sense, that is not proof against the grossest flattery, cannot be rated very high; and surely Charles the Second is the last man that can be allowed to talk of treachery and ingratitude, when we recollect, that for many years, the support of his cause deluged the country in blood; that even in his most desperate circumstances, there were never wanting gallant noblemen and cavaliers to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in his behalf; and that, finally, the whole nation threw itself into his arms without reserve or stipulation. But I forget myself, I have already been cautioned against falling into this error! It becomes not meHere he was

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interrupted by the appearance of the Duke of Monmouth, who embraced him with the utmost cordiality, and expressed his hopes that their former friendship would be not only renewed, but cemented by the temporary interruption it had sustained; «I should rather say separation," added the duke, « for my good wishes and good offices suffered no diminution in your absence. I have a thousand things to tell you, but I will defer the relation till you sup with me to-morrow night. It is the fast day, and as there will be no public entertainment, I shall have company in my own rooms. Fail not, for I have tidings for you which I care not to utter in the presence of others." He cast a look at Walton

justest of kings, the most knowing and experienced of princes, the holiest and the best of men: the severest punisher of vice, the strictest rewarder of virtue: the constantest preserver of religion, and the truest lover of his subjects." Here the author breaks off from a fear, as he informs us, that he should fall short of the king's virtues, though he still takes occasion to add that he is remarkable for his abhorrence of debauchery!

as he spoke, which presently sent that accommodating personage out of the room, and then continued: «Beware of that fellow; he is ever seeking to advance himself, by entrapping others, and though he has hitherto gained nothing but a pretty general contempt, there are circumstances in the present situation of the court, which may render him dangerous. And here comes another, who, without any of the sordid motives of Bagot, is equally to be dreaded from his mere love of mischief; so I will leave you to encounter him alone, and adjourn our colloquy until we can season it with sack. I have some, flavoured with apricot, which you will pronounce inimitable.»

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As he left the room, Lord Rochester entered it, singing a part of Matthew Lock's glee; «Never trouble thyself about times or their turnings," after which he ejaculated, «< Ha! my Faunus, my sylvan, my man of the woods, my quondam brother in disgrace and exile, let us embrace, for, bold as may be the word, I flatter myself we are as arrant a couple of scapegraces as any in the court. You have been in banishment, I have been in the Tower; and here we are both in high favour, until another freak of fortune orders us to the rightabout. Brother culprit, you are welcome to the learned and religious (and therefore to King Charles the most appropriate) city of Oxford.»

« A favour, for which I understand that I am mainly indebted to your lordship," said Jocelyn, «and I can assure you that I entertain a most grateful sense

«Nay, nay, prythee be not so common-place," cried Rochester; «< have any other sense that you like-no

sense, if you will; but prythee, while you live, ever eschew a grateful sense.-Foh! it savours of the Puritan. Indebted to me, my Faunus? no such thing. Not to serve you, but to plague Lady Castlemaine, did I condition for your pardon; and if I have conferred a benefit, depend upon it I shall exact more than its value in return. I told you so in the outset of our acquaintance. Do ut des, is my motto. Where godliness can be made a great gain, and charity be put out to usurious interest, who so pious, who so charitable, as the profligate Jack Wilmot?»

« It is peculiar to your lordship to be more ashamed of your good actions, than others are of their bad ones," said Jocelyn.

« Because I had rather wear a worthless camlet that is the fashion, than a gold-laced velvet that is out of vogue. When virtue becomes the mode at court, you shall see my Lord Rochester the very pink of fashion; but Gramercy! there is little chance of so ominous a transformation while Charles the Second is King; his pleasures his ministers; idleness his occupation; the dinner-table his council-board; and his mistresses his masters. A merry world and a mad, is the motto of today; to which, if you add, a fig for yesterday! and hang to-morrow! you have a clue to all the mysteries of the court, past, present, and to come. What shall be our next freak, my man of the woods? As you helped me to run away with Mistress Mallett, wilt help me, now that she is my wife, to run away from her? 'Twere the better service of the two. O that inimitable drunken mountebank! how many times have I attempt

ed to enact the character, and how unworthy was the copy of the great original! Hyperion to a Satyr. Here come more friends; they have heard of your appointment: O the summer rogues! They come like the flies with the sunshine, to disappear when you are under a cloud. Let me avoid their buzzing. I know their value, for I have written a poem upon Nothing."

His lordship fled, leaving Jocelyn to a levee of subordinates and minor courtiers, whose interested professions and congratulations he received with apparent complacency, though he fully appreciated the worth of such-lip-deep friendship. Among others came Tracy, with a message from the Queen, inviting him, if he felt sufficiently recovered, to attend a splendid entertainment which was to be given that evening in Christchurch Hall, and at which he might be presented to the King upon his appointment. Little as he felt disposed to encounter such festivities after the lamentable scenes of suffering and sickness he had so lately visited, he considered her Majesty's invitation as a command which he was bound to obey, and accordingly dressed himself in the gayest attire that he could procure at so short a notice, girt his diamond-hilted sword to his side, and betook himself to the venerable Hall of Christchurch, which had never before resounded with such notes of revelry and music, nor encirled so joyous and magnificent an assemblage.

The whole enclosure was nearly filled with company when he entered, the Gothic and gloomy architecture of the building, and the recollection of the purposes to which it was usually applied, contrasting strongly with

the blaze of lights, the sparkling beauties, the splendid court, the smiling faces, the tables covered with cards and dice, and the waving plumes of the dancers, as they moved to the melody of wind-instruments, whose cadences were mingled with the buzz of conversation, or the louder echoes of merriment and laughter. Misgivings, as to the kind of reception he was likely to experience from the King, rendered him anxious for the completion of that ceremony, and he was always so impatient of suspense, that he was not sorry when Lord Rochester took him by the hand, and, leading him directly up to the monarch, exclaimed as he presented him; « Here is another of your Majesty's naughty boys, who is a petitioner for forgiveness, and is ready to perform whatever penance may be enjoined him, only barring birch and ferula, imprisonment or starvation.»

«He cannot be condemned to wear the fool's cap without robbing your lordship," said the monarch, smiling, «‹ and we therefore sentence him to learn fifty lines by heart, and yourself to write them.»

« Your Majesty was ever merciful,» cried Rochester -« an easy penalty, indeed!»

«Not so simple as you may imagine»-said the King -«for you are prohibited from being either indecent or profane in your verses.»

<< I am absolved by the very conditions,” replied Rochester, «for no one is bound to perform impossibilities."

Jocelyn was expressing his regret that he should ever have fallen under his Majesty's displeasure, when the good-humoured monarch interrupted him with an