THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

EDMUND WALLER.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

FROM MR. FENTON'S QUARTO EDITION, 1729.

WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

When WALLER, kindling with celeitial rage,
View'd the bright Harley of that wond'ring age,
His pleasing pain he taught the lute to breathe;
The Graces fung, and wove nis myrtle wreath.
His Muse, by Nature form'd to please the fair,
Or fing of heroes with majeflick air,
To melting strains attun'd her voice, and strove
To waken all the tender pow'rs of love.----
The florid and sublime, the grave and gay,
From WALLER'S beams imbibe a purer ray.----
Maker and model of melodious versc!
Accept these votive honours at thy hearse.

FENTON.

Bell's fecond-edition.

VOLI.

EDINBURG:
AT THE Apollo Press, BY TILE MARLINS.

Anno 1784.

THE

POETICAL WORKS

OP

EDMUND WALLER

VOL. 1.

CONTAINING HIS

MISCELLANIES,

Tho' poets may of inspiration boaft,
Their rage, ill-govern'd, in the clouds is loft.
He that proportion'd wonders can disclose,
At once his fancy and his judgment shows.
Chafle moral writing we may learn from hence,
Neglect of which no wit can recompense....-

Well-founding verses are the charm we use,
Heroick thoughts and virtue to infuse.
Things of deep sense we may in profe enfold,
But they move more in lofty numbers told :----
For rudeft minds with harmony were caught,
And civil life was by the Muses taught.

POEM TO LORD ROSCOMMON.

EDINBURG:
AT THE Apollo Press, BY THE MARTINS.

Anno 1784.

kilt

Teades Family 4-29-32

THE LIFE OF

EDMUND WALLER.

Ir has been frequently observed, that the life of a poet affords but few materials for a narrative, and that the time of his birth and death, with the inter. vening dates of his publications, are the chief anecdotes of him which we can transmit to posterity. This opinion has been the less controverted, because long received: but however infignificant the life of a poet may be thought in itself, or however difficult it may be to trace his progress through it, the life of Waller, it is hoped, will afford many interesting particulars to the generality of readers.

Edmund Waller was born on the 3d of March 1605, at Colefhill, in the county of Hertford. Hewasthe son of Robert Waller, Esq. of Agmondefnam in Buckinghamshire, by Anne, the filter of John Hampden,Efq. the celebrated republican, who distinguished himself fo much in the beginning of the Civil wars, and who was killed at the battle of Chalgrove.

Robert, our Poet's father, was bred to the profession of the law; but exchanging that Audy for a couotry retirement, by economy, and application to agriculture, he improved his paternal fortune; and dying whilft our Author was in a ftate of infancy, left him heir to 3500l. a-year. The care of young Waller's education now devol