of the moderns. He entered fo exactly into their pronunciation and accent, to which he joined fuch a perfect imitation. of their air and manners, that not only the people of the different nations in Europe, but the feveral provinces of France, would have taken him for a native of the country. He applied his talent to imitate all forts of perfons, which he performed with wonderful dexterity; and was accordingly the best comedian in the world. He was a good poet, an excellent musician, and fung with equal art and fweetnefs. He faid mafs; for he would do every thing, as well as know every thing. His body was perfectly. He was proportioned to his mind. well made, vigorous and agile, formed for all forts of exercises. He rode a horfe well, and was admired for dancing, leap

ing, and wrestling. He was acquainted with all kinds of sports and diverfions, and could practise in moft of the mathematical arts. Reverfe the medal, fays Sully; he was a liar, falfe, treacherous, cruel, and cowardly, a fharper, drunkard, and glutton. He was a gamefter, an abandoned debauchée, and blafphemer, and atheift. In a word, was poffeffed of every vice, contrary to nature, to honour, to religion, and fociety; he perfifted in his vices to the laft, and fell a facrifice to his debaucheries, in the flower of his age. He died at the public ftew, holding the glafs in his hand, fwearing and denying God.

8. And great Naffau to Kneller's hand decreed, To fix him graceful on the bounding fteed.

1

Neither king William nor queen Mary ever fat to any other perfon besides

Sir

Sir Godfrey Kneller; and what is more remarkable, he had the honour to draw ten crowned heads; four kings of England and three queens, the czar of Mufcovy, Charles III. king of Spain, afterwards emperor; and the French king Lewis XIV. befides divers electors and princes by which means his reputation became fo univerfal, that the emperor Leopold dignified him as a nobleman. and knight of the holy Roman empire, by patent; and his majefty king George I. created him a baronet of Great Britain. He always lived in the greateft efteem and reputation; abounding no lefs in wealth than fplendor; in both, far furpaffing any of his predeceffors. He spent the latter part of his life at Whitton, near Hampton Court, where he built a houfe after a complete manner, and furnished it in all refpects accordingly.

Learn

Learn to live well, or fairly make your will, You've play'd and lov'd, and eat and drank your

fill:

Walk fober off, before a fprightlier age

Comes titt'ring on, and fhoves you from the ftage: Leave fuch to trifle with more grace and ease, Whom folly pleases, and whofe follies please *.

These lines are extremely beautiful; and contain an excellent leffon for those old conceited people, who are not contented with being allowed understanding in those points, where experience confers knowledge, but muft ape the fashionable follies of youth, and pretend to be as knowing in what concerns the younger part of mankind, as they ought to be in what regards themselves. Age, when it affumes the fteadiness and wisdom of experience, is venerable; but when it de

* Book II. Ep. ii. vers. 322.

viates into the foibles of youth, it becomes contemptible *.

Go

* "What borrowed ornaments are thefe ?" fays Dr. Young, in an addrefs to the aged part of the female fex. "Is vanity ftill in its fpring? Is the folly of hairless heads, putting forth its gay bloffoms in the December of life? Age cannot drop its dignity, and yet retain its privileges. It must be laughed at, if it will not be revered t. To fecure to the old that influence, which they are willing to claim, and which might so much contribute to the improvement of the arts of life, it is abfolutely neceffary, that they give themselves up to the duties of declining years; and contentedly refign to youth its levity, its pleasures, its frolicks, and its fopperies. It is a hopelefs endeavour to unite the contrarieties of fpring and winter; it is unjust to claim the privileges of age, and retain the playthings of childhood. The young always form magnificent ideas of the wifdom and gravity of men, whom they confider as placed at a distance

* Centaur not fabulous, vol. iv. 146.

VOL. II.

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