Appendix XVII

These two poems are copied from a folio MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin (G, 2, 21), containing compositions of Donne and other poets of the seventeenth century. They are to be found on pages 554-559. The handwriting is that of the seventeenth century. I have reproduced the original punctuation and spelling. Mr. Grosart published the poems in Englische Studien, No. xxvi. He says that the librarian of Trinity, Dr. T. K. Abbot, had grounds for supposing that the MS. had been in the possession of Trinity College for a century; he does not, however, state what the grounds are. As far as the dates go which are indicated in the volume, it might have passed into the library with other books from Archbishop Ussher's collection.

From the tone of line 16 of the first poem we may assume that it was addressed by Massinger when quite young to William, the third Earl of Pembroke.

The Copie of a Letter written upon occasion to the Earle of Pembrooke Lo: Chamberlaine

My Lord

p. 554

Soe subiect to the worser fame

Are even the best that clayme a Poets name:

Especially poore they that serve the stage

Though worthily in this Verse-halting Age.

And that dread curse soe heavie yet doth lie

Wch the wrong'd Fates falne out wth Mercurie

Pronounc'd for ever to attend upon

All such as onely dreame of Helicon.

That durst I sweare cheated by selfe opinion

I were Apolloes or the Muses Mynion 10

Reason would yet assure me, 'tis decreed

Such as are Poets borne, are borne to need.

If the most worthy then, whose pay's but praise

Or a few spriggs from the now withering bayes

Grone underneath their wants what hope have I

Scarce yet allowed one of the Company— 16

p. 555

When[584] thou sighst, thou sigh'st not wind, but sigh'st my soule away

When thou weep'st unkindly kind, my lifes blud doth decay

It cannot bee

That thou lov'est mee as thou sai'est, if in thine my life thou wast,

Thou art the best of mee.[585]

In some high mynded Ladies grace to stand

Ever provided that her liberall hand 30

Pay for the Vertues they bestow upon her

And soe long shees the miracle and the honor

Of her whole Sex, and has forsooth more worth

Then was in any Sparta e're brought forth

But when the Bounty failes a change is neare

And shee's not then what once shee did appeare

For the new Giver shee dead must inherit

What was by purchase gott and not by merit

Lett them write well that doo this and in grace

I would not for a pension or A place 40

Part soe wth myne owne Candor, lett me rather p. 556

Live poorely on those toyes I would not father

Not knowne beyond A Player or A Man

That does pursue the course that I have ran

Ere soe grow famous: yet wth any paine

Or honest industry could I obteyne

A noble Favorer, I might write and doo

Like others of more name and gett one too

Or els my Genius is false. I know

That Johnson much of what he has does owe 50

To you and to your familie, and is never

Slow to professe it, nor had Fletcher ever

Such Reputation, and credit nonne

But by his honord Patron, Huntington

Unimitable Spencer ne're had been

Soe famous for his matchlesse Fairie Queene

Had he not found a Spencer Sydney to preferr [sic]

His plaine way in his Shepheards Calender

Nay Virgills selfe (or Martiall does lye)

Could hardly frame a poore Gnatts Elegie 60

Before Mecænas cherisht him; and then

He streight conceiv'd Æneas and the men

That found out Italic Those are Presidents[586]

I cite wth reverence: my lowe intents

Looke not soe high, yet some worke I might frame

That should nor wrong my duty nor your Name. p. 557

Were but your Lopp pleas'd to cast an eye

Of favour on my trodd downe povertie

How ever I confesse myselfe to be

Ever most bound for your best charitie 70

To others that feed on it, and will pay

My prayers wth theirs that as yu doe yu may

Live long, belov'd and honor'd doubtles then

Soe cleere a life will find a worthier Penn.

For me I rest assur'd besides the glory

T'wold make a Poet but to write your story. 76

Phill: Messinger.

p. 557

A New yeares Guift presented to my

Lady and M:rs the then Lady

Katherine Stanhop now Countesse

of Chesterfield.

By Phill: Messinger.

Madame

Before I ow'd to you the name

Of Servant, to your birth, your worth your fame

I was soe, and t'was fitt since all stand bound

To honour Vertue in meane persons found

Much more in you, that as borne great, are good

Wch is more then to come of noble blood

Or be A Hastings; it being too well knowne

p. 558

An Empresse cannot challenge as her oune

Her Grandsires glories; And too many staine

Wth their bad Actions the noble straine 10

From whence they come. But as in you to be

A branch to add fresh honor to the tree

By vertue planted, and adorne it new

Is graunted unto none or very few

To speake you further would appeare in me

Presumption or a servants flattery

But there may be a tyme when I shall dare

To tell the world and boldly what yu are

Nor sleight it Madame, since what some in me

Esteeme a blemish, is a guift as free 20

As their best fortunes, this tooke from the grave

Penelopies chastitie, and to it gave

Still living Honors; this made Aiax strong

Ulisses wise: such power lies in a Song

Wch Phaebus smiles on, wch can find noe Urne

While the Sea his course, or starrs observe their turne

Yet 'tis not in the power of tinckling Rime

That[587] takes rash iudgments and deceive the tyme

Wth Mountebanke showes a worke that shold indure

Must have a genius in it, strong, as pure 30

But you beginne to smile, as wondring why

I should write thus much to yu now since I

Have heretofore been silent may yu please

To know

To know the course it is noe new disease p. 559

Groune in my iudgment, nor am I of those

That thinke good wishes cannot thrive in prose

As well as Verse: but that this New yeares day

All in their loves and duties, what they may

Present unto you; though perhaps some burne

Wth expectation of a glad returne 40

Of what they venture for. But such I leave

To their deceiptfull guifts given to deceive

What I give I am rich in, and can spare

Nor part for hope wth ought deserves my care

He that hath little and gives nought at all

To them that have is truly liberall. 46