fent age, as incompetent or corrupt judges. For my comfort, they are but Englishmen, and, as fuch, if they think ill of me to-day, they are inconftant enough to think well of me to-morrow. And after all, I have not much to thank my fortune that I was born amongst them. The good of both fexes are fo few, in England, that they ftand like exceptions against general rules and tho one of them has deferved a greater commendation than I could give her, they have taken care that I should not tire my pen with frequent exercife on the like fubjects'; that praises, like taxes, fhould be appropriated, and left almost as individual as the perfon. They fay, my talent is satire : if it be fo, 'tis a fruitful age, and there is an extraordinary crop to gather. But a fingle hand is infufficient for fuch a harveft: they have fown the dragons teeth themfelves, and 'tis but just they should reap each other in lampoons. You, my lord, who have the character of honor, tho 'tis not my happiness to know you, may stand afide, with the fmall remainders of the English nobility, truly fuch, and, unhurt yourselves, behold the mad combat. If I have pleased you, and fome few others, I have obtained my end.

You fee I have disabled myself, like an elected speaker of the house: yet like him I have undertaken the charge, and find the burden fufficiently recompenfed by the honor. Be pleafed to accept of these my unworthy labors, this papermonument; and let her pious memory, which I am fure is facred to you, not only plead the pardon of my many faults, but gain me your protection, which is ambitiously fought by,

A PANEGYRICAL POEM,

Dedicated to the MEMORY of the Late

COUNTESS of ABINGDON.

A Swhen fome great and gracious monarch dies,

Soft whispers, firft, and mournful murmurs

rife

Among the fad attendants; then the found
Soon gathers voice, and fpreads the news around,
Thro town and country, till the dreadful blast
Is blown to diftant colonies at laft;

Who, then, perhaps, were offering vows in vain,
For his long life, and for his happy reign :
So flowly, by degrees, unwilling fame
Did matchless Eleonora's fate proclaim,

Till public as the lofs the news became.

The nation felt it in th' extremeft parts, With eyes o'erflowing, and with bleeding hearts; But most the poor, whom daily she supply'd,

Beginning to be fuch, but when she dy'd.

For, while the liv'd, they flept in peace by night,
Secure of bread, as of returning light;
And with fuch firm dependence on the day,
That need grew pamper'd, and forgot to pray:
So fure the dole, fo ready at their call,
They stood prepar'd to see the manna fall. (O

Such multitudes fhe fed, the cloth'd, she nurft,
That she herself might fear her wanting first.
Of her five talents, other five fhe made;
Heaven, that had largely given, was largely paid:
And in few lives, in wond'rous few, we find
A fortune better fitted to the mind.
Nor did her alms from oftentation fall,
Or proud defire of praise; the foul gave
Unbrib'd it gave; or, if a bribe appear,

all:

No less than heaven; to heap huge treasures there.
Want pafs'd for merit at her open door :
Heaven faw, he fafely might increase his poor,
And truft their fuftenance with her fo well,
As not to be at charge of miracle.

None could be needy, whom the saw, or knew;
All in the compass of her sphere the drew:
He, who could touch her garment, was as fure,
As the firft Chriftians of th' apoftles' cure.
The distant heard,, by fame, her pious deeds,
And laid her up for their extremeft needs;

A future cordial for a fainting mind;
For, what was ne'er refus'd, all hop'd to find,
Each in his turn: the rich might freely come,
As to a friend; but to the poor, 'twas home.
As to fome holy house the afflicted came,
The hunger-starv'd, the naked and the lame;
Want and difeafes fled before her name.
For zeal like her's her fervants were too flow;
She was the firft, where need requir'd, to go;
Herfelf the foundrefs and attendant too.

Sure fhe had guefts fometimes to entertain,
Guests in disguise, of her great Master's train :
Her Lord himself might come, for ought we know;
Since in a fervant's form he liv'd below:
Beneath her roof he might be pleas'd to stay;
Or fome benighted angel, in his way,
Might eafe his wings, and, feeing heaven appear
In its beft work of mercy, think it there;
Where all the deeds of charity and love
Were in as conftant method, as above,
All carry'd on; all of a piece with theirs ;
As free her alms, as diligent her cares;
As loud her praises, and as warm her pray'rs.

Yet was the not profufe; but fear'd to waste, And wifely manag'd, that the stock might last ;