made of this interval, with what liberality and fuccefs he diftributed flattery and money, and how, when he was brought (July 4) before the Houfe, he confeffed and lamented, and fubmitted and implored, may be read in the Hiftory of the Rebellion (B. vii.). The fpeech, to which Clarendon ascribes the prefervation of his dear-bought life, is inferted inchis works. The great hiftorian, however, feems to have been mistaken in relating that be prevailed in the principal part of his fupplication, not to be tried by a Council of War; for, according to Whitlock, he was by expulfion from the House abandoned to the tribunal which he fo much dreaded, and, being tried and condemned, was reprieved by Effex; but after a year's imprisonment, in which time refentment grew lefs acrimonious, paying a fine of ten thousand pounds, he was permitted to recollect himself in another country.

Of his behaviour in this part of his life, it is not neceffary to direct the reader's opinion. "Let us not," fays his laft ingenious biographer, "condemn him with untempered fe

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verity, because he was not a prodigy which "the world hath feldom feen, because his "charac

Bb 2

"character included not the poet, the orator, " and the hero."

For the place of his exile he chose France, and stayed fome time at Roan, where his daughter Margaret was born, who was afterwards his favourite, and his amanuenfis. He then removed to Paris, where he lived with great fplendor and hofpitality; and from time to time amufed himself with poetry, in which he fometimes fpeaks of the rebels, and their ufurpation, in the natural language of an honeft man.

At laft it became neceffary, for his fupport, to fell his wife's jewels; and being reduced, as he faid, at laft to the rump-jewel, he folicited from Cromwell permiffion to return, and obtained it by the intereft of colonel Scroop, to whom his fifter was married. Upon the remains of a fortune, which the danger of his life had very much diminished, he lived at Hall-barn, a house built by himfelf, very near to Beaconsfield, where his mother refided. His mother, though related to Cromwell and Hampden, was zealous for the royal caufe, and, when Cromwell vifited.

her,

her, ufed to reproach him; he, in return, would throw a napkin at her, and say he would not dispute with his aunt; but finding in time that she acted for the king, as well as talked, he made her a prifoner to her own daughter, in her own house. If he would' do any thing, he could not do less.

Cromwell, now protector, received Waller, as his kinfman, to a familiar converfation. Waller, as he used to relate, found him fufficiently verfed in ancient history; and when any of his enthufiaftick friends came to advise or confult him, could fometimes overhear him difcourfing in the cant of the times: but, when he returned, he would fay, "Coufin Waller, "I must talk to these "men in their own way :" and refumed the common ftyle of converfation.

He repaid the Protector for his favours (1654) by the famous panegyrick, which has been always confidered as the firft of his poetical productions. His choice of encomiastic topicks is very judicious; for he confiders Cromwell in his exaltation, without enquiring how he attained it; there is confequently

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fequently no mention of the rebel or there gicide. All the former part of his hero's life/ is veiled with fhades; and nothing is broughto to view but the chief, the governor, the de fender of England's honour, and the enlargers of her dominion. The act of violence by which he obtained the fupreme power is lightly treated, and decently juftified. It was cert tainly to be defired that the deteftable band fhould be diffolved, which had destroyed the church, murdered the King, and filled the? nation with tumult and oppreffion; yet Cromwell had not the right of diffolving them, for all that he had before done could be justified only by fuppofing them invested with lawful authority. But combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not thofe, who have long practifed perfidy, grow faithlefs to each other.

In the poem on the war with Spain are fome paffages at leaft equal to the best parts. of the panegyrick; and, in the conclufion, the poet ventures yet a higher flight of flattery, by recommending royalty to Cromwell and the nation. Cromwell was very defirous,

as

1

as appears from his converfation, related by Whitlock, of adding the title to the power. of monarchy, and is fuppofed to have been with-held from it partly by fear of the army, and partly by fear of the laws, which, when he should govern by the name of King, would have restrained his authority. When therefore a deputation was folemnly fent to invite him to the Crown, he, after a long conference, refufed it, but is faid to have fainted in his coach, when he parted from them.

The poem on the death of the Protector feems to have been dictated by real veneration for his memory. Dryden and Sprat wrote on the fame occafion; but they were young men, ftruggling into notice, and hoping for fome favour from the ruling party. Waller had little to expect; he had received nothing but his pardon from Cromwell, and was not likely to ask any thing from those who should fucceed him.

Soon afterwards the Restauration fupplied him with another fubject; and he exerted his imagination, his elegance, and his melody, Bb 4

with