The Romance of Biography (Vol 2 of 2)

of poetry, to which we owed our Surreys, our Spensers, and our Miltons, had now declined. The high contemplative tone of passion, the magnanimous and chivalrous homage paid to

and vestal-robed, "col dir pien d'intelletti, dolci ed alti,"-"with love upon her lips, and looks commercing with the skies;"-she suited her garb to the fashion of th

pearls and rainb

se sinful doings were banished, she took the hue of the new morals-new fashions-new manners,-and we find her a court prude, swimming in a hoop and red-heeled shoes, "conscious of

ne's. Of course, there are modifications and exceptions, which will suggest themselves to the poetical reader; but it does not en

French vivacity and gallantry, was, in the commencement, exceedingly gracefu

most unaccountably eclipsed by the reputation of Waller, and deserved be

Sedley, and a

s less ambitiously, and even less honourably placed, it was, at least, more deep seated, and far more fervent. The real name of the lady he has celebra

o have been

or of a

ith labour

forced

ible he might have set the example of inconsta

st of that dissipation, which has polluted some of his poems, he was full of high poetic feeling, and a truly generous lover: for even while he wooes his fair on

et the l

le cheek sh

al blush

ess, Carew is never feeble; and in his laments there is nothing whining or unmanly. After lavishing at the feet of his mistress

since thou

t gave thee

in the forg

eauties, li

verse exhal

impt the w

power is no

to thy voi

thy graces,

star-shin'st

t from thy b

him, who fix

have won her elegant lover back to virtue, and wreathed her fame with his for ever. Disappointed in the object of his idolatry, Carew plunged madly into pleasure, and

; the Countess of Anglesea; Lady Carlisle, the theme of all the poets of her age, and her lovely daughter, La

rgin's sigh! I

urtier channel

rs; the new b

t day; the gra

by; of all th

heart, and silenc

...*..

e thy corpse wit

ain borrow the b

ice and gums e

theme of Trut

he vulgar error, that poetry

terrible havoc in the heart of the Lord Chief Justice Finch, married Lord Lovelac

slumbers of

often found in a lady's library, I a

CEL

ore where J

s past, the

r beauties

as in their

more, whit

n atoms o

love, Heaven

rs to enric

ore, whithe

gale, when

sweet divi

and keeps w

e, where thos

ds fall in d

eyes they

e, as in th

more, if e

builds her

ou at last

r fragrant

...*..

from Love's

d in tears d

fectious, a

sighs, will

ur ears when

f weep, when

a sorrowing

which you

...*..

ath'st, the winds

om thee; and d

s, and snatching

n, where 'tis Jo

ince thy featur

ch for these

re divine in

as fair, as g

...*..

he bashful

e amorous

blasts and

refuses

he planet

with his p

eads, then s

ams into her

thrive in lo

rs and sig

thou never

eward of a

th moving a

nt faith and

all receive

s, and with u

s as fearlessly brave as a knight-errant; so handsome in person, that he could not appear without inspiring admiration; a polished courtier; an elegant scholar; and to crown all, a lover and a poet. He wrote a volume of poems, dedicated to the praises of Lucy Sacheverel, with whom he had exchanged vows

t, sweet,

om the

te breast a

and arm

mistress n

foe in t

stronger fa

a horse,

inconstan

too sha

love thee, d

not hono

s enthusiastic and chivalrous loyalty; but no dungeon could subdue his buoyant spirit. His song "to

with unconf

within

vine Alth

er at th

tangled i

ered to

hat wanton

such l

do not a p

n bars

ocent and

r a her

freedom

y soul a

one that

such l

another; it was a blow he never recovered. He had spent nearly his whole patrimony in the King's service, and now became utterly reckless. After wandering about London in obscurity and penury, dissipating his scanty resources in riot with his brother cavalie

inspired and appreciated such a sentiment as that contained in the first song; but facts cry aloud against her. Her plighted hand was not transferred to another, when time had sanctified and mellowed regret; but with a cruel and unfeminine

TNO

Po

worth, married Sir W. Noel, and was the ance