Captain Thompson's edition, vol. i. p. 432.

[204:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 304.

[205:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 308.

[206:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 322.

[209:1] Grosart, vol. iv. p. 327.

[210:1] This story is first told in a balder form by Cooke in his
edition of 1726. It may be read as Cooke tells it in the _Dictionary of
National Biography_, xxxvi., p. 329. There was probably some foundation
for it.

CHAPTER VII

FINAL SATIRES AND DEATH

Marvell was no orator or debater, and though a member of Parliament for
nearly eighteen years, but rarely opened his mouth in the House of
Commons. His old enemy, Samuel Parker, whilst venting his posthumous
spite upon the author of the _Rehearsal Transprosed_, would have us
believe "that our Poet could not speak without a sound basting:
whereupon having frequently undergone this discipline, he learnt at
length to hold his tongue." There is no good reason for believing the
Bishop of Oxford, but it is the fact that, however taught, Marvell had
learnt to hold his tongue. His longest reported speech will be found in
the _Parliamentary History_, vol. iv. p. 855.[211:1] When we remember
how frequently in those days Marvell's pet subjects were under fierce
discussion, we must recognise how fixed was his habit of
self-repression.

On one occasion only are we enabled to catch a glimpse of Marvell
"before the Speaker." It was in March 1677, and is thus reported in the
_Parliamentary History_, though no mention of the incident is made in
the Journals of the House:--

"_Debate on Mr. Andrew Marvell's striking Sir Philip Harcourt, March
29._--Mr. Marvell, coming up the house to his place, stumbling at Sir
Philip Harcourt's foot, in recovering himself, seemed to give Sir
Philip a box on the ear. The Speaker acquainting the house 'That he
saw a box on the ear given, and it was his duty to inform the house
of it,' this debate ensued.

"Mr. _Marvell_. What passed was through great acquaintance and
familiarity betwixt us. He neither gave him an affront, nor intended
him any. But the Speaker cast a severe reflection upon him yesterday,
when he was out of the house, and he hopes that, as the Speaker keeps
us in order, he will keep himself in order for the future.

"Sir _John Ernly_. What the Speaker said yesterday was in Marvell's
vindication. If these two gentlemen are friends already, he would not
make them friends, and would let the matt