His Life and Genius 149 



fashion wont to frequent the theatre for his enter- 

 tainment who had contracted a close intimacy 

 with the poet ; one, too, who, joining grace and 

 wit to birth and beauty, had quite a woman's 

 delicate features, was gentle-hearted as a woman 

 but not inconstant," as is false women's fashion,"* 

 withal wantonly addicted to the dissipations of 

 lustful youth. 



The feelings of affection are set forth with 

 profuse ingenuity and garnished with all the 

 sparkling conceits of wit and fancy which the 

 special theme of each sonnet lent itself to : 

 exuberant imagination spent in the invention of 



character as depicted by Clarendon in his ' ' History of the 

 Rebellion." " Vet his memory must not be flattered that his 

 virtues and good inclinations may be believed without some 

 alloy of vice, and without being clouded with great infirmities 

 which he had in too exorbitant a proportion. He indulged to 

 himself the pleasures of all kinds, almost in all excesses. 

 Whether out of his natural constitution, or want of his domestic 

 content and delight (in which he was most unhappy, for he paid 

 much too dear for his wife's fortune by taking her person into 

 the bargain), he was immoderately given up to women. But 

 therein he likewise retained such a power and jurisdiction over 

 his appetite, that he was not so much transported with beauty 

 and outward allurements as with those advantages of the mind 

 as manifested an extraordinary will and spirit and knowledge, 

 and administered great pleasure in the conversation. To these 

 he sacrificed himself, his precious time, and much of his 

 fortune." 



* A woman's face, which Nature's own hand painted, 



***** 



A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted 

 With shifting change, as is false women's fashion. 



