This portrait is of excessive rarity. Curiously enough, the copper-plate was used as the portrait of Ovid in North's translation of Plutarch's Lives, and it has also more than once been re-engraved. The volume contains also two dramatic pieces, "The Obstinate Lady, a Comedy written by Aston Cokain," which was first published in 1657, and "Trappolin suppos'd a Prince, an Italian Trage-Comedy." Cokain also wrote the "Tragedy of Ovid," and other things, and several editions of his works, under different titles, were issued.
1.
Dear Polyhymnie, be
Auspicious unto me,
That I may spread abroad
Our Shire's worth in an ode,
Merrily chanting.
They that our Hills do blame,
Have no cause for the same;
Seeing the Muses lye
Upon Parnassus high,
Where no joy's wanting.
2.
Upon Olympus Hill
Hebe Heaven's cup doth fill:
And Iove of Candy Isle
Doth the Gods reconcile,
When they do wrangle.
In France at Agincourt
(Where we fought in such sort)
Behind an hill we did
Make our Archers lye hid,
Foes to entangle.
3.
The long commanding Rome,
And old Byzantium,
Lisbon in Portugal,
Are situated all
Upon Hills strongly:
All therefore that protest
Hilly ground's not the best,
Are of their wits bereav'd,
And all of them deceiv'd,
And censure wrongly.
4.
The Peer of England known
Darby's Earldom to own,
Is honoured by the style
Of King of Mona's Isle
Hereditary.
Why hath Orantus found
A Channel under ground
Where t'lye hid, but for shame
When it hears Darwin's[3] name,
Which Fame doth carry?
5.