And mine come nothing like. I hope so: Yet, XIX. ON SIR COD THE PERFUMED. That CoD can get no widow, yet a knight, to him. Weever was the author of a work in folio, which is called Funeral Monuments, and is a miscellany of epitaphs, and inscriptions, collected from ancient monuments in various parts of the kingdom. WHAL. He wooes with an ill sprite.] A play on the double meaning of the last word, an evil genius or spirit, and a stinking breath. To this last sense of sprite, young Knowell alludes in the inflated panegyric with which he puzzles and plays upon master Stephen: "A wight that hitherto, his every step hath left the stamp of a great foot behind him, as every word the savour of a strong spirit." The name of the person to whom this epigram is addressed is borrowed from the cod or little purse in which civet and other perfumes were kept in the poet's days. In the Woman's Prize, Livia says to her lover, "Hold this certain Selling, which is a sin unpardonable, Of counterfeit cods, or musty English crocus, Switches, or stones for the tooth-ach, sooner finds me A. I. S. 2. Upon which Mr. Weber observes: "In some MS. notes which have been procured for me, cod is explained, a pillow, a belly. I am afraid the allusion is not so delicate." The writer's fears are about as ideal as those of Mr. Steevens, from whom this miserable cant is adopted; his ignorance, however, here, as well as every where else, is sufficiently real: what did he suppose Livia to mean? Counterfeit cods are spurious or adulterate civetbags, and nothing more. XX. TO THE SAME. The expense in odours is a most vain sin, Except thou could'st, sir CoD, wear them within. XXI. ON REFORMED GAMESTER. Lord, how is GAMESTER chang'd! his hair close cut,' His neck fenced round with ruff, his eyes half shut! His clothes two fashions off, and poor! his sword Forbid his side, and nothing, but the word, Quick in his lips! Who hath this wonder wrought? The late ta'en bastinado. So I thought. What several ways men to their calling have! The body's stripes, I see, the soul may save. XXII. ON MY FIRST DAUGHTER. Here lies, to each her parents ruth, At six months end she parted hence 2 his hair close cut, &c.] These are the characteristic marks of a puritan, which Gamester was now become. The word was the cant phrase for the Scripture, which was profanely applied to every incident of life. This is an epigram of all times. Whose soul heaven's Queen, whose name she bears,' In comfort of her mother's tears, Hath placed amongst her virgin-train : XXIII. TO JOHN DONNE. DONNE, the delight of Phoebus and each Muse, 3 Whose soul heaven's Queen, whose name she bears.] i. e. the virgin Mary; this seems to have been written, when our poet was a convert to the church of Rome. WHAL. There is both pathos, and beauty in this little piece: Jonson appears to have been a most kind and affectionate parent, and if, as Fuller says, he did not always meet with an equal return of duty and love, those who denied it to him have the greater sin. It is here the proper place to observe that our poet is by far the best writer of epitaphs that this country ever possessed. John Donne.] The celebrated Dean of St. Paul's. His character is excellently given in this affectionate memorial of his virtues; indeed no one knew him better, or valued him more justly than Jonson. The domestic life of this eminent man is admirably written by Izaac Walton; and a severe, though not unjust, estimate of his poetical merits will be found in Dr. Johnson's Life of Cowley. XXIV. TO THE PARLIAMENT. There's reason good, that you good laws should make: Men's manners ne'er were viler, for your sake. XXV. ON SIR VOLUPTUOUS BEAST. While BEAST instructs his fair and innocent wife, XXVI. ON THE SAME. Than his chaste wife though BEAST now know no more, He 'adulters still his thoughts lie with a whore. XXVII. ON SIR JOHN ROE.' In place of scutcheons that should deck thy herse, Take better ornaments, my tears and verse. "On sir John Roe.] Probably the son of sir Thomas Roe, knt., an eminent merchant of London, who after passing with If any sword could save from Fates', ROE'S could; If any Muse outlive their spight, his can; If any friends' tears could restore, his would; If any pious life ere lifted man To heaven; his hath: O happy state! wherein We, sad for him, may glory, and not sin. XXVIII. ON DON SURLY. Don SURLY, to aspire the glorious name That's greater, yet: to cry his own up neat. distinguished credit through every municipal honour, died full of years and good works about 1570. This worthy citizen, whose charity was directed by his piety to the most useful purposes, left four sons, who appear to have trod in the footsteps of their father. • He speaks to men with a rhinocerote's nose,] i. e. I believe, with a nose elate, or curled up into a kind of sneer, scornfully, contemptuously. This, at least, is the meaning of the expression in Martial's lively address to his book: Nescis, heu nescis domina fastidia Roma, |