I do not wonder how he came to fall, for I have always known him heavy:  the miracle is, how he got up again.  I have heard of a sea captain as fat as he, who, to escape arrests, would lay himself flat upon the ground, and let the bailiffs carry him to prison, if they could.  If a messenger or two, nay, we may put in three or four, should come, he has friendly advertisement how to escape them.  But to leave him, who is not worth any further consideration, now I have done laughing at him,—­would every man knew his own talent, and that they, who are only born for drinking, would let both poetry and prose alone!” This was the last distinct and prolonged animadversion which our author bestowed upon his corpulent antagonist.

Soon after this time Dryden wrote a biographical preface to Plutarch’s Lives, of which a new translation, by several hands, was in the press.  The dedication is addressed to the Duke of Ormond, the Barzillai of “Absalom and Achitophel,” whom Charles, after a long train of cold and determined neglect, had in emergency recalled to his favour and his councils.  The first volume of Plutarch’s Lives, with Dryden’s Life of the author, appeared in 1683.

About the same time, the king’s express command engaged Dryden in a work, which may be considered as a sort of illustration of the doctrines laid down in the “Vindication of the Duke of Guise.”  It was the translation of Maimbourg’s “History of the League,” expressly composed to draw a parallel between the Huguenots of France and the Leaguers, as both equal enemies of the monarchy.  This comparison was easily transferred to the sectaries of England, and the association proposed by Shaftesbury.  The work was published with unusual solemnity of title-page and frontispiece; the former declaring that the translation was made by his Majesty’s command; the latter representing Charles on his throne, surrounded by emblems expressive of hereditary and indefeasible right.[39] The dedication to the king contains sentiments which savour strongly of party violence, and even ferocity.  The forgiving disposition of the king is, according to the dedicator, the encouragement of the conspirators.  Like Antaeus they rise refreshed from a simple overthrow.  “These sons of earth are never to be trusted in their mother element; they must be hoisted into the air, and strangled.”  Thus exasperated were the most gentle tempers in these times of doubt and peril.  The rigorous tone adopted, confirms the opinion of those historians who observe, that, after the discovery of the Rye-house Plot, Charles was fretted out of his usual debonair ease, and became more morose and severe than had been hitherto thought consistent with his disposition.