ventures, to the chaste and unaffected narrative of Addison is, as it has been beautifully remarked, like "being recalled to a sense of something like that original purity from which a man has been long estranged." We will conclude this notice, too brief to contain an enumeration of the varied excellences of him to whose pages we would draw back an attention that has been diverted to less worthy objects, in the stern though judicious words of Johnson. "It is not uncommon for those who have grown wise by the labour of others, to add a little of their own, and overlook their masters. Addison is now despised by some who, perhaps, would never have seen his defects, but by the lights which he afforded them." OXFORD, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ. HIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE. DEAR SIR, I CANNOT wish that any of my writings should last longer than the memory of our friendship, and therefore I thus publicly bequeath them to you, in return for the many valuable instances of your affection. That they may come to you with as little disadvantage as possible, I have left the care of them to one, whom, by the experience of some years, I know well qualified to answer my intentions. He has already the honour and happiness of being under your protection; and, as he will very much stand in need of it, I cannot wish him better, than that he may VOL. I. с continue to deserve the favour and countenance of such a patron. I have no time to lay out in forming such compliments, as would but ill suit that familiarity between us, which was once my greatest pleasure, and will be my greatest honour hereafter. Instead of them, accept of my hearty wishes, that the great reputation you have acquired so early may increase more and more: and that you may long serve your country with those excellent talents and unblemished integrity, which have so powerfully recommended you to the most gracious and amiable monarch that ever filled a throne. May the frankness and generosity of your spirit continue to soften and subdue your enemies, and gain you many friends, if possible, as sincere as yourself. When you have found such, they cannot wish you more true happiness than I, who am, with the greatest zeal, Dear Sir, Your most entirely affectionate friend, And faithful obedient servant, JUNE 4, 1719. J. ADDISON. CONTENTS. VOLUME THE FIRST. To Mr. Dryden .... A poem to his majesty, presented to the lord keeper..... A song. For St. Cecilia's day, at Oxford A letter from Italy, to the right honourable Charles lord Milton's style imitated, in a translation of a story out of the third Æneid....... The Campaign, a poem Prologue to the Tender Husband Epilogue to the British Enchantress. Prologue to Phædra and Hippolytus. Page 3 5 17 33 36 42 51 59 77 79 81 83 91 Horace, Ode III. Book III.... Translation from Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book II....... 128 ... 156 Notes on some of the foregoing stories in Ovid's Metamor- To sir Godfrey Kneller, on his picture of the king An Essay on Virgil's Georgics A Discourse on Ancient and Modern Learning ... |