pleased with his proficiency, that he undertook the care and cost of
his academical education. He entered his name in St. John's
College, at Cambridge, in 1682, in his eighteenth year; and it may
be reasonably supposed that he was distinguished among his
contemporaries. He became a Bachelor, as is usual, in four years,
and two years afterwards wrote the poem on the Deity, which stands
first in his volume.

It is the established practice of that College to send every year to
the Earl of Exeter some poems upon sacred subjects, in
acknowledgment of a benefaction enjoyed by them from the bounty of
his ancestor. On this occasion were those verses written, which,
though nothing is said of their success, seem to have recommended
him to some notice; for his praise of the countess's music, and his
lines on the famous picture of Seneca, afford reason for imagining
that he was more or less conversant with that family.

The same year he published "The City Mouse and Country Mouse," to
ridicule Dryden's "Hind and Panther," in conjunction with Mr.
Montague. There is a story of great pain suffered, and of tears
shed, on this occasion by Dryden, who thought it hard that "an old
man should be so treated by those to whom he had always been civil."
By tales like these is the envy raised by superior abilities every
day gratified. When they are attacked every one hopes to see them
humbled; what is hoped is readily believed, and what is believed is
confidently told. Dryden had been more accustomed to hostilities
than that such enemies should break his quiet; and, if we can
suppose him vexed, it would be hard to deny him sense enough to
conceal his uneasiness.