按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d by the result of political events。 So that when； on the 10th of November； 1674； death summoned him； he departed without regret。
Amongst those who visited Milton was John Dryden； whom the author of 〃Paradise Lost〃 regarded as 〃a good rhymester； but no poet；〃 an opinion with which posterity has not held。 At the restoration； John Dryden was in his twenty…ninth year。 The son of Sir Erasmus Dryden； Baronet； of Canons Ashby； he enjoyed an income of two hundred pounds a year； a sum then considered sufficient to defray the expenses of a young man of good breeding。 He had passed through Westminster School； taken a degree at Cambridge； written a eulogistic stanza on the death of Cromwell； and a joyous poem on the happy restoration of the merry monarch。
Three years after the arrival of his majesty； Dryden's comedy entitled 〃The Wild Gallant〃 was produced； this being the first of twenty…eight plays which followed。 In the year 1668 he had the honour to succeed Sir William Davenant as poet laureate； the salary attached to which office was one hundred pounds a year and a tierce of wine。 His dignity was moreover enhanced； though his happiness was by no means increased； by his marriage with the Lady Elizabeth Howard； daughter of the Earl of Berkshire。 For my lady's temper sorely marred the poet's peace； and left such impressions upon his mind； that to the end of his days his invectives against the bonds of matrimony were bitter and deep。 In justice it must be mentioned the Lady Elizabeth's mental condition was supposed to be unsettled； a conjecture which was proved true by a madness which befell her； subsequent to her husband's death。
Dryden was now a well known figure in town； consorting with men of the highest quality and parts； and gossiping with wits and players who frequented Will's coffee…house。 Here； indeed； a special chair was appropriated to his use； which being placed by the fire in winter； and on the balcony in summer； he was pleased to designate as his winter and his summer seat。 At Will's he was wont to hold forth on the ingenuity of his plays； the perfection of his poems； and the truth of astrology。 It was whilst leaving this coffee house one night a memorable occurrence befell the poet； of which more anon。
It happened at one time the brilliant； poetical； and mercurial Earl of Rochester extended his favour and friendship towards Dryden； gratified by which； the poet had； after the manner of those days； dedicated a play to him； 〃Marriage a la Mode。〃 This favour his lordship received with graciousness； and no doubt repaid with liberality。 After a while； Dryden； led by choice or interest； sought a new patron in the person of the Earl of Mulgrave。 For this nobleman Rochester had long entertained a bitter animosity； which had arisen from rivalry； and had been intensified from the fact that Rochester； refusing to fight him； had been branded as a coward。 Not daring to attack the peer； Rochester resolved to avenge himself upon the poet。 In order to effect his humiliation； the earl at once bestowed his favour on Elkanah Settle； a playwright and poet of mean abilities。 He had originally been master of a puppet…show； had written verses to order for city pageants； and produced a tragedy in heroic verse； entitled 〃Cambyses； King of Persia。〃
His patron being at this time in favour with the king； introduced Settle to the notice of the court； and induced the courtiers to play his second tragedy； 〃The Empress of Morocco；〃 at Whitehall； before their majesties。 This honour； which Dryden； though poet laureate； had never received； gave Elkanah Settle unmerited notoriety； the benefit of which was apparent by the applause his tragedy received when subsequently produced at the Duke's Theatre in Dorset Gardens。 Nor did the honour and profit which 〃The Empress of Morocco〃 brought him end here； it was published by William Cademan； and had the distinction of being the first English play ever illustrated； or sold for the price of two shillings。 It was scarce to be expected； in an age when men ventilated their merest grievances by the publication of pamphlets； Dryden could refrain from pointing out to the public the mistake into which they had fallen by honouring this man。 Nor was he singular in his feelings of animosity。 The poets Shadwell and Crowne； believing themselves ignored and neglected； whilst their rival was enriched and exalted； joined Dryden in writing a merciless criticism upon Settle's tragedy。 This was entitled 〃The Empress of Morocco； or some few erratas to be printed instead of the sculptures ＇Illustrations。＇； with the second edition of the play。〃 In this Settle was described as 〃an animal of a most deplored intellect； without reading and understanding；〃 whilst his play was characterized as 〃a tale told by an idiot； full of noise and fury signifying nothing。〃 To these remarks and others of like quality； Settle replied in the same strain； so that the quarrel diverted the town and even disturbed the quiet of the universities。 Time did ample justice to both men； lowering Settle to play the part of a dragon in a booth at Bartholomew Fair； and consecrating Dryden to immortality。
Before the clamour resulting from this dispute had ended； Rochester； fickle and eccentric； grew weary of his PROTEGE and consequently abandoned him。 He had not； however； tired of humiliating the laureate； and to mortify him the more； introduced a new poet at court； This was John Crowne； a man then little known to the town； and now best remembered as author of 〃Sir Courtly Nice；〃 a comedy of wit and entertainment。 So well did he succeed in obtaining favour at court； through Rochester's influence； that the queen ordered him to write a masque。 This command he immediately obeyed； producing 〃Calisto； or the Chaste Nymph；〃 which was acted at Whitehall by the Duke of York's fair daughters； the Princesses Mary and Anne； together with many gracious ladies and noble lords。 Dryden； probably the better to hide the mortification he felt at seeing his office as laureate unceremoniously usurped； offered to write an epilogue for the occasion； but this service was； through Rochester's interference； rejected。 The masque proved a brilliant success； 〃the dancing； singing； and music； which were all in the highest perfection； and the graceful action； incomparable beauty； and splendid habits of those ladies who accompanied them； afforded the spectators extraordinary delight。〃 〃Calisto〃 was therefore performed thirty times。
The author's gratitude for his lordship's patronage was only equalled by his disappointment upon its hasty withdrawal。 Growing weary of him； Rochester found a more worthy object for his favour in Thomas Otway； a poet rich in all the miseries which afflicted genius in those days。 Son of the rector of Woolbeding； pupil at Winchester School； and commoner of Christchurch； Cambridge； he had on his arrival in town vainly sought employment as an actor； and barely earned bread as a play…writer。 Before he became a PROTEGE of my Lord Rochester he had written 〃Alcibiades；〃 a tragedy； he being then； in 1665； in his twenty… fifth year。 His next play was 〃Don Carlos； Prince of Spain；〃 which； through the earl's influence； gained great succes