Andrew Marvell Part 18

[183:1] Ranke's _History of England_, vol. iii. p. 471.

[185:1] Ranke, vol. iii. p. 520.

[187:1] Grosart, vol. iv. (_Growth of Popery_), p. 275.

[187:2] _Ibid._, p. 279.

[189:1] See note to Dr. Airy's edition of Burnet's _History_, vol. ii.

p. 73.

[199:1] Marvell's commendatory verses on "Mr. Milton's Paradise Lost"

(so ent.i.tled in the volume of 1681) were first printed in the Second Edition (1674) of Milton's great poem. Marvell did not agree with Dryden in thinking that _Paradise Lost_ would be improved by rhyme, and says so in these verses.

[202:1] Printed in Captain Thompson's edition, vol. i. p. 432.

[204:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 304.

[205:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 308.

[206:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 322.

[209:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 327.

[210:1] This story is first told in a balder form by Cooke in his edition of 1726. It may be read as Cooke tells it in the _Dictionary of National Biography_, x.x.xvi., p. 329. There was probably some foundation for it.

CHAPTER VII

FINAL SATIRES AND DEATH

Marvell was no orator or debater, and though a member of Parliament for nearly eighteen years, but rarely opened his mouth in the House of Commons. His old enemy, Samuel Parker, whilst venting his posthumous spite upon the author of the _Rehearsal Transprosed_, would have us believe "that our Poet could not speak without a sound basting: whereupon having frequently undergone this discipline, he learnt at length to hold his tongue." There is no good reason for believing the Bishop of Oxford, but it is the fact that, however taught, Marvell had learnt to hold his tongue. His longest reported speech will be found in the _Parliamentary History_, vol. iv. p. 855.[211:1] When we remember how frequently in those days Marvell's pet subjects were under fierce discussion, we must recognise how fixed was his habit of self-repression.

On one occasion only are we enabled to catch a glimpse of Marvell "before the Speaker." It was in March 1677, and is thus reported in the _Parliamentary History_, though no mention of the incident is made in the Journals of the House:--

"_Debate on Mr. Andrew Marvell's striking Sir Philip Harcourt, March 29._--Mr. Marvell, coming up the house to his place, stumbling at Sir Philip Harcourt's foot, in recovering himself, seemed to give Sir Philip a box on the ear. The Speaker acquainting the house 'That he saw a box on the ear given, and it was his duty to inform the house of it,' this debate ensued.

"Mr. _Marvell_. What pa.s.sed was through great acquaintance and familiarity betwixt us. He neither gave him an affront, nor intended him any. But the Speaker cast a severe reflection upon him yesterday, when he was out of the house, and he hopes that, as the Speaker keeps us in order, he will keep himself in order for the future.

"Sir _John Ernly_. What the Speaker said yesterday was in Marvell's vindication. If these two gentlemen are friends already, he would not make them friends, and would let the matter go no further.

"Sir _Job. Charlton_ is sorry a thing of this nature has happened, and no more sense of it. You in the Chair, and a stroke struck!

Marvell deserves for his reflection on you, Mr. Speaker, to be called in question. You cannot do right to the house unless you question it; and moves to have Marvell sent to the Tower.

"The _Speaker_. I saw a blow on one side, and a stroke on the other.

"Sir _Philip Harcourt_. Marvell had some kind of a stumble, and mine was only a thrust; and the thing was accidental.

"Sir _H. Goodrick_. The persons have declared the thing to be accidental, but if done in jest, not fit to be done here. He believes it an accident, and hopes the house thinks so too.

"Mr. Sec. _Williamson_. This does appear, that the action for that time was in some heat. He cannot excuse Marvell who made a very severe reflection on the Speaker, and since it is so enquired, whether you have done your duty, he would have Marvell withdraw, that you may consider of it.

"Col. _Sandys_. Marvell has given you trouble, and instead of excusing himself, reflects upon the Speaker: a strange confidence, if not an impudence!

"Mr. _Marvell_. Has so great a respect to the privilege, order, and decency, of the house, that he is content to be a sacrifice for it.

As to the casualty that happened, he saw a seat empty, and going to sit in it, his friend put him by, in a jocular manner, and what he did was of the same nature. So much familiarity has ever been between them, that there was no heat in the thing. He is sorry he gave an offence to the house. He seldom speaks to the house, and if he commit an error, in the manner of his speech, being not so well tuned, he hopes it is not an offence. Whether out or in the house, he has a respect to the Speaker. But he has been informed that the Speaker resumed something he had said, with reflection. He did not think fit to complain of Mr. Seymour to Mr. Speaker. He believes that is not reflective. He desires to comport himself with all respect to the house. This pa.s.sage with Harcourt was a perfect casualty, and if you think fit, he will withdraw, and sacrifice himself to the censure of the house.

"Sir _Henry Capel_. The blow given Harcourt was with his hat; the Speaker cast his eye upon both of them, and both respected him. He would not aggravate the thing. Marvell submits, and he would have you leave the thing as it is.

"_Sir Robert Holmes_ saw the whole action. Marvell flung about three or four times with his hat, and then gave Harcourt a box on the ear.

"Sir _Henry Capel_ desires, now that his honour is concerned, that Holmes may explain, whether he saw not Marvell with his hat only give Harcourt the stroke 'at that time.' Possibly 'at another time' it might be.

"The _Speaker_. Both Holmes and Capel are in the right. But Marvell struck Harcourt so home, that his fist, as well as his hat, hit him.

"Sir _R. Howard_ hopes the house will not have Harcourt say he received a blow, when he has not. He thinks what has been said by them both sufficient.

"Mr. _Garraway_ hopes, that by the debate we shall not make the thing greater than it is. Would have them both reprimanded for it.

"Mr. Sec. _Williamson_ submits the honour of the house to the house.

Would have them made friends, and give that necessary a.s.surance to the house, and he, for his part, remains satisfied.

"Sir _Tho. Meres_. By our long sitting together, we lose, by our familiarity and acquaintance, the decencies of the house. He has seen 500 in the house, and people very orderly; not so much as to read a letter, or set up a foot. One could scarce know anybody in the house, but him that spoke. He would have the Speaker declare that order ought to be kept; but as to that gentleman (Marvell) to rest satisfied."

The general impression left upon the mind is that of a friendly-familiar but choleric gentleman, full of likes and dislikes, readier with his tongue in the lobby than with "set" speeches in the Chamber. A solitary politician with a biting pen. Satirists must not complain if they have enemies.

Marvell's vein of satire was never worked out, and the political poems of his last decade are fuller than ever of a savage humour. How he kept his ears is a repeated wonder. He is said to have been on terms of intimate friends.h.i.+p with Prince Rupert, and it is a steady tradition that the king was one of his amused readers. It is hard to believe that even Charles the Second could have seen any humour, good or bad, in such a couplet:--

"The poor Priapus King, led by the nose, Looks as a thing set up to scare the crows."

Nor can the following verses have been read with much pleasure, either at Whitehall or in a punt whilst fis.h.i.+ng at Windsor. Their occasion was the setting up in the stocks-market in the City of London of a statue of the king by Sir Robert Viner, a city knight, to whom Charles was very heavily in debt. Sir Robert, having a frugal mind, had acquired a statue of John Sobieski trampling on the Turk, which, judiciously altered, was made to pa.s.s muster so as to represent the Pensioner of Louis the Fourteenth and the Vendor of Dunkirk trampling on Oliver Cromwell.

"As cities that to the fierce conqueror yield Do at their own charges their citadels build; So Sir Robert advanced the King's statue in token Of bankers defeated, and Lombard Street broken.

Some thought it a knightly and generous deed, Obliging the city with a King and a steed; When with honour he might from his word have gone back; He that vows in a calm is absolved by a wrack.

But now it appears, from the first to the last, To be a revenge and a malice forecast; Upon the King's birthday to set up a thing That shows him a monkey much more than a King.

When each one that pa.s.ses finds fault with the horse, Yet all do affirm that the King is much worse; And some by the likeness Sir Robert suspect That he did for the King his own statue erect.

Thus to see him disfigured--the herb-women chid, Who up on their panniers more gracefully rid; And so loose in his seat--that all persons agree, E'en Sir William Peak[215:1] sits much firmer than he.

But Sir Robert affirms that we do him much wrong; 'Tis the 'graver at work, to reform him, so long; But, alas! he will never arrive at his end, For it is such a King as no chisel can mend.

But with all his errors restore us our King, If ever you hope in December for spring; For though all the world cannot show such another, Yet we'd rather have him than his bigoted brother."

Of a more exalted vein of satire the following extract may serve as an example:--