The author of the Biographia Britanica tells us, that he found in a blank leaf of his poems, some manuscript verses, in honour of Bishop Corbet signed J.C. with which, as they are extremely pretty, and make a just representation of his poetical character, we shall conclude this life.

  In flowing wit, if verses writ with ease,
  If learning void of pedantry can please,
  If much good humour joined to solid sense,
  And mirth accompanied with innocence,
  Can give a poet a just right to fame,
  Then Corbet may immortal honour claim;
  For he these virtues had, and in his lines,
  Poetic and heroic spirit shines;
  Tho’ bright yet solid, pleasant, but not rude,
  With wit and wisdom equally endued. 
  Be silent Muse, thy praises are too faint,
  Thou want’st a power this prodigy to paint,
  At once a poet, prelate, and a saint.

[Footnote 1:  Athen.  Oxon. vol.  I. col. 600—­I.]

[Footnote 2:  Winstanley.]

[Footnote 3:  Wood. ubi. supra. fol. 509.]

* * * * *

EDWARD FAIRFAX.

All the biographers of the poets have been extremely negligent with respect to this great genius.  Philips so far overlooks him, that he crowds him into his supplement, and Winstanley, who followed him, postpones our author till after the Earl of Rochester.  Sir Thomas Pope Blount makes no mention of him; and Mr. Jacob, so justly called the Blunderbus of Law, informs us he wrote in the time of Charles the first, tho’ he dedicates his translation of Tasso to Queen Elizabeth.  All who mention him, do him the justice to allow he was an accomplished genius, but then it is in a way so cool and indifferent, as shews that they had never read his works, or were any way charmed with the melody of his verses.  It was impossible Mr. Dryden could be so blind to our author’s beauties; accordingly we find him introducing Spencer and Fairfax almost on the level, as the leading authors of their times; nay tacitly yielding the palm in point of harmony to the last; by asserting that Waller confessed he owed the music of his numbers to Fairfax’s Godfrey of Bulloign.  The truth is, this gentleman is perhaps the only writer down to Sir William Davenant, who needs no apology to be made for him, on account of the age in which he lived.  His diction is so pure, elegant, and full of graces, and the turn of his lines so perfectly melodious, that one cannot read it without rapture; and we can scarcely imagine the original Italian has greatly the advantage in either, nor is it very probable that while Fairfax can be read, any author will attempt a new translation of Tasso with success.  Mr. Fairfax was natural son of Sir Thomas Fairfax of Denton, and natural brother to Sir Thomas Fairfax, the first who was created Baron of Cameron.  His younger brother was knighted, and slain at the memorable siege of Ostend, 1601, of which place he was some time governor[1].