TO HER GRACE

THE

DUTCHESS OF PORTSMOUTH.

MADAM,

WERE it possible for me to let the world know, bow entirely your Grace's goodness has devoted a poor man to your service: were there words enough in speech to express the mighty sense I have of your great bounty towards me; surely I should write and talk of it for ever: but your Grace has given me so large a theme, and laid so very vaft a foundation, that Imagination wants stock to build upon it. I am as one dumb,, when I would speak of it: and, when I strive to write, I want a scale of thought sufficient to comprehend the height of it. Forgive me, then, Madam, if (as a poor peasant once made a present of an apple to an Emperor) I bring this small tribute, the humble growth of my little garden, and lay it at your feet. Believe it is paid you with the utmost gratitude: believe that, so long as I have thought to remember how very much I owe your very generous nature, I will ver have a heart that shall be grateful for it too. Your Grace, next Heaven, deserves it amply from me:

that gave me life, but on a hard condition, till your extended favour taught me to prize the gift, and took the heavy burthen it was clogged with from me, I mean hard fortune. When I had enemies, that with malicious power kept back and shaded me from those royal beams, whose warmth is all I have, or hope to live by your noble pity and compassion found me, where I was cast backward from my blessing, down in the rear of fortune, called me up, placed me in the shine, and I have felt its comfort. You have in that restored me to my native right: for a steady faith, and loyalty to my Prince, was all the inheritance my father left me; and, however hardly my ill fortune deal with me, 'tis what I prize so well, that I never pawn'd it yet, and hope I shall never part with it. Nature and Fortune were certainly in league, when you were born; and as the first took care to give you beauty enough to enslave the hearts of all the world; so the other resolv'd to do its merit justice, that none but a monarch fit to rule the world should e'er possess it; and in it had an empire. The young prince you have given him, by bis blooming virtues, early declares the mighty stock he came from: and as you have taken all the pious care of a dear mother, and a prudent guardian, to give him a noble and generous education; may it succeed according to bis merits and avishes: may your be grow up to be a bulwark to his illustricus father, and a patron to his loyal' subjects; with wisdom and learning to assist him,

whenever called to his councils; to defend his right against the incroachment of republicans in his senates: to cherish such men as shall be able to vindicate the royal cause; that good and fit servants to the crown may never be lost, for want of a protector. May be have courage and conduct fit to fight his battles abroad, and terrify his rebels at home: and, that all these may be yet more sure, may he never, during the spring time of his years, when those growing virtues ought with care to be cherished, in order to their ripening, may he never meet with vicious natures, or the tongues of faithless, sordid, insipid flatterers, to blast 'em. To conclude, may he be as great as the band of Fortune (with his honour) shall be able to make him; and may your Grace, who are so good a mistress, and so noble a patroness, never meet with a less grateful servant, than,

Madam,

Your Grace's

Entirely devoted Creature,

THO. OTWAY.

THOMAS OTWAY.

LITTLE is with any certainty known of the great Author of VENICE PRESERVED.-In the licentious days of Charles II. it is believed neither the virtues nor the vices of OTWAY were sufficiently prominent to distinguish him..

His father, Mr. HUMPHREY OTWAY, was the Rector of Wolbeding in Sussex-THOMAS the poet was born on the 3d of March, 1651. He was first sent to Wickeham School, and thence removed to Christ-Church, Oxford, of which he became a Commoner in 1669.

On leaving the University, the histrionic frenzy possessed him-He found the bent of his mind led him to the Theatre, but he mistook the part he was to perform there: instead of exciting emotions himself upon a stage, he was to furnish others with a cue for passion, as long as the language he spoke should exist. He made as an

Actor but one attempt, and in that he is said to have failed.

The army and Otway had as little congenial between them-He served in Flanders, but, versatile and facile, he soon became disgusted, and at length resolved to write for the Players-How well he succeeded, is impressed upon every heart.

Imprudence, however, is said to have left him never above want, and sometimes, it is reported, had plunged him into all its severities. We hear continually an idle reproach upon the ingratitude of an age which can suffer the indigence of Genius. But it should be confidered that, for the most part, such dilemmas are voluntary inflictions, and that he has slender claims upon the sympathy of men, whom calamity cannot make wise, and whom pride prevents from soliciting relief.

OTWAY died in 1685; but, it is hoped, the wretched fate said to have attended him is fictitious-Nothing, however, can with any certainty be advanced respecting his end.

Few of the Professors of Literature offer so striking an example as Otway of the sublime