When I but think, how many a tedious year His long misfortunes fatal end; How chearfully, and how exempt from fear, To wait on his, O thou fallacious Muse! Kings have long hands (they say) and though I be So distant, they may reach at length to me. However, of all princes, thou Thou, who rewardest but with popular breath, And that too after death. DIALOGUE III. ON THE GOLDEN AGE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH: BETWEEN THE HON. ROBERT DIGBY, DR. ARBUTHNOT, AND MR. ADDISON. DIALOGUE III. ON THE AGE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. MR. DIGBY, DR. ARBUTHNOT, IT happened, in the summer of the year 1716, that Dr. ARBUTHNOT and Mr. ADDISON had occasion to take a journey together into Warwickshire. Mr. DIGBY, who had received intelligence of their motions, and was then at Coleshill, contrived to give them the meeting at Warwick; where they intended to pass a day or two, in visiting the curiosities of that fine town, and the more remarkable of those remains of antiquity that are to be seen in its neighbourhood. These were matter of high entertainment to all of them; to Dr. ARBUTHNOT, for the pleasure of recollecting the ancient times; to Mr. ADDISON, on account of DIALOGUE Some political reflexions, he was fond of indulgIII. ing on such occasions; and to Mr. DIGBY, from an ingenuous curiosity, and the love of seeing and observing whatever was most remarkable, whether in the past ages, or the present, 1 Amongst other things that amused them, they were much taken with the great church at Warwick. They entertained themselves with the several histories, which it's many old monuments recalled to their memory. The famous inscription of Sir FULK GREVIL occa sioned some reflexions; especially to Mr. DIGBY, who had used to be much affected with the fame and fortunes of the accomplished Sir PHILIP SIDNEY. The glory of the house of WARWICK was, also, an ample field of meditation. But what chanced to take their attention most, was the monument of the great earl of LEICESTER. It recorded his titles at full length, and was, besides, richly decorated with sculpture, displaying the various ensigns and trophies of his greatness. The pride of this minister had never appeared to them so conspicuous, as in the legends and ornaments of f For the account of these Monuments, and of Kenel worth-Castle, see the plans and descriptions of DUGDALE. |