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Ode ad Henricum St. John, Armig* 1706
An Ode to Henry St. John, Efquire, 1706

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THE

PO E MS

OF

MR. EDMUND SMITH

.

PHEDRA AND HIPPOLITUS,

TRAGEDY.

To the Right Honourable

CHARLES Lord HALIFAX.

MY LORD,

As

S foon as it was made known that your Lordship was not displeased with this Play, my friends began to value themselves upon the interest they had taken in its fuccefs; I was touched with a vanity I had not before been acquainted with, and began to dream of nothing less than the immortality of my Work.

And I had fufficiently fhewn this vanity in infcribing this Play to your Lordship, did I only confider you as one to whom fo many admirable pieces, to whom the praises of Italy, and the best Latin poem fince the Æneid, that on the peace of Ryswick, are confecrated. But it had been intolerable prefumption to have addreffed it to you, my Lord, who are the niceft judge of poetry, were you not also the greatest encourager of it; to you who excel all the present age as a poet, did you not furpass all the preceding ones as a patron.

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For in the times when the Mufes were most encouraged, the best writers were countenanced, but never advanced; they were admitted to the acquaintance of the greatest men, but that was all they were to expect. The bounty of the patron is no where to be read of but in the works of the Poets, whereas your Lordship's will fill thofe of the hiftorians.

For what transactions can they write of, which have not been managed by fome who were recommended by your Lordship? 'Tis by your Lordship's means, that the universities have been real nurferies for the state; that the courts abroad are charmed by the wit and learning, as well as the fagacity, of our minifters; that Germany, Switzerland, Muscovy, and even Turkey itfelf begins to relish the politeness of the English; that the poets at home adorn that court which they formerly ufed only to divert; that abroad they travel, in a manner very unlike their predecessor Homer, and with an equipage he could not bestow, even on the heroes he defigned to immortalize.

And this, my Lord, fhews your knowledge of men. as well as writings, and your judgment no less than your generofity. You have distinguished between those who by their inclinations or abilities were qualified for the pleasure only, and those that were fit for the fervice of your country; you made the one eafy, and the other ufeful: you have left the one no occafion to wish for any preferment, and you have obliged the public by the promotion of the others.

And now, my lord, it may feem odd that I fhould

dwell

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