Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/21

Rh Charles the II.d’s, who was juſtly reckoned one of the moſt celebrated beauties of that age. Mrs. Manley was paying a viſit to a lady of her grace’s acquaintance, when ſhe was introduced into the favour of this royal courtezan; and as the ducheſs of Cleveland was a woman of parts and genius, ſhe could not but be charmed with the ſprightlineſs of her converſation. She was fond of new faces, and immediately contracted the greateſt intimacy with our poeteſs, and gave her a general invitation to her table. The lady at whole houſe the ducheſs became acquainted with Mrs. Manley, ſoon perceived her indiſcretion in bringing them together; for the love of novelty ſo far prevailed on the ducheſs, that herſelf was immediately diſcarded, and the affection formerly bellowed upon her, was laviſhed on Mrs. Manley.

This procured our poeteſs an inveterate enemy; and the greateſt blow that was ever ſtruck at her reputation, was by that woman, who had been before her friend. She was not content to inform perſons who began to know and eſteem Mrs. Manley, that her marriage was a cheat; but even endeavoured to make the ducheſs jealous of her new favourite’s charms, in reſpect of Mr. Goodman the player, who at that time had the honour of approaching her grace’s perſon, with the freedom of a gallant.

As the ducheſs of Cleveland was a woman of a very fickle temper, in ſix months time ſhe began to be tired of Mrs. Manley. She was quarelſome, loquacious, fierce, exceſſively fond, or downright rude; when ſhe was diſguſted with any perſon, ſhe never failed to reproach them, with all the bitterneſs of wit ſhe was miſtreſs of, with ſuch malice, and ill-nature, that ſhe was hated, not only by all the world, but by her own children and ſervants: The extremes of prodigality, and covetouſneſs, of love, and hatred, of dotage, and fondneſs, met in her. A