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lady of his acquaintance defired him to collect his fcattered poems, and fend them to her from France, and having complied with this lady's requifition, they were accordingly published in the year 1645.

After his return from banishment he lived chiefly at Hall-Barn, near Beaconsfield, where Cromwell ufed frequently to visit him. Waller used to observe, that when Cromwell had been called to the door in the midst of their difcourfes upon these fubjects, he could overhear him repeating, " The Lord will re"veal, the Lord will help," and fuch kind of cant; for which he would apologize when he came back, faying, "Cousin Waller, I muft talk to these men "after their own way;" and would then go on where they left off. According to Waller's report, Cromwell was well versed in the Greek and Roman historians, and made obfervations upon them with uncommon penetration and tafte: and though we do not find that Cromwell trufted any part of the publick bufinefs to Waller's management, yet he treated him with refpect and kindness.

At the restoration he was treated with great civility by Charles II. who always made him one of the party in his diverfions at the Duke of Buckingham's and other places, and gave him a grant of the Provoftship of Eton College, though that grant proved of noeffect, Lord Clarendon, who was then Lord Chancellor, refusing to affix the feal to the patent, alleging

that a layman could not legally hold the Provostship. The King having one day obferved to Waller, that he thought his poem on his return inferiour to his panegyrick upon Cromwell, Waller made this memorable reply; "Sir," fays he, "poets always fucceed better in compofing fiction than in adorning truth." He fat in several parliaments after the restoration, and continued in the full vigour of genius to the end of his life, and his natural vivacity made his company agreeable to the last. James II. notwithstanding the bigotry and gloominess of his mind, affected to be an admirer of Waller, and having one day ordered the Earl of Sunderland to bring Waller to him in the afternoon, when he came the King carried him into his closet, and there asked him how he liked fuch a picture? "Sir," fays Mr Waller, “ my eyes are dim, " and I know not whofe it is." "It is the Princess "of Orange," replied the King. "And she is like "the greatest woman in the world," fays the poet. "Whom do you call fo?" asked the King, "Queen “Elizabeth,” answered Wallèr. “I wonder,” ́ rejoined the King, "you should think so; but I must

confefs fhe had a wife council." "And, $ir,” demanded Waller in his turn," did your Majesty ever "know a fool chufe a wife one?"

In fummer 1687 he was attacked with a swelling in his legs. In autumn of fame year the disorder increafing confined him to bed, and he found his life

drawing to a period: for this awful event he prepared himself, and supported the laft fcene of life with propriety and fortitude. He died on the 21ft of October 1687, and was interred in the churchyard of Beaconsfield.

He left several children, and bequeathed his estate. to his fecond fon Edmund, his eldeft, Benjamin, being fo far from inheriting his father's wit, that he even wanted common fenfe. He was fent to NewJerfey in America. Edmund, in the beginning of his life, was member of Parliament for Agmondesham, but afterwards turned Quaker. He died without iffue, and left the eflate to Edmund, the eldest fon of his brother Dr. Stephen Waller, who was our Poet's fourth son, and a famous Civilian. By his firft wife our Author had a fon and a daughter; and by his fecond wife, Mary, of the family of Breffe, or Breaux, in the province of Normandy, he had five fons and eight daughters, most of whom furvived him.

Waller's perfon was elegant and graceful; and his elocution, like his verse, was musical and flowing. So happily formed was he for society, that his converfation, which was at once polite, learned, and witty, was courted by those who detefted his principles and conduct. But as the character of this Poet is drawn at large by the masterly hand of Lord Clarendon, the reader will find it includes every thing that needs be faid in regard to him. "Edmund Waller," fays

the noble historian, " was born to a very fair estate, "by the parfimony or frugality of a wife father and "mother, and he thought it so commendable an ad"vantage, that he refolved to improve it with his "utmost care, upon which in his nature he was too "much intent; and, in order to that, he was fo much "referved and retired, that he was scarce ever heard "of till, by his addrefs and dexterity, he had gotten " a very rich wife in the City, against all the recom"mendation, and countenance, and authority, of the "court, which was thoroughly engaged on the be"half of Mr. Crofts, and which used to be successful “in that age against any opposition. He had the good “fortune to have an alliance and friendship with Dr. 66 Morley, who had affifted and instructed him in the "reading many good books, to which his natural "parts and promptitude inclined him, especially the "Poets; and at the age when other men used to give over writing verfes, (for he was near thirty years "of age when he first engaged himself in that exer"cife, at least that he was known to do fo) he fur"prised the Town with two or three pieces of that "kind, as if a tenth Mufe had been newly born to "cherish drooping poetry. The Doctor at that time "brought him into that company which was most "celebrated for good conversation, where he was "received and efteemed with great applaufe and re"fpe&t. He was a very pleasant difcourfer, in earnest

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"and in jeft, and therefore very grateful to all kind "of company, where he was not the lefs efteemed "for being very rich. He had been even nurfed in "parliaments, where he fat when he was very young, "and so when they were resumed again, (after a long "intermiffion) he appeared in thofe affemblies with great advantage. Having a graceful way of speak"ing, and by thinking much upon several arguments (which his temper and complexion, that had much "of melancholick, inclined him to) he seemed often to speak upon the fudden, when the occafion had only administered the opportunity of faying what "he had thoroughly confidered, which gave a great "luftre to all he said, which yet was rather of delight "than weight. There needs no more be faid to ex"tol the excellence and power of his wit, and plea"fantnefs of his converfation, than that it was of "magnitude enough to cover a world of very great "faults; that is, fo to cover them, that they were "not taken notice of to his reproach; viz. a narrow"nefs in his nature to the lowest degree; an abject"nefs and want of courage to fupport him in any "virtuous undertaking; an infinuation and fervile "flattery to the height the vainest and most impe"rious nature could be contented with; that it "preferved and won his life from those who were "moft refolved to take it, and on an occafion in "which he ought to have been ambitious to have lost

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