[1533]1.
Tho' I am now past ninety, and too old
T' expect preferment in the court of Cupid,
And many winters made mee ev'n so cold
I am become almost all over stupid,
2.
Yet I can love and have a mistresse too,
As fair as can be and as wise as fair;
And yet not, proud, nor anything will doe
To make me of her favour to despair.
3.
To tell you who she is were very bold;
But if i' th' character your selfe you find
Thinke not the man a fool thô he be old
Who loves in body fair a fairer mind.
[1534]Catalogue[1535] of his learned familiar friends and acquaintances, besides those already mentioned, that I remember him to have spoken of.
Mr. Benjamin Johnson, Poet-Laureat, was his loving and familiar friend and acquaintance.
<Sir Robert> Aiton, Scoto-Britannus, a good poet and critique and good scholar. He was neerly related to his lord's lady (Bruce). And he desired Ben: Johnson, and this gentleman, to give their judgement on his style of his translation of Thucydides.[1536]He lyes buryd in Westminster Abbey, and hath there an elegant monument and inscription[1537], which I will insert here or so much as may be pertinent.