The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Sir William Davenant has given an honourable testimony in favour of
our author, with which I shall conclude his life, after observing that
this elegant author died, much regretted by some of the best wits of
his time, in the year 1639.
Sir William Davenant thus addresses him,
Not that thy verses are so smooth and high
As glory, love, and wine, from wit can raise;
But now the Devil take such destiny!
What should commend them turns to their dispraise.
Thy wit's chief virtue, is become its vice;
For every beauty thou hast rais'd so high,
That now coarse faces carry such a price,
As must undo a lover that would buy.
[Footnote 1: Wood's Athen. Oxon. p. 630. vol. i.]
[Footnote 2: Wood's ubi supra.]
* * * * *
Sir HENRY WOTTON.
This great man was born in the year 1568, at Bocton Hall in the
county of Kent, descended of a very ancient family, who distinguished
themselves in the wars between the Scotch and English before the union
of crowns. The father of Sir Henry Wotton, (according to the account
of the learned bishop Walton,) was twice married, and after the
death of his second wife, says the bishop, 'his inclination, though
naturally averse to all contentions, yet necessitated he was to have
several suits of law, which took up much of his time; he was by divers
of his friends perswaded to remarriage, to whom he often answered,
that if he did put on a resolution to marry, he seriously resolved to
avoid three sorts of persons, namely,
Those that had children,
law suits, were of his kindred:
And yet following his own law suit, he met in Westminster Hall with
one Mrs. Morton, the widow of a gentleman of Kent, who was engaged in
several suits in law, and observing her comportment, the time of her
hearing one of her causes before the judges, he could not but at the
same time compassionate her condition, and so affect her person, that
though there were in her a concurrence of all those accidents, against
which he had so seriously resolved, yet his affection grew so strong,
that he then resolved to sollicit her for a wife, and did, and
obtained her.'
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