256 LIFE OF COTTON. 



ludicrous delineation of some of the most stupendous works of nature; 

 in all which, we meet with such foul imagery, such obscene allu- 

 sions, such offensive descriptions, such odious comparisons, such 

 coarse sentiment, and such filthy expression, as could only proceed 

 from a polluted imagination, and tend to excite loathing and contempt. 

 On the other hand, there are, in his Poems on sereraf occasion*, 

 verses, to ladies in particular, of so courtly and elegant a turn, that, 

 baiting their incorrectness, they might vie with many of Waller and 

 Cowley : others there are, that bespeak him to have had a just sense of 

 honour, loyalty, and moral rectitude ; as do these that follow, penned 

 by him with a view to preserve the memory of a deceased friend. 



Virtue, in those good times that bred good men, 

 No testimony crav'd, of tongue or pen ; 

 No marble columns, nor engraven brass, 

 To tell the world that such it person was ; 

 For then each pious act, to fair descent, 

 Stood for the worthy owner'* monume nt : 

 But in this chanre oY manner-sand of states, 

 Good names, though writ in marble, have their fates; 

 Such is the harh'ious HIM! irrevVent rge 

 That arms the rauble of this impious aue. 



Yt-i may this hapuy stone, that bears a name, 

 Such as no bold survivor dares to claim, 

 To apes yet unborn, unblemish'd stand, 

 Safe from the stroke of an inhuman hand. 

 Here, reader! here a PORT'S sad relics lie," 

 To teach the careless world mortality ; 

 Who. while he mortal wa*, umivall'd stood, 

 The crown and glory of his unlienl blood ; 

 Fit f<>r his prince's and his country's trust; 

 Piou* to God, and to his neighbour just; 

 A loyal husband to his lair-' end, 

 A gracious father, and a faithful friend ; 

 Belov'd he liv'd, and died o'ercharg'd with years, 

 Fuller of honour than of stiver hairs. 

 And, to sum up hi* viriu-*, this was he 

 Who was what all we should, but cannot be* 



To this it may be added, that in sundry part* of his writings, and 

 even in his poems, the evidences of piety in the author are discernible : 

 among them is a paraphrase on that noble and sublime hymn, the 

 eighth psalm. And in the poem entitled Stame$ Irreyu/iers, are the 

 following lines: 



Dear solitude! the soul's best friend, 

 That man acquainted with himself 'dust make, 

 And all his Maker's wonders, to intend ; 

 With Ihee 1 here converse at will, 

 And would be glad to do so still, 

 For it is thou, alone, that keep'st the soul awake. 



And lastly, in the following book, he, in the person of Pixcalor, thus 

 utters his own sentiment of a practice which few that love fishing, and 

 have not a sense of decorum, not to say of religion, would in these 

 days of licence forbear : " A worm is so sure a bait at all times, that, 



(1) On a monument of Robert Port, Esq. in the church of Ham, in the 

 county of Stafford. 



