n to write
this sorry Elogy of your son, which if it be as good as I could wish,
it is as yet no indecent employment. However, I know you will take
any thing kindly from your very affectionate friend, and most humble
servant."

Milton died on the 8th of November 1674. Marvell remained among the
poet's intimate friends until the end, and intended to write his life.
It is idle to mourn the loss of an unwritten book, but Marvell's life of
Milton would have been a treasure.[199:1]

When Parliament met on the 13th of April 1675, members found in their
places a mock-speech from the throne. They _knew_ the hand that had
penned it. It was a daring production and ran as follows:--

_His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to Both Houses of Parliament_.

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,--I told you at our last meeting, the winter
was the fittest time for business, and truly I thought so, till my
Lord Treasurer assured me the spring was the best season for sallads
and subsidies. I hope therefore that April will not prove so
unnatural a month, as not to afford some kind showers on my parched
exchequer, which gapes for want of them. Some of you, perhaps, will
think it dangerous to make me too rich; but I do not fear it; for I
promise you faithfully, whatever you give me I will always want; and
although in other things my word may be thought a slender authority,
yet in that, you may rely on me, I will never break it.

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,--I can bear my straits with patience; but my
Lord Treasurer does protest to me, that the revenue, as it now
stands, will not serve him and me too. One of us must pinch for it,
if you do not help me. I must speak freely to you: I am under bad
circumstances, for besides my harlots in service, my reformado
concubines lye heavy upon me. I have a passable good estate, I
confess, but, God's-fish, I have a great charge upon 't. Here's my
Lord Treasurer can tell, that all the money designed for next
summer's guards must, of necessity, be applyed to the next year's
cradles and swadling-cloths. What shall we do for ships then? I hint
this only to you, it being your busyness, not mine. I know, by
experience, I can live without ships. I lived ten years abroad
without, and never had my health better in my life; but how you will
be without, I leave to yourselves to judge, and therefore hint this
only by the bye: I do not insist