This is a view which Swift expresses repeatedly in the Journal. Cf. p. 280,1. 30. St. John, he says, had, on one occasion, been with the Duke, and told Swift
'that he (the Duke) was lamenting his former wrong steps in joining with the Whigs, and was worn out with age, fatigues, and misfortunes.' 'I swear,' Swift goes on, 'it pitied me. . . He is covetous as Hell, and as ambitious as the Prince of it: he would fain have been general for life, and has broken all endeavours for peace, to keep his greatness and get money. . . Yet he has been a successful general, and I hope he will continue to command.'
'The Duke of Marlborough' he says again, 'says there is nothing he now desires so much as to contrive some way to soften Dr. Swift. He is mistaken: for those things that have been hardest against him, were not written by me . . . Now he is down, I shall not trample on him.'