Volume V Part 28 (1/2)

One of the prettiest of her poetical performances, is the following Address to the reverend Dr. Hales, with whom she became acquainted at the house of captain Mead, near Hampton-Court.

To the Revd. Dr. HALES.

Hail, holy sage! whose comprehensive mind, Not to this narrow spot of earth confin'd, Thro' num'rous worlds can nature's laws explore, Where none but Newton ever trod before; And, guided by philosophy divine, See thro' his works th'Almighty Maker s.h.i.+ne: Whether you trace him thro' yon rolling spheres, Where, crown'd with boundless glory, he appears; Or in the orient sun's resplendent rays, His setting l.u.s.tre, or his noon-tide blaze, New wonders still thy curious search attend, Begun on earth, in highest Heav'n to end.

O! while thou dost those G.o.d-like works pursue, What thanks, from human-kind to thee are due!

Whose error, doubt, and darkness, you remove, And charm down knowledge from her throne above.

Nature to thee her choicest secrets yields, Unlocks her springs, and opens all her fields; Shews the rich treasure that her breast contains, In azure fountains, or enamell'd plains; Each healing stream, each plant of virtuous use, To thee their medicinal pow'rs produce.

Pining disease and anguish wing their flight, And rosy health renews us to delight.

When you, with art, the animal dissect, And, with the microscopic aid, inspect [Transcriber's note: 'microsopic' in original]

Where, from the heart, unnumbered rivers glide, And faithful back return their purple tide; How fine the mechanism, by thee display'd!

How wonderful is ev'ry creature made!

Vessels, too small for sight, the fluids strain, Concoct, digest, a.s.similate, sustain; In deep attention, and surprize, we gaze, And to life's author, raptur'd, pour out praise.

What beauties dost thou open to the sight, Untwisting all the golden threads of light!

Each parent colour tracing to its source, Distinct they live, obedient to thy force!

Nought from thy penetration is conceal'd, And light, himself, s.h.i.+nes to thy soul reveal'd.

So when the sacred writings you display, And on the mental eye shed purer day; In radiant colours truth array'd we see, Confess her charms, and guided up by thee; Soaring sublime, on contemplation's wings, The fountain seek, whence truth eternal springs.

Fain would I wake the consecrated lyre, And sing the sentiments thou didst inspire!

But find my strength unequal to a theme, Which asks a Milton's, or a Seraph's flame!

If, thro' weak words, one ray of reason s.h.i.+ne, Thine was the thought, the errors only mine.

Yet may these numbers to thy soul impart The humble incense of a grateful heart.

Trifles, with G.o.d himself, acceptance find, If offer'd with sincerity of mind; Then, like the Deity, indulgence shew, Thou, most like him, of all his works below.

FOOTNOTES: [1] An extravagant compliment; for Mrs. Pilkington was far from being a beauty.

[2] Of which, she says, she received only 15 l.

Mr. THOMAS SOUTHERN.

This eminent poet was born in Dublin, on the year of the Restoration of Charles the IId. and received his early education at the university there. In the 18th year of his age, he quitted Ireland, and as his intention was to pursue a lucrative profession, he entered himself in the Middle-Temple. But the natural vivacity of his mind overcoming considerations of advantage, he quitted that state of life, and entered into the more agreeable service of the Muses[1].

The first dramatic performance of Mr. Southern, his Persian Prince, or Loyal Brother, was acted in the year 1682. The story is taken from Thamas Prince of Persia, a Novel; and the scene is laid in Ispahan in Persia. This play was introduced at a time when the Tory interest was triumphant in England, and the character of the Loyal brother was no doubt intended to compliment James Duke of York, who afterwards rewarded the poet for his service. To this Tragedy Mr. Dryden wrote the Prologue and Epilogue, which furnished Mr. Southern with an opportunity of saying in his dedication, 'That the Laureat's own pen secured me, maintaining the out-works, while I lay safe entrenched within his lines; and malice, ill-nature, and censure were forced to grin at a distance.'

The Prologue is a continued invective against the Whigs, and whether considered as a party libel, or an induction to a new play, is in every respect unworthy of the great hand that wrote it. His next play was a Comedy, called the Disappointment, or the Mother in Fas.h.i.+on, performed in the year 1684.--After the accession of king James the IId to the throne, when the duke of Monmouth made an unfortunate attempt upon his uncle's crown, Mr. Southern went into the army, in the regiment of foot raised by the lord Ferrers, afterwards commanded by the duke of Berwick; and he had three commissions, viz. ensign, lieutenant, and captain, under King James, in that regiment.

During the reign of this prince, in the year before the Revolution, he wrote a Tragedy called the Spartan Dame, which however was not acted till the year 1721. The subject is taken from the Life of Agis in Plutarch, where the character of Chelonis, between the duties of a wife and daughter was thought to have a near resemblance to that of King William's Queen Mary. 'I began this play, says Mr. Southern, a year before the Revolution, and near four acts written without any view. Many things interfering with those times, I laid by what I had written for seventeen years: I shewed it then to the late duke of Devons.h.i.+re, who was in every regard a judge; he told me he saw no reason why it might not have been acted the year of the Revolution: I then finished it, and as I thought cut out the exceptionable parts, but could not get it acted, not being able to persuade myself to the cutting off those limbs, which I thought essential to the strength and life of it. But since I found it must pine in obscurity without it, I consented to the operation, and after the amputation of every line, very near to the number of 400, it stands on its own legs still, and by the favour of the town, and indulging a.s.sistance of friends, has come successfully forward on the stage.' This play was inimitably acted. Mr. Booth, Mr. Wilks, Mr.

Cibber, Mr. Mills, sen. Mrs. Oldfield, and Mrs. Porter, all performed in it, in their heighth of reputation, and the full vigour of their powers.