heaven sent down to raise
      The price of prologues and of plays.

He was apparently of amiable and estimable character, for he secured and retained the friendship not only of Dryden—­a comparatively easy matter—­but also that of Pope, a much more difficult task.  Known as “the poets’ Nestor”, Southerne spent his declining years in peaceful retirement and in the enjoyment of the fortune which he had amassed by his pen.

Nahum Tate (1652-1715), a Dubliner by birth, and Nicholas Brady (1659-1726), a Bandon man, have secured a certain sort of twin immortality by their authorized metrical version of the Psalms (1696), which gradually took the place of the older rendering by Sternhold and Hopkins.  Tate became poet-laureate in 1690 in succession to Shadwell and was appointed historiographer-royal in 1702.  He wrote the bulk of the second part of Absalom and Achitophel with a wonderfully close imitation of Dryden’s manner, besides several dramatic pieces and poems.  Between Tate, Shadwell, Eusden, and Pye lies the unenviable distinction of being the worst of the laureates of England.  Brady was a clergyman who, after the pleasant fashion of that day, was a pluralist on a small scale, for he had the living of Richmond for thirty years from 1696, and while holding that held also in succession the livings of Stratford-on-Avon and Clapham.  He added further to his income, and doubtless to his anxieties, by keeping a school at Richmond.  He wrote a tragedy entitled The Rape, a History of the Goths and Vandals, a translation of the Aeneid into blank verse, and an Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day; but, unless for his share in the version of the Psalms, his literary reputation is well nigh as dead as the dodo.

Ireland somewhat doubtfully claims to have given birth to Mrs. Susannah Centlivre (c. 1667-1723), who, after a rather wild youth, settled down to literary pursuits and domestic contentment when, in 1706, she married Queen Anne’s head-cook, Joseph Centlivre, with whom she lived happily ever after.  Her first play, The Provoked Husband, a tragedy, was produced in 1700, and then she went on the stage as an actress.  She wrote in all nineteen dramatic pieces, some of which had the honor of being translated into French and German.  Her most original play was A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717).

III.  EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

We have now fairly crossed the border of the eighteenth century, and, as we met Ussher early in the seventeenth, so we are here confronted with the colossal intellect and impressive personality of Swift, one of the greatest, most peculiar, and most original geniuses to be found in the whole domain of English literature.  Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), born in Dublin, was educated at Trinity College, where he succeeded in graduating only by special favor.  After some years spent in the household of Sir William Temple in England,