to the scholars and statesmen; and undoubtedly many beauties of that time, however they might receive his love, were proud of his praises. Who they were, whom he dignifies with poetical names, cannot now be known. Amoret, according to Mr. Fenton, was the Lady Sophia Murray. Perhaps by traditions preserved in families more may be discovered,

From the verfes written at Penshurst, it has been collected that he diverted his difappointment by a voyage; and his biographers, from his poem on the Whales, think it not improbable that he visited the Bermudas; but it feems much more likely that he should amufe himself with forming an imaginary fcene, than that fo important an incident, as a vifit to America, fhould have been left floating in conjectural probability.

From his twenty-eighth to his thirty-fifth year, he wrote his pieces on the Reduction of Sallee; on the Reparation of St. Paul's; to the King on his Navy; the panegyrick on the Queen Mother; the two poems to the Earl

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of Northumberland; and perhaps others, of which the time cannot be discovered.

When he had loft all hopes of Sachariffa, he looked round him for an eafier conqueft, and gained a Lady of the family of Breffe, or Breaux. The time of his marriage is not exactly known. It has not been discovered that his wife was won by his poetry; nor is any thing told of her, but that she brought him many children. He doubtless praised fome whom he would have been afraid to marry, and perhaps married one whom he would have been afhamed to praise. Many qualities contribute to domestick happiness, upon which poetry has no colours to bestow; and many airs and fallies may delight imagination, which he who flatters them never can approve. There are charms made only for diftant admiration. No fpectacle is nobler than a blaze.

Of this wife, his biographers have recorded that she gave him five fons and eight daugh

ters.

During the long interval of parliament, he is reprefented as living among thofe with whom it was most honourable to converfe, and enjoying an exuberant fortune with that independence and liberty of speech and conduct which wealth ought always to produce. He was however confidered as the kinfman of Hampden, and was therefore fuppofed by the courtiers not to favour them.

When the parliament was called in 1640, it appeared that Waller's political character had not been mistaken. The King's demand of a fupply produced one of those noify speeches which difaffection and discontent regularly dictate; a speech filled with hyperbolical complaints of imaginary grievances.

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They," fays he, "who think themselves "already undone, can never apprehend them"felves in danger; and they who have "nothing left can never give freely." Political truth is equally in danger from the praises of courtiers, and the exclamations of patriots.

He then proceeds to rail at the clergy, being fure at that time of a favourable audi

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ence. His topick is fuch as will always ferve its purpofe; an accufation of acting and preaching only for preferment: and he exhorts the Commons carefully to provide for their protection against Pulpit Law.

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It always gratifies curiofity to trace a fentiment. Waller has in his fpeech quoted Hooker in one paffage; and in another has copied him, without quoting. Religion," fays Waller," ought to be the first thing in our purpose and defires; but that which is "firft in dignity is not always to precede in "order of time; for well-being fuppofes a

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being; and the first impediment which men

naturally endeavour to remove, is the want "of thofe things without which they cannot "fubfift. God first affigned unto Adam "maintenance of life, and gave him a title "to the reft of the creatures before he ap pointed a law to observe.”

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"God firft affigned Adam," fays Hooker, "maintenance of life, and then appointed "him a law to obferve.-True it is, that the kingdom of God must be the first thing in "our purpose and defires; but inasmuch as a

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righteous life prefuppofeth life, inafmuch as "to live virtuoufly it is impoffible, except we "live; therefore the firft impediment which "naturally we endeavour to remove is penury, “and want of things without which we can"not live."

The fpeech is vehement; but the great pofition, that grievances ought to be redreffed before fupplies are granted, is agreeable enough to law and reafon nor was Waller, if his biographer may be credited, fuch an enemy to the King, as not to wifh his diftreffes lightened; for he relates, "that the King "fent particularly to Waller, to fecond his "demand of fome fubfidies to pay off the army; and Sir Henry Vane objecting against first voting a fupply, because the King would not accept unless it came up "to his proportion, Mr. Waller spoke earneftly to Sir Thomas Jermyn, comptroller "of the household, to fave his master from "the effects of fo bold a falfity; for, he "faid, I am but a country gentleman, and "cannot pretend to know the King's mind:' "but Sir Thomas durft not contradict the "fecretary; and his fon, the Earl of St.

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"Albans,