CHAPTER V.
THE SAYINGS OF KING CHARLES II.
"I have made a collection," said Walpole, "of the witty sayings of Charles II., and a collection of bon-mots by people who only said one witty thing in the whole course of their lives."[1] Both these collections are, it is believed, unfortunately lost. The former deficiency I have however attempted to supply (I fear imperfectly) in the following chapter; regarding remarkable sayings as among the very best illustrations of individual character and manners.
The satirical epitaph written upon King Charles II. at his own request,[2] by his witty favourite the Earl of Rochester, is said to be not more severe than it is just:
Here lies our sovereign lord the King,
Whose word no man relies on;
Who never said a foolish thing,
And never did a wise one.
How witty was the reply. "The matter," he observed,
