SIR JOHN DENHAM, "Deservedly considered," says Dr Johnson, "as one of the "fathers of English poetry," was born in Dublin, 1615, and entered in 1631 gentleman-commoner at Trinity College, Oxford, where it is said he was chiefly addicted to gaming, and exhibited no signs of genius; and that his tragedy "The Sophy," which he wrote in 1641, and his beautiful poem on Cooper's Hill, composed soon after, were received by the world with astonishment. Waller said " he broke out like the Irish Rebellion, three66 score thousand strong, when no body was aware or in "the least suspected it." Though but an indifferent soldier, his address and knowledge of mankind were often of service to Charles 1. and after the restoration he was much admired by Charles II. who is said to have frequently suggested the subjects of his poetry. He died in 1668. Vide Wood's Athenæ, 11. 422, and Dr Johnson's Lives. His poems were printed, together with "The Sophy," a tragedy, in 1668, 8vo. again in 1671, and repeatedly afterwards. His Version of the Psalms, which Wood never saw, did not appear, I believe, till 1714, when it was pub. lished in 8vo. from the original MS. SONG. MORPHEUS, the humble god that dwells Hates gilded roofs, and beds of down; Flies from the circle of a crown. Come, I say, thou powerful god, Lest he should sleep, and never wake. Nature, alas! why art thou so Obliged to thy greatest foe? Sleep, that is thy best repast, Yet of death it bears a taste, OHN TATHAM. Granger says he was erroneously called City Poet, but has omitted to give his reasons for this assertion; which, indeed, is contradicted by a pageant written by Tatham in celebration of Sir John Frederick's mayoralty in 1661, and preserved in the British Museum. He was the author of four plays; of" Fancy's Theatre,” a volume of poems, printed in 1640, 12mo. and of "Ostella, or the Faction of Love and Beauty reconciled," 1650, 4to. a scarce volume, though not otherwise valuable. The following specimen, taken from the latter collection, is very near being elegant. The Swallow. MARK, Ostella, when the Spring * Then, oh then, to us will come, An amorous guest, who will salute Acquaintance so leaves man in misery SIR EDWARD SHERBURNE. This learned translator was born in 1618, and was constant to the royal cause during the reign of Charles I. in whose armies he held the post of commissary-general of artillery. From March 1654, till October 1659, he travelled through great part of Europe with his pupil Sir John Coventry. As a reward for his loyalty he was knighted by Charles II. in 1682; but suffered inconvenience on James II.'s abdication. His " Poems and Translations, amorous, Jusory, moral, and divine," printed in 1651, 12mo. exhibit marks of considerable genius, which, however, is not sufficiently regulated by judgment. He translated three tragedies from Seneca, viz. Medea, Troades, and Phædra and Hippolitus, and the philosophical poem of Manilius, with notes, 1675, folio. The poet Stanley was his friend and kinsman. For further particulars see Wood's Fasti, II. 18, or the Biographia Britannica. Ice and Fire. NAKED Love did to thine eye, Forc'd from thence, he went to rest |