Speaker
The poem's speaker is a version of John Dryden himself. The version of himself that Dryden presents is a poet first and foremost—in particular, a satirist. This quality is consistently linked to Dryden's friendship with Oldham. The speaker is not merely in mourning for Oldham, but is also a parallel to him artistically. He emphasizes his own similarities to his recently deceased subject, naming Oldham as a source of inspiration for the development of poetic wit. The speaker is emotionally distressed from grief, but also maintains clear control, exhibiting a measured tone and gently teasing Oldham even as he eulogizes him.
Mr. Oldham
The Mr. Oldham named in the poem is John Oldham, a real-life satirical poet and a friend of John Dryden's. Dryden depicts him as a promising writer whose development has been tragically cut short due to an early death. At the same time, this death is presented as an example of Oldham's selfless, inspiring qualities, since he is now leaving his poetic legacy to a young artistic descendant—Dryden himself. He is compared to Nisus, a mythological character who sacrifices success in a race to let a loved one win. Through this metaphor, Dryden hints at not merely selflessness but also Oldham's playfulness and loyalty.
