in the following affecting Memorial, addressed to Hyde, Earl of Rochester:—­“I would plead,” says he, “a little merit, and some hazards of my life from the common enemies; my refusing advantages offered by them, and neglecting my beneficial studies, for the king’s service; but I only think I merit not to starve.  I never applied myself to any interest contrary to your lordship’s; and, on some occasions, perhaps not known to you, have not been unserviceable to the memory and reputation of my lord, your father.[41] After this, my lord, my conscience assures me, I may write boldly, though I cannot speak to you.  I have three sons, growing to man’s estate.  I breed them all up to learning, beyond my fortune; but they are too hopeful to be neglected, though I want.  Be pleased to look on me with an eye of compassion:  some small employment would render my condition easy.  The king is not unsatisfied of me; the duke has often promised me his assistance; and your lordship is the conduit through which their favours pass.  Either in the customs, or the appeals of the excise, or some other way, means cannot be wanting, if you please to have the will. ’Tis enough for one age to have neglected Mr. Cowley, and starved Mr. Butler; but neither of them had the happiness to live till your lordship’s ministry.  In the meantime, be pleased to give me a gracious and a speedy answer to my present request of half a year’s pension for my necessities.  I am going to write somewhat by his Majesty’s command,[42] and cannot stir into the country for my health and studies till I secure my family from want.”

We know that this affecting remonstrance was in part successful; for long afterwards, he says, in allusion to this period, “Even from a bare treasury, my success has been contrary to that of Mr. Cowley; and Gideon’s fleece has there been moistened, when all the ground was dry.”  But in the admission of this claim to the more regular payment of his pension, was comprehended all Rochester’s title to Dryden’s gratitude.  The poet could not obtain the small employment which he so earnestly solicited; and such was the recompense of the merry monarch and his counsellors, to one whose productions had strengthened the pillars of his throne, as well as renovated the literary taste of the nation.[43]

FOOTNOTES:  [1] Mulgrave was created lieutenant of Yorkshire and governor of Hull, when Monmouth was deprived of these and other honours.

[2] See vol. x.

[3] This is objected to Dryden by one of his antagonists:  “Nor could ever Shimei be thought to have cursed David more bitterly, than he permits his friend to blaspheme the Roman priesthood in his epilogue to the ‘Spanish Friar.’  In which play he has himself acted his own part like a true younger son of Noah, as may be easily seen in the first edition of that comedy, which would not pass muster a second time without emendations and corrections.”—­The Revolter, 1687, p. 29.