beheading that unfortunate Queen, were also compofed by Elizabeth.

The doubt of future foes exiles my present joy,

And Wit me learns to fhun fuch fnares, as threaten my annoy;
For Falthood now doth flow, and fubject Faith doth ebb,
Which would not be, if Reafon rul'd, or Wisdom weav'd the web.
But clouds of joys untried do cloak aspiring minds,
Which turn to rain of late repent by courfe of changed winds.
The top of Hope fuppos'd, the root of Rule will be,
And fruitless all their grafted guiles; as fhortly ye shall fee.

Then dazzled eyes with pride, which great Ambition blinds Shall be unfeal'd by worthy wights, whofe falfehood Forefight finds' The daughter of Debate, that eke difcord doth fow,

Shall reap no gain where former Rule, hath taught peace still to grow.
No foreign banish'd wight shall anchor in this port ;

Our realm it brooks no stranger's force, let them elsewhere refort.
Our rufty fword with reft fhall first his edge employ,
To poll their tops that seek such change, and gape for lawless joy.

I cannot close this period fo well, as in the words of that learned critic, at once elegant and profound, to whom I have fo continually expreffed my obligations, but who is far above any praife, which my feeble pen can bestow; a critic, whofe information, both extenfive and minute, a poet, whofe genuine powers of fancy, both splendid and vigorous, the more I ftudy, the more I admire.

"General knowledge," fays Warton,* fpeaking of the reign of Elizabeth," was now encreasing with a wide diffufion, and a hafty ra

*Hift. E. P. III. p. 501, the close.

pidity.

On

pidity. Books began to be multiplied, and a variety of the most useful and rational topics, had been difcuffed in our own language. But fcience had not made too great advances. the whole, we were now at that period, propitious to the operations of original and true poetry, when the coyness of fancy was not always proof against the approaches of reason, when genius was rather directed than governed by judgment, and when tafte and learning had fo far only disciplined imagination, as to fuffer its exceffes to país without cenfure or controul, for the fake of the beauty to which they were allied."

END OF THE FIRIT VOLUME.

THEATRUM POETARUM.

CONTENTS

OF THIS

VOLUM E.

N. B. The Names printed in Italics, are additions to