DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0175
NELL GWYNN.
149
corrupted; the contaminating* influence of the atmosphere around
her had stained the surface, but never reached the core.
These observations, which irresistibly suggested themselves, may
seem misplaced, and should rather have followed than preceded
her life : but it is the character of Nell Gwynn which lends an
interest to her memoirs, though the reverse be more commonly the
case. The events of her life may be related in a few words. It
was marked by no romantic incidents, no signal reverses of fortune,
no tragic expiation of error. It is quite impossible to make a
heroine of her, in prose or in verse.
The family of Nell Gwynn was of Welsh extraction, as may be
inferred from the name : her parents were natives of Hereford, of
which city one of her noble descendants was afterwards bishop,*
and where, according to a local tradition, she was herself born.
Other authorities state that she first saw the light in a garret in
Coal-yard, Drury-lane. However this may be, it is certain that
her earliest years were spent in London, and in the very lowest
haunts of vulgar profligacy. While yet a mere child, she was an
attendant in a tavern, where the sweetness of her voice and her
sprightly address recommended her to notice. She was after-
wards, still in extreme youth, a servant to a fruiterer, and in this
capacity employed to sell oranges at the theatres. Here her
beauty and vivacity attracted the notice of Lacy the comedian,
her first lover, who was soon rivalled in her good graces by Hart,
the handsomest man and most accomplished actor of that day.j'
* Lord James Beauclerk died Bishop of Hereford, in 1782.
t Charles Hart was the great-nephew of Shakspeare, his father William being
the eldest son of the poet’s sister Joan. Contemporary authors are full of
culogiums of this great actor, and allusions to his various excellencies.—See
Dryden, Cibber, the Spectator, Buller, and the Roscius Anglicamcs.
Eymer says, “ What Mr. Hart deEvers, every one takes upon content; their
eyes are prepossessed and charmed by his action, before aught of the poet’s can
approach their ears ; and to the most wretched of characters he gives a lustre
and briUianco which so dazzles the sight, that the deformities in the poetry can-
not be perceived.” — Tragedies of the Last Age Considered,
149
corrupted; the contaminating* influence of the atmosphere around
her had stained the surface, but never reached the core.
These observations, which irresistibly suggested themselves, may
seem misplaced, and should rather have followed than preceded
her life : but it is the character of Nell Gwynn which lends an
interest to her memoirs, though the reverse be more commonly the
case. The events of her life may be related in a few words. It
was marked by no romantic incidents, no signal reverses of fortune,
no tragic expiation of error. It is quite impossible to make a
heroine of her, in prose or in verse.
The family of Nell Gwynn was of Welsh extraction, as may be
inferred from the name : her parents were natives of Hereford, of
which city one of her noble descendants was afterwards bishop,*
and where, according to a local tradition, she was herself born.
Other authorities state that she first saw the light in a garret in
Coal-yard, Drury-lane. However this may be, it is certain that
her earliest years were spent in London, and in the very lowest
haunts of vulgar profligacy. While yet a mere child, she was an
attendant in a tavern, where the sweetness of her voice and her
sprightly address recommended her to notice. She was after-
wards, still in extreme youth, a servant to a fruiterer, and in this
capacity employed to sell oranges at the theatres. Here her
beauty and vivacity attracted the notice of Lacy the comedian,
her first lover, who was soon rivalled in her good graces by Hart,
the handsomest man and most accomplished actor of that day.j'
* Lord James Beauclerk died Bishop of Hereford, in 1782.
t Charles Hart was the great-nephew of Shakspeare, his father William being
the eldest son of the poet’s sister Joan. Contemporary authors are full of
culogiums of this great actor, and allusions to his various excellencies.—See
Dryden, Cibber, the Spectator, Buller, and the Roscius Anglicamcs.
Eymer says, “ What Mr. Hart deEvers, every one takes upon content; their
eyes are prepossessed and charmed by his action, before aught of the poet’s can
approach their ears ; and to the most wretched of characters he gives a lustre
and briUianco which so dazzles the sight, that the deformities in the poetry can-
not be perceived.” — Tragedies of the Last Age Considered,