DENHAM.
109
"While single he stood forth, and seem'd, although
"Each had an army, as an equal foe,
"Such was his force of eloquence, to make
"The hearers more concern'd than he that spake:
"Each seem'd to act that part he came to see,
"And none was more a looker-on than he;
"So did he move our passions, some were known
"To wish, for the defence, the crime their own.
"Now private pity strove with publick hate,
"Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate."
"Each had an army, as an equal foe,
"Such was his force of eloquence, to make
"The hearers more concern'd than he that spake:
"Each seem'd to act that part he came to see,
"And none was more a looker-on than he;
"So did he move our passions, some were known
"To wish, for the defence, the crime their own.
"Now private pity strove with publick hate,
"Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate."
On Cowley.
"To him no author was unknown,
"Yet what he wrote was all his own;
"Horace's wit, and Virgil's state,
"He did not steal, but emulate!
"And when he would like them appear,
"Their garb, but not their cloaths, did wear."
"Yet what he wrote was all his own;
"Horace's wit, and Virgil's state,
"He did not steal, but emulate!
"And when he would like them appear,
"Their garb, but not their cloaths, did wear."
As one of Denham's principal claims to the regard of posterity arises from his improvement of our numbers, his versification ought to be considered. It will afford that pleasure which arises from the observation of a man of judgement, naturally right, forsaking bad copies by degrees, and advancing towards a better practice, as he gains more confidence in himself.
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