His acquaintance with this high-born dame gave wit no opportunity of boasting its influence; fhe was not to be fubdued by the powers of verfe, but rejected his addresses, it is faid, with difdain, and drove him away to folace his disappointment with Amoret or Phillis. She married in 1639 the Earl of Sunderland, who died at Newberry in the king's caufe; and, in her old age, meeting fomewhere with Waller, afked him, when he would again write fuch verfes upon her; "When you are as young, Madam," faid he, "and as handfome, as you were then."

In this part of his life it was that he was known to Clarendon, among the rest of the men who were eminent in that age for genius and literature; but known fo little to his advantage, that they who read his character will not much condemn Sachariffa, that he did not defcend from her rank to his embraces, nor think every excellence comprised in wit.

The Lady was, indeed, inexorable; but his uncommon qualifications, though they had no power upon her, recommended him

to

to the most illustrious 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 preferved in families more may be discovered.

From the verses 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 seems much more likely that he should amufe himself with forming an imaginary fcene, than that so 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 of Northumberland; and perhaps

others,

others, of which the time cannot be discovered.

When he had loft all hopes of Sachariffa, he looked round him for an easier conquest, 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 this wife was won by his poetry; nor is any thing told of her, but that she brought him many children. He doubtlefs praised many whom he would have been afraid to marry; and perhaps married one whom he would have been afhamed to praife. 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 distant admiration. No fpectacle is nobler

than a blaze.

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

During the long interval of parliament, he is represented as living among those with

VOL. I.

A a

whom

whom it was moft honourable to converfe, and enjoying an exuberant fortune with that independence and liberty of fpeech and conduct which wealth ought always to produce. He was however confidered as the kinsman of Hampden, and was therefore supposed 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 noisy speeches which difaffection and difcontent regularly dictate; a fpeech filled with hyperbolical complaints of imaginary grievances.

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 audience. His topick is fuch as will always ferve its purpofe; an accufation of acting and preaching only for preferment: and he ex

horts

E

horts the Commons carefully to provide for their protection against Pulpit Law.

It always gratifies curiofity to trace a fentiment. Waller has in this 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 "first in dignity is not always to precede in "order of time; for well-being fuppofes a "being; and the first impediment which "men naturally endeavour to remove, is the "want of those things without which they "cannot fubfift. God first affigned unto "Adam maintenance of life, and gave him "a title to the rest of the creatures before “he appointed a law to observe.”

66

"God first 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 inafmuch as a righteous life presupposeth life, inasmuch as to live virtuously it is impoffible, except "we live; therefore the first impediment A a 2 " which