enrolling it in your service, now that it is of age and come into
the world. Therefore be pleased to accept of this as an
acknowledgment of the favour you have shewn me, and an earnest of
the real service and gratitude of,

Sir, your most obliged, humble servant,

WILLIAM CONGREVE.



TO MY DEAR FRIEND MR. CONGREVE,
ON HIS COMEDY CALLED THE DOUBLE-DEALER.



Well then, the promised hour is come at last;
The present age of wit obscures the past.
Strong were our sires; and as they fought they writ,
Conqu'ring with force of arms and dint of wit.
Theirs was the giant race, before the flood;
And thus, when Charles returned, our empire stood.
Like Janus he the stubborn soil manured,
With rules of husbandry the rankness cured,
Tamed us to manners, when the stage was rude,
And boist'rous English wit with art indued.
Our age was cultivated thus at length;
But what we gained in skill we lost in strength.
Our builders were with want of genius curst;
The second temple was not like the first: