partly in my own justification, and partly too because I think it not unworthy of your sight; only remembering you, that the last line connects the sense to the ensuing part of it.-Farewell, reader: if you are a father, you will forgive me; if not, you will when you are a father.

Time was, when none could preach without degrees, And seven-years toil at Universities;

But when the canting Saints came once in play,

The Spirit did their business in a day :

A zealous cobler, with the gift of tongue,

If he could pray six hours, might preach as long.
Thus, in the primitive times of poetry,
The stage to none but men of sense was free;
But thanks to your judicious taste, my masters,
It lies in common, now, to poetasters.
You set them up, and till you dare condemn,
The satire lies on you, and not on them.
When mountebanks their drugs at market cry,
Is it their fault to sell, or yours to buy?

'Tis true, they write with ease, and well they may;
Fly-blows are gotten every summer's day;
The poet does but buz, and there's a play.
Wit's not his business, &c.

}

DEDICATION

AND ACCOUNT OF

ANNUS MIRABILIS:

FIRST PRINTED IN OCTAVO, IN 1667.

1

DEDICATION

OF

ANNUS MIRABILIS,,

THE YEAR OF WONDERS,

M DC LXVI.

AN HISTORICAL POEM.

ΤΟ

THE METROPOLIS OF GREAT BRITAIN,

THE MOST RENOWNED AND LATE FLOURISHING

CITY OF LONDON,

IN ITS REPRESENTATIVES, THE LORD MAYOR AND COURT
OF ALDERMEN, THE SHERIFFS AND COMMON COUNCIL
OF IT,

As
perhaps I am the first who ever pre-
sented a work of this nature to the metropolis of
any nation, so it is likewise consonant to justice,
that he who was to give the first example of such
a Dedication should begin it with that city which
has set a pattern to all others of true loyalty,
invincible courage, and unshaken constancy.-
Other cities have been praised for the same virtues;
but I am much deceived, if any have so dearly

The title of this poem was not new. A prose tract thus entitled was published

Coltirabilis Anaus, or the year of prodigies and wonders was published in 4tr in 1687.

Х

purchased their reputation: their fame has been won them by cheaper trials than an expensive, though necessary war, a consuming pestilence, and a more consuming fire. To submit yourselves with that humility to the judgments of Heaven, and at the same time to raise yourselves with that vigour above all human enemies; to be combated at once from above and from below; to be struck down and to triumph, I know not whether such trials have been ever paralleled in any nation the resolution and successes of them never can be. Never had prince or people more mutual reason to love each other, if suffering for each other can endear affection. You have come together a pair of matchless lovers, through many difficulties; he through a long exile, various traverses of fortune, and the interposition of many rivals, who violently ravished and withheld you from him; and certainly you have had your share in sufferings. But Providence has cast upon you want of trade, that you might appear bountiful to your country's necessities; and the rest of your afflictions are not more the effects of GOD's displeasure, (frequent examples of them having been in the reign of the most excellent princes,) than

6 England was now at war with the Dutch. 68,596 persons died within the bills of mortality, of the great plague in 1665. The fire of London, which began September 2d, 1666, laid waste four hundred streets, and destroyed 13,200 houses.