In the year 1716, he married the countess dowager of Warwick, to whose son he had been tutor. The lady was not to be won but after a long and anxious court ship ; and showed, when she granted him her hand, that she was abundantly persuaded of her condescension in taking him for a husband. The marriage by no means increased the happiness of Addison. She never forgot her rank, and seems to have formed an opinion, which is not uncommon, that no culture of intellect, or exaltation of genius, can make lip for the want of coronets and an cestry. The majestic and repulsive behaviour of the countess often drove him from her society to a tavern, and made him very unwilling to return to her when he was there. It is certain, as Johnson remarks, that Addi son has left behind him no encouragement to ambitious love.
The year after his marriage, he was appointed secre tary of state, and reached his highest preferment. It is generally acknowledged, that he was unfit for the duties of his place, and that he could not issue an order with out losing his time in quest of elegant expressions, a solicitude which never left him in any of his writings. He shortly after retired from his office with a pension of 15001. and devoted himself to literary pursuits. As his mind was turned to piety, he wrote the Evidences of the Christian Religion, which he intended as an antidote to infidelity ; and he designed a new version of the book of Psalms. Be projected also a tragedy on the death of Socrates. He relapsed however into politics, and wrote the Old Whig, with remarks on the Plebeian, which he either knew, or soon discovered, to be the production of Steele. The comedy of the Drummer is likewise ascribed to Addison.
Prior to his death, which happened in the year 1719, he sent for lord Warwick, a young man of a loose and irregular life ; and when he desired, with great respect, to hear his last injunctions, Addison, grasping his hand, addressed him in these memorable words:—" I have sent for you, that you may see how a Christian can die." The effect of this awful scene is not known, as the earl died soon alter. Such a death as Addison's might have been expected from a life, approaching as near to per fection as the weakness of human nature will allow. It is related of him, that he received encouragement from a married lady, of whom he had been enamoured ; and that he had the virtue to resist the temptation. The struggle, however, must have been great, for he was several times in love. He refused a gratification of 3001. and a ring from major Dunbar, whom he had endeavour ed to serve : and when Mr Temple Stanyan had borrow ed 500/, of him, and yielded to him, in an argument, with too great obsequiousness, he said to him :—" Either contradict me, sir, or pay me the money."
After the death of Addison, Ticket] wrote a poem to the memory of his friend and patron, which he addressee 'to the earl of Warwick, and which Johnson, who seldom praises where praise is not deserved, pronounces to be one of the most noble and interesting of funeral compo sitions in the whole circle of English literature. The following paragraphs are particularly recommended by the last mentioned writer: To strew fresh laurels let the task be mine, A frequent pilgrim at the sacred shrine ; Mine with true sighs thy absence to bemoan, And grave with faithful epitaphs thy stone. If e'er from me thy loved memorial part, May shame afflict this alienated heart; Of thee forgetful, if I form a song, Mylyre be broken, and untuned my tongue ; My grief' be doubled from thy image five, And mirth a torment unchastised by thee.
Olt let me range the gloomy aisles alone ; Sad luxury ! to vulgar minds unknown.
Along the walls, where speaking marbles show What worthies form the hallowed mould below. Proud names, who once the reins of empire held, In arms who triumphed, or in arts excelled; Chiefs graced with scars, and prodigal of blood; Stern patriots, who for sacred freedom stood ; Just men, by whom impartial laws were given ; And saints, who taught and led the way to heaven. Ne'er to these chambers, where the mighty rest Since their foundation, came a nobler guest; Nor e'er was to the bowers of bliss conveyed A fairer spirit, or more welcome shade.
The chief works of Mr Addison are the tragedy of Cato; his papers in the Tatter, the Spectator, and the Guardian; and the Evidences of the Christian Religion.
The tragedy of Cato is the reverse of a true copy from nature. The incidents are such as seldom occur in real life, and arc therefore but little calculated to in terest the attention ; but the principal character is well supported, and the poetry is line. Cato's soliloquy on the immortality of the soul may be selected as one of the most dignified and elegant compositions in the Eng lish tongue. In writing this tragedy, he was confined by narrow ideas on the subject of the unities of time and place, as Dennis has shown with malevolent acuteness ; and its moral tendency may be questioned, as Cato not only falls before the power of a tyrant, but takes away his own life. In his other poems, some of which appear to have been executed with care, there is little either to blame or to praise.