Like Abraham ascending up the hill
To sacrifice, his servants left below,

That he might act the great commander's will,
Without impeach to his obedient blow;

Even so the soul, remote from earthly things,

MICHAEL DRAYTON.

BORN 1563; DIED 1631.

THE principal works of this poet, who enjoyed a high degree of popularity during the greater part of his life, and left a name in our literature still regarded with no inconsiderable respect, are-the "Poly-Olbion," "Ideas," "The Barons' Wars," and "England's Heroical Epistles.” The first, his most celebrated work, occasionally exhibits some of the warmth and beauty of the genuine bard; but upon the whole, denotes in its author the abilities rather of the historian, the antiquary, and the patient and accurate chorographer. The same character, somewhat modified, applies to the remainder. They are all more remarkable for historical research, extensive knowledge, and correctness of versification, than for the higher and more peculiar qualities—

"those brave translunary things— That the great poets had."

MICHAEL DRAYTON.

THE TRIUMPH OF DAVID.

AND now before young David could come in,
The host of Israel somewhat doth begin

To rouse itself; some climb the nearest tree,
And some the tops of tents, whence they might see
How this unarmed youth himself would bear
Against the all-armed giant (which they fear):
Some get up to the fronts of easy hills;
That by their motion a vast murmur fills

The neighbouring valleys, that the enemy thought
Something would by the Israelites be wrought
They had not heard of, and they longed to see
What strange and warlike stratagem 't should be.
When soon they saw a goodly youth descend,
Himself alone, none after to attend,

That at his need with arms might him supply,
As merely careless of his enemy:

His head uncovered, and his locks of hair
As he came on being played with by the air,
Tossed to and fro, did with such pleasure move,
As they had been provocatives for love:
His sleeves stript up above his elbows were,
And in his hand a stiff short staff did bear,