Prose works

declared, That Mr. Cowley had not left a better man behind him in England.

This, Sir, is the account that I thought fit to present the world concerning him. Perhaps it may be judged, that I have spent too many words on a private man, and a scholar ; whose life was not remarkable for such a variety of events, as are wont to be the ornaments of this kind of relations. I know it is the custom of the world, to prefer the pompous histories of great men, before the greatest virtues of others, whose lives have been led in a course less illustrious. This indeeed is the general humour. But I believe it to be an error in men's judgments. For certainly that is a more profitable instruction, which may be taken from the eminent goodness of men of lower rank, than that which we learn from the splendid representations of the battles, and victories, and buildings, and sayings, of great commanders and princes. Such specious matters, as they are seldom delivered with fidelity, so they serve but for the imitation of a very few, and rather make for the ostentation than the true information of human life. Whereas it is from the practice of men equal to ourselves, that we are more naturally taught how to command our passions, to direct our knowledge, and to govern our actions.

For this reason, I have some hope, that a character of Mr. Cowley may be of good advantage to our nation. For what he wanted in titles of honour and

the gifts of fortune, was plentifully supplied by many other excellencies, which make perhaps less noise, but are more beneficial for example. This, Sir, was the principal end of this long discourse. Besides this, I had another design in it, that only concerns ourselves; that, having this picture of his life set before us, we may still keep him alive in our memories, and by this means, may have some small reparation for our inexpressible loss by his death. Sir, I am

Your most humble

and most affectionate servant,

T. SPRAT.

CONTENTS.

Preface

Page

An Account of the Life and Writings of Mr. Abraham Cowley, v

The Author's Preface to his edition in folio, 1656