should be at an end, but impatiently refigned it, and returned to his wonted indigence and amusements. One of his amufements at Lambeth, where he refided, was to mortify Dr. Tennison, the archbishop, by a publick feftivity, on the furrender of Dunkirk to Hill; an event with which Tennison's political bigotry did not fuffer him to be delighted. King was refolved to counteract his fullennefs, and at the expence of a few barrels of ale filled the neighbourhood with honeft merriment. In the Autumn of 1712 his health declined; he grew weaker by degrees, and died on Christmas-day. Though his life had not been without irregularity, his principles. were pure and orthodox, and his death was pious. After this relation, it will be naturally supposed that his poems were rather the amusements of idleness than efforts of study; that he endeavoured rather to divert than astonish; that his thoughts feldom afpired to fublimity; T 3 fublimity; and that, if his verse was easy and his images familiar, he attained what he defired. His purpose is to be merry; though perhaps, to enjoy his mirth, it may be fometimes neceffary to think well of his opinions. SPRAT. SPRA T. HOMAS SPRAT was born in TH 1636, at Tallaton in Devonshire, the fon of a clergyman; and having been educated, as he tells of himself, not at Westminfter or Eaton, but at a little school by the churchyard fide, became a commoner of Wadham College in Oxford in 1651; and, being chofen scholar next year, proceeded through the usual academical course, and in 1657 became master of arts. He obtained a fellowship, and commenced poet. In 1659, his poem on the death of Oliver was published, with thofe of Dryden and Waller. |