WINTER. SEE, WINTER Comes, to rule the varied year, Vapours, and clouds, and storms. Be these my theme; 6 11 And heavenly musing. Welcome, kindred glooms! 15 The muse, O Wilmington! renews her song. A A 25 As is her theme, her numbers wildly great: These, each exalting each, the statesman light Sir Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, was the earliest patron of our poet, who inscribed to him the first edition of the Winter, in an epistolary dedication, written by Mallet. The poem, in its present form, contains many lines, that then formed a part of the Autumn. The above eulogy supplies the place of Mallet's dedication. The Earl of Wilmington was the third son of the Earl of Northampton; he was created Baron Wilmington, in 1727: and Viscount Pevensey, and Earl of Wilmington, in 1730. He died a bachelor in 1743. Notwithstanding the high eulogium of the poet, and the description of virtues that "each exalting each, the statesman light Into the patriot; and the recording of which, we are told, " envy dares not flattery call," Lord Wilmington was a person of weak intellect, and very moderate acquirements. He was, however, Speaker of the House of Commons at the same time that Sir Robert Walpole was Prime Minister; and having secured the good will of Mrs. Howard, he became a personal favourite with the King, who, on his accession, named him, in 1742, Lord First Commissioner of the Treasury; but he was, in truth, only nominal premier, the Earl of Carteret, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, being the actual leader in the administration of which he formed a part. The talents of Lord Wilmington were of so low a Now when the cheerless empire of the sky Through the thick air; as cloth'd in cloudy storm, character that he was obliged to apply to Walpole to draw up the King's speech; and, on the passing of a bill for providing annuities for the King's children, in May 1739, Lord Chesterfield remarked that some of the family were not prayed for, owing to a blunder in the form of prayer issued from the Privy Council; and of this blunder Earl Wilmington avowed himself the author. At the funeral of Congreve, he was one of the pall-bearers who were selected by the Duchess of Marlborough. Sir Robert Walpole, speaking of Earl Wilmington, said, "After all, he was a poor creature." * The ancients made much use of the different periods when the sun entered the signs of the Zodiac. Thus, Virgil recommends vines to be planted when "Capricorn admits the winter sun." Untended spreading, crop the wholesome root. And fractur'd mountains wild, the brawling brook 65 70 80 Then comes the father of the tempest forth, Wrapt in black glooms. First, joyless rains obscure Drive through the mingling skies with vapour foul, Dash on the mountain's brow, and shake the woods 75 That grumbling wave below. The unsightly plain Lies a brown deluge; as the low-bent clouds Pour flood on flood, yet unexhausted still Combine, and deepening into night shut up The day's fair face. The wanderers of heaven, Each to his home, retire; save those that love To take their pastime in the troubled air, Or skimming flutter round the dimply pool. The cattle from the untasted fields return, And ask, with meaning low, their wonted stalls, Or ruminate in the contiguous shade. Thither the household feathery people crowd. The crested cock, with all his female train, Pensive and dripping; while the cottage-hind Hangs o'er the enlivening blaze, and taleful there Recounts his simple frolic: much he talks, And much he laughs, nor recks the storm that blows Wide o'er the brim, with many a torrent swell'd, 85 90 95 |