Oblivion, by affixing it to Your memorable Name. I fhall not here prefume to mention the illustrious Paffages of Your Life, which are celebrated by the whole Age, and have been the Subject of the most fublime Pens; but if I could convey You to Pofterity in your private Character, and defcribe the Stature, the Behaviour and Afpect of the Duke of Marlborough, I question not but it would fill the Reader with more agreeable Images, and give him a more delightful Entertainment than what can be found in the following, or any other Book. ONE cannot indeed without Offence, to Your felf, obferve, that You excel the reft of Mankind in the leaft, as well as the greatest Endowments. Nor were it a Circumstance cumstance to be mentioned, if the Graces and Attractions of Your Person were not the only Preheminence You have above others, which is left, almost, unobferved by greater Writers. YET how pleafing would it be to those who shall read the furprizing Revolutions in your Story, to be made acquainted with your ordinary Life and Deportment? How pleafing would it be to hear that the fame Man, who had carried Fire and Sword into the Countries of all that had opposed the Cause of Liberty, and ftruck a Terrour into the Armies of France, had in the midst of His high Station a Behaviour as gentle as is usual in the firft Steps towards Greatness? And if it were poffible to express that eafy Grandeur, which did at once perfuade and command, it would appear as clearly to those to come, as it does to his Contemporaries, that all the great Events which were brought to pass under the Conduct of fo well-governed a Spirit, were the Bleffings of Heaven upon Wifdom and Valour; and all which feem adverse fell out by divine Permiffion, which we are not to fearch into. YOU have pass'd that Year of Life wherein the most able and fortunate Captain, before Your Time, declared he had lived enough both to Nature and to Glory; and Your Grace may make that Reflexion with much more Juftice. He spoke it after he had arrived at Empire, by an Ufurpation upon those whom he had enflaved; but the Prince of Mindleheim may rejoice in a Sovereignty reignty which was the Gift of Him whofe Dominions he had preserved. GLORY established upon the uninterrupted Success of honourable Designs and Actions is not subject to Diminution; nor can any Attempts prevail against it, but in the Proportion which the narrow Circuit of Rumour bears to the unlimited Extent of Fame. WE may congratulate Your Grace not only upon your high Atchievements, but likewise upon the happy Expiration of Your Command, by which Your Glory is put out of the Power of Fortune: And when Your Perfon fhall be fo too, that the Author and Disposer of all Things may place You in that higher Mansion of Bliss and Immortality which is prepared for good Princes, Lawgivers, and He A 4 roes, |