Considered as men of the world, as courtiers, as politicians, as associates, as allies, as enemies, they had nearly the same merits, and the same defects.They were not malignant.They were not tyrannical.But they wanted warmth of affection and elevation of sentiment.There were many things which they loved better than virtue, and which they feared more than guilt.Yet, even after they had stooped to acts of which it is impossible to read the account in the most partial narratives without strong disapprobation and contempt, the public still continued to regard them with a feeling not easily to be distinguished from esteem.The hyperbole of Juliet seemed to be verified with respect to them."Upon their brows shame was ashamed to sit."Everybody seemed as desirous to throw a veil over their misconduct as if it had been his own.Clarendon, who felt, and who had reason to feel, strong personal dislike towards Waller, speaks of him thus: "There needs no more to be said to extol the excellence and power of his wit and pleasantness of his conversation, than that it was of magnitude enough to cover a world of very great faults, that is, so to cover them that they were not taken notice of to his reproach, viz., a narrowness in his nature to the lowest degree, an abjectness and want of courage to support him in any virtuous undertaking, an insinuation and servile flattery to the height the vainest and most imperious nature could be contented with....It had power to reconcile him to those whom he had most offended and provoked, and continued to his age with that rare felicity, that his company was acceptable where his spirit was odious, and he was at least pitied where he was most detested." Much of this, with some softening, might, we fear, be applied to Bacon.The influence of Waller's talents, manners, and accomplishments, died with him;and the world has pronounced an unbiassed sentence on his character.A few flowing lines are not bribe sufficient to pervert the judgment of posterity.But the influence of Bacon is felt and will long be felt over the whole civilised world.
Leniently as he was treated by his contemporaries, posterity has treated him more leniently still.Turn where we may, the trophies of that mighty intellect are full in few.We are judging Manlius in sight of the Capitol.
