XXI.

THE SHEPHERD'S RESOLUTION.

This beautiful old song was written by a poet, whose name would have been utterly forgotten, if it had not been preserved by SwIFF, as a term of contempt. "DRYDEN and WITHER" are coupled by him like the BAVIUS and MEVIUS of Virgil. DRYDEN however has had justice done him by posterity: and as for WITHER though of subordinate merit, that he was not altogether devoid of genius, will be judged from the following stanzas. The truth is, WITHER was a very voluminous party-writer: and as his political and satirical strokes rendered him extremely popular in his life-time; so afterwards, when these were no longer relished, they totally consigned his writings to oblivion.

GEORGE WITHER was born June 11, 1588, and in his younger years distinguished himself by some pastoral pieces, that were not inelegant ; but growing afterwards involved in the political and religious disputes in the times of James I. and Charles I. he employed his poetical vein in severe pasquils on the court and clergy, and was occasionally a sufferer for the freedom of his pen. In the civil war that ensued, he exerted himself in the service of the Parliament, and became a considerable sharer in the spoils. He was even one of those provincial tyrants, whom Oliver distributed over the kingdom, under the name of Major Generals; and had the fleecing of the county of Surrey: but, surviving the Restoration, he outlived both his power and his affluence; and giving vent to his chagrin in libels on the court, was long a prisoner in Newgate and the Tower. He died at length on the 2d of May, 1667.

During the whole course of his life, WITHER was a continual publisher; having generally for opponent, TAYLOR the Water-poet. The long list of his productions may be seen in Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. II. His most popular satire is intitled, "Abuses whipt and stript," 1615. His most poetical pieces were eclogues, intitled, "The Shepherd's Hunting,' 1615, 8vo. and others printed at the end of Browne's "Shepherd's Pipe." 1614, 8vo. The following sonnet is extracted from a long pastoral piece of his, intitled, "The Mistresse of Philarete," 1622, 8vo. which is said in the preface to be one of the Author's first poems; and may therefore be dated as early as any of the foregoing.

SHALL I, wasting in dispaire,

Dye because a woman's faire ?

Or make pale my cheeks with care
'Cause another's rosie are?

Be shee fairer then the day,
Or the flowry meads in may;

If she be not so to me,

What care I how faire shee be?

Shall my foolish heart be pin'd
'Cause I see a woman kind?
Or a well-disposed nature
Joyned with a lovely feature?
Be shee meeker, kinder, than
The turtle-dove or pelican:

If shee be not so to me,

What care I how kind shee be?

Shall a woman's virtues move

Me to perish for her love?
Or, her well-deservings knowne,
Make me quite forget mine owne?
Be shee with that goodnesse blest,
Which may merit name of Best;

If she be not such to me,
What care I how good she be?

Cause her fortune seems too high,
Shall I play the foole and dye?
Those that beare a noble minde,

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If she love me, this beleeve;
I will die ere she shall grieve.
If she slight me when I wooe,
I can scorne and let her goe:

If shee be not fit for me,
What care I for whom she be ?

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XXII.

QUEEN DIDO.

Such is the title given in the Editors folio MS. to this excellent old ballad, which, in the common printed copies, is inscribed ExEAS, WANDERING PRINCE OF TROY. It is here given from that MS. collated with two different printed copies, both in black-letter, in the Pepys collection.

The reader will smile to observe with what natural and affecting simplicity, our ancient ballad-maker has engrafted a Gothic conclusion on the classic story of Virgil, from whom, however, it is probable he had it not. Nor can it be denied, but he has dealt out his poetical justice with a more impartial hand than that celebrated poet.

WHEN Troy towne had, for ten yeeres past,'

Withstood the Greekes in manfull wise,
Then did their foes encrease soe fast,

That to resist none could suffice:

Wast lye those walls, that were soe good,

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And corne now growes where Troy towne stoode.

Æneas, wandering prince of Troy,

When he for land long time had sought,

At length arriving with great joy,

To mighty Carthage walls was brought; 10

Where Dido queene, with sumptuous feast,
Did entertaine that wandering guest.

Ver. 1. 21. war. MS. and PP.

And, as in hall at meate they sate, desirous newes to heare,

The

queene,

'Says, of thy Troys unhappy fate' Declare to me thou Trojan deare:

The heavy hap and chance soe bad,

That thou, poore wandering prince, hast had.

And then anon this comelye knight,

With words demure, as he cold well,

Of his unhappy ten yeares' fight,'

Soe true a tale began to tell,

With words soe sweete, and sighes soe deepe,
That oft he made them all to weepe.

And then a thousand sighes he fet,

And every sigh brought teares amaine;

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That where he sate the place was wett, As though he had seene those warrs againe: Soe that the queene, with ruth therfore,

Said, Worthy prince, enough, no more.

And then the darksome night drew on,
And twinkling starres the skye bespred;
When he his dolefull tale had done,

And every one was layd in bedd :

Where they full sweetly tooke their rest,

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Save only Dido's boyling brest.

This silly woman never slept,

But in her chamber, all alone,