For Swift had at that time fo far mistaken his talents, that he tried his ftrength only in Pindarick Odes; in which, though there appeared fome vigour of mind, and efforts of an uncommon genius, yet it was apparent that it was vigour improperly exerted, and the efforts of a genius mifapplied. The fentiments were ftrained and crowded; and the numbers irregular and harfh*. How then fhall we account for the fudden change of Sir William's fentiments towards him? It could not be on account of his progrefs in literature, for he had not had time enough to ftand highly in the opinion of fo diftinguished a scholar as Sir William was, on that score. And indeed, with all his affiduity, it is probable that he had not then fo far recovered lost time, as to be master of the learning which his ftanding required. The most probable conjecture is, that Swift had, at his leifure, revifed and corrected his Tale of a Tub, which was fketched out by him in the College, as was before mentioned, and now firft fhewed it to Sir William. A work, bearing fuch a ftamp of original genius, muft, in a man of Sir William Temple's delicate taste, and nice difcernment, have at once raised the author into a high place in his esteem, and made him look upon him afterwards with. very different eyes. Accordingly we find that, about this period, he trufted him with matters of great importance. He introduced him to King William, and fuffered him to be present at fome of their conferences †. He employed him in a com * Two of thefe Odes, as being the first that have appeared of his poetical writings, are placed, on that account only, at the head of the first volume of his poems. + Sir William had been Ambaffador and Mediator of a general peace at Nimeguen before the Revolution. In this character he contracted a clofe intimacy with the Prince of Orange; who, after he had afcended the English throne, frequently vifited him at Shene, and took a commiffion of confequence to the King, when he was unable to attend him himself, which required dexterity, and knowledge in the History of England. And above all, he confulted him conftantly, and employed him in the revisal and correction of his own works. In this fituation Swift continued, ftill applying clofely to his ftudies till the year 1692, when he went to Oxford in order to take his Mafter's degree; to which he was admitted on the 5th of July 1692. From his delaying fo long to take this degree, it may be concluded that Swift was determined to prepare himself for it in such a way, as might do him credit in the eyes of the Univerfity, in order to wipe off the dif grace of the former. And we may judge that his progress in academick studies had been very small, when it required four years application before he thought himself qualified to appear at Oxford with that view. Nor can there be any other reafon affigned for his not having done it fooner, as he was of fufficient ftanding to have applied for his Mafter's degree in the firft year of his refidence at Moor-Park. From the fatisfaction he expreffes at the behaviour of the University of Oxford, and the civilities he met with there, it is probable that he was not undiftinguished as a fcholar; and that he found the firft end he proposed by his ftudies, fully anfwered. his advice in affairs of the utmost importance. Sir William being then lame of the gout, substituted Swift to attend his Majefty in his walks round the gardens; who admitted him to fuch familiarity, that he fhewed him how to cut afparagus in the Dutch fashion; and once offered to make him a Captain of Horse. But Swift appears to have fixed his mind very early on an ecclefiaftical life; and it is therefore probable that upon declining this offer, he obtained a promise of preferment in the Church; for, in a letter to his uncle William, dated 1692, he says, “ I am not to take orders 'till the King gives me a Prebend." From From Oxford he paid a vifit to his mother, and then returned to Moor-Park. Not with a design of continuing there, for he now wanted to enter into the world, but in expectation of getting fome preferment by means of Sir William's intereft with the King, which he had promised to exert in his behalf, and had already indeed obtained an affurance of that fort from his Majesty. But Swift at this time entertained fome suspicion, that Sir William was not fo forward on the occafion as be could wish; and the reafon he affigned for it was, that Sir William was apprehenfive Swift would leave him, and upon fome accounts, he thought him a little neceffary to him *. Swift was indeed by this time become very necessary to a man in the decline of life, generally in an ill state of health, and often tortured with the most excruciating diforders. The lofs of fuch a companion as Swift, after fuch a long domeftic intimacy, would have been like the lofs of a limb. Befides, as he seems to have had nothing fo much at heart in the latter part of his life, as the leaving behind him a corrected copy of all his writings, done under his own infpection, he could not bear the thought that Swift should leave him, till that point was accomplished. He had already experienced the use that he was of to him in that respect, and knew that his place was not eafily to be fupplied. And his ill ftate of health occafioned the work to advance but flowly, as it was only during the more lucid intervals he applied to it. On thefe accounts, Sir William was in no hafte to procure any preferment for his young friend, to the great mortification of Swift. In this uneasy state he continued at Moor-Park two years longer, and then, quite wearied out with fruitless expectation, he determined at all events to leave Sir Wil * Thus Swift expreffes himself in a letter to his uncle William, dated Moor-Park, November 29, 1692. liam, and take his chance in the world *. When this his refolution was made known to Sir William, he received it with evident marks of difpleafure; but that he might feem to fulfil his promise to Swift, of making fome provifion for him, he coldly told him, that fince he was so impatient, it was not at that time in his power to do any thing more for him, than to give him an employment, then vacant in the office of the Rolls in Ireland, to the value of fomewhat more than a hundred pounds a year. Swift immediately replied, "That, fince he had now an opportunity of living, without being driven into the Church for a maintenance, he was refolved to go to Ireland to take Holy Orders." To comprehend the full force of this reply, it will be neceffary to know that Sir William was well acquainted with Swift's intention of going into the Church, from which he had been hitherto restrained only by a fcruple of appearing to enter upon that holy office, rather from motives of neceffity, than choice. He therefore faw through Sir William's defign, in making him the offer of an employment which he was fure would not be accepted by Swift. With great readiness and fpirit therefore, he made use of this circumstance, at once to fhew a proper refentment of the indelicacy of Sir William's behaviour towards him; and to affign an unanfwerable motive for immediately carrying his long formed refolution into act. Their parting on this occafion was not without manifeft displeasure on the fide of Sir William, and fome degree of refentment, not ill-founded, on the part of Swift. He procured a recommendation to Lord Capel, then Lord Deputy of Ireland, from whom is uncertain, but it may be prefumed, from the fmallnefs of the pro * See his account of this, in his letter to his coufin Deane Swift, dated June 3, 1694. vifion made for him in confequence of it, that it was not a powerful one; and therefore, that Sir William Temple had no fhare in it. He went over to Ireland, and was ordained in September 1694, being then almost 27 years old. Soon after this, Lord Capel gave him the prebend of Kilroot in the diocefe of Connor, worth about 100 pounds a year. To this place Swift imme- · diately repaired, in order to refide there, and difcharge the duties of his office. He now for the first time enjoyed the fweets of independence; but thefe fweets were not of long duration, as he foon faw that the scene of his independence could not poffibly afford him any other fatisfaction in life. He found himself fituated in an obfcure corner of an obfcure country, ill accommodated with the conveniencies of life, without a friend, a companion, or any converfation that he could relish. What a contraft was this to the delightful scene at Moor-Park! replete with all the beauties, and. adorned with every elegance, that could charm the fenfes, or captivate the fancy; and where the mind had a continual feaft of the moft rational and refined converfation. But ftill the fpirit of Swift fo far prized liberty above all other bleffings in life, that had he had no other alternative, he would certainly have preferred that uncomfortable fituation to any ftate of dependance. But he now began to feel his own ftrength, and, confcious of his powers, could not conceive they were meant for fo narrow a sphere as that of a finall country living. He felt an irrefiftible impulfe once more to launch into the world, and make his way to a station more fuited to his difpofition. In this temper of mind he received accounts from his friends, that Sir William Temple's ill-founded refentment had fubfided foon after his departure, and that he was often heard to lament the lofs of his company. Soon after, upon receiving a kind C |