[670:A] Reliques, vol. iii., 4th edit. p. 190-264.
[671:A] Dalrymple's Extracts from Wither's Juvenilia, 1785.
[672:A] "Laura: or an Anthology of Sonnets." By Capel Lofft. 5 vols. Preface, vol. i. p. cxliv. cxlv.
[673:A] Theatrum Poetarum apud Brydges, p. 318, 319.
[674:A] Observations on Spenser, vol. i. p. 155, 156.
[674:B] It may be useful in this note, to place, in immediate juxta-position, the names of the Poets whom we have thus enumerated, as leaders of a great portion of their Art, during a period of half a century.
| 1. | Beaumont, Sir John. | 21. | Harrington. | |
| 2. | Breton. | 22. | Jonson. | |
| 3. | Browne. | 23. | Lodge. | |
| 4. | Chalkhill. | 24. | Marlow. | |
| 5. | Chapman. | 25. | Marston. | |
| 6. | Churchyard. | 26. | Niccols. | |
| 7. | Constable. | 27. | Raleigh. | |
| 8. | Daniel. | 28. | Sackville. | |
| 9. | Davies. | 29. | Southwell. | |
| 10. | Davors. | 30. | Spenser. | |
| 11. | Donne. | 31. | Stirling. | |
| 12. | Drayton. | 32. | Sydney. | |
| 13. | Drummond. | 33. | Sylvester. | |
| 14. | Fairfax. | 34. | Turberville. | |
| 15. | Fitzgeffrey. | 35. | Tusser. | |
| 16. | Fletcher, Giles. | 36. | Warner. | |
| 17. | Fletcher, Phineas. | 37. | Watson. | |
| 18. | Gascoigne. | 38. | Willobie. | |
| 19. | Greene. | 39. | Wither. | |
| 20. | Hall. | 40. | Wotten. | |
| Lane. | ||||
[677:A] "Here, through the course of twenty sonnets, not inelegant, and which were exceedingly popular, the poet bewails his unsuccessful love for a beautiful youth, by the name of Ganymede, in a strain of the most tender passion, yet with professions of the chastest affection." Warton's Hist. vol. iii. p. 405.—It was the fashion, at this period, to imitate the second Eclogue of Virgil.
[677:B] The Sonnets of Barnes, which are written in strict adherence to the recurring rima of the Italian school, frequently possess no inconsiderable beauties. The Sonnet on Content, selected by Mr. Beloe (vol. ii. p. 78.), from Parthenophil, is highly pleasing and harmonious, and at least twenty of his centenary may be pronounced, both in imagery and versification, above mediocrity.
[677:C] Sheppard, in his Poems, 1651, remarks that "none in England, save Bastard and Harington, have divulged epigrams worth notice." A beautiful specimen of his Epigrams is given by Mr. Park, in Censura Literaria, vol. iv. p. 375.