KING CHARLES II. BY JOHN DRYDEN, SERVANT TO HIS LATE MAJESTY, AND THE PRESENT KING.”

The poet, beginning by asserting that "Thus long his "grief had kept him dumb," proceeds to describe the serenity of the heavens, as disturbed by a thunder clap and a hurricane, announcing that "our gracious prince is dead." The prince, his brother, afterwards James II., runs, "half unarrayed," to the spot; but finds (of course to his great joy) that the king has not yet expired. Let it be remembered that it is Charles II. of whom the Poet Laureat is now about to speak:

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"God's image-God's anointed lay,

Without a motion, pulse, or breath;
A senseless lump of sacred clay,
An image now of death."

All are employed in watching "the lines of that adored, forgiving face." The scene changes. Heaven is grieved, and appears to relent. Mercy and forgiveness intercede. With regard to the holy king's suceessor,

"On earth his pious brother prayed-and vowed-
Renouncing greatness at so dear a rate!"

Whilst, as for his subjects, they

"All for his life assailed the throne,

And would have bribed the skies by offering up their own!"

The effects are what might be anticipated:

"So great a throng not heaven itself could bear—
'Twas almost borne by force, as in the giant's war;
The prayers at last for his reprieve were heard;
His death-like Hezekiah's-was deferred."

For five days his "fleeting soul lingers:" heaven is described as wishing to work a miracle, using "medicinal aids" as its "second causes." Efforts, however, are vain; he bears tortures Cæsar could not have sustained; his physicians stand aghast; at length

"Death was announced-that frightful sound

Which e'en the best can hardly bear!

He took the summons void of fear,

Nor lost the monarch in his dying face.

Intrepid, pious, merciful, and brave

He looked, as when he conquered and forgave;

As if some angel had been sent

To lengthen out his government;

So cheerfully he took the doom

Of his departing breath!"

He presses the hand of the prince, his brother, whom the poet (when writing, become "the servant" of that brother, James II.) describes as one on whom

"If heaven its eyes could close,

The welfare of the world it safely might repose."

Unable to describe the mutual affection of these parting brothers, the picture is cast into the shade. Of Charles, however, he exclaims of the second Charles too

"That all-forgiving king,
The type of him above!
That inexhausted spring
Of clemency and love!"

Amid the bustle of this scene, however, the king dies.

"The royal mind

Then left its sacred earth behind.

Calm was his life, and quiet was his death

Soft as those gentle whispers were

In which the Almighty did appear!"

The poet then proceeds to speak of him as one " blest above, "almost invoked below;" compares him to "saints by super"natural love set free;" and discovers, as a source of consolation for his death at last, that

"Heaven did his gracious reign prolong,

E'en in its saints and angels wrong;

His fellow citizens of immortality!"

Charles, by a poetical figure, is now discovered to have been "the quails" and "the manna:" the hope of better things, however, present themselves to the laureat's mind. James, "the promised land" itself, is now in view. The mode of manufacturing kings, as described in the following lines, is a curious one, and throws considerable light upon the history of both past and present times:—

"A warlike prince ascends the regal state-
Long may he keep-though he obtains it late.
Heros in heaven's peculiar mould are cast-
They, and their poets are not formed in haste;
For, e'er a prince is to perfection brought,
He costs Omnipotence a second thought."

Second thoughts, however, it would appear, are not always best; for the history of all the nations of the earth may be triumphantly appealed to, in support of Pain's well-known assertion, that kings have been below the average of

"mankind."

The transition is a natural one, from Thomas Paine to the less respectable, because less consistent, author of Wat Tyler. The other work of which we propose giving an analysis is "A VISION OF JUDGMENT. BY ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQUIRE, LL. D. POET LAUREAT.- London, 1821"-in 4to. The first canto of this poem is entitled "The Trance." Lightning, and the "rushing of winds," and the "roaring of waters," proclaim the death of George III., as before of his ancestor Charles II. The poet, not inaptly, describes the effect of this hurricane upon himself.

"Of strength and of thought it bereft me;

Hearing, and thought, and sense were gone."

Though thought and sense are gone, an instinctive feeling of loyalty remains. Transported in his vision to "The Vault," he beholds the resurrection of George III., the late King of England.

"The grave was gone and the dead was awakened.

Then I beheld the king from a cloud which covered the pavement
His reverend form uprose; heaven-ward his face was directed;
Heaven-ward his eyes were raised; and heaven-ward his arms were
extended."

The express language of Jesus is here put into the mouth of George. "Lord, it is past, he cried." "Father, to thee I "O Lord, in thee have I trusted."

come."

The gate of heaven is now described; King George appears before it.

"O'er the adamantine gate an Angel stood in the summit.

Ho! he exclaimed, King George of England cometh to judgment!
Hear heaven! ye Angels, hear! souls of the good and wicked,
Whom it concerns, attend! thou hell bring forth his accusers!

Because George III. has been released "from mental and "visual darkness," that is, is no longer blind and mad; and, because he has appeared at the "gate of heaven," all the universe is described as collecting around. God himself is first named (with a degree of impiety almost appaling) as "coming down" on this special occasion.

"Anon a body of splendour

Gathered before the gate and veiled the Ineffable Presence,
Which (with a rushing of winds) came down!"

On so important an event as this the Deity comes not unattended.

"Round the cloud were the orders of heaven-Archangel and Angel, Principality, Cherub, and Seraph; Thrones, Dominations,

Virtues, and Powers. The souls of the good whom death had made perfect."

Amongst this "shining assembly" of the blessed, are, of course, found the advocates; or, as they are called, "absolvers" of the late king.*

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At equal length, as approaching from the opposite "region," the "spirits accurst" are described, attended by the "souls of the wicked," and marshalled by the Princes of Darkness. All hell, as well as all heaven, attend on this important occasion. It is only amongst the fiends that "the accusers" of George III. are to be found. Two-intended to represent Junius and John Wilkes!-stand forth; but these, finding the eye of George III. " insupportably dreadful!" are described as "dumb in his presence;" at which one of the demons is so incensed, that

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"With horrible grin gigantic,+

Seizing the guilty pair, he swung them aloft; and in vengeance.
Hurled them all abroad: far into the sulphureous darkness—
Whirling away they flew."

Mr. Southey, his own former experience, no doubt, assisting him, here draws the moral of the tale:

"Sons of faction, be warned! and ye, ye slanderers, learn ye
Justice, and bear in mind that after death there is judgment."

The monarch is then told, by "the voice of an Angel," that there is "none to arraign him;" as well, indeed, might be

* Amongst "the souls of the good whom death hath made perfect," are afterwards particularly named, as assembled to receive the late monarch, King William III. and Charles I. (The Second Charles-shade of Dryden, pardon the neglect!—is not particularly mentioned.) Edward the Black Prince is present: Chaucer, Cranmer, the Duke of Marlborough, General Wolfe, Captain Cook, Hogarth, Westley, Warren Hastings, and Lord Nelson!!! Further than this "the worthies of the Georgian age" (retaining their allegiance beyond the grave) are described as forming a train, whom nearer duty attracted!" and who, therefore,

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"Thro' the gate of bliss came forth to welcome their sovereign."

In the other world, then, it seems we are also to have a court and a westend of the town; shall we there, too, be pestered with Mr. Southey's poetry, so called? Will he hammer the language of heaven into hexameters? Will he there, too, write visions at per annum, and sing staves of loyalty over his sack? "If the Spaniards are to be in heaven" (said the Indian) "let me "go to the other place."

+"Grin gigantic!" Quere-A broad grin?

the case, seeing the manner in which his "accusers” had been previously disposed of. The King of England now addresses his "father," (for so he calls the Deity) praying, indeed, for pardon for his errors, but taking credit to himself that" the desire of his heart had been alway the good "of his people." This boast

"Bending forward, he spake with earnest humility. Well done
Good and faithful servant, then said a voice from the brightness,
Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. The ministering spirits
Clapt their pennons therewith, and from that whole army of Angels
Songs of thanksgiving and joy resounded, and loud hallelujahs.”

The important business which had brought him over, the
Deity is now suffered by the poet to depart.

"On the wings of winds upraised the pavilion of splendour,
Where inscrutable light enveloped the holy of holies,
Moved and was borne away."

The beatification of the king immediately follows; he drinks of "the well of life," and is

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"For eternity formed, and to bliss everlasting appointed."

OF

More, however, is yet to come. Lift up your gates," (such is the language of the psalmist) "and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. "Who" (he asks) "is the King of Glory? THE LORD of "HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!" As the climax of his blasphemy, our poet laureat transfers this language from God, and applies it to George III.! This may appear incredible, but take his own words.

Lift up your heads ye gates, and ye everlasting portals

Be

ye lift up! for lo! A GLORIFIED MONARCH APPROACHES

One who in righteousness reigned, and religiously governed his people.”

After this triumphal entry into heaven, King George (who had before had an interview with Mr. Percival, and conversed with him on the state of the nation*) now meets with his father and mother; with some of his children; and with-" the nation's example of virtue!”—Queen Charlotte.

* It is observable that amid the incongruous mass assembled, under the name of "the worthies of the Georgian age," William Pitt is not mentioned as being present. Were there unpleasant recollections connected with the period of 1792, which compelled to silence the now laureated author of Wat Tyler?