e might still open the way for a new marriage with her beloved
Rochester.[***] Though their passion was so violent, and their
opportunities of intercourse so frequent, that they had already indulged
themselves in all the gratifications of love, they still lamented
their unhappy fate, while the union between them was not entire and
indissoluble. And the lover, as well as his mistress, was impatient till
their mutual ardor should be crowned by marriage.

* Kennet, p. 686.

** Kennet, p. 687.

*** State Trials, vol. i. p. 228.

So momentous an affair could not be concluded without consulting
Overbury, with whom Rochester was accustomed to share all his secrets.
While that faithful friend had considered his patron's attachment to the
countess of Essex merely as an affair of gallantry, he had favored
its progress; and it was partly owing to the ingenious and passionate
letters which he dictated, that Rochester had met with such success in
his addresses. Like an experienced courtier, he thought that a conquest
of this nature would throw a lustre on the young favorite, and would
tend still further to endear him to James, who was charmed to hear of
the amours of his court, and listened with attention to every tale of
gallantry. But great was Overbury's alarm, when Rochester mentioned his
design of marrying the countess; and he used every method to dissuade
his friend from so foolish an attempt. He represented how invidious, how
difficult an enterprise to procure her a divorce from her husband: how
dangerous, how shameful, to take into his own bed a profligate woman,
who, being married to a young nobleman of the first rank, had not
scrupled to prostitute her character, and to bestow favors on the object
of a capricious and momentary passion. And in the zeal of friendship,
he went so far as to threaten Rochester, that he would separate himself
forever from him, if he could so far forget his honor and his interest
as to prosecute the intended marriage.[*]

Rochester had the weakness to reveal this conversation to the countess
of Essex; and when her rage and fury broke out against Overbury, he had
also the weakness to enter into her vindictive projects, and to swear
vengeance against his friend, for the utmost instance which he could
receive of his faithful friendship. Some contrivance was necessary for
the execution of their purpose. Rochester addressed himself to the king;
and after complaining, that his own i