[32] A small village on the Thames, which was Mr. Cowley’s first retreat, before he removed to Chertsea.
[33] Meaning an estate he had obtained by means of this lord. This particular is several times referred to in the course of the Dialogue.
[34] The writer of the Dialogue has thought fit to soften the misanthropy of Mr. Cowley in this instance. In one of his Essays he talks strangely. “It is the great boast,” says he, “of eloquence and philosophy, that they first congregated men dispersed, united them into cities, and built up the houses and the walls of cities. I wish they could unravel all they had woven, that we might have our woods and our innocence again, instead of our castles and our policies.”
[35] These verses are inserted in one of his Essays, and in some editions of his works.
[36] “Perhaps, says he (speaking of the poets), it was the immature and immoderate love of them, which stampt first, or rather engraved, the characters in me: they were like letters cut in the bark of a young tree, which with the tree, still grow proportionably.” [Essay on himself.]
[37] “When the civil war broke out, his [Mr. Cowley’s] affection to the king’s cause drew him to Oxford, as soon as it began to be the chief seat of the royal party.” [Dr. Sprat’s life of him.]
[38] Dr. Sprat tells us in his Life, “That, during his residence at Oxford, he had the entire friendship of my Lord Falkland, one of the principal secretaries of state. That affection was contracted by the agreement of their learning and manners. For you may remember, Sir, [addressing himself to Mr. M. Clifford] we have often heard Mr. Cowley admire him, not only for the profoundness of his knowledge, which was applauded by all the world, but more especially for those qualities which he himself more regarded, for his generosity of mind, and his neglect of the vain pomp of human greatness.”
[39] The Cutter of Coleman-street; the occasion and purpose of which was this: At the Restoration, there was not a set of men more troublesome to the ministry than the cavalier officers; amongst whom had crept in all the profligate of broken fortunes, to share in the merits and rewards of that name. Cowley writ this comedy to unmask these wretches, and might reasonably pretend to some thanks for it. But, contrary to expectation, this very attempt raised a storm against him even at court, which beat violently upon him. See his preface to that play in the later editions in 8vo.
[40] Shakespear. As you like it. Act II. S. 1.—There is a quaintness in these lines of the great poet, which however are not unlike some of Mr. Cowley’s addressed to J. Evelyne, Esq.
Where does the wisdom and the pow’r divine,
In a more bright and sweet reflexion shine;
Where do we finer strokes and colours see
Of the Creator’s real poetry;