Waltoniana: Inedited Remains in Verse and Prose of Izaak Walton

by Izaak Walton

COUPLET ON DR. RICHARD SIBBES.

1650.

[Written by Izaak Walton in his copy of Dr. Richard Sibbes's work, The
Returning Backslider, 4'10., 1650, preserved in the Cathedral Library,
Salisbury. See Sir Harris Nicolas' Memoir of Walton, clv.]

Of this blest man let this just praise be given,
Heaven was in him, before he was in heaven.
IZAAK WALTON.

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DEDICATION OF RELIQUIAE WOTTONIANAE.

1651.

[Reliquiae Wottonianae, or, a Collection of Lives, Letters, Poems; with
Characters of Sundry Personages: and other Incomparable Pieces of Language
and Art. By The curious Pensil of the Ever Memorable Sr. Henry Wotton,
Kt., Late, Provost of Eton Colledg. London, Printed by Thomas Maxey, for
R. Marriot, G. Bedel, and T. Garthwait. 1651.]

To the Right Honourable The Lady Mary Wotton Baronness, and to her Three Noble Daughters.

{ KATHERIN STANHOP. THE LADY { MARGARET TUFTON. { ANN HALES.

Since Bookes seeme by custome to Challenge a dedication, Justice would not allow, that what either was, or concern'd Sir Henry Wotton, should be appropriated to any other Persons; Not only for that nearnesse of Aliance and Blood (by which you may chalenge a civil right to what was his;) but, by a title of that intirenesse of Affection, which was in you to each other, when Sir Henry Wotton had a being upon Earth.

And since yours was a Friendship made up of generous Principles, as I cannot doubt but these indeavours to preserve his Memory wil be acceptable to all that lov'd him; so especially to you: from whom I have had such incouragements as hath imboldned me to this Dedication. Which you are most humbly intreated may be accepted from

Your very reall servant,
I. W.

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ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT.

1651.

[Comedies, Tragi-Comedies, with other Poems, by Mr. William Cartwright, late Student of Christ-Church in Oxford, and Proctor of the University. London, Printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the sign of the Prince's Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1651.]

On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. William Cartwright, relating to the foregoing Elegies.

I cannot keep my purpose, but must give
Sorrow and Verse their way; nor will I grieve
Longer in silence; no, that poor, poor part
Of natures legacy, Verse void of Art,
And undissembled teares, CARTWRIGHT shall have
Fixt on his Hearse; and wept into his grave.
Muses I need you not; for, Grief and I
Can in your absence weave an Elegy:
Which we will do; and often inter-weave
Sad Looks, and Sighs; the ground-work must receive
Such Characters, or be adjudg'd unfit
For my Friends shroud; others have shew'd their Wit,
Learning, and Language fitly; for these be
Debts due to his great Merits: but for me,
My aymes are like my self, humble and low,
Too mean to speak his praise, too mean to show
The World what it hath lost in losing thee,
Whose Words and Deeds were perfect Harmony.
But now 'tis lost; lost in the silent Grave,
Lost to us Mortals, lost, 'till we shall have
Admission to that Kingdom, where He sings
Harmonious Anthems to the King of Kings.
Sing on blest Soul! be as thou wast below,
A more than common instrument to show
Thy Makers praise; sing on, whilst I lament
Thy loss, and court a holy discontent,
With such pure thoughts as thine, to dwell with me,
Then I may hope to live, and dye like thee,
To live belov'd, dye mourn'd, thus in my grave;
Blessings that Kings have wish'd, but cannot have.
IZ. WA.

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PREFACE TO SIR JOHN SKEFFINGTON'S HEROE OF LORENZO.

1652.

[The Heroe, of Lorenzo, or, The way to Eminencie and Perfection. A piece of serious Spanish wit Originally in that language written, and in English. By Sir John Skeffington, Kt. and Barronet. London, printed for John Martin and James Allestrye at the Bell in St Pauls Church-yard. 1652.]

Let this be told the Reader,

That Sir John Skeffington (one of his late Majesties servants, and a stranger to no language of Christendom) did about 40 years now past, bring this Hero out of Spain into England.

There they two kept company together 'till about 12 months now past: and then, in a retyrement of that learned knights (by reason of a sequestration for his masters cause) a friend coming to visit him, they fell accidentally into a discourse of the wit and galantry of the Spanish Nation.

That discourse occasioned an example or two, to be brought out of this Hero: and, those examples (with Sir John's choice language and illustration) were so relisht by his friend (a stranger to the Spanish tongue) that he became restles 'till he got a promise from Sir John to translate the whole, which he did in a few weeks; and so long as that imployment lasted it proved an excellent diversion from his many sad thoughts; But he hath now chang'd that Condition, to be possest of that place into which sadnesse is not capable of entrance.

And his absence from this world hath occasion'd mee (who was one of those few that he gave leave to know him, for he was a retyr'd man) to tell the Reader that I heard him say, he had not made the English so short, or few words, as the originall; because in that, the Author had exprest himself so enigmatically, that though he indevour'd to translate it plainly; yet, he thought it was not made comprehensible enough for common Readers, therefore he declar'd to me, that he intended to make it so by a coment on the margent; which he had begun, but (be it spoke with sorrow) he and those thoughts are now buried in the silent Grave,[1] and my self, with those very many that lov'd him, left to lament that losse. I.W.