royalty restored-第67部分

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e；　but　time　went　by；　and　his　condition　remained　unaltered。　Whereon　Wycherley　conceived　the　idea　of　bringing　Butler　and　the　duke　together；　that　the　latter　might　the　more　certainly　remember　him。　　He　therefore　succeeded　in　making　his　grace　name　an　hour　and　place　in　which　they　might　meet。　　So　it　came　to　pass　they　were　together　one　day　at　the　Roebuck　Tavern；　but　scarce　had　Buckingham　opened　his　lips　when　a　pimp　of　his　acquaintance〃the　creature　was　likewise　a　knight〃passed　by　with　a　couple　of　ladies。　　To　a　man　of　Buckingham's　character　the　temptation　was　too　seductive　to　be　neglected；　accordingly；　he　darted　after　those　who　allured　him；　leaving　the　needy　poet；　whom　he　saw　no　more。　　Butler　lived　until　1680；　dying　in　poverty。　　Longueville；　having　in　vain　solicited　a　subscription　to　defray　the　expenses　of　the　poet's　burial　in　Westminster　Abbey；　laid　him　to　rest　in　the　churchyard　of　Covent　Garden。

Wycherley；　the　friend　of　Butler；　though　a　child　of　the　Muses；　was　superior　to　poverty。　　He　was　born　in　the　year　of　grace　1640；　and　early　in　life　sent　for　his　better　education　into　France。　Returning　to　England　soon　after　the　king　had　come　unto　his　own；　young　Wycherley　entered　Queen's　College；　Oxford；　from　whence　he　departed　without　obtaining　a　degree。　　He　then　betook　himself　to　town；　and　became　a　law　student。　　The　Temple；　however；　had　less　attraction　for　him　than　the　playhouse。　　Indeed；　before　leaving　Oxford　he　had；　written　a　couple　of　comediesto　wit；　〃Love　in　a　Wood；〃　and　〃The　Gentleman　Dancing　Master；〃　a　fact　entitling　him　to　be　considered　a　man　of　parts。　　Not　satisfied　with　this　distinction；　he　soon　developed　tastes　for　pleasures　of　the　town；　and　became　a　man　of　fashion。　　His　wit　illuminated　choice　gatherings　of　congenial　spirits　at　coffee…houses；　his　epigrams　were　repeated　by　boon　companions　in　the　precincts　of　the　court。

In　the　year　1672　his　comedy　〃Love　in　a　Wood〃　was　produced。　　It　immediately　gained　universal　favour；　and；　moreover；　speedily　attracted　the　attention　of　his　majesty's　mistress；　the　Duchess　of　Cleveland。　　Wycherley　was　a　man　well　to　look　upon：　　her　grace　was　a　lady　eager　for　adventure。　　Desiring　his　acquaintance；　and　impatient　of　delay；　she　introduced　herself　to　his　notice　in　a　manner　eminently　characteristic　of　the　age。　　It　happened　when　driving　one　day　through　Pall　Mall；　she　encountered　Wycherley　riding　in　his　coach　in　an　opposite　direction。　　Thrusting　her　head　out　of　the　window　of　her　vehicle；　she　saluted　the　author　with　a　title　unknown　to　the　conversations　of　polite　society　in　the　present　day。

The　fashionable　playwright　understanding　the　motive　which　prompted　her　remark；　hastily　ordered　his　coach　to　follow　hers；　and；　overtaking　her；　uncovered　and　began　a　speech　becoming　so　ardent　a　gallant。

〃Madam；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　been　pleased　to　bestow　a　title　on　me　which　belongs　only　to　the　fortunate。　　Will　your　ladyship　be　at　the　play　to…night？〃

〃Well；〃　replied　her　grace；　well　pleased　at　this　beginning；　〃what　if　I　am　there？〃

〃Why；　then；〃　answered　he；　〃I　will　be　there　to　wait　on　your　ladyship；　though　I　disappoint　a　fine　woman　who　has　made　me　an　assignation。〃

〃So；〃　said　this　frail　daughter　of　Eve；　greedily　swallowing　his　flattery；　〃you　are　sure　to　disappoint　a　woman　who　has　favoured　you　for　one　who　has　not？〃

〃Yes；〃　quoth　he；　readily　enough；　〃if　the　one　who　has　not　favoured　me　is　the　finer　woman　of　the　two。　　But　he　who　can　be　constant　to　your　ladyship　till　he　can　find　a　finer；　is　sure　to　die　your　captive。〃

That　night　her　grace　sat　in　the　front　row　of　the　king's　box　at　Drury　Lane　playhouse；　and　sure　enough　there　was　handsome　Will　Wycherley　sitting　in　the　pit　underneath。　　The　gentleman　cast　his　eyes　upwards　and　sighed；　the　lady　looked　down　and　played　with　her　fan；　after　which　preliminaries　they　fell　into　conversation　which　both　found　far　more　interesting　than　the　comedy　then　being　enacted　before　their　eyes。　　This　was　the　beginning　of　an　intimacy　concerning　which　the　court　made　merry；　and　of　which　the　town　spoke　scandal。　　My　lady　disguised　herself　as　a　country　wench；　and　visited　his　chambers；　Mr。　Wycherley　dedicated　his　play；　〃Love　in　a　Wood；〃　to　her　in　elegant　phraseology；　He　was　of　opinion　that　she　stood　as　little　in　need　of　flattery　as　her　beauty　did　of　art；　he　was　anxious　to　let　the　world　know　he　was　the　greatest　admirer　she　had；　and　he　was　desirous　of　returning　her　his　grateful　acknowledgment　for　the　favours　he　had　received　from　her。

The　interest　of　this　romance　was　presently　intensified　by　the　introduction　of　a　rival　in　the　person　of　the　Duke　of　Buckingham。　Probably　from　fear　an　intrigue　with　such　a　prominent　figure　would；　if　indulged　in；　quickly　become　known　to　the　king；　she　refused　to　encourage　Buckingham's　love。　　His　grace　was　not　only　a　passionate　lover；　but　likewise　a　revengeful　man；　accordingly；　he　resolved　to　punish　my　lady　for　her　lack　of　good　taste。　　It　therefore　became　his　habit　to　speak　of　her　intrigues　before　the　court；　and　to　name　the　individuals　who　received　her　favours。　　Now　Wycherley；　being　amongst　these；　grew　fearful　his　amour　with　the　duchess　should　become　known　to　the　king；　from　whom　at　this　time　he　expected　an　appointment。　　Accordingly；　he　besought　his　good　friends；　Lord　Rochester　and　Sir　Charles　Sedley；　to　remonstrate　on　his　behalf　with　the　duke。　　These　gentlemen　undertook　that　kindly　office；　and　in　order　to　make　the　rivals　acquainted；　besought　his　grace　to　sup　with　the　playwright。　　The　duke　complying　with　their　request；　met　Wycherley　in　a　friendly　spirit；　and　soon　professed　himself　delighted　with　his　wit；　nay；　before　the　feast　was　over　he　drank　his　health　in　a　bumper　of　red　wine；　and　declared　himself　Mr。　Wycherley's　very　good　friend　and　faithful　servant　henceforth。

Moreover；　he　was　as　good　as　his　word；　for；　being　master　of　the　horse；　he　soon　after　appointed　Wycherley　an　equerry；　and　subsequently　gave　him　a　commission　as　captain　of　a　regiment　of　which　he　was　colonel。　　Nor　did　the　duke's　services　to　the　dramatist　end　here；　for　when　occasion　offered　he　introduced　him　to　the　merry　monarch；　and　so　pleased　was　the　king　with　the　author's　conversational　powers　that　he　admitted　him　to　his　friendship。　　His　majesty's　regard　for　Wycherley　gradually　ripened；　and　once　when　he　lay　ill　of　fever　at　his　lodgings　in　Bow　Street；　Covent　Garden；　the　merry　monarch　visited　him；　cheered　him　with　words　of　kindness；　and　promised　he　would　send　him　to　Montpelier　when　he　was　well　enough　to　travel。　　For　this　good　purpose　Charles　sent　him　five　hundred　pounds；　and　Wycherley　spent　the　winter　of　1679　abroad。

Previous　to　this　date　he　had　written；　besides　his　first　comedy；　three　others　which　had　been　received　with　great　favour　by　the　town；　viz。；　〃The　Gentleman　Dancing　Master；〃　〃The　Country　Wife；〃　and　〃The　Plain　Dealer。〃　　Soon　after　his　return　to　England　the　crisis　of　his　life　arrived；　and　he　married。　　His　introduction　to　the　lady　whom　fate　ordained　to　become　his　wife　is　not　the　least　singular　episode　in　a　remarkable　biography。　　Being　at　Tunbridge　Wells；　then　a　place　of　fashion　and　liberty；　he　was　one　day　walking　with　a　friend　named　Fairbeard。　　And　it　happened　as　they　were　passing　a　book…stall　they　overheard　a　gentlewoman　inquire　for　the　〃Plain　Dealer。〃

〃Madam；〃　says　Mr。　Fairbeard；　uncovering；　〃since　you　are　for　the　'Plain　Dealer；'　there　he　is　for　you；〃　whereon　he　led　Wycherley　towards　her。

〃This　lady；〃　says　that　gentleman；　making　her　a　profound　bow；　〃can　bear　plain　speaking；　for　she　appears　to　be　so　accomplished；　that　what　would　be　compliment　said　to　others；　spoken　to　her　would　be　plain　dealing。〃

〃No　truly；　sir；〃　replied　the　lady；　〃I　am　not　without　my　faults；　like　the　rest　of　my　sex；　and　yet；　notwithstanding　all　my　faults；　I　love　plain　dealing；　and　never　am　more　fond　of　it　than　when　it　points　out　my　errors。〃

〃Then；　madam；〃　said　Mr。　Fairbeard；　〃you　and　the　plain　dealer　seem　designed　by　heaven　for　each　other。〃

These　pretty　speeches　having　been　delivered　and　received　with　every　mark　of　civility；　Mr。　Wycherley　made　his　exit　with　the　lady；　who　was　none　other　than　the　Countess　of　Drogheda；　a　young　widow　gifted　with　beauty　and　endowed　by　fortune。　　Day　by　day　he　waited　on　her　at　her　lodging；　accompanied　her　in　her　walks；　and　attended　her　to　the　assemblies。　　Finally；　when　she　returned　to　town　he　married　her。　　It　is　sad　yet　true　the　union　did　not　result　in　perfect　happiness。　　Mr。　Wycherley　had　a　reputation　for　gallantry；　the　Countess　of　Drogheda　was　the　victim　of　suspicion。　Knowing　jealousy　is　beget　by　love；　and　mindful　of　sacrifices　she　had　made　in　marrying　him；　Wycherley　behaved　towards　her　with　much　kindness。　　In　compliance　with　her　wishes　he　desisted　visiting　the　court；　a　place　she　probably　knew　from　experience　was　rife　with　temptation；　and　moreover　when　he　cracked　a　bottle　of　wine　with　convivial　friends　at　the　Cock　Tavern；　opposite　his　lodgings　in　Bow　Street；　he；　for　the　greater　satisfaction　of　his　wife；　would　leave　the　windows　open　of　the　room　in　which　he　sat；　that　she　might　from　the　vantage　ground　of　her　home　see　there　were　no　hussies　in　the　company。

As　proof　of　her　love；　she；　when　dying；　settled　her　fortune　upon　him；　but　unhappily　his　just　right　was　disputed　by　her　family。　The　case　therefore　went　into　litigation；　for　the　expenses　of　which；　together　with　other　debts；　Wycherley　was　cast　into　prison。　Here　the　brilliant　wit；　clever　writer；　and　boon　companion；　was　allowed　to　remain　seven　long　years。　　When　released　from　this　vile　bondage；　another　king　than　the　merry　monarch　occupied　the　English　throne。

The　name　of　Andrew　Marvel　is　inseparably　connected　with　this　period。　　He　was　born　in　the　year　1620　in　the　town　of　Kingston…　upon…Hull；　his　father　being　a　clever　school…master；　worthy　minister；　and　〃an　excellent　preacher；　who　never　broached　what　he　had　never　brewed；　but　that　which　he　had　studied　some　compitent　time　before。〃　　At　the　age　of　fifteen；　Andrew　Marvell　was　sent　to　Trinity　College；　Cambridge。　　But　he　had　not　long　been　there　when　he　withdrew　himself；　lured；　as　some　authorities　state；　by　wiles　of　the　wicked　Jesuits；　repulsed；　as　others　say；　by　severities　of　the　head　of　his　college。　　Leaving　the　university；　he　set　out　for　London；　where　his　father；　who　hastened　thither　in　search　of　him；　found　him　examining　some　old　volumes　on　a　book…stall。　　He　was　prevailed　to　return　to　his　college；　where；　in　1638；　he　took　his　de