ABSTRACT
TimehasreversedthejudgmentofWaller'simmediatecontemporaries; butifwenolongerregardhimasoneofthegreatestpoetsoftheseventeenth century,itcannotbesaidthatDrydendoesmuchtorestoreourbeliefinthe valueofepideicticliteratureeither.Panegyric,itmustbeadmitted,didnot inspiretheacknowledgedmasteroftheagetohisgreatestefforts.