"Earth's highest station ends in 'Here he lies'; And dust to dust' concludes the noblest song." The mind that coined these and many similar expressions was endowed with no ordinary gifts. FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY. The England of Charles II., Green, “History of the English People," vol. III. pp. 327–339. The social and political condition of England during "The Augustan age," Green, "History of the English People," vol. IV. pp. 105-124. Some interesting entries from The Diarists. Locke as an educational reformer, Thoughts Concerning Education," and Painter's History of Education," pp. 230-238. A typical passage from Richardson's "Pamela.” A description of the hero of "Hudibras." Thompson's minute observation of nature as illustrated in 'his "Spring." A review of Night I. in Young's "Night Thoughts." The story of Gulliver's voyage to Lilliput. A description of his experiences in Brobdingnag. An outline of Swift's 'Battle of the Books," Stephen, “Life of Swift," Ch. 3, or Orrery's "Life and Writings of Swift." A review of the "Tale of a Tub," Stephen or Orrery (as above). The relations of Swift to Stella and Vanessa, Stephen, "Life of Swift," ch. 6, Craik, "Life of Swift," Thackeray, "The English Humorists," and Painter "History of English Literature." JOHN DRYDEN. 192. Rank in Literature.- One of the greatest names in the literature of this period is John Dryden. He does not deserve, indeed, to stand by the side of Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, or Milton; but after these great names he comes at the head of the second rank. It was the fault of his age that he was not greater. No man can wholly detach himself from the influences by which he is surrounded; and Dryden came on the stage when a false taste prevailed, and when licentiousness gave moral tone to poetry. Living in the midst of burning religious and political questions, he was drawn into the vortex of controversy. He was always a partisan in some religious or political issue of the day. While this fact has given us some of the best satirical and didactic poems in our language, it did not contribute, perhaps, to the largest development of his poetical powers. 193. Absence of High Aims.- His aims were not high enough. "I confess," he said, "my chief endeavors are to delight the age in which I live. If the humor of this be for low comedy, small accidents, and raillery, I will force my genius to obey it." This was a voluntary degrading of his genius and an intentional renouncing of the artistic spirit. Guided by such motives, it was impossible for him to attain the highest results. If, like Milton, he had concentrated all the energies of his strong nature on an epic poem, as he once contemplated, or on poetry as an art, his work would no doubt have been less faulty. But, taking him as he was, we cannot help admiring his genius, which created for him a distinct place in English literature. 194. Early Years.- Dryden was born of good family in Northamptonshire in 1631. Both on his father's and his mother's side his ancestry was Puritan and republican. He was educated at Westminster school, under the famous Dr. Busby. A schoolboy poem on the death of Lord Hastings had the distinction, and we may add the misfortune, of being published in connection with several other elegies called forth by the same event. Some of its conceits are exceedingly ridiculous. Dryden's genius was slow in maturing, and much of his early work failed to give promise of his future eminence. 195. Education. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1650, and took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1654. No details of his college life have come down to us, except his punishment on one occasion for disobedience to the vicemaster, and contumacy in taking his punishment, inflicted by him." In 1654, by the death of his father, he came into the possession of a small estate worth about sixty pounds a year. After leaving Cambridge, for which he entertained no great affection, he went to London, and served for a time as secretary to his cousin, Sir Gilbert Pickering, a favorite of Cromwell. 196. Two Eulogistic Poems.- In 1658 he composed "Heroic Stanzas" on the death of Oliver Cromwell, which caused him to be spoken of as a rising poet. Though disfigured here and there by conceits, it is, upon the whole, a strong, manly poem, showing a just appreciation of the great Protector's life. His next effort does not reflect credit on his character. It was the "Astræa Redux," written "on the happy restoration and return of his sacred Majesty, Charles II." After his eulogy of Cromwell two years before, we are hardly prepared for such lines as these: "For his long absence Church and State did groan; To see the rebel thrive, the loyal cross'd.” 197. Writing for the Stage.—In 1663 he began to write for the stage. Instead of seeking to elevate public morals, or to attain perfection in art, it is to the lasting discredit of Dryden that he pandered to the vicious taste of the time. His first play, “The Wild Gallant,” was not successful; and Pepys, |