ΤΟ

Her ROYAL HIGHNESS, the

PRINCESS of WALES

MADAM,

A

SI am confcious, that no compo-fition of my own could be wor

thy to be laid at your Royal Highnefs's feet; it is my happiness, as an Editor, to have this opportunity of approaching you, by fubmitting to your protection. the best Dramatic Poet that these kingdoms could ever boast of. He enjoy'd, whilft living, the favour of the greatest A. 3.2. Queen

Queen that has fat on the English throne; and therefore, I hope, is intitled to your Royal Highness's fmiles over his urn.

Could I picture out his character equalto its merits, the world would foon difCover a fort of parallel betwixt the Poet and his Patronefs. His excellencies were as great, as they were various; his beauties ftrong, and all native; the frame of his mind as fweet and candid, as his countenance was open and engaging; and his fentiments as chafte, as his conceptions, were noble: He knew how to charm without affectation; and had the wondrous force of preferving all hearts, that once felt the influence of his attractions.

After what I have faid, MADAM, I am afraid the duty of this address should be mifconftrued a panegyrick on your Royal Highness. But I have profefs'd myself unequal to the task of drawing his portraiture, and my humble sphere in

life fets me at too great a distance to take even the outlines of your perfections.. I would not therefore, where I cannot prefume to do justice, be thought to descend to the unbecoming art of flattery. I must launch out, indeed, a great way, to make myself liable to that imputation, with regard to your Royal Highness; but Dedications are generally fufpected of overftraining.

How far fo ever, MADAM, my vanity or my ambition might mislead me into that tract, I'll oblige myfelf to govern both my duty; and turn all attempts, of praise and compliment into veneration and pious wishes. That You may long continue to bless the eyes and arms of the PRINCE, your Illuftrious Confort; and that you may continue to blefs the nation. with a numerous fucceffion of Princes,. to the future glory and fecurity of our eftablishment, is my ardent prayer; and

in that I will center the only merit, by which I would pretend to profess myself

MADAM,

Your ROYAL HIGHNESS'S

Moft dutiful and most obedient,

humble fervant,

LEW. THEOBALD,

AB

An EPITAPH on the admirable
Dramatic Poet, W. SHAKESPEARE.

WHAT neede my Shakespeare for his honour'd bones.

The labour of an age, in piled ftones?

Or that his hallow'd reliques fhould be hid
Under a ftarr-y-pointing pyramid ?

Deare fonne of memory, great heire of Fame,
What needit thou fuch dull witneffe of thy name? -
Thou in our wonder and astonishment

Haft built thy felfe a live-long monument:
For whil'ft to th' fhame of flow-endevouring art
Thy eafie numbers flow, and that each heart
Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued booke,
Thofe Delphicke lines, fuch deep impreffion tooke :.
Then thou, our fancy of her felfe bereaving,
Doft make us marble with too much conceiving:
And, fo fepulcher'd, in fuch pompe doft lie,
That kings for fuch a tombe would with to die.
J. MILTON

This Epitaph was writt in 1630, when Milton was in his two and twentieth year; for he was born in 1608.

In Remembrance of

Mafter WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

O D E.

BEware (delighted Poets!) when you fing

To welcome nature in the early spring,
Your num'rous feet not tread
The banks of Avon; for each flower
(As it ne'er knew a fun, or shower,)

Hangs, there, the penfive head.
II.

Each tree, whofe thick and spreading growth hath made-
Rather a night beneath the boughs, than fhade,

A 5

(Unwilling