rather of your Royal Highneſs, which my Perſonal Knowledge of your Heroick Qualities, have[errata 1] impreſt in the moſt indelible manner on my Soul.
Poſſibly I had been leſs liable to Cenſure, if I could have contented my ſelf with paying You in private the ſecret Homage of my Heart, without giving any publick Teſtimony of that infinite Regard which I pretend to bear You.
Profeſſions of this kind from a Subject to a Prince ſeem generally too Intereſted, to be very Sincere; and we may ſay of moſt of them, as well as of the falſe Patriot's Love for his Country, that, like ſome matrimonial Smithfield Bargains, tho' much Affection is pretended, there is no more meant by it, than a good Settlement for one's Family.
Nay in this caſe, the very Tribute of our Praiſe which we pay to ſuch exalted Benefactors, is ſeldom taken by the World as current Payment, but is ſuſpected to be mixt up with the baſeſt Alloy. For Praiſe is ſo generally the common Incenſe offer'd up by the Idolaters of Power, that many Men are from the ſame Principle grown as perfect Infidels in matters of Panegyrick, as ſome pretend to be in Religion; who becauſe they ſee ſo many falſeGods
