Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 1.djvu/118

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DENHAM.

graded at once their originals and themselves.

Denham saw the better way, but has not pursued it with great success. His versions of Virgil are not pleasing; but they taught Dryden to please better. His poetical imitation of Tully on "Old Age" has neither the clearness of prose, nor the spriteliness of poetry.

The "strength of Denham," which Pope so emphatically mentions, is to be found in many lines and couplets, which convey much meaning in few words, and exhibit the sentiment with more weight than bulk.

On the Thames.

"Though with those streams he no resemblance hold,
"Whose foam is amber, and their gravel gold;
"His genuine and less guilty wealth t' explore,
"Search not his bottom, but survey his shore."

On Strafford.

"His wisdom such, as once it did appear
"Three kingdoms' wonder, and three kingdoms' fear.

"While