To the Right Honourable LIONE L, EARL of Dorfet and Middlesex. T looks like no great Compli ment to Your Lordship, that I prefix Your Name to this Epiftle; when, in the Preface, I declare the Book is publish'd almoft against my Inclination. But, in all Cafes, My Lord, You have an Hereditary Right to whatever may be called Mine. Many of the following Pieces were written by the Command of Your Excellent Father; A 3 Father; and most of the reft, under His Protection and Patronage. The particular Felicity of Your Birth, My Lord; The natural Endowments of Your Mind, which, without fufpicion of Flattery, I may tell You, are very Great; The good Education with which thefe Parts have been improved; and Your coming into the World, and feeing Men very early; make Us expect from Your Lordfhip all the Good, which our Hopes can form in Favour of a young Nobleman. Tu Marcellus eris, Our Eyes and our Hearts are turned on You. You must be a Judge and Mafter of Polite Learning; a Friend and Patron to Men of Letters and Merit; a faithful and able Counsellor to Your Prince; a true Patriot to Your Countrey; an Ornament and Honor to the Titles You poffefs; and in one Word, a Worthy Son to the Great Earl of DORSET. It is as impoffible to mention that Name, without defiring to Commend the Perfon; as it is to give Him the Commendations which His Virtues deserved. But I affure my felf, the moft agreeable Compliment I can bring Your Lordship, is to pay a grateful Refpect to Your Father's Memory. And my own Obligations to Him were fuch; that the World must pardon my Endeavoring deavoring at His Character, however I may miscarry in the Attempt. A Thousand Ornaments and Graces met in the Compofition of, this Great Man; and contributed to make Him univerfally Belov'd and Esteem'd. The Figure of His Body was Strong, Proportionable, Beautiful: and were his Picture well Drawn, it must deserve the Praise given to the Pourtraits of RAPHAEL; and, at once, create Love and Refpect. While the Greatness of His Mein inform'd Men, they were approaching the Nobleman; the Sweetnefs of it invited them to come nearer to the Patron. There was in His Look and Gesture fomething that is more eafily conceived than defcribed; that gain'd upon You in His Favor, before He fpake one Word. His Behavior was Eafie and Courteous to all; but Diftinguished and Adapted to each Man in particular, according to his Station and Quality. His Civility was free from the Formality of Rule, and flowed immediately from His good Senfe. Such were the Natural Faculties and Strength of His Mind, that He had occafion to borrow very little from Education : and He owed thofe Advantages to His own Good Parts, which Others acquire by Study and Imitation. His Wit was Abundant, A. 4 Noble, Noble, Bold. Wit in moft Writers is like a Fountain in a Garden, fupply'd by feveral Streams brought thro' artful Pipes, and playing fometimes agreeably. But the Earl of DORSET's was a Source rifing · from the Top of a Mountain, which forced it's own way, and with inexhaustible Supplies, delighted and inriched the Country thro' which it pafs'd. This extraordinary Genius was accompany'd with fo true a Judgment in all Parts of fine Learning, that whatever Subject was before Him, He Discours'd as properly of it, as if the peculiar Bent of His Study had been apply'd That way; and He perfected His Judgment by Reading and Digesting the beft Authors, tho' He quoted Them very feldom, Contemnebat potiùs literas, quàm nefciebat: and rather feem'd to draw His Knowledge from His own Stores, than to owe it to any Foreign Affiítance. The Brightness of His Parts, the Solidity of His Judgment, and the Candor and Generofity of His Temper distinguish'd Him in an Age of great Politeness, and at a Court abounding with Men of the finest Senfe and Learning. The most eminent Malers in their feveral Ways appeal'd to |