The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) - Vol. IV | Page 5

general invitation
to her table. The lady at whose 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
bestowed 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
quarrelsome, 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 woman of this temper will be at no loss for the means of effecting
any one's ruin, and having now conceived an aversion to our poetess,
she was resolved to drive her from her house, with as much reproach as
possible; and accordingly gave out, that she had detected Mrs. Manley
in an intrigue with her own son, and as she did not care to give
encouragement to such amours, she thought proper to discharge her.
Whether or not there was any truth in this charge, it is impossible for us
to determine: But if Mrs. Manley's own word may be taken, in such a
case, she was perfectly innocent thereof.
When our authoress was dismissed by the duchess, she was sollicited
by lieutenant-general Tidcomb, to pass some time with him at his
country seat; but she excused herself by telling him, she must be in love
with a man, before she could think of residing with him, which she
could not, without a violation of truth, profess for him. She told him her
love of solitude was improved, by her disgust of the world, and since it
was impossible for her to be public with reputation, she was resolved to
remain in it concealed.
It was in this solitude she composed her first tragedy, which was much

more famous for the language, fire, and tenderness, than the conduct.
Mrs. Barry distinguished herself in it, and the author was often heard to
express great surprize, that a man of Mr. Betterton's grave sense, and
judgment, should think well enough of the productions of a young
woman, to bring it upon the stage, since she herself in a more mature
age could hardly bear to read it. But as the play succeeded, she received
such unbounded incense from admirers, that her apartment was
crowded with men of wit, and gaiety. There is a copy of verses prefixed
to her play, said to be written by a very great hand which deserve
notice.
What! all our sex in one sad hour undone?
Lost are our arts, our
learning, our renown
Since nature's tide of wit came rolling down.

Keen were your eyes we knew, and sure their darts;
Fire to our soul
they send, and passion to our heart!
Needless was an addition to such
arms,
When all mankind were vassals to your charms:
That hand
but seen, gives wonder and desire,
Snow to the fight, but with its
touches fire!
Who sees thy yielding Queen, and would not be
On
any terms, the best, the happy he;
Entranc'd we fancy all is extasy.

Quote Ovid, now no more ye am'rous swains,
Delia, than Ovid has
more moving strains.
Nature in her alone exceeds all art,
And
nature sure does nearest touch the heart.
Oh! might I call the bright
discoverer mine,
The whole fair sex unenvied I'd resign;
Give all
my happy hours to Delia's charms,
She who by writing thus our
wishes warms,
What worlds of love must circle in her arms?
They who had a regard for Mrs. Manley could not but observe with
concern, that her conduct was such, as would soon issue in her ruin. No
language but flattery approached her ear; the Beaux told her, that a
woman of her wit, was not to be confined to the dull formalities of her
own sex, but had a right to assume the unreserved freedom of the male,
since all things were pardonable to a lady, who knew to give laws to