spoke in
allusion to the latter end of a Song in his Love in a Wood;

When parents are slaves,
Their brats cannot be any other;
Great wits, and great braves,
Have always a punk for their mother.

During Mr. Wycherley's surprize, the chariots drove different ways, they
were soon at a considerable distance from each other; when Mr. Wycherley
recollecting, ordered his coachman to drive back, and overtake the lady.
As soon as he got over against her, he said to her, "Madam, you was
pleased to bestow a title upon me, which generally belongs to the
fortunate. Will your ladyship be at the play to night? Well, she
replied, what if I should be there? Why then, answered he, I will be
there to wait on your ladyship, though I disappoint a fine woman, who
has made me an assignation. So, said she, you are sure to disappoint a
woman who has favoured you, for one who has not. Yes, he replied, if she
who has not favoured me is the finer woman of the two: But he who will
be constant to your ladyship, till he can find a finer woman, is sure to
die your captive."

The duchess of Cleveland, in consequence of Mr. Wycherley's compliment,
was that night, in the first row of the king's box in Drury-Lane, and
Mr. Wycherley in the pit under her, where he entertained her during the
whole play; and this was the beginning of a correspondence between these
two persons, which afterwards made a great noise in the town.

This accident, was the occasion of bringing Mr. Wycherley into favour
with George duke of Buckingham, who was passionately in love with that
lady, but was ill-treated by her, and who believed that Mr. Wycherley
was his happy rival. The duke had long sollicited her, without obtaining
any favour: Whether the relation between them shocked her, for she was
his cousin-german; or, whether she apprehended that an intrigue with a
person of his rank and character, must necessarily in a short time come
to the king's ears; whatever was the cause, she refused so long to admit
his visits, that at last indignation, rage, and disdain took place of
love; and he resolved to ruin her. When he took this resolution, he had
her so narrowly watched by his spies, that he soon discovered those whom
he had reason to believe were his rivals; and after he knew them, he
never failed to name them aloud, in order to expose the lady to all
those who visited her; and among others, he never failed to mention Mr.
Wycherley. As soon as it came to the knowled