The Wise and the Mighty (AGE OF RESTORATION Book 2)
The Sibyl's wail, Now while I much entreated God restrained My wise song, also in my breast again He put the charming voice of words divine. But when on earth come shocks, fierce thunderbolts, Thunders and lightnings, storms, and evil blight, And rage of jackals and of wolves, manslaughter, 10 Destruction of men and of lowing kine, Four-footed cattle and laborious mules, And goats and sheep, then shall the ample field Be barren from neglect, and fruits shall fail, And there shall be a selling of their freedom 15 Among most men, and robbery of temples.
And then shall, after these, appear of men The tenth race, when the earth-shaking Lightener Shall break the zeal for idols and shall shake The people of seven-hilled Rome, and riches great. This second book appears to be a continuation of the preceding, and was probably written by the same author, In several manuscripts the two books are found united and placed after the third book. The appropriation of verses from the third and eighth books shows the later composition of these first two books, which our compiler assigned to their present position on account of their contents.
And then shall bloody signs from heaven descend But yet the whole world of unnumbered men Enraged shall kill each other, and in tumult Shall God send famines, plagues, and thunderbolts 25 On men who, without justice, judge of rights. And lack of men shall be in all the world, So that if anyone beheld a trace Of man on earth, he would be wonderstruck. And then shall the great God who dwells in heaven 30 Saviour of pious men in all things prove. And then shall there be peace and wisdom deep, And the fruit-bearing land shall yield again Abundant fruits, divided not in parts Nor yet enslaved.
And every harbor then, 35 And every haven, shall be free to men As formerly, and shamelessness shall perish. And then will God show mortals a great sign: For like a lustrous crown shall shine a star, Bright, all-resplendent, from the radiant heaven 40 Days not a few; and then will he display From heaven a crown for contest unto men Who wrestle. And then there shall be again A mighty contest of triumphal march. There seems to be a lacuna of one line after this, containing perhaps a mention of omens and drops of blood, as in book xii, 73, where a similar thought is found.
Contest of triumphal march. See Pliny, book x, Epis. Alexandre conjectures that this whole passage lines concerning contests and crowns was first written in a time of persecution to inspire to fidelity; but after persecution had ceased it was accommodated to the more common struggles of the Christian life. Into the heavenly sky, and it shall be 45 For all men in the world, and have the fame Of immortality. And every people Shall then in the immortal contests strive For splendid victory. For no one there Can shamelessly with silver buy a crown. And unto chaste men who run their race well 55 Will he the incorruptible reward Of the prize give, and to all men allot That which is due, and also to strange nations That live a holy life and know one God.
And those who have regard for marriages 60 And keep themselves far from adulteries, To them rich gifts, eternal hope, he'll give.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
For every human soul is God's free gift, And 'tis not right men stain it with vile deeds. The passage beginning here and ending with line , and consisting mainly of proverbs, has every appearance of an interpolation. It breaks the connection of thought and the figure of the iselastic contest, which is continued in lines Very few, however, will seriously accept these lines as a genuine production of a contemporary of Theognis.
They are without much doubt the composition of a Christian writer, and possibly, but not probably, by the author of the second book of the Sibylline Oracles. The variations between the two texts are considerable, the Sibyllines adding many lines not found in Phocylides, and Phocylides having a few not found in the Sibyllines. Be satisfied With what thou hast and keep thyself from that Which is another's. Speak not what is false, But have a care for all things that are true. Revere not idols vainly; but the God 40 Imperishable honor always first, And next thy parents.
Render all things due, And into unjust judgment come thou not. Do not cast out the poor unrighteously, Nor judge by outward show; if wickedly 75 Thou judgest, God hereafter will judge thee. Avoid false testimony; tell the truth. Maintain thy virgin purity, and guard Love among all. Deal measures that are just; For beautiful is measure full to all. Forswear not ignorantly nor willingly; God hates the perjured man in that he swore. A gift proceeding out of unjust deeds Never receive in hand. Do not steal seed; 85 Accursed through many generations he Who took it unto scattering of life.
Indulge not vile lusts, slander not, nor kill. Give the toilworn his hire; do not afflict The poor man. Unto orphans help afford 90 And to widows and the needy. Talk with sense; Hold fast in heart a secret. Be unwilling To act unjustly nor yet tolerate Unrighteous men. Give to the poor at once And say not, "Come to-morrow.
He who gives alms knows how to lend to God. Mercy redeems from death when judgment comes. Not sacrifice, but mercy God desires Rather than sacrifice. The naked clothe, Share thy bread with the hungry, in thy house Receive the shelterless and lead the blind. Do not satiate yourself with bread while there is no clothing.
Do not drink wine while there is no food. Do not seek luxury when you lack bread. Do not glorify yourself in your need, if you are poor, lest you degrade your life. Also do not treat with contempt the vessel of your bosom, your wife. He shall not reply before he has heard, nor shall he speak before he has gained understanding. He shall patiently respond and shall speak a word. He shall seek truth [in] judgement, 5. A humble and modest man shall not turn back until [he has] [witnesssed pride and debauchery].
A faithful man shall not depart from the ways of righteousness, and he shall set his heart on [ and the bones of his hands on [good works. He shall be redeemed through righteousness; through understanding His fields, [are] His territory [and shall be taught] to [practise ri]ghteousness. The first lot will fall, and thus they shall set out [to cultivate the fields. And you, sons of men, woe to you! For Man sprouts from his ground like grass, and his grace blossoms like a flower. His [gl]ory blows away and his grass dries up, and the wind carries away its flower, so that it is found no more.
They shall seek him, yet shall not find him, and there is no hope for him; and his days are like a shadow over the ea[rth]. Now pray hearken to me, my people; heed me, O you Simple; Become wise through the might of God. Let your heart shake because of His fear, and do His will, [and bless] your souls according to His good graces, And why have you given up your soul to vanity, [and vain] judgement? Do not walk [except in the way He established] for Jacob, and in the path which He decreed for Isaac. And you, what do you understand?
Before Him evil [goodwill] shall go towards every people. Happy is the man to whom Wisdom has been given thus, [and has been warned about] the evil, Nor let the wicked boast, saying, It has not been given me, nor [does it apply to me. Seek her and find her, grasp her and possess her!
With [wisdom] is length of days, and fatness of bone, [and] the joy of the heart, And happy is the man who works [wisdom,] who does not seek it [out] of deceit, nor holds to it with flatteries. As it has belonged to his fathers, so will he inherit it, and hold fast to it with all the strength of his might, and all his [immeasurable] [mortal power]. And he shall cause his offspring to inherit it, [saying] God makes the hand, [and understands its deeds] If you choose the good way], He will bless you.
Yet if you walk in the [evil] way, [He will curse you] [in the land] and in your [te]nts, She is ever prompt to oil her words, and she flatters with irony, deriding with iniquitous l[ips]. Her eyes are defiled with iniquity, her hands have seized hold of the pit. Her legs go down to work wickedness, and to walk in wrong-doings. Her [breasts] are foundations of darkness, and a multitude of sins are in her skirts.
Her [ways] are [as the] darkness of night, and her garments [are unclean.
Her clothes are shades of twilight, and her ornaments plagues of corruption. Her couches are beds of corruption, and her [chambers are the] depths of the pit. Her inns are couches of darkness, and her dominions in the midst of the night. She pitches her dwelling on the foundations of darkness, she abides in the tents of silence. Amid everlasting fire is her inheritance, not among those who shine brightly.
She is the beginning of all the ways of iniquity. Woe and disaster to all who possess her! And desolation to all who hold her! For her ways are ways of death, and her paths are roads of sin, Her gates are gates of death, and from the entrance of the house she sets out towards the underworld. None of those who enter there will ever return, and all who possess her will descend to the pit. She lies in wait in secret places..
She will never re[st] from wh[orin]g, her eyes glance hither and thither. She lifts her eyelids naughtily to stare at a virtuous man and join him, and [at] an important man to trip him up, The document is in fragmented manuscripts, and reassembled according to approximation. God is to try man. The second document of the second book of the 3rd book of Proverbs. Sages, reflect on this. If a man has a good tree [which grows] as far as heaven [and its branches reach] to the ex[tremitie]s of the lands, 3.
Fragment 3 ii 5. Forgive the worthy, and [God] shall not swallow up [your] spirit, for you have spoken in whisper, and He [will recite] quickly His rebuke. Do not overlook your sin, for He is as righteous as you are. For He is a prince among pr[inces] [and good] He will do. For how unique is He in all activity with[out] [compare? Do not reckon an unjust man as a help, nor one filled with hatred [apart from] the wickedness of his deeds at his visitation. Know how to walk with him, [yet] let [instr]uction depart not from your heart and God will be for you, yourself. Widen [your heart] in your poverty, for who is more insignificant than a poor man.
Do not be jolly while in mourning. Lest you labour all your life, [for nothing] look at the approaching mystery and grasp the sources of salvation, and know who is to inherit glory or injustice. Will they not [be repaid] for their mourning [with] everlasting joy? Be an advocate for your business, [renouce] all your sins. Pronounce your judgement like a righteous ruler. Do not ta[ke] [bribes] and do not overlook your sin. Be like a poor man in your dispute; [God's] judgement take [with acceptance].
Then God will see, and His anger will cease, and He will forgive your sins, And without pardon, how can the poor [stand firm before Him]? And as for you, if you are in need of food, your need and your plenty you will make abundant. Be led to the sustenance of His delight, and take from Him your inheritance and [yet] do not add agai[n]. If in your need you borrow money from people do not [delay to repay the debt. Day and night and there shall be no rest for your soul [until] you have repaid [your] creditor [his money].
Do not lie to him, so that you will not bear guilt for it. Furthermore, because of the reproach [of indebtedness] [your neighbor] will not trust [you], In your need he will close his hand. If you receive a stroke, [for your default on your indebtedness] do not hide from him who strikes you, so that he will not reveal your shame. Remember that you are poor, [and] what you lack, you will not find. A[s you have received] it, so return it and you will rejoice if you have no responsibility for it.
Accept no goods from someone whom you do not know, lest he increase your poverty. Yet if he has thrust it on you, let it be a deposit until death, [for] do not let your spirit be destroyed by it. Then you will [rest in peace] with the truth, and your memory will flowe[r for ev]er when you die, and your posterity will inherit [joy] [honor]. Yet if He brings you back to glory, walk in it, and in the approaching mystery search its beginnings.
Then you will know His inheritance, and you will walk in righteousness, for God will shine His face on all your ways. Honour Him who glorifies you, and praise His name always. For your head is above the summit of the mountains, and He has given you a seat among the nobles, and has made you to rule over an inheritance of glory. Seek always to please God, Do not say, since I am poor, I will not seek knowledge.
Shoulder every discipline, and with every [sorrow] refine your heart, and your thoughts with a multitude of understanding. Search the approaching mystery, [the Messianic generation of the apocalypse] and consider all the ways of truth, and behold all the roots of injustice.
Then you will know what is bitter for a man, and what is sweet for a human being. Honour your father in your poverty and your mother in your steps. For his father is like God to a man and his mother like a ruler to a human being. For they are the crucible from which you were born and as He placed them over you as rulers and a frame for the spirit, so serve them, If you are so poor as [to be] without precept [of Essene law or ascetic wisdom], [and] you have taken a wife in your poverty, take the offspring [away] from the approaching mystery when you are [yet] joined together [in marriage].
Walk with the helpmate of your flesh [in spiritual harmony]. He did not make her father [for to] rule over her and He separated her from her mother.
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He will separate your daughter for another [father] and your sons [for another mother]. And you [will] become one with the wife of your bosom, for she is the flesh of your na[kedness] Let her not increase [many] vows and free-will offerings. Bring back her spirit to your good pleasure, And by your will, stop her [with the words] of your lips, [and] forgive her for your sake. Let her not multiply [debts or possesions]. Look at the approaching mysteries and the ancient deeds, what was and what will be, in each deed.
And d[ay and] night he meditates on the approaching mystery and studies it always. Then you will know truth and injustice, wisdom [and folly] in all their ways, together with their visitation for all the eternal ages and everlasting visitation. Then you will know the difference between [go]od and evil relating to their deeds. For the God of knowledge is the foundation of truth, and through the approaching mystery He set apart its foundation, the work of [His hands] , Always seek these eagerly, and understand all their results. And then you will know everlasting glory, and His marvellous mysteries, and the might of His deeds.
And you will understand the beginning of your reward at the memorial of the time that has come. And a book of memorial is written before [God] for those who keep His word. And this is the vision issuing from the meditation on the book of memorial. And He gave it as a heritage to mankind, and to the people of the spirit. And you, son of understanding, look at the approaching mystery, and know the [spiritual] heritage of all the living. And [through] his conduct and his visitation, whether large or small, do not be touched by wickedness, [for whoever is touched] by it will not be innocent.
According to his inheritance in it, He will be wick[ed]. Son of the intelligent, Consider your mysteries and the foundation of [understanding] 4Q, fr. Watchfulness will be in our heart, and confidence in all our ways. Is [he] not the God of knowledge, He has assigned to all those who inherit truth watchfulness, Have not peace and quiet you not known?
For the holy angels in heaven [know] truth. And they will pursue all the roots of understanding, And watch over [the flock]. Are they, the angels, inert like man? Are they quiet like a son of man? Are they not [alive for] eternity, inheriting an everlasting possession? Have you not seen [immortality]?
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Why do the dead groan over their For it shall wake up Darkness will roar against your dispute. And all those who will exist for ever, those who search truth will be aroused for your judgement The foundations of the firmament scream at your judgement and all the [heavens] will thunder. And you, elect of truth and pursuers of [righteousness and] jud[gement], [the] guardians of all knowledge, how will you say: Will He not delight in truth for ever and [in] knowledge [for eternity?
The s[ons of] heaven whose inheritance is eternal life, will they indeed say: Will they not walk in eternal light [and inherit g]lory and great splendour? And you, O son of [understanding] As for you, separate from all that He hates, and keep away from all the abomination[s] of the soul. For He has made all, and caused them to inherit each His heritage [of life. He is your portion and your heritage among the sons of [men], [and] He has made you [a] ruler [in] His [her]itage [of blessing]. And in this you glorify Him, in [your] consecrating yourself to Him [with devotion].
When He made of you the holy of holies for the whole world, and in all these He cast your lot. And He has much increased your glory and has made you the first-born for Himself among [the living, saying] As for you, is not My goodness for you? In His faithfulness He has walked always. And as for you, search [out] His judgements from all your accusers with all [who] love Him, And as for you, He has opened understanding to you , and has made you the ruler over His treasury [of wisdom] and appointed [you] a [vessel] of [knowledge].
And before you take your heritage from His hand, glorify His holy ones. For] bef[ore] He has opened the [spr]ing of all the holy ones, and everyone called holy by His name [for] all the [eons of the universe], [to the spring of] his beauty and splendour, to become an ever[lasting] plant, [He]will walk [with] all those who [will] inherit the earth, [Before walking] in heav[en] [with them. And you, O man of understanding, if He has made you [to] rule over handcraft and know[ledge], [and to teach mysteries] to all mortal men, And by all your instructors [you will] increase in learning, [and] bring from [your] poverty [with your learning] [to] all those who seek [pleasure] [knowledge].
Then you will establish [your heritage, and] you will be [made full] and you will be satisfied with plenty of good by the skill of your hands [knowledge. For God has assigned a heritage [of life] to all the [living], and [to] all those wise in heart [who] have become intelligent. For all of them will seek their times [of rest] and each man according to [his] pleasure, like a spring of living water which contains a secret. Do not mix with your merchandise that which [is inferior goods. Why should it be a mixture like a mule, and [why] should you be like one dres[sed in mixed materials], in wool and in linen, and [why] should you labour with an ox and an ass yoked together?
Your produce also would be like that of one who sows mixed seeds. Let the seed and the crop, and the produce of the [vineyard] be holy. And every fruit that is grown and every tree that is pleasant and desirable [be for] providing understanding. Is this not a pl[easant and desirable] garden providing much [learning]?
He made you rule over it, to cultivate [it] and guard it. She [that] gave birth, and [knows] all the sentiments of her who has concei[ved], [The Spirit of Mother Earth] For it will sprout [for you] everything [good], And beware lest you [invoke] the judgement of Korah. And as He has unstopped your ear, and the [ear of the] prince of your people, He has divided the inheritance of all the rulers, and the formation of every [dee]d is in His hand.
He [knows] the reward of [their works and] j[udges] them all in truth. He visits the sons and the fathers, [the sojourners] the new proselytes with all the natives. He will speak [to them all, in their own season and format. And [in] the period of [the growing season, there is] the good with the evil. In your labour consider [all] the good with the bad, the intelligent man [and] the fool.
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He too will become loose because of the rain. Do not learn a precept in the company of hypocrites nor come to the furnace with a totterer, for he will melt away like lead, and will not stand up to the fire. And do not entrust a sleepy man with something delicate, for he will not treat your work gently. Do not send [him to retrieve] learning, for he will not smooth down your paths.
Do not [send] a grumbler to procure money for your need, nor put your trust in a man with twisted lips, [for] he will surely twist your judgement by his lips. His desire will not follow the truth, by the fruit of his lips. Do not put a stingy man in charge of mone[y]. Mete out your food according to your desire [to eat,] [Feed] those who bring abundance, [and have abundant hunger.
The short-tempered [will not tolerate] the simple, for he will surely swallow them up. A man who judges before inquiry, and one who believes before [hearing the facts], do not put him in charge of those who pursue knowledge, Do not send a blind man to bring a vision to the upright; Like one who scatters into the wind, and one] who does not test, [the depth of the waters] so is he who speaks to an ear which does not listen, and talks to a man deep asleep through a spirit.
An intelligent man gains un[derstanding], a knowing man will bring forth wisdom. An upright man delights in justice, a man of truth rej[oices in] [the Law. A mighty man is zealous for [justice,] He is an adversary to all changers of boundaries, A merciful man [gives] alms to the poor, He is concerned for all those without property.
The sons of righteousness Writen a few centuries before Christ. Onchsheshonqy son of Tchainefer discovered the fact that his son was languishing while he had been away from home. He wrote on shards of pots the words by which he would be able to teach his son, much like the Greeks who instructed their children about the myths of the immortals. Serve your brothers, that you may acquire good repute. Serve a wise man, that he may perform your service. Serve the one who will serve you. Serve any man, that you may find worth. Serve your father and your mother, that you may go and prosper.
Inquire about any matter, that you may understand them [all]. Be small in wrath and stout-hearted, that your heart may be pleasing. It is only after the acquisition of character that any teaching comes to fruition. Do not set your heart upon the property of another, saying, "I shall live by means of it.
Do not oppress when you fare well, lest you fare badly. Do not send a lowly woman on your business. She will go on her own way. Do not send a wise man on a small matter when there awaits an important matter. Do not send a fool on an important matter when there is a wise man whom you can send. Dead Sea Scrolls Essene proverbs Do not send to a town in which you will find loss. Do not long for your house when you are sent. Do not long for your house to drink beer in it at mid-day. Do not pamper your flesh, lest you be weak.
Do not pamper yourself when you are young, lest you be weak when you are old. Do not hate a man at the mere sight of him when you do not know anything about him. Do not become distressed so long as you possess something. Do not worry yourself so long as you possess something. Do not become distressed over a matter. Do not become distressed over your occupation. Compel your son; [yet] do not compel him more than your servant. Do not spare your son work when you are able to make him do it. Do not instruct a fool, lest he hate you. Do not instruct one who will not listen to you. Do not set your heart on a fool.
Do not set your heart on the property of an incompetent. Do not go into hiding [from debts or taxes, to hide at a temple or as a religious hermit] and then let yourself be found. Do not go into hiding when you have no food. The one who goes into hiding when he has no food is in the situation of someone who seeks it. Do not go off, [run away] and then return of your own accord. Do not go off after having been beaten, lest your punishment be doubled.
Do not act overly familiar with the one who is greater than you. Do not hesitate to serve your god. Do not hesitate to serve your master. Do not hesitate to serve the one who will serve you. Do not hesitate to acquire for yourself a male and female servant when you are able to do so. A servant who is not beaten, great is the cursing in his heart. A lesser man whose wrath is great, his stench is copious. A great man whose wrath is small, his praise is copious. Do not say "boy" to one who has grown old. Do not belittle in your heart one who has grown old. Do not say at once that which comes from your heart.
Do not [exalt] yourself [in your town], [for] learning and incompetence exist among those of your town. Exalt in your heart those of your town. Do not do something about which you have not first inquired. Your best interest is in inquiring. You should inquire of three wise men about an individual matter if it is important enough for an oracular petition 18 of the great god. Do good for your body during your good days, [for] there is no one who does not die. Do not withdraw yourself from a scribe when he is taken to the houses of detention.
You should withdraw yourself from a scribe when he is taken to his mansion of eternity. Do not go to court with one who is greater than you when you do not have protection. Do not take to yourself a woman whose husband is living, lest he become an enemy to you. Whether times are constrained or times are joyful, property multiplies by spreading it. May your fate not be the fate of the one who begs and is given.
If you perform field work, do not pamper your body. Do not say, "Here is the plot of my brother. The blessing [or, good fortune] of a town is in a ruler who exercises [good] judgment. The blessing of a temple is in [its being] a sanctuary. The blessing of a plot is in its time of being worked.
The blessing of a storehouse is in stocking it. The blessing of a treasury is in a single hand.
The Wise and the Mighty (AGE OF RESTORATION Book 2)
The blessing of property is in a wise woman. The blessing of a wise man is in his mouth. The blessing of [ ] is in the [ ]. The blessing of an army is in a [wise] general. The blessing of a town is in not taking sides. The blessing of a craftsman is in his equipment. Do not despise a document that has a claim on you.
Do not despise a remedy that you regularly use. Do not despise a matter of Pharaoh. Do not despise a matter that pertains to a cow. The one who frequently despises a thing, it is from it that he dies. Do not quarrel over a matter in which you are wrong. Do not dwell in a house with your in-laws. Do not be a neighbor to your master.
More beautiful is the face of the one who has come up from the farmland than that of the one who has spent the day in the town. The one who does not gather wood in summer cannot heat himself in winter. Do not dwell in a place in which [news of] affairs of [your] property will not reach you. Do not entrust your property in a place excessively. Do not put your property in a single place. Do not put your property in a town to which you must send.
Property seizes its owner. It is the owner of a cow who ends up running. Do not incur expense when you have not established your storehouse. You should incur expense in accordance with what you have. A [young] scribe in a shipyard, [is] a craftsman at the harbor.
If a crocodile shows itself, the respect of it will be measured. A crocodile does not die of gladness, it is of hunger that it dies. You may stumble with your foot in the house of a great man, [yet] you should not stumble with your tongue. If you are thrown out of the house of your master, become his door-keeper. If it happens that your master is sitting beside the river, do not urinate in his presence.
Would that my brother were the groom of the horses, mounting mine in valor! Would that my companion speak with the knowledge of Thoth! Would that he not die, the one for whom I would rend my clothing! Would that it were the "elder brother" [or legal trustee] of the town who was assigned to admister it! Would that it were the charitable brother of the family who acted as "elder brother" for it!
Would that I possessed and that my brother possessed, that I might eat my own without having cast down my eyes! Would that the floodwater not fail to come! Would that the farmland not fail to grow green! Would that it were the bad field of the farmland that grew herbage in excess! Would that the vagina receive its male!
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Would that the son were more honored than his father! Would that it were the master's son who became master! Would that my mother were my hairdresser, that she might do for me what is pleasant! Would that the moon succeed the sun, [the inferiour person relieve their superior] without failing to appear! Would that existence always succeed death! Would that I might cast the [net and catch fish]!
Would that I might extend my hand to my enemy [and would that it] were received! Would that I knew my neighbor, that I might give to him my property! Would that I knew my brother, that I might open my heart to him! Do not often be a hindrance, lest you be cursed. Do not often get drunk, lest you go mad. Take for yourself a wife when you are twenty years old, that you may have a son when you are young.
Do not kill a snake and leave its tail. Do not cast a lance when you are unable to control its end. The one who spits at Heaven, it is on his face that it falls. The character of a man is in his family. The character of a man is in his association. Family and associations are the source of character. The character of a man is on his face. The character of a man is one of his limbs. Without knowing that it is God who sends to every place, the fisherman casts into the water. Do not reach evening on the road, saying: A guard [that] robs, his son is a poor man. Do not let your donkey kick against the date palm, lest he shake it.
Do not laugh at your son in the presence of his mother, lest you learn the significance of his father. It is not from a male [bull] that a male [bull] is born. Place your affairs in the hands of God. Do not [place your affairs in the hands of ungodly men. Do not create your amusement [after your] being distressed. A man does not know his days of misery. Do not entrust your people to one who has not experienced distress. Stewart, and was going home to her lodgings with her grandfather, my Lord Haly, by coach; and was at Charing Cross seized on by both horse and foot men, and forcibly taken from him, and put into a coach with six horses, and two women provided to receive her, and carried away.
Upon immediate pursuit, my Lord of Rochester for whom the King had spoke to the lady often, but with no successe [ sic ] was taken at Uxbridge; but the lady is not yet heard of, and the King mighty angry, and the Lord sent to the Tower. Rochester attempted to redeem himself by volunteering for the navy in the Second Dutch War in the winter of , serving under the Earl of Sandwich.
Upon returning from sea, Rochester resumed his courtship of Elizabeth Malet. In October , the monarch granted Rochester special licence to enter the House of Lords early, despite being seven months underage. Teenage actress Nell Gwyn "almost certainly" took him as her lover; she was later to become the mistress of Charles II. Rochester's life was divided between domesticity in the country and a riotous existence at court, where he was renowned for drunkenness, vivacious conversation, and "extravagant frolics" as part of the Merry Gang as Andrew Marvell described them.
Gilbert Burnet wrote of him that, "For five years together he was continually Drunk In , Rochester began to train Elizabeth Barry as an actress. When the King's advisor and friend of Rochester, George Villiers , lost power in , Rochester's standing fell as well. In June "Lord Rochester in a frolick after a rant did Rochester fell into disfavour again in During a late-night scuffle with the night watch, one of Rochester's companions was killed by a pike-thrust. Rochester was reported to have fled the scene of the incident, and his standing with the monarch reached an all-time low.
Under this persona, he claimed skill in treating "barrenness" infertility , and other gynecological disorders. Gilbert Burnet wryly noted that Rochester's practice was "not without success", implying his intercession of himself as surreptitious sperm donor. Bendo, presumably so that he could inspect young women privately without arousing their husbands' suspicions. By the age of 33, Rochester was dying, from what is usually described as the effects of syphilis , gonorrhea , or other venereal diseases , combined with the effects of alcoholism. Carol Richards has disputed this, arguing that it is more likely that he died of renal failure due to chronic nephritis as a result of suffering from Bright's disease.
After hearing of Burnet's departure from his side, Rochester muttered his last words: On the other hand Graham Greene, in his biography of Wilmot, calls Burnet's book "convincing". Three major critical editions of Rochester in the twentieth century have taken very different approaches to authenticating and organizing his canon. Scholarship has identified approximately 75 authentic Rochester poems.
Rochester's poetic work varies widely in form, genre, and content. He was part of a "mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease", [30] who continued to produce their poetry in manuscripts, rather than in publication. As a consequence, some of Rochester's work deals with topical concerns, such as satires of courtly affairs in libels , to parodies of the styles of his contemporaries, such as Sir Carr Scroope. He is also notable for his impromptus, [31] one of which is a teasing epigram on King Charles II:.
To which Charles supposedly replied, "That's true, for my words are my own, but my actions are those of my ministers". Rochester's poetry displays a range of learning and influences. These included imitations of Malherbe , Ronsard , and Boileau. He also translated or adapted from classical authors such as Petronius , Lucretius , Ovid , Anacreon , Horace , and Seneca.
Rochester's writings were at once admired and infamous. A Satyr Against Mankind , one of the few poems he published in a broadside in , is a scathing denunciation of rationalism and optimism that contrasts human perfidy with animal wisdom. The majority of his poetry was not published under his name until after his death.