With folded arms and down-cast eyes men walk'd
In corners, and with caution talk'd.

All things prepar'd, the hour drew near
When he must part: his last short time was spent
In leaving blessings on his children dear.
To them with eager haste and love he went:
The eldest first embrac'd,

As new-born day in beauty bright,
But sad in mind as deepest night.

What tend'rest hearts could say, betwixt them past;
Till grief too close upon them crept:

So sighing he withdrew, she turn'd away and wept.
Much of the father in his breast did rise,
When on the next he fix'd his eyes,

A tender infant in the nurse's arms,

Full of kind play and pretty charms. And as to give the farewell kiss he near it drew, About his manly neck two little arms it threw; Smil'd in his eyes, as if it begg'd his stay, And look'd kind things it could not say.

XXI.

But the great pomp of grief was yet to come.
Th' appointed time was almost past,

Th' impatient tides knock'd at the shore, and bid him haste,
To seek a foreign home.

The summons he resolv'd t'obey;
Disdaining of his suff'ring to complain,
Tho' ev'ry step seem'd trod with pain:
So forth he came, attended on his way
By a sad lamenting throng,

That blest him, and about him hung:
A weight his gen'rons heart could hardly bear;
But for the comfort that was near,

His beauteous mate, the fountain of his joys,
That fed his soul with love;

The cordial that can mortal pains remove,
To which all worldly blessings else are toys.

I saw them ready for departure stand,

Just when approach'd the monarch of our land,
And took the charming mourner by the hand.
T'express all noblest offices he strove,

Of royal goodness, and a brother's love.
Then down to the shore-side,

Where, to convey them, did two royal barges ride,
With solemn pace they past:

And there so tenderly embrac❜d,

All griev'd by sympathy to see them part, And their kind pains touch'd each by-stander's heart*. Then hand in hand the pitied pair Turn'd round, to face their fate: She, ev'n amidst afflictions, fair; He, tho' opprest, still great.

}

Into th' expecting boat with haste they went; Where, as the troubled fair one to the shore some wishes sent,

For that dear pledge she had left behind,
And as her passion grew too mighty for her mind,
She of some tears her eyes beguil'd;

Which, as upon her cheek they lay,
The happy hero kiss'd away;

And, as she wept, blush'd with disdain, and smil'd.
Straight forth they launch into the high-swoln Thames:
The well-struck oars lave up the yielding streams.
All fix'd their longing eyes, and wishing stood,
Till they were got into the wider flood;
Till lessen'd out of sight, and seen no more:
Then sigh'd, and turn'd into the hated shore.

* Note XX.

NOTES.

Note I.

The first was he who stunk of that rank verse

In which he wrote his Sodom farce.

Stan. 8, p. 225.

This infamous piece, which is destitute even of wit to palliate it's gross and abominable indecency, was written by

Fishbourne, belonging to one of the inns of court. It was printed in 1680; and bore the initials E. R. the publisher being desirous it should pass for a work of lord Rochester. This was so highly resented by the noble lord, that he wrote a satire upon the author, which, in point of grossness, cannot fall far beneath the play he disclaims.

Note II.

The City-Poet too was there,

In a black satin cap and his own hair, &c.

Stan. 8, p. 225.

This was Elkanah Settle, an author whose works, though now almost forgotten, obtained, at one time, popularity sufficient to raise the spleen of Dryden. He became laureat to the city, and in that capacity composed pageants, or dramatic exhibitions for the lord mayor; an account of which may be seen in the "Biographia Dramatica." His various changes of party, more than his defect of poetical talent, exposed him to the contempt and ridicule of his contemporaries. He distinguished himself greatly at a popeburning, which will be mentioned in a following note, and was afterwards reduced to be assistant at a puppet-show in Bartholomew-fair; where, having a turn for ingenious mechanism, he contrived a green case, in which he acted the part of a dragon. He died in the Charter-house in 1724. His black satin cap, which concealed a portion of his dark hair, is likewise alluded to by the correspondent in the Gentleman's Magazine: "Master Elkanah Settle, the citypoet, I knew, with his short-cut band, and satin cap." Gent. Mag. for 1745.

Note III.

There liv'd a widow'd witch,

That us'd to mumble curses eve and morn,
Like one whom wants and care had worn, &c.

Stan. 9, p. 226,

This description is much in Spenser's manner:
There in a gloomy hollow glen she found

A little cottage built of stickes and reedes,
In homely wize, and wald with sods around;
In which a witch did dwell in loathly weedes
And wilful want, all carelesse of her needes;
So choosing solitarie to abide,

Far from all neighbours, that her divelish deedes
And hellish arts from people she might hide,
And hurt far off unknowne whomever she envide.
Faery Queene, b. 3, c. 7.

Iler face most fowle and filthy was to see,
With squinted eyes contrarie wayes intended,
And loathly mouth, unmeete a mouth to bee,
That nought but gall and venim comprehended,
And wicked wordes that God and man offended:
Her lying tongue was in two parts divided,

And both the parts did speake, and both contended;
And as her tongue, so was her hart discided,

That never thoght one thing, but doubly stil was guided.

B. 4, c. 1.

Note IV.

Idolatry with her was held impure,

Because, besides her self, no idol she'd endure.

Stan. 9, p. 227.

This, as well as the rest of the description, applies to the presbyterian sect, which constituted the chief strength of the party opposed to Charles I. The verse quoted calls to mind the expression of Oliver Cromwell respecting the pres byterians: "I am the only man," he was often heard to say, "who has known how to subdue that insolent sect, which can suffer none but itself."

The presbyterians had the reputation of being the most

bitter enemies, and strenuous opposers of the kingly name and office. In a tract, printed in 1681, they are described as the first criers out against arbitrary government. "Who was it that animated the people to take up arms, for defence of liberty and property, against the king? The very same (the presbyterians). Who maintained, continued, and finished the war, and the tragedy of the king's murder? The same men, though now they had gotten new frocks and vizards on, and called themselves independents, or congregational churchmen; a name that comprehended all sects and opinions."-The complaint of liberty and property against arbitrary government. Somers' Tracts.

Note V.

A destroying angel was sent down

To scourge the pride of this rebellious town, &c.
Stan. 10, p. 227.
That dire commission ended, down there came
Another angel with a sword of flame.

P. 227.

The first distich refers to the plague which visited London in 1665: it's dreadful effects are described in the succeeding verses. It is stated, that about 100,000 persons were destroyed by this calamity. The parliament was held at Oxford, and the city was deserted by all who were able to leave it: so that grass actually grew in some of the streets. The latter verse alludes to the great fire which broke out on the 2d September in the following year; and, as the poet proceeds to mention, gave rise to new dissentions, and awakened the popular prejudice against the catholics, who were loaded with the infamy of originating it. Otway seems to adopt the tory doctrine, that it was a visitation from heaven, on account of the sins of the nation, especially the Londoners, and the crimes committed during the civil war and commonwealth.

Note VI.

And there for her support she found

A wight, of whom Fame's trumpet much does sound, &c. Stan. 11, p. 228.

Who was designed in this description, is not clear from the text. It might probably be sir William Waller, son of the famous parliamentary general. He was a justice of the