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Locke, who was behind Newton before, now being the firfl in 

 the line, attacked Malbranche, and drove him prefently from the 

 field ; then, together with Bacon, finding no more enemies re- 

 maining, he retired towards Newton, where it was eafy to per- 

 ceive in their converfation, the reciprocal efteem thefe great men 

 had for each other. Milton, the moment he was informed by 

 Addifon that Voltaire was preparing to attack him in front, while 

 Brebeuf and Chapelain flanked him, could not help laughing at 

 their infigniricancy, and faid that he mould do right in fending 

 Sir Richard Blackmore's Prince Arthur to engage them; but as 

 the enemy had the prefumption by this time to begin the attack, 

 he defired Addifon only to play the defcription of the artillery of 

 Satan upon them, which immediately occahoned a rout. Spenfer 

 met with as great fuccefs againfr. Marot and Ronfard. Many of 

 the Italian allegorical poets were feen hovering round him, and 

 preventing any prejudice that might have otherwile been done to 

 him by his antagonifts ; particularly Ariofto, who defcended from 

 an upper flielf upon an unruly Ippogrif, and prefented him with 

 an enchanted dart, which nothing could witliitand, whilft he 

 at the fame time proclaimed him the chief of allegorical poets 

 Thus every thing in the centre was obliged to give way to the 

 fuperior merit of the Engliih. The engagement in the two 

 wings, during this time, was extremely obftinate. The right 

 wing of the French, as before mentioned, was commanded by 

 Corneille, as that of the Englifh was by Shakfpeare ; Shakfpeare, 

 immediately upon the found of the trumpet, advanced to attack 

 his adverfary, but notwithftanding he behaved himfelf with the 

 greateft refolution, yet he did not meet with all the fuccefs he 

 had promifed himfelf .; for the artillery charged with the unity of 

 time and place, made a terrible havock among his troops. Ad- 

 difon, obfer-ving this, defired leave of Milton that he might afiift 



him, 



