[Footnote 45: The witty Earl of Dorset, whom we have often had occasion to mention in these notes. His first wife was the Countess-Dowager of Falmouth. Sheffield insinuates, that he had previously lampooned this lady, and hints at some scandal now obsolete. She died without any issue by Dorset.] [Footnote 46: Alluding to Dorset's verses to Mr Edward Howard. "On his incomparable incomprehensible Poem, called the British Princess."] [Footnote 47: Mulgrave here alludes to some anecdotes of his own life and amours, which probably were well known at the time, but are now too obscure to be traced. He was three times married, and always to widows. His lordship is here pleased to represent himself as a gallant of the first order, skilled in all the arts of persuasion and conquest. But his contemporaries did not esteem him so formidable, at least if we may believe the author of a satire, called, "A Heroical Epistle from Lord Allpride to Doll Common;" a bitter and virulent satire on Mulgrave. He is thus described, in an epigram on Lord Allpride: Against his stars the coxcomb ever strives, And to be something they forbid contrives. With a red nose, splay foot, and goggle eye, A ploughman's booby mien, face all awry, A filthy breath, and every loathsome mark, The punchinello sets up for a spark: With equal self-conceit he takes up arms, But with such vile success his part performs, That he burlesques the trade, and, what is best In others, turns, like Harlequin, to jest: So have I seen, at Smithfield's wonderous fair, When all his brother-monsters flourish there, A lubbard elephant divert the town, With making legs, and shooting of a gun. Go where he will, he never finds a friend, Shame and derision all his steps attend; Alike abroad, at home, i'the camp, and court, This knight o'the burning pestle makes us sport. This seems to have been written by the offended Sir Car Scrope.] [Footnote 48: Derrick is inclined to think, that Sidney, brother of the Earl of Leicester, and of the famous Algernon Sidney, is here meant. But the character better suits Sir Charles Sedley or Sidley, for he spelled the name both ways. In explanation of the line, there is, in the 4to edition of Sheffield's Works, this short note, "Remarkable for making pleasant and proper similies upon all occasions." In a satire in the State Poems, Vol. II. To a soul so mean e'en Shadwell is a stranger; Nay, little Sid. it seems, less values danger. ] [Footnote 49: Sir George Hewet was a coxcomb of the period, after whom Etherege is said to have modelled Sir Fopling Flutter's character: Scarce will their greater grief pierce every heart, Should Sir George Hewit or Sir Car depart. Had it not better been, than thus to roam, To stay and tie the cravat string at home; To strut, look big, shake pantaloon, and swear With Hewit, "Damme, there's no action here!" _Rochester's Farewell._