Not to Be Bribed

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3482, 16 August 1937, Page 2

Not to Be Bribed

In the reign of Charles 11. Hull had for its member of Parliament. Andrew Marvell, the poet, a man of exceptional honesty and ability. The King had a high appreciation of Marvell's talents, and was anxious to obtain his help in Parliament against the people, whom he had hitherto served most faithfully. Unfortunately, the King had not so high an opinion of Marvell's honesty and patriotism as he had of his ability, and he thought it would be possible to win him to his side by the offer of a bribe. So he sent the Lord Treasurer, Dan by, to Marvell's humble lodgings in the Strand to see what he could accomplish in the matter. The Lord Treasurer groped up the narrow stairs leading to the apartment en the second floor where Marvell resided, and stumbled awkwardly into his room. He found the statesman at his desk, and, after apologising for disturbing him, told him that he had been sent by His Majesty, who had a high opin- I ion of his character and wished' to appoint him to some important and wellpaid office. Marvell knew quite well that the kind could only make this offer to draw him aside from his duty to the I people who had elected him, and therefore while he returned thanks to the King, he declined his offer. The Minister, finding that this proposal was of no avail, told him that the king bad given orders for a thousand guineas to be paid to him as a mark of the appreciation in which his royal master held him. Marvell declined this offer, too, as he had declined the first, remarking at the same time that he had no need of such a gift, as his mode of living was quite good enough for his modest desires. In proof of this he called up his servant and said to him, "What had I for dinner yesterday?" "A shoulder of mutton, sir," was the answer.

"And what shall I have to-day?" asked Marvell. "Some of the remainder, hashed," replied the servant. Marvell allowed the servant to withdraw, and then, turning to the Lord Treasurer, said: "To-morrow, my Lord, I shall have the blade-bone broiled." The Lord Treasurer had sense enough to see that a man so frugal, so outspoken, and so honest was not to be won by bribes, and ne returned to tell the King what he had seen and heard.

As for Marvell, though he never attained to wealth or to a title, he remained faithful to his duty to the last, and he left a name which has ever since been honored as that of a patriot who valued his character more than all the riches which could be offered him.