[307] To all men not utterly blinded by passion these difficulties appeared insuperable.

The most unscrupulous slaves of power showed signs of uneasiness.

Dryden muttered that the King would only make matters worse by trying to mend them, and sighed for the golden days of the careless and goodnatured Charles.

[308] Even Jeffreys wavered.

As long as he was poor, he was perfectly ready to face obloquy and public hatred for lucre.