STEPNEY GEORGE STEPNEY, descended from the Stepneys of Prendergast in Pembrokeshire, was born at Westminster in 1663. Of his father's condition or fortune I have no account. Having received the first part of his education at Westminster, where he passed six years in the College, he went at nineteen to Cambridge, where he continued a friendship begun at school with Mr. Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax. They came to London together, and are said to have been invited into public life by the Duke of Dorset. His qualifications recommended him to many foreign employments, so that his time seems to have been spent in negotiations. In 1692 he was sent envoy to the Elector of Brandenburgh; in 1693 to the Imperial Court; in 1694 to the Elector of Saxony; in 1696 to the Electors of Mentz and Cologne, and the Congress at Frankfort; in 1698 a second time to Brandenburgh; in 1699 to the King of Poland; in 1701 again to the Emperor; and in 1706 to the States-General. In 1697 he was made one of the commissioners of trade. His life was busy, and not long. He died in 1707; and is buried in Westminster Abbey, with this epitaph, which Jacob transcribed. H. S. E. GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger, Ob Ingenii acumen, Morum Suavitatem, Rerum Usum, Virorum Amplissimorum Consuetudinem, grey Linguæ, Styli, ac Vitæ Elegantiam, Sua ætate multum celebratus, Spem in illo repositam On the Left Hand: G. S. Ex Equestri Familia Stepneiorum, Sancti Petri Westmonast. A. 1676. Frequentia, huc elatus, 1707. It is reported that the juvenile compositions of Stepney made authors blush. I know not whether his poems will appear such wonders to the present age. One cannot always easily find the reason for which the world has sometimes conspired to squander praise. It is not very unlikely that he wrote very early as well as he ever wrote; and the performances of youth have many favourers, because the authors yet lay no claim to public honours, and are therefore not considered as rivals by the distributors of fame. He apparently professed himself a poet, and added his name to those of the other wits in the version of 'Juvenal;' but he is a very licentious translator, and does not recompense his neglect of the author by beauties of his own. In his original poems, now and then, a happy line may perhaps be found, and now and then a short composition may give pleasure. But there is in the whole little either of the grace of wit, or the vigour of nature. As Waller professed himself to have learned the art of versification from Fairfax, it has been thought proper to subjoin a specimen of his work, which, after Mr. Hoole's translation, will perhaps not be soon reprinted. By knowing the state in which Waller found our poetry, the reader may judge how much he improved it. 1. 'Erminia's steed (this while) his mistresse bore But her flit courser spared nere the more, To beare her through the desart woods unseene Of her strong foes, that chas'd her through the plaine, 2. 'Like as the wearie hounds at last retire, Yet still the fearefull Dame fled, swift as winde, 3. • Through thicke and thinne, all night, all day, she driued, Her plaints and teares with euery thought reuiued, In Thetis waue, and wearie teame vntide, On Iordans sandie banks her course she staid. At last, there downe she light, and downe she laid. 4. 'Her teares, her drinke; her food, her sorrowings, But sleepe (that sweet repose and quiet brings) Spred foorth his tender, soft, and nimble wings, Strong watch and warde, while this faire Ladie slept. 5. 'The birds awakte her with their morning song, Their warbling musicke pearst her tender eare, Of swaines and shepherd groomes, that dwellings weare; 6. 'Her plaints were interrupted with a sound, Sat making baskets, his three sonnes among, 7. 'Beholding one in shining armes appeare The seelie man and his were sore dismaid ; You happie folke, of heau'n beloued deare, 8. 'But father, since this land, these townes and towres, |