Such wonders have thy powerful raptures shewn, Pythagoras' transmigration thou'st outdone; His souls of heroes and great chiefs expired, Down into birds and noble beasts retired: But then to savages and monsters dire, Canst infuse sparks even of celestial fire; Make treason glory, murderers heroes live, And even to regicides canst godhead give. Thus in thy songs the yet warm bloody dart, Fresh reeking in a martyred monarch's heart, Burnished by verse, and polished by thy lines, The rubies in imperial crowns outshines; Whilst in applause to that sad day's success, So black a theme in so divine a dress, Thy soaring flights Prometheus' thefts excel, Whilst thou steal'st fire from heaven to enlighten hell. The same accusation is urged in another libel, called "The Laureat:" Nay, had our Charles, by Heaven's severe decree, Been found, and murdered in the royal tree, Even thou hadst praised the fact. His father slain, Thou call'dst but _gently breathing of a vein_. Impious and villainous, to bless the blow } That laid at once three lofty nations low, } And gave the royal cause a fatal overthrow! } Another witling, to add to the heinousness of this expression, assures us, that Dryden had at first declared for the king, then for the parliament, and, finally, for Cromwell: I for the Royal Martyr first declared, But, ere his head was off, I was prepared To own the Rump, and for that cause did rhime; But, those kicked out, next moment turned to him Who routed them: called him my sovereign, And praised his opening of the kingly vein. _Dialogue in Bedlam between Oliver's Porter, Fidler, and Poet._ These are examples of the inveteracy, with which Dryden's enemies were ready to wrest his expressions from the common interpretation into one more strong and unwarrantable. Dryden, sufficiently embarrassed by the praises he had bestowed on the Usurper, a charge from which he could not vindicate himself, took no notice of the uncandid lengths to which it was carried. Note V. _He fought, secure of fortune as of fame, Till by new maps the island might be shewn; Of conquests, which he strewed where'er he came, Thick as the galaxy with stars is sown._--St. XIV. p. 10. Notwithstanding the inconstancy of Victory during the civil war, she never deserted the banner of Cromwell. Even in undecided conflicts, the brigade, or wing, with which he fought, had always the superiority. The royalists never once saw him fly before them, during all the pitched battles in which he was engaged in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Note VI. _His palms, though under weights they did not stand, Still thrived._--St. XV. p. 10.