MEMOIRS OF DR. DARWIN. 147 



CHAPTER IV, 



DURING the courfe of the year 1780, 

 died ' Colonel Pole. Dr. Darwin, more 

 fortunate than Petrarch, whofe deftiny 

 his own had refembled in poetic endow- 

 ment and hopelefs love, then faw his 

 adored Laura free, and himfelf at liberty 

 to court her favor, whofe coldnefs his 

 mufe had recorded ; to " drink fofter effu- 

 " fion from thofe eyes," which duty and 

 difcretion had rendered repulfive. He 

 foon, however, faw her furrounded by 

 rivals, whofe time of life had nearer parity 

 with her own, yet in its fummer bloom, 

 while his age nearly approached its hair 

 century ; whofe fortunes were affluent and 

 L 2, patri- 



