Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/56

50 of sentiment, as, since the name of Lopez de Vega, perhaps no other author has ever possessed.

He did not enjoy his reputation, however great, nor his profits, however small, without molestation. He had criticks to endure, and rivals to oppose. The two most distinguished wits of the nobility, the duke of Buckingham and earl of Rochester, declared themselves his enemies.

Buckingham characterised him, in 1671, by the name of Bayes in the Rehearsal; a farce which he is said to have written with the assistance of Butler, the author of Hudibras, Martin Clifford of the Charter house, and Dr. Sprat, the friend of Cowley, then his Chaplain. Dryden and his friends laughed at the length of time, and the number of hands, employed upon this performance; in which, though by some artifice of action it yet keeps possession of the stage, it is not possible now to find any thing that might not have been written without so long delay, or a confederacy so numerous.

To adjust the minute events of literary history, is tedious and troublesome; it Rh