unnecessary, as to the plot; and the only reason that
can be assigned for the poet's introducing them was, the prevalence
of custom; but it must be acknowledged, that his lovers are the most
sensible, and address each other in the best language, that is to be
found in any love dialogues of the British stage: It will be difficult
to find a more striking line, or more picturesque of a lover's passion.
than this pathetic exclamation;

A lover does not live by vulgar time.

Queen Anne was not the last in doing justice to our author and his
performance; she was pleased to signify an inclination of having it
dedicated to her, but as he intended that compliment to another, it came
into the world without any dedication.

If in the subsequent part of his life, his leisure had been greater, we
are told, he would probably have written another tragedy on the death of
Socrates; but the honours accruing from what he had already performed
deprived posterity of that production.

This subject was still drier, and less susceptible of poetical ornament
than the former, but in the hands of so great a writer, there is no
doubt but genius would have supplied what was wanting in the real
story, and have covered by shining sentiments, and noble language, the
simplicity of the plot, and deficiency in business.

Upon the death of the Queen, the Lords Justices appointed Mr. Addison
their secretary. This diverted him from the design he had formed of
composing an English Dictionary upon the plan of a famous Italian
one: that the world has much suffered by this promotion I am ready
to believe, and cannot but regret that our language yet wants the
assistance of so great a master, in fixing its standard, settling its
purity, and illustrating its copiousness, or elegance.

In 1716 our author married the countess of Warwick; and about that time
published the Freeholder, which is a kind of political Spectator. This
work Mr. Addison conducted without any assistance, upon a plan of his
own forming; he did it in consequence of his principles, out of a desire
to remove prejudices, and contribute all he could to make his country
happy; however it produced his own promotion, in 1717, to be one of
the principal secretaries of state. His health, which had been
before impaired by an asthmatic disorder, suffered exceedingly by an
advancement so much to his honour, but attended with such great fatigue:
Finding, that he was not able to manage so much business