Macaulay says “the wit of Congreve far outshines that of every comic writer, except Sheridan, who has arisen within the last two centuries.”

Lord Dorset of whom we have above spoken deserves some passing notice.  He was high in the favour of Charles II., James, and William; and was one of the most accomplished of the courtiers of that day, who, notwithwstanding their dissipation, were more or less scholars, and wrote poetry.  What was better, he was a munificent supporter of real literary genius, and patronized Dryden, and to judge by their commendations was not neglectful of Congreve and Pope.

Most of his poems are in the pastoral strain, but do not show any great talent.  Two or three of them have some humour—­

“Dorinda’s sparkling wit and eyes
United, cast too fierce a light,
Which blazes high, but quickly dies,
Pains not the heart, but hurts the sight;

* * * * *

“Love is a calmer, gentler joy,
Smooth are his looks, and soft his pace;
Her cupid is a blackguard boy
That runs his link right in your face.”

Lord Dorset was at the battle of Opdam when the Dutch Admiral’s fleet was destroyed in 1665.  The night before the engagement he wrote the well known epistle

“To all you ladies now on land,
We men at sea indite,
And first would have you understand
How hard it is to write;
The Muses now and Neptune too,
We must implore to write to you. 

                              With a fa la la la la.

“For though the Muses should prove kind,
And fill our empty brain,
Yet if rough Neptune raise the wind,
To wave the azure main,
Our paper, pen and ink, and we,
Roll up and down our ships at sea. 

                              With a fa, la, &c.

“Should foggy Opdam chance to throw
Our sad and dismal story,
The Dutch would scorn so weak a foe,
And quit their fort at Goree;
For what resistance can they find
From men who’ve left their hearts behind? 

                              With a fa, la, &c.

“In justice you cannot refuse
To think of our distress,
When we for hope of honour lose
Our certain happiness;
All those designs are but to prove
Ourselves more worthy of your love. 

                              With a fa, la, &c.

“And now we’ve told you all our loves,
And likewise all our fears,
In hopes this declaration moves,
Some pity from your tears;
Let’s hear of no inconstancy,
We have too much of that at sea. 

                              With a fa la la la la.”

We can easily understand how the above lines were suggested, for in those times the same officers served both in army and navy, and many of the young sparks taken from the gaieties of London had not yet acquired their sea legs.  Wycherley is said to have been present at some of the engagements with the Dutch.