sleep, though he begin with a sweet slumber." "If thou be bewitched with eyes, wear the eyes of a weasel in a ring, which is an enchantment against such charms.” "The Salamander, being a long time nourished in the fire, at last quencheth it." "As there is but one Phoenix in the world, so is there but one tree in Arabia wherein she buildeth." "O infortunate Philantus! born in the wane of the moon, and as like to obtain thy wish as the wolf to eat the moon." "Mastiffs, except for necessary uses about their houses, as to draw water, to watch thieves, &c. And thereof they derive the word mastiff-of mase and thief." (?) "Mineral pearls (?) in England, which is most strange, which as they are for greatness and colour most excellent, so are they digged out of the mainland, in places far distant from the shore.”—Ibid. B. b. 1, 2. The English ladies described, in ironically praising them for what he wished them to be. And with such shifts you do deceive yourselves, As if you could deceive mortality." "Death leads the willing by the hand, But spurs the headlong on, that dare command." 205. "Electra. Have I not lost a father? Yes, yes, and would a river of fresh tears Turn Lethe's stream, and bring him from the wharf With a north-gale of windy-blowing sighs, I could expire my soul, become all tears." 208. "This hand shall rip her breast, And search her inparts, but I'll find it out." 236. 209. "The saddest tale That ever burden'd the weak jaws of man.” 223." Let your tongues be percullised in your jaws." 225." By Heaven's Parliament." When was this written ? 229. Person used for part, as in a play. 231. "This-O what thing's enough To be an attribute to term her byThe Clytemnestra." 232." And when my heart was tympanized with grief, Thou lavedst out some into thy heart from mine, And keptst it so from bursting." Ply. Why then, dear friend, I thus erect this arm And will be strong to thee, as thou to me." 262." Our life consists of air, our state of wind, All things we leave behind us, which we find, Saving our faults." These are marvellous plays for their atrocious horrors; one wonders that a scholar should have produced, and Oxford encouraged them. But the author was not wanting in parts of a certain kind. 66 HERRICK.1 PHILLIPS Says of Herrick that he was not particularly influenced by any nymph, or goddess, except his maid Pru. That which is chiefly pleasant in these poems, is now and then a pretty flowery and pastoral gale of fancy; a vernal prospect of some hill, cave, rock, or fountain; which, but for the interruption of other trivial passages, might have made up none of the worst poetic landscapes." Of all our poets this man appears to have had the coarsest mind. Without being inand has not the slightest sense of decency. tentionally obscene, he is thoroughly filthy, "In Herrick the southern spirit becomes again the spirit of the antique. In the very constitution of his imagination he was a Greek -yet he sang in no falsetto key-his thoughts were instinct with the true classical spirit; and it was, as it were, by a process of translation that he recast them in English words. It is to this circumstance that we are to attribute his occasional license. His poetry hardly lay in the same plane with the conventional part of our Protestant morality: but his genius never stagnates near the marsh. In his poetry we Recognize that Idyl scene Where all mild creatures without awe, Amid field flowers and pastures green Fulfil their being's gentle law." R. M. MILNES. Edinb. Rev. Oct. 1849, p. 414.-J. W. W. In an old writer, and especially one of that age, I never saw so large a proportion of what may truly be called either trash or ordure. The reprint of 1825 (250 copies) has in the title-page a wreath with the motto perennis et fragrans. A stinking cabbageleaf would have been the more appropriate emblem. This is a mere reprint, which has faithfully followed all the gross blunders of the original. P. 8." When laurel spirts in the fire, Smiles to itself, and gilds the roof with mirth." 60. Farewell to sack-because his head cannot bear it. 62. False teeth used in his time. 70. Some unkind usage from Williams, then Bishop of Lincoln. 93. May-day customs. 97. Endymion Porter, his friend and "chief preserver." 109. Welcome to sack. Frequent allusions to strawberries cream. Metre, 116, 137, 241, 247, 278. 136. Love of music. 139. Harvest-home. 150. To Anthea. Hatred of Devonshire, 154, 201. 156-8. Slovenly rhymes. d 165. The codpiece served for a pocket. 177. Christmas-" The full twelve holydays." 179. "A man prepared against all ills to come, That dares to death the fire of martyrdom." This feeling was not forgotten. 204. "For no black-bearded vigil from thy door Beats with a buttoned' staff the poor. See vol. ii. p. 22. R. S. The words occur in his own epitaph. "So I, now having rid my way, Fix here my button'd staffe and stay," &c. J. W. W. Him and his affections ever." 15. Metre, 158, 211. 23. The Night piece. 30. A bride's household duties announced to her. Importance of spinning in domestic economy. 58. The bracelet. 60. His return to London. 66. His Grange. 90. Prue's epitaph. 92." Wash your hands, or else the fire 122. Charms. 123-4. Candlemass ceremonies. 169. The tears to Thamesis. 171. Twelfth Night. 185. A girl's boarding-school at Pulness. The mistress he calls the reverend rectress 2 See NARES' Gloss. in v. who quotes this passage.-J. W. W. |