Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/467

 9*s.x.D E c.6,i902.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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Rochester and other Literary Rakes of the Court of Charles II. By the Author of 'The Life of Kenelm Digby.' (Longmans & Co.) THE author of ' The Life of Kenelm Digby ' must now be regarded as a writer of experience. His latest volume is, however, scarcely worthy of its predecessors. By the aid of portraits, reproduced from Sir Peter Lely and other painters, of rakes and demireps if a term not in use till the follow- ing century may be employed to characterize the frail beauties of Charles II.'s Court an attractive- looking volume is obtained, but the author's know- ledge of his subject is superficial, and his work, though written in a familiar and popular style, has a suggestion of bookmaking. With the poems of Rochester, Roscommon, and Dorset, of Sheffield, Sedley, and other writers he is familiar, and he knows, of course, the 'Memoirs' of Grammont, the edifying revelations concerning Rochester of Burnet, the prejudiced stories of Walpole, the utterances of Dr. Johnson, and other accessible works. Concern- ing later, more accurate, and no less accessible writers he appears to have no knowledge ; at least, he never mentions their existence. He does injus- tice, moreover, to the writings and characters of some of the most interesting characters, of the time with which he deals. His work, none the less, is written with vivacity, tells many amusing and some rather hardy stories, may be read with amusement, and to the majority of readers will heartily commend itself. An opening chapter, descriptive of the inception of the book, conveys the idea that it is a work of fiction. That mistaken impression is soon removed, and the remainder of the work consists of a sort of celestial some would say infernal orrery, with Rochester for its central luminary. Not wanting in severity are the judgments passed by our author on the world he depicts : "To the Court of Charles II. all the world was a broad farce, the courtiers were harlequins, the courtesans the word most applic- able to many of the ladies of that Court were columbines. If Cromwell brought tragedy to Lon- don, Charles II. brought burlesque ; and the some- what meretricious ' godliness ' of the Commonwealth was supplanted by the comic opera of the Restora- tion." In order to people his world of literary rakes our author includes a good many who might have resented or been astonished at being included in that category, which comprises both the Merry Monarch and his brother. To have written any- thing seems almost to have been enough to justify inclusion. No need existed, however, for casting the net so wide. In that sea of vice one might pick up. rakes "as pigeons peas." Rochester's own career is not less brief than unedifying. It is fairly exhibited, as is that of his royal patron, and a good idea of the state of London immediately after the Restoration is conveyed. To Rochester's literary capacity full justice is not done. Marvell was not alone in holding that Rochester was the only man in England that had the true vein of satire. To some other authors, and notably to her fantastic grace of Newcastle, the writer is scarcely just. . A biographer is naturally handicapped when decency prohibits him from quoting the best and wittiest lines of his subject. This is, of coursa, the case in the present instance, since Rochester's brightest effusions could not be spoken outside a lupanar, or, what is virtually the same thing, the Court for the delectation of which they were intended. The text, moreover, of things which were handed about

in manuscript and irresponsibly printed is xoep- tionally corrupt. Whence, however, did our author obtain the rendering he quotes of Rochester's best known lines? In the only edition to which we have access, 1739, these run :

Here lies our Sovereign Lord the King, Whose word no man rely'd [relies] on,

Who never said a foolish thing

Nor ever did a wise one.

As now given the first two lines lose the rime and are weaker in every way :

Here lives [sic] a mighty Monarch

Whose promise none relies on. D'Avenant's claim to be the son of Shakespeare is airily dismissed. A good many passages have been marked for comment not wholly favourable. We will content ourselves with -repeating that to those with no close knowledge of the period depicted the book may be commended.

Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema, R.A. By Helen Zimmern. Raphael. By McDougall Scott, B.A. (Bell & Sons.)

THESE two opuscules constitute the latest additions to Bell's " Miniature Series of Painters." Miss Zimmern's monograph affords much interesting and accurate informatiyi, which might perhaps be extended. It is, of course, most sympathetically written, and states ' the whereabouts, actual or recent, of many of the artist's greatest works. Eight illustrations by the Berlin Photographic Company are given. The 'Raphael' has also eight illustrations, com-

rising the ' Madonna del Gran' Duca,' that ' Di an Sisto,' ' The Vision of Ezekiel,' from the Pitti Palace, and 'The Vision of a Knight,' from the National Gallery.

IN the Fortnightly Mrs. Mary Duclaux (Miss A. Mary F. Robinson) writes of ' The Youth of Taine,' drawing her materials largely from the recently published ' Life and Correspondence.' A stormy though a brilliant youth it was. In his early years Taine suffered from hypochondria. Visionary suf- fering had, however, to give place to real grievances ; after the coup d'etat the authorities had decided that philosophy was" to be snubbed, and through sub- servient jurors the most brilliant man of his year was plucked, to the great scandal of the university. It was, in fact, heresy for which he was sent down. We cannot follow his subsequent career until the Doctorship was at length awarded him, but can heartily commend the article to perusal. Sir A. C. Lyall prints his Presidential Address de- livered to the Social and Political Education League in May, the subject of which is ' Race and Religion.' Some sage counsels are given to those who hold that " the importation into Asia of economical improve- ments, public instruction, regular administration, and religious neutrality will conquer antipathies, overcome irrational prejudices, and reconcile old- world folk to an alien civilization." Sir Squire Ban- croft's address ' On Preaching and Reading the Gospel' is short and interesting. It is largely occupied with the faulty delivery of the clergy. Mrs. Stobart writes strongly, and as one who knows, upon ' Christian Science and Mortal Mind.' ' An Uncommercial Theatre,' by Mr. Stephen Gwynn, deals with the recent attempts to found in Dublin a national Irish theatre. Curious speculations are advanced by Dr. Beattie Crozier on ' The Problem of Religious Conversion.' Baron Pierre de Coubertin