ventures yet a higher flight of flattery, by recommending royalty to
Cromwell and the nation. Cromwell was very desirous, as appears
from his conversation, related by Whitelock, of adding the title to
the power of monarchy, and is supposed to have been withheld from it
partly by fear of the army, and partly by fear of the laws, which,
when he should govern by the name of king, would have restrained his
authority. When, therefore, a deputation was solemnly sent to
invite him to the crown, he, after a long conference, refused it,
but is said to have fainted in his coach when he parted from them.

The poem on the death of the Protector seems to have been dictated
by real veneration for his memory. Dryden and Sprat wrote on the
same occasion; but they were young men, struggling into notice, and
hoping for some favour from the ruling party. Waller had little to
expect; he had received nothing but his pardon from Cromwell, and
was not likely to ask anything from those who should succeed him.

Soon afterwards, the Restoration supplied him with another subject;
and he exerted his imagination, his elegance, and his melody, with
equal alacrity, for Charles the Second. It is not possible to read,
without some contempt and indignation, poems of the same author,
ascribing the highest degree of "power and piety" to Charles the
First, then transferring the same "power and piety" to Oliver
Cromwell; now inviting Oliver to take the Crown, and then
congratulating Charles the Second on his recovered right. Neither
Cromwell nor Charles could value his testimony as the effect of
conviction, or receive his praises as effusions of reverence; they
could consider them but as the labour of invention, and the tribute
of dependence.