398

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

111 .

quently printed merely that they might be dedicated. Thistraffic in praise produced the effect which might have beenexpected. Adulation pushed to the verge, sometimes ofnonsense, and sometimes of impiety, was not thought todisgrace a poet. Independence, veracity, self-respect, werethings not required by the world from him. In truth, he wasin morals something between apandar and a beggar.

To the other vices which degraded the literary characterwas added, towards the close of the reign of Charles theSecond, the most savage intemperance of party spirit. Thewits, as a class, had been impelled by their old hatred ofPuritanism to take the side of the court, and had been founduseful allies. Dryden, in particular, had done good serviceto the government. His Absalom and Achitophel, the great-est satire of modern times, had amazed the town, had madeits way with unprecedented rapidity even into rural districts,and had, wherever it appeared, bitterly annoyed the Ex-clusionists, and raised the courage of the Tories. But wemust not, in the admiration which we naturally feel for noblediction and versification, forget the great distinctions of goodand evil. The spirit by which Dryden and several of hiscompeers were at this time animated against the Whigs de-serves to be called fiendish. The servile Judges and Sheriffsof those evil days could not shed blood so fast as the poetscried out for it. Calls for more victims, hideous jests onhanging, bitter taunts on those who, having stood by theKing in the hour of danger, now advised him to deal merci-fully and generously by his vanquished enemies, were publiclyrecited on the stage, and, that nothing might be wanting tothe guilt and the shame, were recited by women, who, havinglong been taught to discard all modesty, were now taught todiscard all compassion. *

* If any reader thinks my expressions too severe, I would advise himto read Drvden’s Epilogue to the Duke of Guise, and to observe that itWas spoken by a woman.