JOHN PHILLIPS.
Reading edition
John Philips, the Brother of Edward Phillips, the Famous Continuator of Sir Richard Bakers Chronicle; and Author of The New World of English Words. He was also Nephew to the before mention'd John Milton, the Author of Paradice lost, and Paradice Regain'd; so that he might be said to have Poetical Blood run in his Veins. He was Accounted one of the exactest of Heroical Poets either of the Ancients or Moderns, either of our own or what ever other Nation else; having a Judicious command of Style both in Prose and Verse. But his chiefest Vein lay in Burlesque, and facetious Poetry, which produc'd that Ingenious Satyr against Hypocrites.
He also Translated the Fifth and Sixth Books of Virgils Æniedes into English Burlesque; of which that we may give you a Draught of his Method, take these few lines.
While Dido in a Bed of Fire, A new-found way to cool desire, Lay wrapt in Smoke, half Cole, half Dido, Too late repenting Crime Libido, Monsieur Æneas went his waies; For which I con him little praise, To leave a Lady, not i' th' Mire, But which was worser, in the Fire. He Neuter-like, had no great aim, To kindle or put out the flame. He had what he would have, the Wind; More than ten Dido's to his mind. The merry gale was all in Poop, Which made the Trojans all cry Hoop!
He it was who wrote that Jovial Almanack of Montelion; besides several other things in a serious Vein of Poetry. Nor must we forget his Song made on the Tombs at Westminster; which for a witty drolling Invention, I hold it to be past Compare, being Printed in a Book called The Miseries of Love and Eloquence.
You may reckon among these his Elegy upon our late Soveraign, and his Anniversary to His Majesty; Composed all by Dr. Blow.