But Mr. Cooke informs us, 'that these were published with a mercenary
view; and indeed not at all to the honour of the deceased, by a woman
with whom he lodged, who hoped by this stratagem to share in what he
left behind him.'
He was never married, and the same gentleman observes in another
place, that in the editions of 1681, there are such gross errors,
especially in the Latin Poems, as make several lines unintelligible;
and that in the volume of Poems on Affairs of State, the same mistakes
are as frequent; and in those, some pieces are attributed to our
author, which he never wrote. Most of his Poems printed in Dryden's
Miscellanies are so imperfect, that whole stanzas are omitted in many
places.
These Mr. Cooke has restored in his edition of the works of Andrew
Marvel, Esq; printed at London 1725, in two volumes, and corrected
such faults as in either of the two former editions obscure the sense:
in this edition are also added, some poems from original manuscripts.
Great care has likewise been taken by Mr. Cooke, to retrench such
pieces as he was sure were not genuine.
Mr. Marvel, considered as a statesman, makes a more conspicuous
figure than any of the age in which he lived, the proceeding, or the
subsequent: He possessed the first quality of a statesman, that is,
inviolable integrity, and a heart so confirmed against corruption,
that neither indigence, a love of pomp or even dangers the most
formidable, could move his settled purpose, to pursue in every
respect, the interest of his country.
That Marvel understood the true interest of his country, is abundantly
clear, from the great reverence paid to his opinion, by such persons
as were most able to discern, and most disposed to promote its
welfare. He has succeeded to a miracle in the droll way of writing;
and when he assumes a severity, and writes seriously his arguments and
notions are far removed from imbecility.
As a poet, I cannot better delineate his character than in the words
of Mr. Cooke, 'There are few of his poems (says he) that have not
something very pleasing in them, and some he must be allowed to have
excelled in; most of them seem to be the effect of a lively genius,
and manly sense, but at the same time seem to want that correctness
he was capable of making. His most finished pieces are upon Milton's
Paradise Lost, and upon Blood's stealing the crown; the latter of
which is very satirical.'
On BLOOD's stealing the Crown.
When daring Blood, his rent to have regain'd,
Upon the English diadem distrain'd;
He chose the cassoc, circingle, and gown,
The fittest mask for one that robs the crown:
But his lay-pity underneath prevail'd,
And, while he sav'd the keeper's life, he fail'd.
With the priest's vestment had he but put on
The prelate's cruelty, the crown had gone.
'In his state Poems, is contained much of the secret history of
king Charles the IId, in which time they were all written. They
were composed on various occasions, and chiefly to expose a corrupt
ministry, and the violence of those who were for persecuting all who
differed from them in opinion. He has several Poems in Latin, some
of which he translated into English, and one in Greek. They have each
their proper merit; he discovers a great facility in writing the Latin
tongue. There are some small pieces of his in prose, which ought not
to escape observation. From his letter to Sir John Trott, there seems
to have been a friendly correspondence between him and that gentleman.
By his Familiar Letters, we may easily judge what part of his works
are laboured, and what not. But of all his pieces in Prose, the King's
Mock-Speech to both Houses of Parliament, has most of spirit, and
humour. As it will furnish the best specimen of Mr. Marvel's genius
for drollery, as well as the character of that prince and ministry, we
shall here insert it, as a performance of the most exquisite humour we
have ever seen.
His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both
Houses of Parliament.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
'I told you, at our last meeting, the winter was
the fittest time for business, and truly I thought
so, till my lord treasurer assured me the spring was
the best season for sallads and subsidies. I hope
therefore, that April will not prove so unnatural a
month, as not to afford some kind showers on my
parched exchequer, which gapes for want of them.
Some of you, perhaps, will think it dangerous to
make me too rich; but I do not fear it; for I promise
you faithfully, whatever you give me I will
always want; and although in other things my
word may be thought a slender authority, yet in
that, you may rely on me, I will never break it.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I can bear my straits with patience; but my lord
treasurer does protest to me, that the revenue, as it
now stands, will not serve him and me too. One
of us must suffer for it, if you do not help me. I
must speak freely to you, I am under bad circumstances,
for besides my harlots in service, my Reformado
Concubines lie heavy upon me. I have a
passable good estate, I confess, but, God's-fish, I
have a great charge upon't. Here's my lord treasurer
can tell, that all the money designed for next
summer's guards must, of necessity, be applyed to
the next year's cradles and swadling-cloths. What
shall we do for ships then? I hint this only to you,
it being your business, not mine. I know, by experience,
I can live without ships. I lived ten years
abroad without, and never had my health better in
my life; but how you will be without, I leave to
yourselves to judge, and therefore hint this only by
the by: I do not insist upon it. There's another
thing I must press more earnestly, and that is this:
It seems, a good part of my revenue will expire in
two or three years, except you will be pleased to
continue it. I have to say for't; pray why did you
give me so much as you have done, unless you resolve
to give as fast as I call for it? The nation
hates you already for giving so much, and I'll hate
you too, if you do not give me more. So that if
you stick not to me, you must not have a friend in
England. On the other hand, if you will give me
the revenue I desire, I shall be able to do those
things for your religion and liberty, that I have had
long in my thoughts, but cannot effect them without
a little more money to carry me through.
Therefore look to't, and take notice, that if you
do not make me rich enough to undo you, it shall
lie at your doors. For my part, I wash my hands
on't. But that I may gain your good opinion, the
best way is to acquaint you what I have done to deserve
it, out of my royal care for your religion and
your property. For the first, my proclamation is a
true picture of my mind. He that cannot, as in a
glass, see my zeal for the church of England, does
not deserve any farther satisfaction, for I declare
him willful, abominable, and not good. Some
may, perhaps, be startled, and cry, how comes
this sudden change? To which I answer, I am a
changling, and that's sufficient, I think. But to
convince men farther, that I mean what I say, there
are these arguments.
First, I tell you so, and you know I never break
my word.
Secondly, my lord treasurer says so, and he never
told a lye in his life.
Thirdly, my lord Lauderdale will undertake it
for me; and I should be loath, by any art of mine,
he should forfeit the credit he has with you.
If you desire more instances of my zeal, I have
them for you. For example, I have converted my
natural sons from Popery; and I may say, without
vanity, it was my own work, so much the more
peculiarly mine than the begetting them. 'Twould
do one's heart good to hear how prettily George can
read already in the Psalter. They are all fine children,
God bless 'em, and so like me in their understandings!
But, as I was saying, I have, to please
you, given a pension to your favourite, my lord
Lauderdale; not so much that I thought he wanted
it, as that you would take it kindly. I have made
Carwel duchess of Portsmouth, and marry'd her
sister to the earl of Pembroke. I have, at my brother's
request, lent my lord Inchequin into Barbary,
to settle the Protestant religion among the Moors,
and an English interest at Tangier. I have made
Crew bishop of Durham, and, at the first word of
my lady Portsmouth, Prideaux bishop of Chichester.
I know not, for my part, what factious men would
have; but this I am sure of, my predecessors never
did any thing like this, to gain the good-will of their
subjects. So much for your religion, and now for
your property. My behaviour to the bankers is
a public instance; and the proceedings between
Mrs. Hyde and Mrs. Sutton, for private ones, are
such convincing evidences, that it will be needless
to say any more to't.
I must now acquaint you, that, by my lord treasurer's
advice, I made a considerable retrenchment
upon my expences in candies and charcoal, and do
not intend to stop there, but will, with your help,
look into the late embezzlements of my dripping-pans
and kitchenstuff; of which, by the way, upon
my conscience, neither my lord treasurer, nor my
lord Lauderdale, are guilty. I tell you my opinion;
but if you should find them dabling in that business,
I tell you plainly, I leave 'em to you; for, I would
have the world to know, I am not a man to be
cheated.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I desire you to believe me as you have found me;
and I do solemnly promise you, that whatsoever
you give me shall be specially managed with the
same conduct, trust, sincerity, and prudence, that
I have ever practiced, since my happy restoration.'
In order to shew the versification of Mr. Marvel, we shall add a
beautiful dialogue between the resolved soul, and created pleasure. It
is written with a true spirit of poetry, the numbers are various,
and harmonious, and is one of the best pieces, in the serious way, of
which he is author.
A DIALOGUE between the Resolved SOUL
and Created PLEASURE.
Courage, my Soul, now learn to weild
The weight of thine immortal shield.
Close on thy head thy helmet bright;
Ballance thy sword against the fight.
See where an army, strong as fair,
With silken banners spreads the air.
Now, if thou be'st that thing divine,
In this day's combat let it shine;
And shew that nature wants an art
To conquer one resolved heart.