Such I began, such am, and so must end. The star, that did my being frame, Was but a lambent flame, And some small light it did dispense, But neither heat nor influence. No matter, Cowley; let proud Fortune see, That thou canst her despise, no less than she does thee. Let all her gifts the portion be Fraud, extortion, calumny, Rebellion, and hypocrisy. Do thou not grieve nor blush to be, And all thy great forefathers, were, from Homer down to Ben. However, by the failing of the forces which I had expected, I did not quit the design which I had resolved on; I cast myself into it a corps perdu, without making capitulations, or taking counsel of fortune. But God laughs at a man, who says to his soul, "Take thy ease:" I met presently not only with many little incumberances and impediments, but with so much sickness (a new misfortune to me) as would have spoiled the happiness of an emperor as well as mine: yet I do neither repent, nor alter my course. "Non ego perfidum dixi sacramentum :" nothing shall separate me from a mistress which I have loved so long, and have now at last married; though she neither has brought me a rich portion, nor lived yet so quietly with me as I hoped from her: "Nec vos, dulcissima mundi Nomina, vos Musa, Libertas, Otia, Libri, Hortique Sylvæque, animâ remanente, relinquam." Nor by me e'er shall you, You, of all names the sweetest and the best, But this is a very pretty ejaculation.-Because I have concluded all the other chapters with a copy of verses, I will maintain the humour to the last. MARTIAL. LIB. X. EPIGR. XLVII. "Vitam quæ faciunt beatiorem," &c. SINCE, dearest friend, 'tis your desire to see Let constant fires the winter's fury tame; Thy active mind in equal temper keep, Let mirth and freedom make thy table good. At night, without wine's opium, let them sleep. last RA. OR ME, who have lived so long among the great, And a retreat so distant, as may show |