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CENSURA LITERARIA. J

NUMBER III.

ART. I. England's Helicon.

Casta placent superis,

Pura cum veste venite,

Et manibus puris

Sumite fontis aquam.

At London. Printed by J. R. for John Flasket, and are to be sold in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the Beare. 1600. 4to.--Arms of Bodenham at the back of the title-page. pp. 192.

TO HIS LOVING KINDE FRIEND, MAISTER JOHN

BODENHAM.

Wit's Commonwealth, the first fruites of thy paines,
Drew on Wit's Theater, thy second sonne:
By both of which, I cannot count the gaines,
And wondrous profit that the world hath wonne.

Next, in the Muses Garden, gathering flowres,
Thou mad'st a nosegay, as was never sweeter:
Whose scent will savour to Time's latest howres,
And for the greatest Prince no poesie meeter.

Now

Now comes thy Helicon, to make compleate,
And furnish up thy last impos'd designe:
My paincs heerein, I cannot terme it great,
But what so-ere, my love (and all) is thine.
Take love, take paines, take all remaines in me:
And where thou art, my heart still lives with thee.

A. B.

TO HIS VERY LOVING FRIENDS, M. NICOLAS
WAUTON AND M. GEORGE FAUCETT.

Though many miles (but more occasions) doo sunder us, kinde gentlemen, yet a promise at parting dooth in justice claime performance, and assurance of gentle acceptance would mightilie condemne if I should neglect it. Helicon, though not as I could wish, yet in such good sort as time would permit, having past the pikes of the presse, comes now to Yorke to salute her rightful patrone first, and next (as his deere friends and kindsmen), to offer you her kinde service. If shee speede well there, it is all shee requires, if they frowne at her heere, she greatly not cares for the wise, shee knowes, will never be other then themselves; as for such then as would seeme so, but neither are nor ever will be, she holds this as a maine principle, that their malice neede as little be feared, as their favour or friendship is to be desired. So hoping you will not forget us there, as we continuallie shall be mindefull of you heere, I leave you to the delight of England's Helicon.

Your's in all he may,

A. B.

To

To the Reader, if indifferent.

Many honoured names have (heretofore in their particular interest) patronized some part of these inventions: many here be, that onely these collections - have brought to light, and not inferiour (in the best opinions), to anie before published. The travaile that hath beene taken in gathering them from so many handes, hath wearied some howres, which severed, might in part have perished, digested into this meane volume, may in the opinion of some not be altogether unworthy the labour. If any man hath been defrauded of any thing by him composed, by another man's title put to the same, hee hath this benefit by this collection, freely to challenge his owne in publique, where els he might be rob'd of his proper due. No one thing beeing here placed by the Collector of the same under any man's name, eyther at large or in letters, but as it was delivered by some especiall coppy comming to his handes. No one man, that shall take offence that his name is published to any invention of his, but he shall within the reading of a leaf or two, meete with another in reputation every way equal with himselfe, whose name hath beene before printed to his poeme, which nowe taken away were more then theft: which may satisfie him that would faine seeme curious or be intreeted for his fame.

Nowe, if any stationer shall finde faulte, that his coppies are robd by any thing in this collection, let me aske him this question, Why more in this, than in any divine or humaine author? From whence a man (writing of that argument), shall gather any say

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ing, sentence, similie, or example, his name put to it who is the authour of the same. This is the simplest of many reasons that I could urdge, though perhaps the nearest his capacitie, but that I would be loth to trouble myselfe to satisfie him. Further, if any man whatsoever, in prizing of his owne birth or fortune, shall take in scorne, that a far meaner man in the eye of the world, shall be placed by him: I tell him plainly whatsoever so excepting, that that man's wit is set by his, not that man by him. In which degree, the names of Poets (all feare and dutie ascribed to her great and sacred name), have been placed with the names of the greatest princes of the world, by the most autentique and worthiest judgments, without disparagement to their soveraigne titles: which, if any man taking exception thereat, in ignorance know not, I hold him unworthy to be placed by the meanest that is but graced with the title of a poet. Thus, gentle reader, I wish thee all happines.

L. N.

Titles of the Poems contained in this Collection. 1. The Sheepheard to his chosen Nimph. By Sir P. Sydney.

2. Theorello. A Sheepheard's Edillion. By E. B. 3. Astrophel's Love is dead. By Sir P. Sydney. 4. A Palinode. By E. B.

5. Astrophell, the Sheepheard, his complaint to his flocke. By Sir P. Syndey.

6. Hobbinoll's Dittie in prayse of Eliza Queene of the Sheepheards. By E. Spenser.

7. The Sheepheard's Daffodill. By Mich. Drayton.

8. A Canzon Pastorall in honour of her Majestie. By Ed. Bolton.

9. Melicertus Madrigale. By Ro. Greene.

10. Olde Damon's Pastorall. By Tho. Lodge. 11. Perigot and Cuddie's Roundelay. By E. Spenser.

12. Phillida and Coridon. By N. Breton.

13. To Colin Cloute. By Sheepheard Tonie.

14. Rowland's Song in praise of the fairest Beta. By Mich. Drayton.

15. The Barginet of Antimachus. By Tho. Lodge, 16. Menaphon's Roundelay. By Ro. Greene.

17. A Pastoral of Phillis and Coridon. By N. Breton.

18. Coridon and Melampus Song. By Geo. Peele, 19. Tityrus to his faire Phillis. By J. D.

20. Sheepheard. By J. M.

21. Another of the same authour. J. M. 22. Menaphon to Pesana. By R. Greene. 23. A sweete Pastorall. By N. Breton. 24. Harpalus' Complaynt. By Lord Surry. 25. Another of the same subject, but made as it were in aunswere. By Shep. Tonie.

26. The Nimphs meeting their May Queene, entertaine her with this dittie. By Tho. Watson.

27. Colin Cloute's mournful Dittie for the death of Astrophell. By E. Spenser.

28. Damætas' Jigge in praise of his love. By John Wootton.

29. Montanus' praise of his faire Phoebe. By Tho. Lodge.

30. The Complaint of Thestylis, the forsaken Sheepheard. By Lord Surry.

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