(Divine). The divine Althea of Richard Lovelace was Lucy
Sacheverell, called by the poet, “Lucretia.”
When love with unconfined wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at my grates.
The “grates” referred to were the prison grates. Lovelace was thrown
into prison by the Long Parliament for his petition from Kent in favour
of the king.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
