It will be observed that 'the right the present to depose,' is mentioned by Dryden as something manifestly preposterous, and the derivation of it as a logical corollary from the Exclusion Bill is assumed to be a sufficient _reductio ad absurdum_ of the latter. In the view of the majority of the nation, this was sound doctrine until the Revolution, which reduced Dryden's poem from the rank of a powerful political manifesto to that of a brilliant exercise of fancy and dialectic. As such, it will never cease to please and to impress. The finest passages are, no doubt, those descriptive of character, whether carefully studied portraits or strokes against particular foibles imputed to the poet's adversaries, such as this mock apology for the parsimonious kitchen of the Whig sheriff, Slingsby Bethel: 'Such frugal virtue malice may accuse, But sure 'twas necessary to the Jews: For towns, once burnt, such magistrates require, As dare not tempt God's providence by fire.' The elaborate and glowing characters of Achitophel (Shaftesbury) and Zimri (Buckingham) it is needless to transcribe, as they are universally known. It may be remarked that the character of the turbulent and adventurous Shaftesbury does not match very well with that of the Ulyssean Achitophel of Scripture, but Dryden has wisely drawn from what he had before his eyes. _The Medal_, which we have seen reason for attributing to the suggestion of Charles II. himself, appeared in March, 1682. It is a bitter invective against Shaftesbury, its theme the medal which his partisans had very naturally struck upon the occasion of his acquittal in the preceding autumn. It is entirely in a serious vein, and wants the grace and urbanity of some parts of _Absalom and Achitophel_, but is no way inferior as a piece of strong, vehement satire. Shaftesbury's conduct as a minister, before his breach with the Court, is thus described: 'Behold him now exalted into trust; His counsel's oft convenient, seldom just: Even in the most sincere advice he gave He had a grudging still to be a knave. The frauds he learned in his fanatic years Made him uneasy in his lawful gears; At best, as little honest as he could, And, like white witches, mischievously good.' The second part of _Absalom and Achitophel_ appeared in November, 1682. It was mainly the work of Nahum Tate, who imitated his master's versification with success, but has numerous touches from the pen of Dryden, who inserted a long passage of unparalleled satire against his adversaries, especially Settle and Shadwell: 'Who by my means to all succeeding times Shall live in spite of their own doggrel rhymes.' The character of Shadwell (Og) is well known, but it is impossible to avoid quoting a portion of it: