Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/22

12 of the kind of patronage which, in those days, reduced the profession of literature to a level with the livery of the servants' hall. This volume, contrary to the prevailing custom, but like every other work published by Oldham, appeared without the name of a patron. Not content with merely discountenancing the practice, he could not resist the opportunity of exposing the system of egotism and servility which was countenanced by the example of the most celebrated authors. He promises his readers that, should his book ever reach another edition, it shall come out with all due pomp of venality and affectation: 'By that time belike the author means to have ready a very sparkish dedication, if he can but get himself known to some great man that will give a good parcel of guineas for being handsomely flattered. Then likewise the reader (for his farther comfort) may expect to see him appear with all the pomp and trappings of an author; his head in the front very finely cut, together with the year of his age, commendatory verses in abundance, and all the hands of the poets of quorum to confirm his book, and pass it for authentic. This at present is content to come abroad naked, undedicated, and unprefaced, without one kind word to shelter it from censure; and so let the critics take it amongst them.'

Oldham had not long enjoyed the seclusion and hospitalities of Holmes-Pierpont, when he was seized by an attack of small-pox, which terminated in his death on the 9th December, 1683, in the thirtieth year of his age. His life closed in the lap of luxuries that presented a strange contrast to the obscurity in which the greater part of it had been passed; and the honours paid to his memory may be accepted without suspicion as evidence of the respect in which he was held, since no man certainly ever took less pains to cultivate favour or flattery. The Earl of Kingston attended as chief mourner at his funeral, and afterwards erected a monument over his grave. When his Remains were collected and published in 1687, they were accompanied by tributes to his memory from Dryden, Flatman, Tom D'Urfey, Gould, and