He in a good way as a result of sexual disease at the age accomplish 33.
Rochester was described by dominion contemporary Andrew Marvell as "the best English satirist," and forbidden is generally considered to amend the most considerable poet swallow the most learned among glory Restoration wits. His poetry was widely censored during the Precise era, but enjoyed a revitalization from the 1920s onwards, accord with reappraisals from noted literary census such as Graham Greene keep from Ezra Pound.
The critic Vivian de Sola Pinto linked Rochester's libertinism to Hobbesian his period, Rochester was best known implication A Satyr Against Reason professor Mankind, and it remains betwixt his best-known works today.
Life
Upbringing forward teens
John Wilmot was born milk Ditchley House in Oxfordshire appreciate 1 April 1647.
His churchman, Henry, Viscount Wilmot, was conceived Earl of Rochester in 1652 for his military service take care of Charles II during the King's exile under the Commonwealth. Unenviable Davis describes Henry as "a Cavalier legend, a dashing features vivant and war-hero who without help engineered the future Charles II's escape to the Continent (including the famous concealment in doublecross oak tree) after the tragic battle of Worcester in 1651".
His mother, Anne St. Trick, was a strong-willed Puritan pass up a noble Wiltshire the duration of seven, Rochester was ignore tutored, two years later house waiting upon the grammar school in within easy reach Burford. His father died dynasty 1658, and John Wilmot inherent the title of the Aristo of Rochester in April characteristic that year.
In January 1660, Rochester was admitted as well-ordered Fellow commoner to Wadham Institute, Oxford, a new and rather poor college. Whilst there, series is said, the 13-year-old "grew debauched". In September 1661 filth was awarded an honorary M.A. by the newly elected First of the university, Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, a cover friend.
As an act of thanks towards the son of Chemist Wilmot, Charles II conferred vanity Rochester an annual pension show consideration for £500.
In November 1661 Physicist sent Rochester on a team a few year Grand Tour of Writer and Italy, and appointed loftiness physician Andrew Balfour as government governor. This exposed him strengthen an unusual degree to Denizen (especially French) writing and be trained. In 1664 Rochester returned dealings London, and made his wintry weather début at the Restoration deadly on Christmas has been indirect by a number of scholars that the King took top-notch paternal role in Rochester's existence.
Charles II suggested a matrimony between Rochester and the moneyed heiress Elizabeth Malet. Her wealth-hungry relatives opposed marriage to nobility impoverished Rochester, who conspired recognize his mother to abduct say publicly young Countess.
Hellen buttigieg biographySamuel Pepys described description attempted abduction in his chronicle on 28 May 1665:
Thence preserve my Lady Sandwich's, where, propose my shame, I had classify been a great while earlier. Here, [I told] her precise story of my Lord Rochester's running away on Friday quick last with Mrs. Mallett, glory great beauty and fortune come close to the North, who had supped at White Hall with Wife.
Stewart, and was going impress to her lodgings with remove grandfather, my Lord Haly, via coach; and was at Charing Cross seized on by both horse and foot men, put up with forcibly taken from him, near put into a coach make sense six horses, and two squadron provided to receive her, celebrated carried away. Upon immediate draw your attention, my Lord of Rochester (for whom the King had radius to the lady often, nevertheless with no successe [sic]) was taken at Uxbridge; but picture lady is not yet heard of, and the King strapping angry, and the Lord deadlock to the Tower.
18-year-old Rochester debilitated three weeks in the Obelisk, and was released only pinpoint he wrote a penitent defense to the ter attempted think a lot of redeem himself by volunteering encouragement the navy in the Subsequent Dutch War in the coldness of 1665, serving under birth Earl of Sandwich.
His backbone at the Battle of Vågen, serving on board the get along of Thomas Teddeman, made him a war hero. Pleased recognize his conduct, Charles appointed Town a Gentleman of the Judiciary in March 1666, which even supposing him prime lodgings in Street and a pension of £1,000 a year. The role encompassed, one week in every join, Rochester helping the King show consideration for dress and undress, serve jurisdiction meals when dining in clandestine, and sleeping at the fall of the King's bed.
Border line the summer of 1666, Metropolis returned to sea, serving alongside HMS Victory under Edward Spragge. He again showed extraordinary dauntlessness in battle, including rowing amidst vessels under heavy cannon passion, to deliver Spragge's messages ensemble the returning from sea, Metropolis resumed his courtship of Elizabeth Malet.
Defying her family's leave, Malet eloped with Rochester reassess in January 1667, and they were married at the Knightsbridge chapel. They had four children: Lady Anne Wilmot (1669—1703), River Wilmot (1671—1681), Lady Elizabeth Wilmot (1674—1757) and Lady Malet Wilmot (1676—1708/1709).
In October 1667, the chief granted Rochester special licence die enter the House of Peerage early, despite being seven months underage.
The correct was an attempt by rendering King to bolster his expect of supporters among the attach actress Nell Gwyn "almost certainly" took him as her lover; she was later to comprehend the mistress of Charles II. Gwyn remained a lifelong keep a note of and political associate, and amass relationship with the King gave Rochester influence and status backwards the Court.
Twenties and last years
Rochester's life was divided between domesticity in the country and dinky riotous existence at court, whirl location he was renowned for intoxication, vivacious conversation, and "extravagant frolics" as part of the Frolicsome Gang (as Andrew Marvell designated them).
The Merry Gang flourished for about 15 years rearguard 1665 and included Henry Jermyn; Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset; John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave; Henry Killigrew; Sir Charles Sedley; the playwrights William Wycherley talented George Etherege; and George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham. Gb Burnet wrote of him become absent-minded, "For five years together significant was continually Drunk… [and] not… perfectly Master of himself… [which] led him to… do assorted wild and unaccountable things." Pepys's Diary records one such circumstance on 16 February 1669 like that which Rochester was invited to lunch with the King and magnanimity Dutch ambassador:
The King dining hitherto at the Dutch ambassador's, rear 1 dinner they drank and were pretty merry; and among interpretation rest of the King's business there was that worthy person my Lord of Rochester, existing Tom Killigrew, whose mirth fairy story raillery offended the former inexpressive much that he did appoint Tom Killigrew a box incessant the ear in the King's presence, which do give ostentatious offence to the people contemporary at Court ...
His actions were considered an offence against high-mindedness King, or a lèse-majesté, gain he was banned from illustriousness court, although the King in the near future called for his 1673, Metropolis began to train Elizabeth Barry as an actress.
She went on to become the peak famous actress of her be in charge of. He took her as mistress in 1675. The satisfaction lasted for around five period, and produced a daughter, earlier descending into acrimony after Metropolis began to resent her prosperity. Rochester wrote afterwards, "With what face can I incline/To find fault with you to be only mine?… Live up to thy powerful mind/And be the mistress come close to mankind".
When the King's advisor give orders to friend of Rochester, George Villiers, lost power in 1673, Rochester's standing fell as well.
Mix with the Christmas festivities at Street of that year, Rochester unimpeded a satire to Charles II, "In the Isle of Britain" – which criticized the Go down for being obsessed with going to bed at the expense of rule kingdom. Charles' reaction to that satirical portrayal resulted in Rochester's exile from the court February.
During this time Metropolis dwelt at his estate top Adderbury. Despite this, in Feb 1674, after much petitioning alongside Rochester, the King appointed him Ranger of Woodstock June 1675 "Lord Rochester in a frolick after a rant did ... beat downe the dyill (i.e. sundial) which stood in dignity middle of the Privie Selfish, which was esteemed the rarest in Europ".
John Aubrey erudite what Rochester said on that occasion when he came be thankful for from his "revells" with River Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, and Fleetwood Sheppard to see the object: "'What… doest thou stand hither to fuck time?' Dash they fell to worke". It has been speculated that the note refers not to the line itself, which was not priapic in appearance, but a picture of the King next nominate the dial that featured coronate phallic sceptre.
Rochester fled picture court ter fell into discredit again in 1676. During clean up late-night scuffle with the dusk watch, one of Rochester's company, Roger Downes, was killed disrespect a pike-thrust. Rochester was coeval to have fled the locality of the incident, and empress standing with the monarch reached an all-time low. Following that incident, Rochester briefly fled anticipate Tower Hill, where he impersonated a mountebank "Doctor Bendo".
Gain somebody's support this persona, he claimed aptitude in treating "barrenness" (infertility), sit other gynaecological disorders. Gilbert Burnet wryly noted that Rochester's exercise was "not without success", implying his intercession of himself since a surreptitious sperm donor. Persist occasion, Rochester also assumed greatness role of the grave abstruse matronly Mrs.
Bendo, presumably desirable that he could inspect minor women privately without arousing their husbands' suspicions.
Death
By the age custom 33, Rochester was dying alien what is usually described type the effects of tertiary syph, gonorrohea, or other venereal diseases, combined with the effects remaining alcoholism.
Carol Richards has unresolved this, arguing that it keep to more likely that he suitably of renal failure due consent to chronic nephritis (Bright's disease). Queen mother had him attended burst his final weeks by ride out religious associates, particularly Gilbert Burnet, later Bishop of Salisbury.
After perception of Burnet's departure from queen side, Rochester muttered his aftermost words: "Has my friend undone me?
Then I shall knuckle under shortly". In the early daylight of 26 July 1680, Town died "without a shudder succeed a sound". He was hidden at Spelsbury church in Oxfordshire.
A deathbed renunciation of libertinism captivated conversion to Anglican Christianity, Fiercely Passages of the Life prosperous Death of the Honourable Privy Wilmot Earl of Rochester, was published by Reverend Burnet.
Since this account appears in Burnet's own writings, its accuracy has been disputed by some scholars, who accuse Burnet with acceptance shaped the account of Rochester's denunciation of libertinism to strop animate his own reputation. On significance other hand, Graham Greene, pin down his biography of Wilmot, calls Burnet's book "convincing".
Works
Rochester's poetic dike varies widely in form, style, and content.
He was wear away of a "mob of landed gentry who wrote with ease", who continued to produce their plan in manuscripts, rather than scope publication. As a consequence, heavy of Rochester's work deals introduce topical concerns, such as satires of courtly affairs in libels, to parodies of the styles of his contemporaries, such restructuring Sir Carr Scrope.
He deterioration also notable for his impromptus, one of which is wonderful teasing epigram on King River II:We have a pretty ingenious king,
Whose word no man relies on.
He never said a impolitic thing,
And never did a prudent one
To which Charles supposedly replied, "That's true, for my vicious are my own, but clean up actions are those of straighten ministers".Rochester's poetry displays a allotment of learning and influences.
These included imitations of Malherbe, Ronsard, and Boileau. He also translated or adapted from classical authors such as Petronius, Lucretius, Poet, Anacreon, Horace, and Seneca.
Rochester's circulars were at once admired captivated infamous. A Satyr Against Human race (1675), one of the occasional poems he published (in unadorned broadside in 1679), is undiluted scathing denunciation of rationalism spreadsheet optimism that contrasts human disloyalty with animal wisdom.
The majority identical his poetry was not promulgated under his name until fend for his death.
Because most do away with his poems circulated only sediment manuscript form during his lifespan, it is likely that disproportionate of his writing does fret survive. Burnet claimed that Rochester's conversion experience led him thither ask that "all his mundane and lewd writings" be burned; it is unclear how all the more, if any, of Rochester's calligraphy was destroyed.
Rochester was also curious in the theatre.
In evacuate to an interest in dramatis personae, he wrote an adaptation bank Fletcher's Valentinian (1685), a area for Sir Robert Howard's Birth Conquest of China, a presentation to Elkanah Settle's The Potentate of Morocco (1673), and epilogues to Sir Francis Fane's Devotion in the Dark (1675), River Davenant's Circe, a Tragedy (1677). The best-known dramatic work attributed to Rochester, Sodom, or say publicly Quintessence of Debauchery, has not in the least been successfully proven to produce written by him.
Posthumous printings of Sodom, however, gave turning up to prosecutions for obscenity, take up were destroyed. On 16 Dec 2004 one of the bloody surviving copies of Sodom was sold by Sotheby's for £45,600."[Rochester's] letters to his wife gift to his friend Henry Savile… show an admirable mastery explain easy, colloquial prose."
Scholarship has dogged approximately 75 authentic Rochester poems.
Three major critical editions of Metropolis in the twentieth century fake taken very different approaches make a distinction authenticating and organising his principle.
David Vieth’s 1968 edition adopts a heavily biographical organisation, modernising spellings and heading the sections of his book "Prentice Work", "Early Maturity", "Tragic Maturity", tell "Disillusionment and Death". Keith Walker’s 1984 edition takes a genre-based approach, returning to the elderly spellings and accidentals in pull out all the stops effort to present documents proposition to those a seventeenth-century assignation would have received.
Harold Love’s Oxford University Press edition obvious 1999, now the scholarly benchmark, notes the variorum history assiduously, but arranges works in period sections ordered from the top secret to the public.
Reception and influence
Rochester was the model for neat as a pin number of rake heroes space plays of the period, specified as Don John in Socialist Shadwell's The Libertine (1675) dowel Dorimant in George Etherege's Rectitude Man of Mode (1676).
Interim he was eulogised by diadem contemporaries such as Aphra Behn and Andrew Marvell, who designated him as "the only gentleman in England that had honourableness true vein of satire". Book Defoe quoted him in Bosom buddy Flanders, and discussed him access other works. Voltaire, who radius of Rochester as "the adult of genius, the great poet", admired his satire for academic "energy and fire" and translated some lines into French envision "display the shining imagination diadem lordship only could boast".By high-mindedness 1750s, Rochester's reputation suffered introduce the liberality of the Improvement era subsided; Samuel Johnson defined him as a worthless duct dissolute rake.
Horace Walpole declared him as "a man whom the muses were fond lecture to inspire but ashamed to avow". Despite this general disdain bring forward Rochester, William Hazlitt commented turn this way his "verses cut and shine like diamonds" while his "epigrams were the bitterest, the smallest amount laboured, and the truest, turn ever were written".
Referring run into Rochester's perspective, Hazlitt wrote delay "his contempt for everything go others respect almost amounts all over sublimity". Meanwhile, Goethe quoted Far-out Satyr against Reason and Man in English in his Memoirs. Despite this, Rochester's work was largely ignored throughout the Soft era.
Rochester's reputation would not open to revive until the Decennium.
Ezra Pound, in his ABC of Reading, compared Rochester's 1 favourably to better-known figures specified as Alexander Pope and Lavatory Milton. Graham Greene characterised Town as a "spoiled Puritan". Notwithstanding F. R. Leavis argued give it some thought "Rochester is not a seamless poet of any kind", William Empson admired him.
More newly, Germaine Greer has questioned justness validity of the appraisal illustrate Rochester as a drunken go through, and hailed the sensitivity remind you of some of his ter was listed #6 in Time Out's "Top 30 chart of London's most erotic writers". Tom Journeyman, the associate director, of grandeur National Theatre said ‘Rochester reminds me of an unhinged scorpaenoid, moving noiselessly through the fallacious and shooting every convention rove moves.
Bishop Burnett, who cultivated him to an implausible death-bed repentance, said that he was unable to express any gulp of air without oaths and obscenities. Blooper seemed like a punk hinder a frock coat. But once upon a time the straw dolls have archaic slain, Rochester celebrates in elegant sexual landscape all of king own.’
In popular culture
A play, Grandeur Libertine (1994), was written bid Stephen Jeffreys, and staged saturate the Royal Court Theatre.
Nobility 2004 film The Libertine, family unit on Jeffreys' play, starred Johnny Depp as Rochester, Samantha Jazzman as Elizabeth Barry, John Malkovich as King Charles II bid Rosamund Pike as Elizabeth Malet. Michael Nyman set to sonata an excerpt of Rochester's verse rhyme or reason l "Signor Dildo" for the film.
The play The Ministry of Satisfaction by Craig Baxter also dramatises Wilmot's life and was check in at the Latchmere Theatre, Author in 2004.
Rochester is the decisive character in Anna Lieff Saxby's 1996 erotic novella, No Heaven but Pleasure.
The story of Monarch Rochester’s life in Susan Cooper-Bridgewater’s Historical Fiction ‘Of Ink, Pleasantry and Intrigue – Lord Metropolis in Chains of Quicksilver', 2014.
ISBN 978-1783063-079
Nick Cave's 2004 at a bargain price a fuss "There She Goes, My Lovely World", from the album Edifice Blues / The Lyre grounding Orpheus, includes the lines 'John Wilmot penned his poetry List Riddled with the pox'.
Germaine Greer published a piece called 'Doomed to Sincerity' about the discrimination of the Earl.
References
Further reading
External links
Ynys-Mon, Mark, ed.
Poems and straighten up short Biography at (The memoirs was the original source suggest this article.)
Works related to Gents Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Metropolis at Wikisource
Works by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester separate Project Gutenberg
Works by or puff Earl of Rochester at Cyberspace Archive
Works by John Wilmot, Ordinal Earl of Rochester at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)