LETTERS PET WEN M. De St. Evremond and Mr. Waller. LETTER I WALLER to ST. EVREMOND. RAMMONT once told Rochester, that GR if he could by any means diveft himself of one half of his Wit, the other half would make him the most agreeable Man in the World. This Obfervation of the Count's did not frike me much when I heard it, but I have often remarked the Propriety of it fince. Laft Night. I fupped at Lord R's, with a felect Partyfuch Occafions he is not ambitious of fhining On -He is, com He is rather pleasant than arch paratively, referved; but you find something in that Restraint which is more agreeable than the utmost Exertion of Talents in others. The Reserve of Rochester gives you the Idea of a copious River, that fills its Channel, and feems as if it could easily overflow its Banks, but is unwilling to spoil the Beauty and Verdure of the Plains. The most perfe&t Goodhumour was fupported through the whole Evening, nor was it in the leaft difturbed, when, unexpectedly, towards the End of it, the King came in *. Something has vexed him, faid Rochefter; he never does me this Honour but when he is in an ill Humour. The following Dialogue, or something very like it, enfued. •The K G How the D-1 have I got here? The Knaves have fold every Cloak in the Wardrobe. ROCHESTER. Those Knaves are Fools. That is a Part of Drefs which, for their own fakes, your Majefty ought never to be without. The KING. Phaw! I am vexed. ROCHESTE R. * No unusual thing with Charles II. ROCHESTER. I am glad of it. I hate ftill Life. Your Majefty is never fo entertaining as when Ridiculous! The KING. I believe the English are the moft untractable People upon Earth. ROCHESTER. I most humbly beg your Majesty's Pardon, if I prefume, in that Respect The KING. You would find them fo, were you in my Place, and obliged to govern. ROCHESTER. Were I in your Majefty's Piace, I would not govern at all. How then? The KING. ROCHESTER. I would fend for my good Lord of Rochester, and command him to govern, The KING. O! but the fingular Modesty of that Nobleman! ROCHESTER. He would certainly conform himself to your Majesty's bright Example How gloriously would the two grand focial Virtues flourish under his Aufpices! The KING. O prifca Fides! What can those be? ROCHESTER. The Love of Wine and Women. The KING. God bless your Majelly! ROCHESTER. Those Attachments keep the World in good Humour, and, therefore, I fay they are focial Virtues Let the Bishop of Salisbury deny it if he can. The KING. He died laft Night Have you a mind to fucceed him? ROCHESTER, |