is　play　on　its　publication。　　Having；　he　argues；　followed　the　fallen　fortunes　of　the　royal　family　so　long；　it　was　unlikely　he　would　select　the　time　of　their　restoration　to　quarrel　with　them。
  Feeling　his　grievances　acutely；　he　now　published　a　poem　called　〃The　Complaint；〃　which　met　with　but　little　success；　whereon；　depressed　by　ill…fortune　and　disgusted　by　ingratitude；　he　sought　consolation　in　the　peace　of　a　country　life。　　Through　the　influence　of　his　old　friend；　Lord　St。　Albans；　and　the　Duke　of　Buckingham；　he　obtained　a　lease　of　the　queen's　lands　at　Chertsey；　which　produced　him　an　income　of　about　three　hundred　pounds　a　yeara　sum　sufficient　for　his　few　wants　and　moderate　desires。　He　resided　here　but　two　years；　when　he　died；　on　the　28th　of　July；　1667。　　Milton；　on　hearing　of　his　death；　was　troubled。　　The　three　greatest　English　poets；　he　declared；　were　Spenser；　Shakespeare；　and　Cowley。
  The　ungrateful　neglect　with　which　he　was　treated　in　life　was　sought　to　be　atoned　for　by　useless　honours　paid　him　after　death。　His　remains　were　first　conveyed　to　Wallingford　House；　then　a　residence　of　the　Duke　of　Buckingham；　from　whence　they　were　carried　in　a　coach　drawn　by　six　horses；　and　followed　by　all　the　men　of　letters　and　wits　of　the　town；　divers　stately　bishops；　courtiers；　and　men　of　quality；　whose　carriages　exceeded　one　hundred　in　number；　to　Westminster　Abbey。　　Here　the　Poet　was　laid　at　rest　beside　Geoffrey　Chaucer；　and　not　far　removed　from　gentle　Spenser；　whose　words　had　first　inspired　his　happy　muse。
  The　literary　wealth　of　this　reign　was　furthermore　enhanced　by　the　genius　of　Butler；　the　inimitable　author　of　〃Hudibras；〃　concerning　whom　little　is　known；　save　that　he　was　born　in　1612；　and　spent　his　life　in　poverty。　　He　passed　some　years　as　clerk　to　a　justice　of　the　peace；　he　also　served　a　great　man's　steward；　and　acted　as　secretary　to　Sir　Samuel　Luke；　one　of　Cromwell's　officers。　　With　those　of　the　commonwealth　he　held　no　part；　that　he　was　a　royalist　at　heart　his　great　satire　indicates。　　The　first　part　of　this　was　published　in　the　third　year　of　the　restoration；　and　was　introduced　to　the　notice　of　his　majesty　by　my　Lord　Dorset。　　So　delighted　was　the　monarch　by　its　wit　that　its　lines　were　continually　on　his　lips；　an　example　speedily　followed　by　the　courtiers。　　It　was　considered　certain　a　man　possessing　such　brilliant　genius　and　loyal　nature　would　be　rewarded　with　place　or　pension；　but　neither　boon　was　bestowed　upon　him。　　Resting　his　hopes　on　future　achievements；　the　second　part　of　〃Hudibras〃　appeared　in　1664；　but　again　his　recompense　was　delayed。　Clarendon　made　him　promises　of　valuable　employments；　which　were　never　fulfilled；　and　to　soothe　his　disappointment　the　king　sent　him　a　present　of　three　hundred　guineas。
  Indignant　at　the　neglect　from　which　he　suffered；　his　friend　Wycherley　spoke　to　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　on　his　behalf；　saying　it　was　a　shame　to　the　court　a　man　of　Butler's　parts　should　be　allowed　to　suffer　want。　　With　this　his　grace　readily　agreed；　and　promised　to　use　his　influence　towards　remedying　the　poet's　ill…　fortune；　but　time　went　by；　and　his　condition　remained　unaltered。　Whereon　Wycherley　conceived　the　idea　of　bringing　Butler　and　the　duke　together；　that　the　latter　might　the　more　certainly　remember　him。　　He　therefore　succeeded　in　making　his　grace　name　an　hour　and　place　in　which　they　might　meet。　　So　it　came　to　pass　they　were　together　one　day　at　the　Roebuck　Tavern；　but　scarce　had　Buckingham　opened　his　lips　when　a　pimp　of　his　acquaintance〃the　creature　was　likewise　a　knight〃passed　by　with　a　couple　of　ladies。　　To　a　man　of　Buckingham's　character　the　temptation　was　too　seductive　to　be　neglected；　accordingly；　he　darted　after　those　who　allured　him；　leaving　the　needy　poet；　whom　he　saw　no　more。　　Butler　lived　until　1680；　dying　in　poverty。　　Longueville；　having　in　vain　solicited　a　subscription　to　defray　the　expenses　of　the　poet's　burial　in　Westminster　Abbey；　laid　him　to　rest　in　the　churchyard　of　Covent　Garden。
  Wycherley；　the　friend　of　Butler；　though　a　child　of　the　Muses；　was　superior　to　poverty。　　He　was　born　in　the　year　of　grace　1640；　and　early　in　life　sent　for　his　better　education　into　France。　Returning　to　England　soon　after　the　king　had　come　unto　his　own；　young　Wycherley　entered　Queen's　College；　Oxford；　from　whence　he　departed　without　obtaining　a　degree。　　He　then　betook　himself　to　town；　and　became　a　law　student。　　The　Temple；　however；　had　less　attraction　for　him　than　the　playhouse。　　Indeed；　before　leaving　Oxford　he　had；　written　a　couple　of　comediesto　wit；　〃Love　in　a　Wood；〃　and　〃The　Gentleman　Dancing　Master；〃　a　fact　entitling　him　to　be　considered　a　man　of　parts。　　Not　satisfied　with　this　distinction；　he　soon　developed　tastes　for　pleasures　of　the　town；　and　became　a　man　of　fashion。　　His　wit　illuminated　choice　gatherings　of　congenial　spirits　at　coffee…houses；　his　epigrams　were　repeated　by　boon　companions　in　the　precincts　of　the　court。
  In　the　year　1672　his　comedy　〃Love　in　a　Wood〃　was　produced。　　It　immediately　gained　universal　favour；　and；　moreover；　speedily　attracted　the　attention　of　his　majesty's　mistress；　the　Duchess　of　Cleveland。　　Wycherley　was　a　man　well　to　look　upon：　　her　grace　was　a　lady　eager　for　adventure。　　Desiring　his　acquaintance；　and　impatient　of　delay；　she　introduced　herself　to　his　notice　in　a　manner　eminently　characteristic　of　the　age。　　It　happened　when　driving　one　day　through　Pall　Mall；　she　encountered　Wycherley　riding　in　his　coach　in　an　opposite　direction。　　Thrusting　her　head　out　of　the　window　of　her　vehicle；　she　saluted　the　author　with　a　title　unknown　to　the　conversations　of　polite　society　in　the　present　day。
  The　fashionable　playwright　understanding　the　motive　which　prompted　her　remark；　hastily　ordered　his　coach　to　follow　hers；　and；　overtaking　her；　uncovered　and　began　a　speech　becoming　so　ardent　a　gallant。
  〃Madam；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　been　pleased　to　bestow　a　title　on　me　which　belongs　only　to　the　fortunate。　　Will　your　ladyship　be　at　the　play　to…night？〃
  〃Well；〃　replied　her　grace；　well　pleased　at　this　beginning；　〃what　if　I　am　there？〃
  〃Why；　then；〃　answered　he；　〃I　will　be　there　to　wait　on　your　ladyship；　though　I　disappoint　a　fine　woman　who　has　made　me　an　assignation。〃
  〃So；〃　said　this　frail　daughter　of　Eve；　greedily　swallowing　his　flattery；　〃you　are　sure　to　disappoint　a　woman　who　has　favoured　you　for　one　who　has　not？〃
  〃Yes；〃　quoth　he；　readily　enough；　〃if　the　one　who　has　not　favoured　me　is　the　finer　woman　of　the　two。　　But　he　who　can　be　constant　to　your　ladyship　till　he　can　find　a　finer；　is　sure　to　die　your　captive。〃
  That　night　her　grace　sat　in　the　front　row　of　the　king's　box　at　Drury　Lane　playhouse；　and　sure　enough　there　was　handsome　Will　Wycherley　sitting　in　the　pit　underneath。　　The　gentleman　cast　his　eyes　upwards　and　sighed；　the　lady　looked　down　and　played　with　her　fan；　after　which　preliminaries　they　fell　into　conversation　which　both　found　far　more　interesting　than　the　comedy　then　being　enacted　before　their　eyes。　　This　was　the　beginning　of　an　intimacy　concerning　which　the　court　made　merry；　and　of　which　the　town　spoke　scandal。　　My　lady　disguised　herself　as　a　country　wench；　and　visited　his　chambers；　Mr。　Wycherley　dedicated　his　play；　〃Love　in　a　Wood；〃　to　her　in　elegant　phraseology；　He　was　of　opinion　that　she　stood　as　little　in　need　of　flattery　as　her　beauty　did　of　art；　he　was　anxious　to　let　the　world　know　he　was　the　greatest　admirer　she　had；　and　he　was　desirous　of　returning　her　his　grateful　acknowledgment　for　the　favours　he　had　received　from　her。
  The　interest　of　this　romance　was　presently　intensified　by　the　introduction　of　a　rival　in　the　person　of　the　Duke　of　Buckingham。　Probably　from　fear　an　intrigue　with　such　a　prominent　figure　would；　if　indulged　in；　quickly　become　known　to　the　king；　she　refused　to　encourage　Buckingham's　love。　　His　grace　was　not　only　a　passionate　lover；　but　likewise　a　revengeful　man；　accordingly；　he　resolved　to　punish　my　lady　for　her　lack　of　good　taste。　　It　therefore　became　his　habit　to　speak　of　her　intrigues　before　the　court；　and　to　name　the　individuals　who　received　her　favours。　　Now　Wycherley；　being　amongst　these；　grew　fearful　his　amour　with　the　duchess　should　become　known　to　the　king；　from　whom　at　this　time　he　expected　an　appointment。　　Accordingly；　he　besought　his　good　friends；　Lord　Rochester　and　Sir　Charles　Sedley；　to　remonstrate　on　his　behalf　with　the　duke。　　These　gentlemen　undertook　that　kindly　office；　and　in　order　to　make　the　rivals　acquainted；　besought　his　grace　to　sup　with　the　playwright。　　The　duke　complying　with　their　request；　met　Wycherley　in　a　friendly　spirit；　and　soon　professed　himself　delighted　with　his　wit；　nay；　before　the　feast　was　over　he　drank　his　health　in　a　bumper　of　red　wine；　and　declared　himself　Mr。　Wycherley's　very　good　friend　and　faithful　servant　henceforth。
  Moreover；　he　was　as　good　as　his　word；　for；　being　master　of　the　horse；　he　soon　after　appointed　Wycherley　an　equerry；　and　subsequently　gave　him　a　commission　as　captain　of　a　regiment　of　which　he　was　colonel。　　Nor　did　the　duke's　services　to　the　dramatist　end　here；　for　when　occasion　offered　he　introduced　him　to　the　merry　monarch；　and　so　pleased　was　the　king　with　the　author's　conversational　powers　that　he　admitted　him　to　his　friendship。　　His　majesty's　regard　for　Wycherley　gradually　ripened；　and　once　when　he　lay　ill　of　fever