Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 1.djvu/14

 whoſe patronage he then approached the ſplendor of the court. The reign of Edward III. was glorious and ſucceſsful, he was a diſcerning as well as a fortunate Monarch; he had a taſte as well for erudition as for arms; he was an encourager of men of wit and parts, and permitted them to approach him, without reſerve. At Edward's court nothing but gallantry and a round of pleaſure privailed, and how well qualified our poet was to ſhine in the ſoft circles, whoever has read his works, will be at no loſs to determine; but beſides the advantages of his wit and learning, he poſſeſved thoſe of perſon in a very conſiderable degree. He was then about the age of thirty, of a fair beautiful complexion, his lips red and full, his ſize of a juſt medium, and his air poliſhed and graceful, ſo that he united whatever could claim the approbation of the Great, and charm the eyes of the Fair. He had abilities to record the valour of the one, and celebrate the beauty of the other, and being qualified by his genteel behaviour to entertain both, he became a finiſhed courtier. The firſt dignity to which we find him preferred, was that of page to the king, a place of ſo much honour and eſteem at that time, that Richard II. leaves particular legacies to his pages, when few others of his ſervants are taken notice of. In the forty-firſt year of Edward III. he received as a reward of his ſervices, an annuity of twenty marks per ann. payable out of the Exchequer, which in thole days was no inconſider-. able penſion; in a year after he was advanced to be of his Majeſty's privy chamber, and a very few months to be his ſhield bearer, a title, at that time, (tho' now extinct) of very great honour, being always next the king's perſon, and generally upon ſignal victories rewarded with military honours. Our poet being thus eminent by his places, contracted friendſhips, and procured the eſteem of perſons of the firſt quality. Queen Philippa, the Duke of Lancaſter, and his Ducheſs Blanch, thewed particular honour