Author: Andrew Marvell

Publisher:

Published: 2015-07-07

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 9781330904725

Excerpt from The Poetical Works of Andrew Marvell: With Memoir of the Author Rome within the precincts of the Vatican. After this we have no trace whatever of Marvell for some years; it is not known when he returned to England; but that he was already there in 1652, and had been there for some time, appears by a recommendatory letter of Milton to Bradshaw, Feb.21. Marvell was then an unsuccessful candidate for the office of Assistant Latin Secretary. Milton, after, describing Marvell as a man of singular desert, both from; rep jjtl rand personal converse, he proceeds to say He hath spent four years abroad, in Holland, France, Italy, and Spain, to very good purpose, as I believe, and the gaining of those four languages; besides, he is a scholar, and well read in the Latin and Greek authors, and no doubt of an approved conversation; for he comes ?ww lately out of the house of the Lord Fairfax, where he was intrusted to give some instructions in the languages to the lady, his daughter. This, my lord, I write sincerely, without any other end than to perform my duty to the public in helping them to an humble servant; laying aside those jealousies and that emulation which mine own condition might suggest to me by bringing in such a coadjutor? In the year, 1657, Marvell was appointed tutor to Cromwells nephew, Mr. Dutton. Shortly after receiving his charge, he addressed a letter to the Protector, from which we extract one or two sentences. I have taken care to examine my pupil several times in the presence of Mr. Oxenbridge, as those who weigh and tell over money before some witness ere they take charge of it; for I thought there might be, possibly, some lightness in the coin, or error in the telling, which, hereafter, I should be bound to make good. He is of a gentle and waxen disposition; and God be praised, I cannot say he hath brought with him any evil impression, and I shall hope to set nothing into his spirit but what may be of a good sculpture. He hath in him two things that make youth most easy to be managed modesty, which is the bridle to vice and emulation, which is the spur to virtue. Above all, I shall labour to make him sensible of his duty to God; for then we begin to serve faithfully when we consider He is our master. On the publication of Miltons second Defence, Marvel was commissioned to present it to the Protector. After doing so, he addressed a letter of compliment to Milton, the terms of which evince the strong admiration with which his illustrious friend had inspired him. In 1657, Marvell entered upon his duties as Assistant Latin Secretary with Milton. Cromwell died in the following year; and from this period till the Parliament of 1660, we have no further account of him. He became member for Hull in 1658. And in his epitaph, it is said that he had occupied that post nearly twenty years. Durin -ki 4 ong parliamentary career, Marvell maintained a close coiTespondeTlce-wi-tb-h-iS Constituents regularly sending to them, almost every post-night during the sittings of Parliament, an account of its proceedings; these letters occupy about four hundred pages of an edition of Marvells works. They are written with great plainness, and such brevity, as must have satisfied the most laconic of his merchant constituents; and are valuable as affording proofs of the ability and fidelity with which he discharged his public duties. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com