Page:The Story of Nell Gwyn.djvu/94

78 He lived beloved, and died lamented, by a very large portion of his people. What helped to endear him has been happily expressed by Waller:

Then, the way in which he was seen in St. James's Park feeding his ducks; or in the Mall playing a manly game with great skill; or at the two theatres encouraging English authors, and commending English actors and actresses, added to his popularity. He really mixed with his subjects; and though a standing army was first established in his reign, it was needed more for his throne than for his person.

He did not study or care for the state which most of his predecessors before him had assumed, and was fond of dropping the formality of a sovereign for the easy character of a companion. He had lived, when in exile, upon a footing of equality with his banished nobles, and had partaken freely and promiscuously in the pleasures and frolics by which they had endeavoured to sweeten adversity. He was led in this way to let distinction and ceremony fall to the ground, as useless and foppish, and could not even on premeditation, it is said, act for a moment the part of a king