royalty restored-第73节
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！
rievances 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 success。 In the preface to this tragedy he acknowledges his unspeakable obligations to my lord； who he says made it his business to establish 〃Don Carlos〃 in the good opinion of the king and of his royal highness the Duke of York。 Unwarned by the fate of his predecessors； and heedless of the fickleness of his patron； he basked in hope in the present； mercifully unconscious of the cruel death by starvation which awaited him in the future。 Alas！ Rochester not only forsook him； but loaded him with satire in a poem entitled 〃Session of the Poets。〃
In verses which he wrote soon after； entitled 〃An Allusion to the Tenth Satire；〃 Rochester likewise attacked Dryden； who； in the preface of his 〃All for Love；〃 replied in like manner。 Then there appeared an 〃Essay on Satire；〃 which ridiculed the king； dealt severely with his mistresses； said uncivil things of the courtiers in general； and of my Lord Rochester in particular。 The noble earl was indeed described as being 〃lewd in every limb；〃 affected in his wit； mean in his actions； and cowardly in his disposition。 Now； though this was conceived and brought forth by my Lord Mulgrave； Rochester suspected Dryden of its authorship； and resolved to punish him forthwith。 Accordingly on the night of the 18th of December； 1679； when Dryden was passing through Rose Street； Covent Garden； on his homeward way from Will's Coffee House； he was waylaid by some ruffians； and； before he could draw his sword； promptly surrounded and severely beaten。
This occurrence caused considerable sensation throughout the town； and though surmises arose in many minds as to who had hired the bravoes； it was found impossible to prove them。 In hope of gaining some clue to the instigator of the attack； Dryden caused the following advertisement to be inserted in the LONDON GAZETTE AND DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE for three consecutive days： 〃Whereas John Dryden； Esq。； was on Monday； the 18th instant； at night； barbarously assaulted and wounded in Rose Street； in Covent Garden； by divers men unknown； if any person shall make discovery of the said offenders to the said Mr。 Dryden； or to any justice of the peace； he shall not only receive fifty pounds； which is deposited in the hands of Mr。 Blanchard Goldsmith； next door to Temple Bar； for the said purpose； but if he be a principal or an accessory in the said fact； his majesty is graciously pleased to promise him his pardon for the same。〃
Dryden sought no opportunity for revenge； for which restraint； outliving Rochester； and having a noble mind and generous disposition； he was no doubt glad at heart。 Not only did he survive the earl； but likewise the king。 To the company and conversation of that gracious sovereign the poet was frequently admitted； a privilege which resulted in satisfaction and pleasure to both。 One pleasant day towards the end of his majesty's reign； whilst they walked in the Mall； Charles said to him； 〃If I were a poet； and indeed I think I am poor enough to be one； I would write a satire on sedition。〃 Taking this hint； Dryden speedily set himself to work； and brought a poem on such a subject to his royal master； who rewarded him with a hundred broad pieces。
Amongst Dryden's friends was the excellent and ingenious Abraham Cowley； whose youth had given the promise of distinction his manhood fulfilled。 It is related that when quite a lad； he found in the window recess of his mother's apartment a copy of Spencer's 〃Faerie Queene。〃 Opening the book； he read it with delight； and his receptive mind reflecting the poet's fire； he resolved likewise to exercise the art of poesy。 In 1628； when at the age of ten； he wrote 〃The Tragic History of Pyramus and Thisbe；〃 five years later he published a volume of poems； and whilst yet a schoolboy wrote his pastoral comedy； 〃Love's Riddle。〃
When at St。 John's College； Oxford； he gave proof of his loyalty by writing a poem entitled the 〃Puritan and the Papist；〃 which gained him the friendship of courtiers。 On the Queen of Charles I。 taking refuge in France； he soon followed her； and becoming secretary to the Earl of St。 Albans； conducted the correspondence between her majesty and the king； ciphering and deciphering their letters； and such as were sent or received by those immediately concerned in the cause of royalty。 In this situation he remained until four years previous to the restoration； when he was sent into England for the purpose of observing the condition of the nation； and reporting the same。 Scarce had he set foot in London when he was seized； examined； and only liberated on a friend offering bail for him to the amount of one thousand pounds。
The better to disguise the object of his visit； and lull suspicions of republicans； he took out the degree of Doctor of Physic at Oxford； after which he retired into Kent； where he devoted a great portion of his time to the study of botany and the composition of poetry。 On Cromwell's death he hastened to France； and remained there until the king's return； which he celebrated by a song of triumph。 Like hundreds of others who had served Charles in his exile； he looked forward to gratitude and reward； but met disappointment and neglect。 Amongst the numerous places and employments the change of government opened in court and state； not one was offered the loyal poet。
Nay； his hardships did not end here； for having； in 1663； produced his merry comedy； 〃Cutter of Coleman Street；〃 it was treated with severity as a censure upon the king。 Feeling over… nervous to witness the result of its first representation； the poet absented himself from the playhouse； but thither his friends Dryden and Sprat sped； hoping they might be able to bear him tidings of its triumph。 When they returned to him at night and told him of its fate； 〃he received the news of its ill success；〃 says Sprat； 〃not with so much firmness as might have been expected from so great a man。〃 Of all intent to satirize the king he was entirely innocenta fact he set before the public in the preface to his play on its publication。 Having； he argues； followed the fallen fortunes of the royal family so
