VIII. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED.
OF FAITH THE FIRST THEOLOGICALL VERTUE.
Faith is a sunbeame of th' Æternall light,
That in man's soule infusd by grace doth shine:
Which giues her dazled eye soe cleare a sight
As evidently sees the truith divine;
This beame that cleares our eyes, inflames our hearts,
And Charitie's kind fire doth there begett:
For sunlike, it both light and heate imparts:
Faith is the light, and Charitie the heate:
This light of faith the noblest wisdome is,
For it the onley truith allowes and a'plyes:
The virgin's lamp, that lights the soule to blisse;
The Jacob's scales,[246] whereby shee clymes the skyes;
The eye that sees, the hand that apprehends;
The cause of causes, and the end of ends.
A SONGE OF CONTENTION
betweene Fowre Maids concerninge that which addeth most perfection to that sexe.
The first for Beauty.
Our fairest Garland, made of Beautye's flowers,
Doth of it selfe supplyall other dowers:
Women excell the perfects' men in this,
And therefore herein theire perfection is:
For beautye wee the glorious heauens admire;
Faire feilds, faire howses, gold and pearle, desire.
Beautye doth alwayes health and youth imploy
and doth delight the noblest sense, the eye.
The second for Witte.
Beautye delights the soule, but witte the Reason:
Witte lasts an age, and beautye but a season:
The sense is quickly cloyd with beautye's tast;
When witt's delight still quicke and fresh doth last:
Beautye, weake eyes with her illusion blindes,
Witte conquers spirits and triumphs ouer minds:
Deade things haue beautye, onely man hath witte,
and man's perfection doth consist in it.
The third for Wealth.
Wealth is a power that passeth nature farre:
Makes euery goose a swanne, and sparke a starre:
Queene money, bringes and giues with royall hands
Freinds, kindred, honour, husband, house and lands;
Not a faire face, but fortune faire, I craue,
Lett mee want witte soe I fooles' fortune haue.
The fourth for Vertue.
Yet those perfections most imperfect bee,
If there bee wantinge vertuous modestye;
Vertue's aspect would haue the sweetest grace
If wee could see as wee conceaue her face:
Vertue guids witte, with well-affected will,
Which if witte want, it proues a dangerous ill:
Vertue gaines wealth with her good gouerment,
If not, sh'is rich, because shee is content.[247]
A MAID'S HYMNE IN PRAISE OF VIRGINITY.
Sacred virginity, vnconquered Queene!
Whose kingdome never hath invaded beene;
Of whose sweete rosy crowne noe hand hath power
Once but to touch, much lesse to plucke a flower:
Gainst whome proud Love—which on the world doth raigne,—
With armies of his passions fights in vaine;
In whome gray Winter neuer doth appeare,
To whome greene Springtide lasteth all the yeare.
O fresh immortall baye, vntroubled well,
Or violett, which vntoucht doest sweetest smell;
Faire vine, which without prop[248] doest safely stand,
Pure gold, new coynd, which neuer past a hand.
O temperance, in the supreame degree
And hiyest pitch that vertue's winges can flee:
O more then humane spirit, of Angells' kind:
O white, unspotted garment of the mind,
Which first cloathed man, before hee was forlorne;
And wherein God Himselfe chose to bee borne.
Within my soule, O heavenly vertue rest,
Untill my soule with heaven it selfe bee blest.[249]
PART OF AN ELEGIE IN PRAISE OF MARRIAGE.
When the first man from Paradise was driven,
Hee did from thence his onely comfort beare:
Hee still enioyes his wife, which God had giuen,
Though hee from other joyes deuorcèd were.
This cordiall comfort of societye,
This trueloue knott, that tyes the heart and will,
When man was in th' extremest miserye
To keepe his heart from breaking, existed still.[250]
There is a tale then[251] [when] the world beganne,
Both sexes in one body did remaine:
Till Joue, offended with that double man,
Caused Vulcan to diuide him into twayne.
In this diuision, hee the hart did seuer,
But cunningly hee did indent the heart,
That if they should be reunited euer,
Each part might know which was the counterpart:
Since when, all men and women thinke it longe,
Each of them their other part haue mett:
Sometimes the[y] meete ye right, sometimes ye wrong,
This discontent, and that doth ioy begett.
It ioye begetts in there indented harts,
When like indentures they[252] are matcht aright:
Each part to other mutuall joy imparts,
And thus the man which Vulcan did deuide,
Is nowe againe by Hymen made entire,
And all the ruine is ræedified;
Two beeinge made one by their diuine desire.
Sweete marriage is the honny neuer cloyinge;
The tune, which being still plaid, doth euer please,
The pleasure which is vertue's in inioyinge.
It is the band of peace and yoake of ease,
It is a yoake, but sweete [and] light it is;
The fellowship doth take away the trouble,
For euery griefe is made halfe lesse by this,
And euery ioy is by reflection double.
It is a band, but one of Love's sweete bands,
Such as hee binds the world's great parts withall:
Whose wonderous frame by there convention stands,
But beinge disbanded would to ruine fall.[253]
[A FRAGMENT OF A LOVE ELEGIE.]
But those impressions by this forme are staynde,
and blotted out as if they had not beene:
And yet if nothing else in mynde I beare,
makes me not lesse learn[è]d then before:
For that in her as in a merrour cleare,
I see and learne far better things and more.
The students of the world and Natur's booke,
Beauty and order in the world doe noate;
She is my little world; on her I looke,
and doe in her the same p'fections quoate:
For in her eyes the beames of beauty shine,
and in her sweete behaviour and her grace,
Order apears, and comlines divine,
Befitting every tyme and every place.
3.
Vnto that sparkling wit, that spirit of fire,
That pointed diomond looke, that ægle's eye
Whose lyghtning makes audacity retire
and yet drawes on respectiue modesty,
With wings of feare and loue, my spirit doth fly
and doth therein a flame of fire resemble;
Which, when it burnes most bright and mounts most high,
then doth it waver most and most doth tremble.
O that my thoughts were words, or could I speake
The tongue of Angells, to expresse my mynde:
For mortall speach is far too faint and weeke
to utter passion of so high a kynde.
You have a beauty of such life and light
As it hath power all wandring eyes to stay:
To move dombe tongues to speake, lame hands to write,
Stayde thoughts to run, hard harts to melt a way:
Yet painters' can of this draw every line
And every wittles person that hath eyes,
Can se[e] and judg and sweare it is divine:
For in these outwarde formes all fooles are wise.
But that which my admireing spirit doth veiw,
I[n] thought whereof it would for ever dwell,
Eie never saw, the pensill never drew,
Pen neuer coulde describe, tongue never tell:
It is the invisible beauty of your mynde,
Your cleare immagination, lively witt,
So tund, so temp'rd, of such heavenly kind,
As all mens spirits ar charmd and rapt with it.
This life within begetts your lively looke,
As fier doth make all metalls looke like fier;
Or your quicke soule by choise this body tooke,
As angells wth bright formes themselves attire.
O that my brest might ope, and hart might cleave
That so you might my silent wondring veiw:
O that you might my soreing spirit p'ceive,
How still with trembling wings it waites on you.
Then should you se[e] of thoughts an endles chaine,
Whose links are[254] vertues, and yor vertues bee;
Then should you see how your faire forme doth raigne
Through all the regions of my fantesie.
Then should you fynde that I was yours as much
As ar your sharpe conceits borowd of none;
Or as your native beautyes, that are such
As all the world will sweare it is your owne.
4.
As they that worke in mines, rich vaines beray,
By some few garaines[255] of ore whereon the[y] hit:
And as one letter found is oft a kay
To many lines that ar in cipher writt;
So I by your few loveing lines descry
Of your long hiden love the golden mine;
And reade therein with a true lover's eye
Of the hart's volume, every secrett line.
But what availes it now, alas to know
That once a blessed man I might haue beene?
Since I haue lett, by lookeing downe too low
My highest fortunes sore away vnseene:
And yett if I had raisd my humble eyes
As high as heauen I could not haue discer[n]d
Of invisible thoughts which in your hart did rise,
Unles of you I had my lesson learnd.
But all was darke and folden vp to me;
As soon might I my selfe, my selfe haue taught
To read ye blacke records of destiny,
As read the ridles of the silent thought:
But whereto may I best resemble this?
Your loue was like the springing of a tree:
We cannot see the growing when it is,
But that it hath sprunge up and growne, we see.
Or it is like to wealth by fairyes brought,
Which they bring still while they invisible goe;
But all doth vanish and doth turne to nought,
If once a man enricht, those fairyes know:
But now your loue (say you) is dead and gone:
But my strong faith shall giue it life againe.
By strength of fancy miricles are done,
And true beleefe doth seldom hope in vaine.
Your Phœnix loue is vnto ashes turnd,
But now the fier of my affection true,
Which long within my hart hath kyndly burnd,
Shall spreade such heate as it shall liue anew.
Or if the fyer of your celestiall loue,
Be mounted vp to heauen and cannot dye:
Another slye Prometheus will I prove,
and play the theife to steale it from the skye.
When you vouchsaft to love vnworthy me,
Your loue discended like a shower of raine;
Which on the earth, euen senceles though she bee,
when once it falls, returneth not againe.
Then why should you withdraw the heauenly dew
Which fell sometymes on your despairing lover?
Though then his earthly spirit full little knew
How good an Angel did about him houer.
O you the glory of your sex and race!
You that all tymes and places hapie make!
You that in beeing vertuous vertue grace,
and make men love it better for your sake:
One sunbeame yet of favour cast on mee,
Let one kinde thought in your cleare fancy rise:
Loue but a thought, or if that may not be
Be pleasd that I may love, it shall suffise.
TO THE Q:[UEENE.]
What Musicke shall we make to you?
To whome the strings of all men's harts
Make musicke of ten thousand parts:
In tune and measure true,
With straines[256] and changes new.
How shall wee fraime a harmony
Worthie your eares, whose princely[257] hands
Keepe harmony in sundry lands:
Whose people divers be,
In station and degree?
Heauen's tunes may onely please,
and not such aires as theise.
For you which downe from heauen are sent
Such peace vpon the earth to bring,
Haue h[e]ard ye quire of Angells sing:
and all the sphæres consent,
like a sweete instrument.
How then should theise harsh tunes you[258] heare
Created of ye trubled ayer,
breed but distast—when you repaire—
to your celestiall eare?
So that this center here
for you no musicke fynds,
but harmony of mynds.
[TO FAIRE LADYES.]
Ladyes of Founthill,[259] I am come to seeke
My hart amongst you, which I late did leese;
but many harts may be perhaps alike:
Therefore of mine, the proper markes, are theise.
It is not hard, though true as steele it be,
And like ye diomond, cleare from any spot;
Transmixt with many darts you shall it se[e],
but all by vertue, not by Cupid, shot;
It hath no wings, because it needeth none,
Being now arived and settled where it would;
Wingèd desires and hopes from it gon are,
but it is full of joyes as it can hold.
Faine would I find it where it doth remaine,
but would not haue it though I might againe.
UPON A PAIRE OF GARTERS.
Go loveinge woode-bynde, clip with louely grace,
those two sweet plants which beare ye flowers of loue
Go silken vines, those tender elmes embrace,
Which flourish still, although their roots doe moue.
As soone as you possess your blessed places,
You are advancèd and ennobled more
Then dyodemes, which were white silken laces
That ancient kings about there forehead wore:
Sweete bands, take heed lest you vnge[n]tly bynd,
Or with your stricktnes make too deepe a print:
Was neuer tree had such a tinder rynd,
Although her inward hart be hard as flynt;
And let your knots be fast, and loose at will,
she must be free, though I stand bounden still.
[TO HIS LADY-LOVE.]
In this sweete booke, ye treasury of witt,
All virtues, beautyes, passions, written be:
And with such life they are sett forth in it
as still methinkes yt which I read I see.
But this booke's Mrs. is a liveing booke,
Which hath indeed those vertues in her mynde,
And in whose face though envey's selfe do looke,
Even envye's eye shall all those beautyes fynd.
Onely ye passions y are printed here,
In her calme thoughts can no impression make:
She will not love, nor hate, nor hope, nor feare,
Though others seeke theise passions for her sake.
So in ye sonne, some say there is no heate
though his reflecting beames doe fire begett.
[TOBACCO.][260]
Homer[261] of Moly and Nepenthe singes:
Moly, the gods most soveraigne hearbe divine.
Nepenth Hellen's[262] drink, which gladnes brings,—
Hart's greife repells, and doth ye witts refine.
But this our age another world hath found,
From whence an hearbe of heavenly power is brought:
Moly is not soe soveraigne for a wound
Nor hath Nepenth[e] so great wonders wrought.
It is tobacco: whose sweete subtile fume
The hellish torment of ye teeth doth ease,
By drawing downe and drieing up ye rume[263]
The mother and the nurse of each disease.[264]
ELEGIES OF LOUE.
Like as the diuers-fretchled[265] Butter-flye,
When Winter's frost is fallne upon his winge,
Hath onely left life's possibility,
and lies halfe dead untill the cherefull Spring:
But then the Sunne from his all-quickning eye,
Darts forth a sparkle of the liuinge fire:
Which[266] with kinde heate, doth warme the frozen flye
and with newe spirit his little breast inspire:
Then doth hee lightly rise and spread his winges,
And with the[267] beames that gaue him life doth playe:
Tasts euery flower that on th' earthe's bosoome springs,
and is in busye motion all the day:
Soe my gaye Muse, which did my heart possesse,
And in my youthful fantasie doth raigne:
Which cleard my forehead with her cheerefullnes
and gaue a liuely warmth unto my brayne:
With sadder[268] studye, and with graue conceite
Which late my Immagination entertaynd:
Beganne to shrinke, and loose her actiue heate,
and dead as in a læthargy remaynd.
Long in that senseles sleepe congeald shee laye,
Untill euen now another heauenly eye,
And cleare as that which doth begett the daye,
and of a like reviuinge simpathy:
Did cast into my eyes a subtile beame,
Which peirieinge[269] deepe, into my fancy went,
And did awake my muse out of her dreame,
and unto her new life and vertue lent:
Soe that shee now begins to raise her eyes
Which yett are dazled with her beautye's raye;
And to record her wonted melodyes,
Although at first shee bee not full so gaye.
THE KINGES WELCOME.[270]
O nowe or never gentle muse be gaye,
And mount vp higher on thy paper winges,
Then doth the larke when he salutes the daye,
And to the morne a merrie welcome singes.
Fly swifter then the egle sent by art
From Noremberg, to the Almaine emperour:
A hand lesse cuning, but as true a hart
Sends thee to a prince of greater worth and power.
Rencounter him thowe shalt vpon the waye,
like Phebus midst of all his golden trayne;
And knowe him too thou shalt at first suruaye
By proper notes and by distinctions plaine.
By his faire outward formes and princely port,
by honours done to him with capp and knee;
He is decyphred by the vulgar sorte,
but truer caracters will rise to the[e].
Thy sight had once an influence devine.
which gave it power the soule of man to viewe;
wipe and make cleane that dazeled eye of thine,
and thowe shall see his reall markes and true.
Looke ouer all that divers troope, and finde
whoe hath his spirites most Jouiall and free,
whose bodie is best tempred, and whose minde
Is ever best in tune, and that is hee.
See who it is whose actions doe bewraye
that threefold power, which rarely mixt we see;
A iudgment graue, and yet a fancie gaye,
Joynd with a ritch remembrance, that is hee.
Marke who it is, that hath all noble skill,
which maye to publique good referrèd bee;
the quickest witt, and best affected will,
whence flowes a streame of vertues, that is hee
If any more then other clearely wise
or wisely iust or iustly valiant be;
If any doe fainte pleasures more despise,
or be more maister of himselfe, 'tis hee
But soft, thie Egletes eye will soone be dym
If thou this rising sunne directly viewe;
looke syde waies on the beames that spread from him;
faire peace, rich plentie, and religion true
Besides a guard of blessed angells houer
about his sacred person, day and night;
and with invisible winges his head doe cover,
that dangers dartes thereon may never light
When by these proper notes thowe shalt him ken,
fly towardes him with winges of love and feare;
like fire which most doth wane and tremble then
when it doth mount most high and burne most cleare.
Yet on; for wingèd time with the[e] goes on,
which like old Æ'son hath his youth renewd;
his hower glase turnèd and his sickle gone,
and all his graye and broken fethers mewd.
On, for the braue yong sonn aboue his head
Comes Northward, that he may his glorie meete;
whilest the fresh earth in all her pride doth spread
greene veluit carpettes vnderneath his feete.
On, for thee birds will help to fill thie songe,
whereto all english harte stringes doe agree;
And the Irish harpe stringes, that did iarre soe long
to make the musicke full, nowe tunèd be.
There is noe eye cast downe, there is noe voice
that to pronounce the harte assent, is dombe;
the world of thinges doth everie where reioyce,
in certaine hope of blessed times to come
Thousandes while they possesse and fill the waies
doth both desire, and hinder his repaire;
they fill the emptie heaven with praier and praise,
which he requites with demonstrations faire.
Then what hast thowe to doe, and what remaines?
praie as the people doth, and add but this
This little wish; that whiles he lives and raignes,
he maye be still the same, that nowe he is.
John Dauis.
TO THE KINGE
UPON HIS MA'TIES FIRST COMMING INTO ENGLAND.
O now or neuer, gentle Muse, be gaye:
And mount up higher with thy paper winges,
Than doth the larke when hee sallutes the daye,
And to the morne a merry wellcome singes.
Thou must goe meete King James, upon the way
Advanceing Southward, with his golden trayne;
And know him too thou maist at first survaye,
by proper noates and by distinctions plaine.
By his faire outward formes, and princely port,
By honour done to him with cap and knee,
Hee is distinguist to the vulgar sort:
but truer characters will rise to thee.
Thy sight had once an influence divine,
Which gaue it power the Soule of man to vew:
Wipe and make cleare that dazled eye of thine,
and thou shall see his reall markes and true.
Looke over all that divers troope, and finde
Who hath his spirits most joviall and free;
Whose body is best tempred, and whose mind
is ever best in tune; and that is he.
See who it is, whose actions doe bewraye
That threefold power, which rarely mixt wee see;
A judgment grave, and yett a fancy gaye
joynd with a rich remembrance, That is hee.
Marke who it is, that hath all noble skill,
Which may to publicke good referrèd bee:
The sharpest witte and best affected will,
whence floes a streame of vertues, That is hee.
If any more than other clearely wise,
Or wisely just, or justly valiant bee;
If any doe faint pleasure more dispise
or bee more maister of himselfe, its hee.
But soft, thine eagle's eye will soone bee dim,
If thou this risinge sonne directly vewe:
Looke sidewayes on the beames that spread from him,[271]
Faire peace, with Plenty, and Religion true.
With that strong g'ard of Angells which doe houer
About his sacred person, daye and night:
And with invissible winges his head doe cover,
that danger's darts thereon may neuer light.
Now on, for wingèd Time with thee goes on,
Which like old Æson hath his youth renewed,
His hower glasse turnd, and his sickle gon,
and all his graye and broken feathers mewd.
On, for the brave young sonne above his head
Comes North ward, that hee may his glory meete;
While the fresh Earth in all her pride doth spread,
greene velvett carpetts underneath his feete.
On, for the birdes will helpe to fill the songe,
Whereto all English hartstringes will agree:
An' th' Irish harpstringes that have jarrd soe longe,
to make the Musicke full, now tunèd bee.
There is noe eye cast downe, there is no voyce
Which to expresse the harts assent, is dumbe:
The world of thinges doth every where rejoyce
In certaine hope of blessed times to come.
While thousands doe posses and fill the wayes,
The[y] both desire and hinder his repaire;
They fill the emptie aire with prayer and praise,
which hee requitts with demonstrations faire.
TO THE QUEENE AT THE SAME TIME.
If wee in peace had not received the kinge
Wee see wee had beene conquered, since wee see
The Queene such armyes doth of beauties bringe
As all our eyes and hearts her vassals bee.
The Danish armyes once great honnour wonne
Upon this Land; yett conquered but a part.
But you greate Lady more, alone, haue done;
For at first sight you conquer'd every heart.
Starre of the North! upon these Northerne Realmes
Long may your vertues and your beauties raigne:
Beyond our Cinthiae's yeares, whose golden Beames
Ar[e] sett with vs, and cannot shine againe:
Well may it bee; though sunne and moone goe downe
Seas haue noe power the North pole starre to drowne.[272]
MIRA LOQUOR SOL OCCUBUIT NOX NULLA SECUTA EST.
By that Eclipse which darkned our Appollo,
Our sunne did sett, and yett noe night did follow;
For his successor's vertues shone soe bright,
As they continued still, there former light; [their]
And gaue the world a farther expectation
To adde a greater splendor to our Nation.
CHARLES HIS WAINE.
Brittaine doth vnder those bright starres remaine,
Which English Shepheards, Charles his waine, doe name;
But more this Ile is Charles, his waine,
Since Charles her royall wagoner became.
For Charles, which now in Arthure's seate doth raigne,
Is our Arcturus, and doth guide the waine.
OF THE NAME OF CHAROLUS, BEING THE DIMINATIVE OF CHARUS.
The name of Charles, darlinge signifies:
A name most fitte, for hee was ever such.
Neuer was Prince soe deare in all mens eyes.
Soe highly valued or esteemed soe much:
Edgar was England's darlinge, once wee find,
But Charles the Darlinge is of all mankind.
VERSES SENT TO THE KINGE WITH FIGGES: BY Sr. JOHN DAVIS.
To add unto the first man's happiness,
His maker did for him a garden make;
And placd him there, that hee the same might dresse,
And pleasure great with little labour take.
And this with nature stands, and reason right,
That man who first was formèd of the earth
In trimminge of the earth should take delight,
And her adorne from whom hee tooke his birth.
Nor her for this doth hee ungratefull finde;
For shee in gardens her best fruites doth yealde.
The Earth in gardens is a mother kinde,
When shee is but a steepdame in the feild.
Sir, in your service God hath mee soe blest
As I haue beene enabled to acquire
A garden, ready planted, trimd and drest,
Whereto in vacant times I doe retire.
This garden, and the fruite thereof, indeede
Are fruites of your great favour unto mee;
And therefore all the fruites which thence proceed
A proper offeringe to your Highnes bee:
But if this verse or boldness, meritt blame,
Those figge leaues, Sr. I hope shall hide the same.[273]
[LOVE-LINES.]
Stay lovely boy! why flyest thou mee
that languish in theis flames for thee?
I'me black 'tis true—why so is night,
yet louers in darke shades delight:
the whole World, doe but close thyne eye
will appeare as black as I;
or open'd, view but what a shade
is by thyne owne fayre body made,
that follows thee where ere thou goe:
Ah, who allow'd would not doe so?
lett mee for euer dwell so nigh,
and thou shalt need no shade but I.
[LOVE-FLIGHT.]
Black Mayel, complayne not yt I flye,
since fate commaunds antipathy:
prodigious must yt vnion proue,
where day and night togeather moue:
and the commotion of our lipps
not kisses make but an eclipps;
where the commixèd blacke and white
portend more terrour then delight:
yet if thou wilt my shaddow bee,
enioy thy deerest wish, but see
that like my shaddow's property
thou hast away as I come nye:
els[e] stay till death hath blinded mee
then I'le bequeath my selfe to thee.[274]
AN ELEGIECALL EPISTLE ON SIR JOHN DAVIS DEATH.
Morgan! to call thee sadd and discontente
Were to proclaime thee weake; twere an evente
Of more then folly, since the obscurest eye
Is witness of thy magnanimity:
And yett to tell thee that thou hast noe cause
To greife, were to belye thy worth, because
The gapinge wound speakes out the sovldiers fame,
And deepe despites giue fortitude a name.
Tis true hee's dead, and the sterne fates (accurst)
There browes haue wrinkled, and haue done their worst
To spite this State and thee, in tearinge hence
That Nature's Accademy, that Starre, from whence
Streamd such full influence, of what the mind
Accounteth quintisentiall; and the vnkinde
And cruell Death, hath blasted such a flower,
Stolne such a gemme, as makes the sad Earth poore.
And yett alasse[275] hee is not fledd for want
Of what could make the ambitious, proud soule vaunt:
For whilst hee liv'd hee brocke up Honour's gates,
And pluck't bright fame from snarling Envie's grates
Doomd to obliuion; and his unmatchèd penne
(Drop'd from the winge of some bright Seraphin)
Inculpates him thus to all eternitye
The eldest of the Muses proginie.
Said I hee's dead? not soe; he could not die,
But findinge that curst lucre, bribery
And puft[276] ambition were the scarlett crimes
Of the Tribunall's tenants, and the times
Not suitinge with his vertues, cause his manner
Was to deserue and not desire, an honour;
Hee's sor'd aloft, where nought but virtue's pris'd,
And where base Mammon is not idoliz'd:
To that Kinge's Bench where Iustice is not gould,
Nor honours with old Ladies bought and sould;
To heauen's Exchequer, with intent to paye,
And render thence the Royall subsidaye
Of his rich spirit, which his soueraigne tooke
Without subscription, and crost Nature's booke.
[IX. ENTERTAINMENT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH AT HAREFIELD BY COUNTESSE OF DERBY.]
NOTE.
This 'Entertainment' has the additional interest of having been that wherein "The Lottery" (pp. 87-95), was introduced. The reasons for our giving the whole to Davies, we have stated in the Memorial-Introduction (II. Critical: Minor Poems). Our text is from Nichols' Progresses of Q. Elizabeth, Vol. III., pp. 586-94. G.
[Entertainment of Q. Elizabeth at Harefield by Countesse of Derby.]
After the Queene entered (out of the high way) into the Deamesne grounde of Harefielde, near the Dayrie howse, she was mett with 2 persons, the one representing a Bayliffe, the other a Dayrie-Maide, with the Speech. Her Majesty, being on horsebacke, stayed under a tree (because it rayned) to heare it.
B. Why, how now, Joane! are you heere? Gods my life, what make you heere, gaddinge and gazinge after this manner? You come to buy gape-seede,[277] doe you? Wherefore come you abroade now I' faith can you tell?
Joa. I come abroade to welcome these Strangers.
B. Strangers? how knew you there would come Strangers?
Jo. All this night I could not sleepe, dreaming of greene rushes; and yesternight the chatting of the pyes, and the chirkinge[278] of the frisketts[279] did foretell as much; and, besides that, all this day my lefte eare glowed,[280] and that is to me (let them all say what they wil) allwaies a signe of Strangers, if it be in the Summer; marye, if it be in the Winter, tis a signe of anger. But what make you in this company, I pray you?
B. I make the way for these Strangers, which the Way-maker himself could not doe; for it is a way was never passed before. Besides, the Mrs. of this faire company, though she know the way to all men's harts, yet she knowes the way but to few men's howses, except she love them very well, I can tell you; and therefore I myselfe, without any comission, have taken upon me to conduct them to the house.
Jo. The house? which house? doe you remember yourselfe? which way goe you?
B. I goe this way, on the right hand. Which way should I goe?
Jo. You say true, and you're a trim man; but I' faith I'll talke noe more to you, except you ware wyser. I pray you hartely, 'forsooth, come neare the house, and take a simple lodginge with vs to-night; for I can assuere you that yonder house that he talks of is but a Pigeon-house, which is very little if it were finisht, and yet very little of it is finisht. And you will believe me, vpon my life, Lady, I saw Carpenters and Bricklayers and other Workmen about it within less than these two howers. Besides, I doubt my Mr. and Mrs. are not at home; or, if they be, you must make your owne provision; for they have noe provision for such Strangers. You should seeme to be Ladies; and we in the country have an old saying, that "halfe a pease a day will serve a Lady." I know not what you are, nether am I acquainted with your dyet; but, if you will goe with me, you shall haue cheare for a Lady: for first you shall have a dayntie sillibub; next a messe of clowted creame; stroakings,[281] in good faith, redd cowes milk, and they say in London that's restorative: you shall have greene cheeses and creame. (I'll speake a bould word) if the Queene herself (God save her Grace) [were here] she might be seene to eat of it. Wee will not greatly bragge of our possets, but we would be loath to learne to praise: and if you loue frute, forsooth, wee haue jenitings,[282] paremayns,[283] russet coates,[284] pippines, able-johns,[285] and perhaps a pareplum,[286] a damsone, I or an apricocke[287] too, but that they are noe dainties this yeare; and therefore, I pray, come neare the house, and wellcome heartily, doe soe.
B. Goe to, gossip; your tongue must be running. If my Mrs. should heare of this, I' faith shee would give you little thankes I can tell you, for offeringe to draw so faire a flight from her Pigeon-house (as you call it) to your Dayrie-house.
Jo. Wisely, wisely, brother Richard; I' faith as I would vse the matter, I dare say shee would giue me great thankes: for you know my Mrs. charged me earnestly to retaine all idele hearvest-folkes that past this way; and my meaning was, that, if I could hold them all this night and to-morrow, on Monday morning to carry them into the fields; and to make them earne their entertaynment well and thriftily; and to that end I have heere a Rake and Forke, to deliver to the best Huswife in all this company.
B. Doe soe then: deliver them to the best Huswife in all this company: for wee shall haue as much vse of her paines and patience there as here. As for the dainties that you talke of, if you have any such, you shall doe well to send them; and as for these strangers, sett thy hart at rest, Joane; they will not rest with [thee] this night, but will passe on to my Mr[s.] house.
Joa. Then, I pray, take this Rake and Forke with you; but I am ashamed, and woe at my hart, you should goe away soe late. And I pray God you repent you not, and wish yourselves here againe, when you finde you haue gone further and fared worsse.
When her Maiestie was alighted from her horse, and ascended 3 steeps neare to the entering into the house, a carpet and chaire there sett for her; Place and Time present themselves, and vsed this Dialogue:
Place in a partie-colored roabe, like the brick house.
Time with yeollow haire, and in a green roabe, with a hower glasse, stopped, not runninge.
P. Wellcome, good Time.
T. Godden, my little pretie priuat Place.
P. Farewell, godbwy Time; are you not gone? doe you stay heere? I wonder that Time should stay any where; what's the cause?
T. If thou knewest the cause, thou wouldst not wonder; for I stay to entertaine the Wonder of this time; wherein I would pray thee to ioyne mee, if thou wert not too little for her greatnes; for it weare as great a meracle for thee to receive her, as to see the Ocean shut up in a little creeke, or the circumference shrinke vnto the pointe of the center.
P. Too little! by that reason shee should rest in noe place, for no place is great ynough to receive her. Too little! I have all this day entertayned the Sunn, which, you knowe, is a great and glorious Guest; hee's but euen now gone downe yonder hill; and now he is gone, methinks, if Cinthia her selfe would come in his place, the place that contaynde him should not be to little to receave her.
T. You say true, and I like your comparison; for the Guest that wee are to entertaine doth fill all places with her divine vertues, as the Sunn fills the World with the light of his beames. But say, poore Place, in what manner didst thou entertaine the Sunn?
P. I received his glory, and was fill'd with it: but I must confesse, not according to the proportion of his greatnes, but according to the measure of my capacitie; his bright face (methought) was all day turned vpon mee; nevertheless his beames in infinite abundance weere disperst and spread vpon other places.
T. Well, well; this is noe time for vs to entertaine one another, when wee should ioine to entertaine her. Our entertaynment of this Goddesse will be much alike; for though her selfe shall eclipse her soe much, as to suffer her brightnes to bee shadowed in this obscuere and narrow Place, yet the sunne beames that follow her, the traine I meane that attends vpon her, must, by the necessitie of this Place, be deuided from her. Are you ready, Place? Time is ready.
P. Soe it should seeme, indeed, you are so gaye, fresh, and cheerfull. You are the present Time, are you not? then what neede you make such haste? Let me see, your wings are clipt, and, for ought I see, your hower-glasse runnes not.
T. My wings are clipt indeed, and it is her hands hath clipt them: and, tis true, my glasse runnes not: indeed it hath bine stopt a longe time, it can never rune as long as I waite upon this Mris. I [am] her Time; and Time weare very vngratefull, if it should not euer stand still, to serue and preserue, cherish and delight her, that is the glory of her time, and makes the Time happy wherein she liueth.
P. And doth not she make Place happy as well as Time? What if she make thee a contynewall holy-day, she makes me a perpetuall sanctuary. Doth not the presence of a Prince make a Cottage a Court, and the presence of the Gods make euery place Heauen? But, alas, my littlenes is not capable of that happines that her great grace would impart vnto me: but, weare I as large as there harts that are mine Owners, I should be the fairest Pallace in the world; and weere I agreeable to the wishes of there hartes, I should in some measure resemble her sacred selfe, and be in the outward frount exceeding faire, and in the inward furniture exceeding rich.
T. In good time do you remember the hearts of your Owners; for, as I was passing to this place, I found this Hart,[288] which, as my daughter Truth tould mee, was stolne by owne[289] of the Nymphes from one of the seruants of this Goddesse; but her guiltie conscience enforming her that it did belong only of right vnto her that is Mrs. of all harts in the world, she cast [it] from her for this time; and Oportunity, finding it delivered it vnto me. Heere, Place, take it thou, and present it vnto her as a pledge and mirror of their harts that owe thee.
P. It is a mirror indeed, for so it is transparent. It is a cleare hart, you may see through it. It hath noe close corners, noe darkenes, noe unbutifull spott in it. I will therefore presume the more boldly to deliver it; with this assurance, that Time, Place, Persons, and all other circumstances, doe concurre alltogether in biddinge her wellcome.
The humble Petition of a guiltlesse Lady, delivered in writing vpon Munday Morninge, when the [robe] of rainbowes was presented to the Q. by the La. Walsingham.
Beauties rose, and vertues booke,
Angells minde, and Angells looke,
To all Saints and Angells deare,
Clearest Maiestie on earth,
Heauen did smile at your faire birth,
And since, your daies have been most cleare.
Only poore St. Swythen now
Doth heare you blame his cloudy brow:
But that poore St. deuoutly sweares,
It is but a tradition vaine
That his much weeping causeth raine,
For Sts in heauen shedd no teares:
But this he saith, that to his feast
Commeth Iris, an vnbidden guest,
In her moist roabe of collers gay;
And she cometh, she ever staies,
For the space of fortie daies,
And more or lesse raines euery day.
But the good St., when once he knew,
This raine was like to fall on you,
If Sts could weepe, he had wept as much
As when he did the Lady leade
That did on burning iron tread:
To Ladies his respect is such.
He gently first bids Iris goe
Unto the Antipodes below,
But shee for that more sullen grew.
When he saw that, with angry looke,
From her her rayneie roabes he tooke,
Which heere he doth present to you.
It is fitt it should with you remaine,
For you know better how to raine.
Yet if it raine still as before,
St Swythen praies that you would guesse,
That Iris doth more robes possesse,
And that you should blame him no more.
At her Maiesties departure from Harefield, Place, attyred in black mouringe aparell, vsed this farewell followinge:
P. Sweet Maiestie, be pleased to looke vpon a poore Wydow, mourning before your Grace. I am this Place, which at your comming was full of ioy; but now at your departure am as full of sorrow. I was then, for my comfort, accompanied with the present cheerful Time; but now he is to depart with you; and, blessed as he is, must euer fly before you: But, alas! I haue no wings, as Time hath. My heauiness is such, that I must stand still, amazed to see so greate happines so sone bereft mee. Oh, that I could remoue with you, as other circumstances can! Time can goe with you, Persons can goe with you; they can moue like Heaven; but I, like dull Earth (as I am indeed) must stand vnmouable. I could wish my selfe like the inchanted Castle of Loue, to hould you heere for euer, but that your vertues would dissolue all my inchauntments. Then what remedy? As it is against the nature of an Angell to be circumscribed in Place, so it is against the nature of Place to haue the motion of an Angell. I must stay forsaken and desolate. You may goe with maiestie, joy, and glory. My only suyte, before you goe, is that you will pardon the close imprisonment which you haue suffred euer since your comminge, imputinge it not to mee, but St. Swythen, who of late hath raysed soe many stormes, as I was faine to prouide this Anchor,[290] for you, when I did vnderstand you would put into this creeke. But now, since I perceaue this harbour is too little for you, and you will hoyse sayle and be gone, I beseech you take this Anchor with you. And I pray to Him that made both Time and Place, that, in all places where euer you shall arriue, you may anchor as safly, as you doe and euer shall doe in the harts of my Owners.
THE COMPLAINT OF THE V SATYRES AGAINST THE NYMPHS.
Tell me, O Nymphes, why do you
Shune vs that your loues pursue?
What doe the Satyres notes retaine
That should merite your disdaine?
On our browes if hornes doe growe,
Was not Bacchus armèd soe?
Yet of him the Candian maid
Held no scorne, nor was affraid.
Say our colours tawny bee,
Phœbus was not faire to see;
Yet faire Clymen[291] did not shunn
To bee Mother of his Sonne.
If our beards be rough and long,
Soe had Hercules the strong:
Yet Deianier,[292] with many a kisse,
Joyn'd her tender lipps to his.
If our bodies hayry bee,
Mars as rugged was as wee:
Yet did Ilia[293] think her grac'd,
For to be by Mars imbrac'd.
Say our feet ill-fauored are,
Cripples leggs are worse by farre:
Yet faire Venus, during life,
Was the lymping Vulcan's wife.
Breefly, if by nature we
But imperfect creatures be;
Thinke not our defects so much,
Since Celestial Powers be such.
But you Nymphes, whose veniall loue
Loue of gold alone doth moue,
Though you scorne vs, yet for gold
Your base loue is bought and sold.
finis.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] MS. "seeme to loue thee." D.
[2] Own. G.
[3] Gross. G.
[4] Blaming, censure. G. [i.e. censuring of individuals. MS. "priuate talkinge." Compare the Induction to The Knight of the Burning Pestle:
"Fly from hence
All private taxes!" &c.
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, ii., 136, ed. Dyce. D.]
[5] MS. "carrieth." G.
[6] Other editions "particular": and so MS. G.
[7] MS. "Wherefore ... disclose." D.
[8] 'Fine, richly dressed.' D.
[9] In our Introductory-Note it is stated that the original edition of the 'Epigrams' is undated. From contemporary allusions the date is determined to have been prior to 1598. Among these allusions is an 'Epigram' by E. Guilpin in his 'Skialetheia' [1598] on the same subject with this by Davies. It follows here:
TO CANDIDUS [Epigram.] 20.
"Friend Candidus, thou often doost demaund
What humours men by gulling understand:
Our English Martiall hath full pleasantly,
In his close nips describde a gull to thee:
I'le follow him, and set downe my conceit
What a gull is: oh word of much receit!
He is a gull, whose indiscretion
Cracks his purse strings to be in fashion;
He is a gull, who is long in taking roote
In baraine soyle, where can be but small fruite:
He is a gull, who runnes himselfe in debt,
For twelue dayes wonder, hoping so to get;
He is a gull, whose conscience is a block,
Not to take interest, but wastes his stock:
He is a gull, who cannot haue a whore,
But brags how much he spends upon her score:
He is a gull, that for commoditie
Payes tenne times ten, and sells the same for three:
He is a gull, who passing finicall,
Peiseth each word to be rhetoricall:
And to conclude, who selfe conceitedly,
Thinkes al men guls: ther's none more gull then he." G.
[10] See Note on Epigram 28. G.
[11] Malone has cited this passage (Shakespeare by Boswell iii. 81) and, if he explains it rightly, the allusion is to one of the two boxes (sometimes called private boxes) which were situated on each side of the balcony or upper stage. D.
[12] Other editions (as the Isham) 'doubtfull.' G.
[13] Other editions (as the Isham) 'thither.' G.
[14] MS. "Thinkinge." D.
[15] MS. "In meritriculas [sic] Londinensis." D.
[16] MS. "Ware." D.
[17] MS. "dissolv'd." D.
[18] "Rabble, set." D.
[19] MS. "discerninge." D.
[20] MS. "straight would." D. Isham 'thus would.' G.
[21] Mr. Dyce corrects (as Isham) to 'Titum' and line 1st 'Titus.' G.
[22] MS. "Valient." G.
[23] Viz., of Sir Christopher Hatton, whose huge and splendid monumental-tomb was long one of the London sights for country cousins. Col. Cunningham (in loco) adds "It was erected in St. Paul's Cathedral, and Bishop Corbet says was "higher than the host and altar." G.
[24] Recently described by Smiles in his Lives of the Engineers. s. v. G.
[25] It is curious to find the article 'the' Elephant. Coriat later gave his own portrait showing himself on the back of an elephant, as a great wonder, in one of his travel title-pages. But query—Is it the famous inn named by Shakespeare: "I could not find him at the Elephant" (Twelfth Night, iv. 3)? Col. Cunningham (as before) assuming it is the animal that is meant, annotates thus: "The Elephant was an object of great wonder and long remembered. A curious illustration of this is found in The Metamorphosis of the Walnut Tree, written about 1645, where the poet [William Basse] brings trees of all descriptions to the funeral, particularly a gigantic oak—
The youth of these our tymes that did behold
This motion strange of this unwieldy plant,
Now boldly brag with us that are more old,
That of our age they no advantage want,
Though in our youth we saw an elephant. G.
[26] Debtors' prison. G.
[27] Other editions "Powles," and Isham 'Poules.' G. MS. "Powels." D.
[28] Mr. Dyce reads 'Katam': being feminine the poet is here put right. G.
[29] MS. "Knowne this towne 7 years." Isham "he hath beene in towne 7 yeeres." G.
[30] 'Swiude' from Isham: other editions ——. G.
[31] MS. "wearing of that." D.
[32] MS. "lynes." D.
[33] = Quintus's wit. G.
[34] Mislikt? G.
[35] Isham 'wanders.' G.
[36] Isham 'Hence is it.' G.
[37] Isham 'a.' G.
[38] Isham 'a hundreth.' G.
[39] Isham 'like.' G.
[40] Isham 'forsook.' G.
[41] Isham 'eke.' G.
[42] Mr. Dyce says here "something has dropt out," the line being a foot short, I have supplied 'I've lost.' G.
[43] Sic, but should be Faustum (1st line) and is so given by Mr. Dyce and Isham. G.
[44] MS. "ranging." G.
[45] Mastiff. D. [This is an error. A 'mastiff' is not a grumbling dog, and 'masty' is = fatted, and here answers apparently to the over-fed vicious pet. See Maste, Prompt. Parv. & p. 151 (Way's ed.)] G.
[46] Isham 'saist.' G.
[47] 'And as' not in Isham, and being superfluous left out. G.
[48] Supplied from MS. by Mr. Dyce. Isham 'oft.' G.
[49] MS. 'Geron, his.' D. Isham 'Geron whose.' G.
[50] Isham corrects the misprint 'yeares,' and of 'time' in next line. G.
[51] Isham 'odde.' G.
[52] The reading in our text, and in all the editions, including Isham, is 'seene': but above from MS, as rhyming with Newhaven seems preferable. Newhaven was formerly called Havre de Grace. All the date-events are commonplaces of History. G.
[53] Ill-natured. D. [This is a good-natured explanation. I fear that in this place it means more and worse, though in the Taming of the Shrew we have Kate the curst, without the slightest imputation on her moral character, or any allusion to anything but her vixen temper. G.]
[54] MS. "for newes."—The first edition [and Isham] reads 'from Mins': the other two as above. Mins' (which perhaps should be written Min's) is, I presume, the name of some person who kept an Ordinary where gaming was practised. D.
[55] Isham 'a.' G.
[56] Sic: but should be, as Isham, Ciprium: Mr. Dyce reads Cyprium. G.
[57] Died October 7th, 1577. His Works have been worthily collected by Mr. W. C. Hazlitt in his Roxburghe Library. G.
[58] MS. "notes." D. [first edition and Isham "lookes": others as above. G.]
[59] In first edition and Isham "Knowing" and MS. G.
[60] Foolish. G.
[61] Dyce's text is 'he': but 'to' is often in Davies' time printed for 'too.' Isham 'Which perceiuing.' G.
[62] Isham 'scarphes.' G.
[63] Isham 'false brayes.' In this place I have restored the reading 'false-brayes' of the 1st edition and of the MS, rejecting 'false-baits' of 2nd and 3rd editions. There is no such word in military engineering or fortification; but there is 'fausse-braye ' or 'false-braye.' There is a not very intelligible description in Bailey's Dictionary. G.
[64] With this passage compare the following lines:
"See Captaine Martio he i' th' 'Renounce me' band,
That in the middle region doth stand
Wo' th' reputation steele! Faith, lets remoue
Into his ranke (of such discourse you loue):
Hee'l tell of basilisks, trenches, retires,
Of pallizadoes, parapets, frontires,
Of caluerins, and baricadoes too.
What to bee harquebazerd, to lie in perdue," &c.
Fitzgeoffrey's Notes from Black-Friars' Sig. E 7, a portion of the volume entitled Certain Elegies, &c., ed. 1620. See our Memorial-Introduction for an impudent appropriation of this epigram. G.
[65] MS. "forginge." D. Isham 'foorching.' G.
[66] Other editions and MS. "Withernams": Isham 'whither names.' G.
[67] Isham 'vnderstanding either.' G.
[68] Drayton is here meant. [Malone's Manuscript-note in Bodleian copy. G.]
[69] [Ben] Jonson told Drummond "That S[ir] J[ohn] Davies played in ane Epigrame on Drayton's, who in a sonnet, concluded his Mistress might [have] been the Ninth [Tenth] Worthy; and said, he used a phrase like Dametas in [Sir Philip Sidney's] Arcadia, who said For wit his Mistresse might be a gyant." 'Notes of Ben Jonson's conversations with William Drummond, of Hawthornden,' p. 15 (Shakespere Society). The sonnet by Drayton, which our author here ridicules, is as follows:
"TO THE CELESTIALL NUMBERS.
"Vnto the World, to Learning, and to Heauen,
Three Nines there are, to euery one a Nine,
One Number of the Earth, the other both Diuine;
One Woman now makes three odde numbers euen:
Nine Orders first of Angels be in Heauen,
Nine Muses doe with Learning still frequent,
These with the Gods are euer Resident;
Nine Worthy Ones vnto the World were giuen:
My Worthy One to these Nine Worthies addeth,
And my faire Muse one Muse vnto the Nine,
And my good Angell (in my soule Diuine)
With one more Order these Nine Orders gladdeth:
My Muse, my Worthy, and my Angell, then,
Makes euery one of these three Nines a Ten."
[70] Isham reads badly 'woorthly.' 'Laide.' G. Idea: Sonnet 18 ed. 8vo. n. d. D.
[71] The other editions, as Isham and MS., 'an.' G.
[72] MS. 'cut.' D. [This is unquestionably the right word, not 'out.' Whether 'cut-lawne apron' meant curiously shaped like "the sleeves curiously cut" of Katharine's dress: or whether it was cut-wove lawn, lawn embroidered by cutting out holes and sewing them round, seems uncertain,—probably the latter. G.]
[73] MS. 'sweete.' D.
[74] Isham again badly 'ilfauoted.' G.
[75] In first edition and Isham, "then doth he this." G. [MS. "he doth all this." D.]
[76] MS. "valiant and all-daring." D. [First edition, "braue, most all daring." G.]
[77] MS. "Knight." D.
[78] Isham, 'dare.' G.
[79] Hospital: or query prison? So late as Thomson's "Castle of Indolence" (c I. 77) we have the word: "all the diseases which the spittles know." G.
[80] Probably most readers are aware that it was formerly the custom of gallants to smoke tobacco on the stage, during the performance, either lying on the rushes or sitting upon hired stools. D. [In Hutton's 'Satyres' and 'Epigrams' (1619) well edited by Rimbault for the Percy Society, there are various passages illustrative of above, e.g.
"Dine with Duke Humfrey in decayed Paules"
Confound the streetes with chaos of old braules,
Dancing attendance on the Black-friers stage
Call for a stoole with a commanding rage, &c. [pp. 68, 69.] Cf.
Also Ben Jonson's Devil is an Ass (1616) who censures the conduct of the gallants allowed seats on the stage. G.
[81] Mr. Dyce spells Heywodum. John Heywood's Epigrammes accompany his Proverbs: 1562. G.
[82] 1st edition, 'which in epigrams did;' Isham 'which did.' [The Epigrams of John Heywood are well known. An allusion to this epigram of Davies occurs in Sir John Harington's Metamorphosis of Ajax, 1596: "This Heywood for his proverbs and epigrams is not yet put down by any of our country, though one [Marginal Note, M[aster] Davies doth indeed come near him, that graces him the more in saying he puts him down," p. 41, edition 1814. (In the same work we find, "But, as my good M. Davies said of his epigrams, that they were made, like doublets in Birchin-lane, for every one whom they will serve, &c. p. 133. D.] [I add from T. Bastard's 'Chrestoleros' [Lib. II: Epigram 15] an answer to this:
Heywood goes downe saith Dauis, sikerly,
And downe he goes, I can it not deny:
But were I happy did not fortune frowne
Were I in heart I would sing Dauy downe.
Cf. also lib. iii. Ep. 3. Mr. Dyce also quotes from Freeman's Rubbe and a great Cast, 1614. G.]
[83] Breeches. D.
[84] This is not Decius of Epig. 25, who was Drayton, but (eheu!) Samuel Daniel. Cf. Epig. 45, and relative note. On the elephant (l. 5) see note on Epig. 6. G.
[85] Isham badly 'a goe.' G.
[86] Id est, horse's [the word means properly—a docked horse.] So much may be found in various books concerning Banks and his wonderful horse, that any account of them is unnecessary here. D. [The 'wonderful horse' is referred to by Shakespeare. G.]
[87] Lien, lain. D.
[88] Col. Cunningham emends 'himself' for 'myself'; but the 'whipping of' (l. 4) is = by: and Davies' wish is that he wielded the rods on Francus. G.
[89] Mr. Dyce reads 'Helen's' and confirms from Milton's Comus (1675)—
Not that Nepenthes, which the wife of Thone
In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena, &c.
In first edition there is a misprint "Hekens": in the other editions, as above "Heauens": in MS. "helvs": Isham 'Heuens.' Helen is admissible, but 'Heavens' what Davies himself printed. See the poem on Tobacco among the hitherto unpublished poems, of which the Epigram seems only a first rough draft—and relative note.
[90] Isham 'which.' G.
[91] Isham badly 'brought.' G.
[92] MS. 'subtle.' D. [Substantial is here = partaking of the substance or essence, or, as we say, properties peculiar to tobacco—a fume holding in it the virtues or substance of the tobacco. The MS. 'subtle' may be regarded as an Author's variant, especially as it is also found in 'Tobacco' among the hitherto unpublished poems, onward. G.]
[93] Mr. Dyce quotes an 'Epigramma' of Sir Thomas More, which, is headed
"Medicinæ ad tollendos fœtores, anhelitus, provenientes a cibis quibusdam."
"Sectile ne tetros porrum tibi spiret odores,
Protenus a porro fac mihi cepe vores.
Denuo fœtorem si vis depellere cepæ,
Hoc facile efficient allia mansa tibi.
Spiritus at si post etiam gravis allia restat,
Aut nihil, aut tantum tollere merda potest."
T. Mori Lucubrationes. &c., p. 261, edition 1563. G.
[94] Isham 'so smooth.' G.
[95] That is, Crassus's lies. G.
[96] Isham 'Gentleman.' G.
[97] See our Memorial-Introduction with reference to Wordsworth's splendid filling up of this earlier sketch. G.
[98] Isham 'his.' G.
[99] Isham 'hearkening.' G.
[100] 1st edition and Isham, 'marke.' G.
[101] Isham 'debter poore.' G.
[102] No doubt some Ordinary near St. Giles, Cripplegate. Isham 'Gilles.' G.
[103] Isham 'then.' G.
[104] Bourse, = Exchange. G.
[105] 1st edition and Isham and MS. 'flying.' G.
[106] Groningen. G.
[107] Conquered and added to or 'taken in' with other conquests. G.
[108] To the truly 'illustrious' Vere—one of the noblest of England's earlier generals—Dr. Richard Sibbes dedicated his 'Soul's Conflict' in very loving words to him and his Lady. See my edition of Sibbes in loco. G.
[109] Isham once more badly 'conquerie.' G.
[110] This couplet is given by Mr. Dyce from the MS.: the Isham has it. G.
[111] Recently: the MS. reads 'that is of late.' G.
[112] In our author's days, it was a common practice for persons, before setting out on their travels, to deposit a sum of money, on condition of receiving large interest for it on their return: if they never returned, the deposit was forfeited. Innumerable allusions to 'putters out' occur in the works published during the reigns of Elizabeth and James. D.
[113] That is, to the Bear-Garden on the Bank-side, Southwark. D. Near the Globe Theatre: referred to as Palace garden by Hutton, as before. Isham reads badly 'parish.' The Theatre at Paris Garden stood almost exactly at what is now the Surrey starting place of Blackfriars Bridge. In 1632 Donald Lupton in his London and the Country Carbonadoed says of it, "Here come few that either regard their credit or loss of time; the swaggering Roarer; the amusing Cheater; the swearing Drunkard; and the bloody Butcher have their rendezvous here, and are of the chiefe place and respect." (Col. Cunningham's Marlowe, p. 365). G.
[114] Isham 'amongst the dogges and beares.' G.
[115] Breeches. G.
[116] Misprinted 'countrey shall': Qu—country-Hall, as above? Isham 'country Hall.' G.
[117] Dunged. D.
[118] Isham badly 'forsake.' G.
[119] Plowden. D.
[120] Harry Hunkes and Sacarson were two bears at Paris-garden: the latter was the more famous, and is mentioned by Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act I., sc. 1. D. Isham 'Sakersone.' G.
[121] Daniel, I believe: [Malone's Manuscript note in Bodlean copy. See Epigram 30. G.] Mr. Dyce adds here, "I am sorry to believe that by Dacus (who is spoken of with great contempt in Epigram xxx.) our author means Samuel Daniel: but the following lines in that very pleasing writer's Complaint of Rosamond (which was first printed in 1592) certainly would seem to be alluded to here,
"Ah beauty syren, faire enchanting good,
Sweet, silent rhetorique of perswading eyes,
Dumb eloquence, whose power doth moue the blood
More then the words or wisdom of the wise, &c.
1611, p. 39,—Daniel's Certaine Small Works, &c. 1611.") G.
[122] See note on this under Epigram 43. G.
[123] Isham 'Pease.' G.
[124] Isham 'so.' G.
[125] See note on this under Epigram 30. G.
[126] Isham corrects 'Hay' here with 'hogge.' G.
[127] That is 'Lepidus's printed dog.' The following epigram by Sir John Harington determines that he is the Lepidus of this passage, and that his favourite dog Bungey is the "printed dog." In a compartment of the engraved title-page to Harington's Orlando Furioso, 1591, is a representation of Bungey (see too the Annotations on Book xli. of that poem); and hence he is termed by Davies the "printed dog."
"AGAINST MOMUS, IN PRAISE OF HIS DOG BUNGEY."
Because a witty writer of this time
Doth make some mention in a pleasant rime
Of Lepidus and of his famous dog,
Thou, Momus, that dost loue to scoffe and cog,
Prat'st amongst base companions, and giv'st out
That unto me herein is meant a flout.
Hate makes thee blind, Momus: I dare be sworn,
He meant to me his loue, to thee his scorn.
Put on thy envious spectacles, and see
Whom doth he scorn therein, the dog or me?
The dog is grac'd, comparèd with great Banks,
Both beasts right famous for their pretty pranks;
Although in this I grant the dog was worse,
He only fed my pleasure, not my purse:
Yet that same dog, I may say this and boast it,
He found my purse with gold when I haue [had] lost it.
Now for myself: some fooles (like thee) may judge
That at the name of Lepidus I grudge:
No sure; so far I think it from disgrace,
I wisht it cleare to me and to my race.
Lepus, or Lepos, I in both haue part;
That in my name I beare, this in mine heart.
But Momus, I perswade myself that no man
Will deigne thee such a name, English or Roman.
Ile wage a but of Sack, the best in Bristo,
Who cals me Lepid, I will call him Tristo."
Epigrams, Book iii. Ep. 21. edition folio. D.
[128] In other editions as Isham, but dropped out inadvertently from our text. G.
[129] Isham badly 'last.' G.
[130] = plumage. G.
[131] = motley-dressed jester or fool. G.
[132] = foolish. G.
[133] A trisyllable. G.
[134] = were. G.
[135] = slipper-shoes. G.
[136] = serious; and so 'sadly' = seriously, e. g. Skelton:
"I have not offended, I trust,
If it be sadly discust." G.
[137] = recover (a legal term) G.
[138] This and the three following, are from the celebrated collection of early English poetry called the 'Poetical Rhapsody' by Davison. Our text is from the third edition (1621) which in our case is preferable, as having presumably been revised (in his contributions) by Sir John: It is to be noted that in this edition the original simple I. D. is in the second poem changed to Sir I. D., and that to the third his name is given in full. I have included the Hymn on Music, though the initials I. D. have been assigned to Dr. John Donne by Sir Egerton Brydges and others. It seems to me that as (1) I. D. is our Poet's designation in the 'Rhapsody' throughout, and as (2) the Lines were not claimed for Donne by himself, or by his son when he collected his father's Poems—we are warranted in assigning them to Sir John Davies. Sir Egerton favours their Donne authorship simply because "they seem rather to partake of the conceits of Donne than of the simple vigour of Davies" but he forgot the 'Hymnes to Astræa' and 'Orchestra'; which are in the same vein. It is to be regretted that Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas modernized the text in his reprint of the 'Rhapsody': (2 vols. crown 8vo. 1826, Pickering): and perhaps equally so, that Mr. Collier in his careful and beautiful private one, has selected the first incomplete edition. The following is the title-page of the edition of the 'Rhapsody' used by us:
DAVISONS
POEMS,
OR
A POETICALL RAPSODIE.
Deuided into sixe Bookes.
The first, contayning Poems and Deuises.
The second, Sonets and Canzonets.
The third, Pastoralls and Elegies.
The fourth, Madrigalls and Odes.
The fift, Epigrams and Epitaphs.
The sixt, Epistles and Epithalamions.
For variety and pleasure, the like neuer
published.
The Bee and Spider by a diuers power,
Sucke hony and poyson from the selfe same flower.
The fourth Impression,
Newly corrected and augmented, and put into
a forme more pleasing to the Reader.
London.
Printed by B. A. for Roger Iackson, 1621 (small 12o.) See our Preface for account of an autograph MS. of "Yet other Twelve Wonders of the World." G.
[139] 'The earth my faults doth hide.' This recalls the somewhat irate remonstrance of a bibulous Sexton under the reproaches of a medical church-warden at a parish-meeting: "O Sir, you are the last that ever I expected to expose me, seeing I have covered up many of your faults" (i.e. in the graves of his patients.) G.
[140] = usury. G.
[141] = pinch. G.
[142] = foolish. G.
[143] In Sir Egerton Brydges edition of the Rhapsody this line stands
"My dying husband knew," &c.
an interpolation which, though perhaps called for by the metre, does not appear to be justified by either of the four editions supposed to have been printed during the life-time of the original editor. Nicolas. [True, but as it is found in an autograph MS. of the poem, it is inserted. See our Preface. G.]
[144] See Introductory Note to the first of these Minor Poems, ante. In Mr. Collier's History of English Dramatic Poetry, Vol. I. p. 323 seqq. interesting details are given of an Entertainment to the Queen at Sir Robert Cecil's "newe house in the Strand," at which she was "royally entertained." From Extracts from a Barrister's Diary among the Harleian MSS. adduced herein, we glean a notice of the present Poem, e. g. "Sundry devises at hir entrance: three women, a maid, a widow and a wife, eache contending [for] their own states, but the virgin preferred." In Nichols' Progs. of Elizabeth (iii. 601) the poem is also ascribed on authority of John Chamberlain to Davies (6th December, 1602). See Letters of Chamberlain published by Camden Society, p. 169: December 23rd, 1602. Miss Sarah Williams, in her careful edition of Chamberlain's Letters for the Camden Society, by an oversight, has annotated this reference in loco as to Davies of Hereford. Chamberlain calls it a "pretty dialogue." The Barrister's Diary supra [Manningham] has been edited for the Camden Society by the late lamented Mr. John Bruce of London. G.
[145] Misprinted 'sent.' G.
[146] A legal phrase = freedom or liberty. G.
[147] Nicolas, as before, has 'observes.' G.
[148] Nicolas, as before, reads 'net.' G.
[149] The reference is to the wavy or vandyked cutting of the vellum MS. whereby the one copy fits into the other. Recently two very ancient MSS. were thus unexpectedly brought together in H. M. Public Record Office. G.
[150] = cultivated. G.
[151] Cf. 'Orchestra,' Vol. I., page 192, with relative note. G.
[152] = in the fabric. G.
[153] = peer. G.
[154] In the previous editions of the Rhapsody, this line has always been imputed to the Wife, and the following one to the Widow; but as throughout the Contention each party praises her own state, whilst she ridicules that of the other, the transposition in the text appeared to be imperiously called for. Nicolas.
[155] By the rule of note 8, Wife seems necessary to be here prefixed; but see our Memorial-Introduction for a critical notice of this and other portions. G.
[156] = alloy. G.
[157] It was long a "Vulgar Error" that certain 'christall glasses' flew into bits on poison being put into them. G.
[158] See Introductory-note to the preceding poem. G.
[159] This Lottery was presented to the Queen in the year 1602, at York House, the residence of Thomas Egerton, Lord Keeper, not in 1601, as stated in Nichols' Progresses, vol iii. p. 570. See our Memorial-Introduction for authority for this correction, and for the names of the ladies who drew the successive 'lots,' and also other points. Collier, as before, in a strangely curious remark, supposes these lottery verses may be Samuel Rowland's "When gossips meet," and as strangely does not connect them with Davies' name at all. He, however, supplies interesting memorabilia, relating to these Elizabethan Entertainments. He mis-names the poet-compiler of the 'Rhapsody' throughout, Davidson.
[160] Or Caract, a large ship. Chaucer speaks of Satan having "a tayle, broder than of a Carrike is the sayl." Sir Walter Raleigh,—a contributor to the Rhapsody,—observes "in which river the largest Carack may, &c." Nicolas.
[161] Mr. Nichols, in his Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, cites the
following passage from a speech made at her entertainment at Cowdray,
to prove that the line in the text was an "olde saying."
"Madame it is an olde saying 'There is no fishing to the sea, nor
service to the King;' but it holds when the sea is calm, and the King
virtuous."... Vol. iii., pp. 95-571. Nicolas. The sense is
that there is no fishing to be compared (in result) to sea-fishing, nor
any service to be compared with the king's. G.
[162] Manningham, in the original MS., has these variants: l. 1, 'hath sent'; l. 2, 'A plaine.' G.
[163] Manningham, as before, has 'word doth'—a reading which brings it more into accord with the language of the times, 'word' being then used for a sentence of import, impressa, or posy. He has also 'fit' for 'hit.' G.
[164] Manningham again reads here:—
... "to you in double challenge sends
For you hath fools and flatterers hir best friends." G.
[165] A tagged lace used for attaching and keeping up or together various parts of the dress. G.
[166] Manningham reads, "With Fortune's ... happy may you be." G.
[167] Ibid, 'thought.' G.
[168] = worked openings in the dress. G.
[169] Manningham has 'scisser case,' which shows the scissors were in a case. He also reads 'you be borne.' G.
[170] Ibid, 'may be.' Then l. 2 was first as in text, but over 'Till that day' is inserted above 'Till Fortune come,' though the latter is not erased. G.
[171] A small muff for Winter-wear. Ibid in heading and l. 1, 'Mufkin': in l. 2 'It will be.' G.
[172] Ibid, this variant:—
"And yet they spend it worst that watch it most." G.
[173] See Introductory-Note to the first of these Minor Poems. I include this 'Canzonet' because originally it bore the initials of Davies' other pieces in the 'Rhapsody,' viz., I. D. G.
[174] Qu: sound? or it may be = their circular movement (supposed). G.
[175] In my edition of Donne I have assigned these Ten Sonnets to him, but for reasons given in Memorial-Introduction now reclaim them for Davies. Our text is as with the others from the 'Rhapsody' of 1621, where they are numbered in the class of sonnets xxxiv. to xlii. They were originally signed Melophilus. The various readings are merely orthographical. G.
[176] From "Ovid's Banquet of | SENCE. | A Coronet for his Mistresse Philosophie, and his amorous | Zodiacke. | With a translation of a Latine coppie, | written by a Fryer, Anno Dom. 1400. | Quis leget hæc? Nemo Hercule Nemo, | vel duo vel nemo. Persius. | At London, | Printed by J. R. for Richard Smith. Anno Dom. 1595. | " See our Memorial-Introduction. G.
[177] From close of 'A New Post' consisting of 'Essayes' by Sir John Davies. See Prose Works in Fuller Worthies' Library. G.
[178] = traitors [treacherous]. G.
[179] I take this Sonnet from Collier's 'Bibliographical Catalogue' sub nomine (Vol. I. p. 192). It is thus introduced by him: "It is stated correctly by the biographers of [Sir] John Davys that he was patronized by Lord Ellesmere, and among the papers of his lordship is preserved the following autograph Sonnet, which appears to have been addressed to the Lord Chancellor, on the death of his second wife in 1599." Further: The following note is appended, also in the hand-writing of Sir John Davys:—"A French writer (whom I love well) speakes of 3 kindes of Companions, Men, Women, and Bookes: the losse of this second makes you retire from the first: I have, therefore, presumed to send yr. Lp one of the third kind, wch (it may bee), is a straunger to your Lp. yet I persuade me his conversation will not be disagreeable to yr Lp." See Memorial-Introduction for notices of Ellesmere and his wives. G.
[180] From "Englands Helicon":
Casta placent superis
pura cum Veste venite,
Et manibus puris
sumite fontis aquam.
At London
Printed by I. R. for Iohn Flasket, and are
to be sold in St. Paules Church-yard, at the
signe | of the Beare. 1600. | [40.]
E 3 (verso)
The Davies authorship of this little lilt, is confirmed by a contemporary (Harleian) MS. list of contributors to England's Helicon (280), wherein his name is placed against it. G.
[181] In my Fuller Worthies' Library edition of Davies, I inserted above Riddle as kindly sent me by Mr. W. C. Hazlitt, from the "Philosopher's Banquet": 2d edition, 1614, p. 261. In its text l. 6 'he' is spelled 'hee,' and 'ay' is 'yea.' G.
[182] There is a title here, "The Psalmes translated into verse, Anno Domini 1624." G.
[183] 'rest' is written and erased here. G.
[184] An illegible word erased here. G.
[185] = wight. G.
[186] This 'not' is self-evidently required. G.
[187] = pitched. Henry More in one of his Hymns uses the word:
"Lord stretch Thy tent in my straight breast,
Enlarge it downward, that sure rest
May there be pight."
G.
[188] Written here, as elsewhere, not by the contraction-sign of the plural 'es' but in full. G.
[189] Another example in the MS., of the plural 'es' in contraction-sign, preceded by 'e.' G.
[190] Another example of 'e' before the contraction-sign of 'es.' G.
[191] In full 'es' here, as before. Having now given several examples of the arbitrary use of the 's,' and 'es' in full and by contraction-sign, it will not be needful to note more in the sequel. G.
[192] A later handwriting substitutes for the respective rhymes of this couplet 'proceed' and 'right indeed.' G.
[193] = surround: as 'trihumph' for triumph. Cf. Psalm xxxv. line 37. G.
[194] Inadvertently written 'cleare.' G.
[195] 'My' written and erased here. G.
[196] 'Wal' is supplied in a more recent hand. G.
[197] In the MS. following on the line "God's way ...... fire," is this:
"All those that trust in Him will He vphold."
The Original enables us to see that this was a variation not settled on. The first form was evidently as in the text, but the second line, "Hee heals," &c., not being quite the thought of the Original, Davies went nearer it in the new line, "All those," &c., thinking perhaps of varying the first line to "tride as gold;" but on reflection, seeing that was bad, left it as at first, albeit he must have neglected to cancel "All those," &c. I have not hesitated to withdraw a line the retention of which would leave it without its fellow. G.
[198] The MS. reads 'sute' but as above, Query—contracted for 'smite'? G.
[199] = their. G.
[200] = pitched, as ante. G.
[201] A later hand has placed above this, 'wight': which is only a different spelling. Mr. Bruce, (as before) adds Qu: It seeme to have stood originally 'weigh.' The Corrector added a 't' and then perhaps thinking it not quite clear, or not liking the incorrect spelling, wrote 'wight' above it. G.
[202] I add 'eous' to 'right' of the MS. agreeably to the Prayer Book version—"and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness." G.
[203] Though not written with the contraction-sign of 'es' it is spelled therewith. The measure requires 'neare' to be read as a bi-syllable. G.
[204] 'face' previously written and erased. G.
[205] 'Shame' for 'sinne:' but also erased. G.
[206] The Kadesh of our Authorised Version is spelled Cades in the Prayer Book. G.
[207] = re-led. G.
[208] With reference to the 'es' here and elsewhere, it is given only when written in full and not by contraction-sign: the latter, except where the rhythm demands it, is represented by the simple 's' of our modern plural. Cf. prefatory Note to these 'Psalms,' ante. G.
[209] 'sadnes' written and erased here. G.
[210] I am uncertain whether this is 'But' or 'Out.' G.
[211] In MS. another example of the contraction-sign of 'es' with 'e' preceding. Cf. prefatory Note, as supra. G.
[212] This word has been altered in the MS. by the (original) writer, and the reading cannot be very certainly made out; but I read pay'st = plenteously rewarded. G.
[213] Qu: = sphere? G.
[214] = 'bough.' G.
[215] Written with a small 'g': the Scribe varies much in this. We have given the capital uniformly in Divine names, nouns and pronouns. G.
[216] 'Ware' written and erased. G.
[217] = to wry the mouth. G.
[218] Cf. Psalm xviii, l. 8. G.
[219] Miswritten 'thou' in the MS. G.
[220] 'Shall' written and erased. G.
[221] Another example of 'e' before 'es' as ante. G.
[222] Miswritten 'their.' G.
[223] Another example of 'e' preceding the contraction 'es,' as also on line 5th below this, in 'workes,' and in Psalm xli, line 19th, 'evenings.' See prefatory Note to these Psalms. G.
[224] 'On my' written here and erased. G.
[225] 'Life from thee' written and erased. G.
[226] 'O put thy trust in God and thankfull bee' written and erased. G.
[227] 'Mee' miswritten. G.
[228] 'Thy' miswritten and corrected in a later hand. G.
[229] = Through the 'vertue' of Thy name, i.e., through Thee. The original is 'And in Thy name.' G.
[230] 'Become' written and erased. G.
[231] Spelled 'Shawdowes' and corrected. G.
[232] Miswritten 'warr.' G.
[233] 'Judgement' written here and erased. G.
[234] A later hand substitutes another line, 'And while we live, our only guide shall be.' G.
[235] 'Unto' written and the 'un' erased. G.
[236] The MS. begins here with 'and': but is struck out. G.
[237] I have filled in 'may' as evidently overlooked, and as it is the word of the prose version: a later hand has written 'will' and another 'for' in the place of 'That.' G.
[238] The Manuscript thus far is in one handwriting: and since the prefatory Note to these Psalms was written, I have discovered among the Harleian MSS. a very remarkable document by Sir John Davies, viz. his "Plea spoken at the Bar of the House of Lords" on "the King's power to impose Ship-money," (126. B 10-4266) and it is identically the same holograph with that of these Fifty Psalms, presenting precisely the same forms and contractions throughout. So that the Scribe of the one must have been the Scribe of the other: no doubt one of Sir John's Secretaries or 'men,' as he himself calls them. I shall give above important historical Paper—which never has been published, or even referred to, so far as I am aware—in my edition of Davies' Prose Works. Meanwhile I need not point out how valuable is this additional verification of the Davies authorship of our Manuscript—that is in so far as the Psalms up to L. are concerned. I stand in doubt of his authorship of the remainder; but see our Memorial-Introduction on this.
The Psalms that follow have interposed a half-page and one leaf, blank, and another leaf, filled with the secular Poems that succeed them: but it was deemed better to place all the Psalms together. These other Psalms have the same orthography: but the hand-writing is different and plainer. It will be noticed that Psalm L. supra, is imperfect, extending only to v. 13. G.
[239] 'Nations' written and erased. G.
[240] 'Wth' written and erased. G.
[241] Noon? G.
[242] Sic. Qu: = departs? G.
[243] Written in the centre of the page XCV. G.
[244] = cease. G.
[245] 'to mankind for' written here and erased: 'doth consist' and its corresponding rhyme two lines below, 'persist,' written in a later hand. Originally the former line read 'But God's sweet kindness to mankind for euer,' and to rhyme with this, the corresponding line ended with 'perseuer.' G.
[246] Scala = ladder. G.
[247] The preceding are in a third handwriting. G.
[248] Miswritten 'drop' in MS. G.
[249] At bottom of this page in the MS. 'Thomas Bakewell' is scribbled twice. G.
[250] Written 'x'ested.
[251] Miswritten 'There is a tale then.' G.
[252] Miswritten 'ye.' G.
[253] Two preceding are apparently in the same handwriting with those before them. G.
[254] Miswritten 'yr.' G.
[255] Qu: Grains? G.
[256] Miswritten 'strainest' in MS. G.
[257] 'heavenly' written and erased. G.
[258] Spelled here and elsewhere 'yu.' It may be noted here, that throughout these Poems, as with the Psalms, my rule has been to extend mere contraction-forms. The few left have a place for philological ends. A kind of flourish at the end of a number of words, I was disposed to regard as intended to represent 's,' but instances occur in the MS. to show that it is a mere ornamental addition: and so I leave it unrepresented. G.
[259] Founthill or Fonthill in Wilts. See Prefatory Note to these hitherto unpublished MSS. G.
[260] Cf. Harleian MS. lines 'Of Tobacco' in Epigrams pp. 32-35, ante. G.
[261] Miswritten 'Honnour.' G.
[262] Cf. an Epigram 'Of Tobacco,' 36. The first edition thereof in its reading 'Hekens' is an obvious misprint, probably through Davies' ill writing. The reading here 'Nepen ye Hellens' in the MS. is a scribe's misreading of 'Nepenthe Hellen's'—he having taken the ending 'the' for the article. Both point to the true reading, 'Nepenthe Helen's drink.' It is impossible that a scholar like Davies could have supposed 'Nepenthe' to be the drink of the gods, and equally impossible that he could have thought it drink of the Hellenes. G.
[263] Rheum. G.
[264] The handwriting of the six preceding pieces seems to be the same. G.
[265] = freckled? G.
[266] Miswritten 'with which.' G.
[267] Miswritten 'they.' G.
[268] = more serious. See Vol. I., p. 160, and related Note in Postscript. G.
[269] Sic: not peircinge. G.
[270] From the autograph MS. in All Souls' College, Oxford, MS. 155. W. W. 11, 26, fol. 72, a and b. The contractions of the MS. have been expanded, but u and v are reproduced. This full holograph of 'The Kinge's Welcome,' while it supersedes the short and imperfect copy from Dr. Laing's MS.—as first printed in our F. W. L. edition—confirms the authorship thereof. The abbreviated copy is also given after this one, as it is expedient to reproduce the MS. in its integrity. G.
[271] Miswritten 'them.' G.
[272] The allusion is to the storm on her voyage to Scotland in 1590. Cf. Constable's Sonnet to the King of Scots. See our Memorial-Introduction on these Lines. G.
[273] The six preceding pieces and the 'Elegiecall Epistle' are in the same handwriting with the 'Maid's hymne in praise of Virginity.' G.
[274] These two are in a new and apparently less-trained handwriting. G.
[275] This use of 'alas' was common contemporaneously, and especially by the Puritan divines. G.
[276] I am not quite certain as to this word. It may be 'pust': query from pus = poisonous matter? and so intended to characterize ambition? G.
[277] A pun on the open mouth of wonder and curiosity. G.
[278] Imitative word, as the 'chirr' of the grasshopper. G.
[279] An unrecorded word. G.
[280] Folk-lore, as in Herrick, &c. G.
[281] = the last milk drawn from a cow in milking: same as strippings. G.
[282] = rennets—a kind of apple? G.
[283] = another kind of apple: see Gerard's Herbal, p. 1459 (1636 edn.) G.
[284] A species of apple like 'rennets.' G.
[285] = apple-johns, as in 1, Henry IV., iii. 3: 2, Henry IV., ii. 4 (bis). G.
[286] Query, a peach? See Gerard, as before, (p. 1447). Perse-boom is given as the Low-Dutch name of the peach. G.
[287] = Apricot. G.
[288] A Diamond.
[289] = one. G.
[290] A Jewell.
[291] Clymene. G.
[292] Deianeira, daughter of Oeneus. G.
[293] Mother of Romulus. G.