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diff --git a/44977-0.txt b/44977-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5944e4d --- /dev/null +++ b/44977-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9403 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44977 *** + + Transcriber's Note: + + In this etext the following are represented by:-- + + Italics > _underscore_ + Macron > [=r] + Superscript > ^ + oe ligature > [oe] + ornate font > $ + + Greek language is shown in phonetics. + + * * * * * + + + Early English Poets. + + SIR JOHN DAVIES. + + + PRINTED BY ROBERT ROBERTS, + BOSTON. + + + + + Early English Poets. + + THE + + COMPLETE POEMS + + OF + + SIR JOHN DAVIES. + + EDITED, + + WITH + + Memorial-Introduction and Notes, + + BY THE + + REV. ALEXANDER B. GROSART. + + + [Illustration] + + + _IN TWO VOLUMES.--VOL. I._ + + + London: + CHATTO AND WINDUS, PICCADILLY. + 1876. + + + + + To + THE RIGHT HONOURABLE W. EWART + GLADSTONE, M.P., &c., &c. + + SIR, + +I had the honour to place in your hands the complete Poems of SIR +JOHN DAVIES in the Fuller Worthies' Library. In now publishing +these Poems for a wider circle of readers and students, I re-dedicate +them to you. + +That I should have wished (and wish) to inscribe the Works of a man +famous as a prescient and practical Statesman, as a philosophic +Thinker, as an Orator, as a Lawyer, and as a Poet, to you, is +extremely natural; for in you, Sir,--in common with all Great Britain +and Europe, and America,--I recognize his equal, and England's +foremost living name, in nearly every department wherein the elder +distinguished himself; while transfiguring and ennobling all, is +your conscience-ruled and stainless Christian life. That you gave me +permission so to do, with appreciative and kindly words, adds to my +pleasure. Trusting that my fresh 'labour of love' (for which 'love of +labour' has been necessary) on this Worthy may meet your continued +approval, + + I am, Sir, + With high regard and gratitude, + Yours faithfully and truly, + ALEXANDER B. GROSART. + + + + +_Preface._ + + +My edition of the Complete Poems of Sir John Davies in the Fuller +Worthies' Library in 1869; since being followed up with a similarly +complete collection of his much more extensive Prose, as Volumes II. +and III. of his entire Works--met with so instant a Welcome, that very +speedily I had to return the answer of 'out of print' to numerous +applicants. Accordingly it was with no common satisfaction I agreed +to the request of the Publishers that Sir John Davies' complete Poems +should succeed Giles Fletcher's in their Early English Poets. + +In the preparation of this new edition I have carefully re-collated +the whole of the original and early editions, with the same advantage +and for the same reasons, as in Giles Fletcher's. I have likewise been +enabled to make some interesting additions, as will appear in the +respective places. + +I wish very cordially to re-thank various friends for their continued +helpfulness. Several I must specify: To Dr. Brinsley Nicholson I +am indebted for many suggestions, and spontaneous research towards +elucidating the Poems. I would specially thank B. H. Beedham, Esq., +Ashfield House, Kimbolton, for not only making a transcript of the +holograph copy of the "Twelve Wonders" in Downing College Library, +Cambridge, and of the Lines to the King in All Souls' College, +Oxford--both Colleges readily allowing this--but for his old-fashioned +enthusiasm and carefulness of scrutiny of every available source, far +and near. Biographical results will be utilized more fully elsewhere, +viz. in the Memorial-Introduction to be prefixed to the Prose in the +complete Works; but meantime and here I cannot sufficiently acknowledge +Mr. Beedham's kindness or my obligation to him. To Colonel Chester, of +Bermondsey, for ready and most useful help in family-Wills, &c., I am +as often deeply obliged. His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, was good +enough to allow me the leisurely use of his MS. of "Nosce Teipsum" at +Alnwick Castle. Dr. David Laing, of Edinburgh, again entrusted me his +Davies MSS. (See Note, Vol. II., p. 119.) + +The Poetry of Sir John Davies, weighty and imperishable though it be, +bears so small a proportion to his entire works and activities in many +departments, that it would be out of keeping to give a lengthened Life +herein. Still, in the present Memorial-Introduction will be found +very much more of accurate detail than hitherto, and corrections of +long-transmitted and accepted mistakes. + +The discovery of extremely important MSS.--including State-Papers, +and official and private Letters--in H.M. Public Record Office, the +Bodleian, Oxford, the British Museum, etc., delays my completion of +the Prose Works and the full Life; but within this year it is my hope +and expectation to issue the whole to my constituents of the Fuller +Worthies' Library. _En passant_--for the sake of others it may be +stated that the complete Works (Verse and Prose: 3 vols.) will be +readily accessible in all the leading public Libraries of the Kingdom, +and of the United States. + +I send forth this new edition of a great Poet assured that he has not +yet gathered half his destined renown:-- + + "Ah! weak and foolish men are they + Who lightly deem of Poet's lay, + That turns e'en winter months to May, + And makes the whole year warm: + 'Tis this that brings back Paradise, + Reveals its bowers by Art's device, + Instructs the fool, delights the wise, + And gives to Life its charm. + + (STEPHEN JENNER.) + + ALEXANDER B. GROSART. + + _St. George's Vestry, + Blackburn, Lancashire._ + + + + +_Contents._ + +Those marked with [*] are herein printed for the first time, or +published for the first time among Davies' Poems. + + + PAGE + + DEDICATION i + + PREFACE iii + + MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION--I. BIOGRAPHICAL xi + + " " II. CRITICAL lvii + + " " III. POSTSCRIPT cvi + + NOSCE TEIPSUM 1-118 + + NOTE 3 + + ROYAL DEDICATION 9 + + *DEDICATION OF A GIFT-COPY (IN MS.) IN THE POSSESSION + OF HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, + AT ALNWICK CASTLE 12 + + OF HUMANE KNOWLEDGE 15 + + OF THE SOULE OF MAN AND THE IMMORTALITIE THEREOF 25 + + What the soule is 29 + + That the soule is a thing subsisting by it selfe + without the body 29 + + That the soule is more then a perfection or reflection + of the sense 35 + + That the Soule is more then the Temperature of + the Humors of the Body 39 + + That the Soule is a Spirit 41 + + That it cannot be a Body 42 + + That the Soule is created immediately by God 45 + + Erronious opinions of the Creation of Soules 46 + + Objection:--That the Soule is Extraduce 47 + + The Answere to the Obiection 49 + + Reasons drawne from Nature 49 + + Reasons drawne from Diuinity 52 + + Why the Soule is United to the Body 60 + + In what manner the Soule is united to the Body 61 + + How the Soul doth exercise her Powers in the Body 63 + + The Vegetatiue or quickening Power 63 + + The power of Sense 64 + + Sight 65 + + Hearing 67 + + Taste 68 + + Smelling 69 + + Feeling 70 + + The Imagination or Common Sense 70 + + The Fantasie 71 + + The Sensitiue Memorie 72 + + The Passions of Sense 73 + + The Motion of Life 74 + + The Locall Motion 74 + + The intellectuall Powers of the Soule 75 + + The Wit or Understanding 75 + + Reason, Vnderstanding 76 + + Opinion, Judgement 76 + + The Power of Will 78 + + The Relations betwixt Wit and Will 78 + + The Intellectuall Memorie 79 + + An Acclamation 81 + + That the Soule is Immortal, and cannot Die 82 + + Reason I--Drawne from the desire of Knowledge 83 + + Reason II--Drawn from the Motion of the Soule 85 + The Soul compared to a Riuer 85 + + Reason III--From Contempt of Death in the + better Sort of Spirits 90 + + Reason IV--From the Feare of Death in the + Wicked Soules 92 + + Reason V--From the generall Desire of Immortalitie 93 + + Reason VI--From the very Doubt and Disputation + of Immortalitie 95 + + That the Soule cannot be destroyed 96 + + Her Cause ceaseth not 96 + + She hath no Contrary 96 + + Shee cannot Die for want of Food 97 + + Violence cannot destroy her 98 + + Time cannot destroy her 98 + + Objections against the Immortalitie of the Soule 99 + + Objection I 100 + + Answere 100 + + Objection II 104 + + Answere 105 + + Objection III 106 + + Answere 106 + + Objection IV 108 + + Answere 109 + + Objection V 110 + + Answere 110 + + The Generall Consent of All 111 + + Three Kinds of Life answerable to the three + Powers of the Soule 113 + + An Acclamation 114 + + APPENDIX--REMARKS PREFIXED TO NAHUM TATE'S + EDITION (1697) OF 'NOSCE TEIPSUM' 118 + + HYMNES TO ASTRAEA 125 + + NOTE 127 + + Of Astraea 129 + + To Astraea 130 + + To the Spring 131 + + To the Moneth of May 132 + + To the Larke 133 + + To the Nightingale 134 + + To the Rose 135 + + To all the Princes of Europe 136 + + To Flora 137 + + To the Moneth of September 138 + + To the Sunne 139 + + To her Picture 140 + + Of her Minde 141 + + Of the Sun-beames of her Mind 142 + + Of her Wit 143 + + Of her Will 144 + + Of her Memorie 145 + + Of her Phantasie 146 + + Of the Organs of her Minde 147 + + Of the Passions of her Heart 148 + + Of the innumerable vertues of her Minde 149 + + Of her Wisdome 150 + + Of her Justice 151 + + Of her Magnanimitie 152 + + Of her Moderation 153 + + To Enuy 154 + + ORCHESTRA, OR A POEME OF DAUNCING 155 + + NOTE 157 + + DEDICATIONS.--I. TO HIS VERY FRIEND, MA. RICH. + MARTIN 159 + + II. TO THE PRINCE 160 + + ORCHESTRA, OR A POEME OF DAUNCING 161 + + + + +_Memorial-Introduction._ + +I. BIOGRAPHICAL. + + +As in other instances, the first thing to be done in any Life of our +present Worthy, is to distinguish him from other two contemporary Sir +John Davieses--non-attention to which has in many biographical and +bibliographical works led to no little confusion. There was + +I. Sir John Davis (or Davys or Davies) of Pangbourne, Berkshire, +who 'sleeps well' under a chalk-stone monument in the parish church +there. He was mixed up with the 'Plots' (alleged and semi-real), +of the Elizabethan-Essex period. Many of his Letters--various very +long and matterful and pathetic--are preserved at Hatfield among the +Cecil-Salisbury MSS. The Blue-Book report of the "Royal Commission on +Historical Manuscripts" (3rd, 1872), makes a strange jumble of our Sir +John and this Sir John's Letters (see Index, s. n.). He was Master +of the Ordnance 31st January, 1598, and was knighted at Dublin 12th +July, 1599. His Will is dated 6th April, 1625, and it was proved at +London ... May, 1626. Our Sir John was appointed one of his executors. +Arms: _Sable_, a griffin, segt., _or._ He is supposed to have been of +Shropshire descent. + +II. Sir John Davies (or Davys or Davis) Knight-Marshal of Connaught and +Thomond: temp. Elizabeth. He had large grants of lands in Roscommon. +He is now represented by the family of Clonshanville (or Loyle) in +Roscommon, who are of Shropshire descent (see Archdall's Peerage of +Ireland.) His Will is dated 14th February, 1625. He died 13th April, +1626. His Will was not proved (at Dublin) until 17th November, 1628. +Arms: Sable, on a chevron, argent, three trefoils slipped, _vert._: +crest; a dragon's head erased, _vert._ + +According to Mr. J. Payne Collier, the following entry is found in the +register of S. Mary, Aldermanbury: "Buried Sir John Davyes, Knight, May +28, 1624." (Bibliographical Account of Early English Literature, i., +193). If there be no mistake here, we have another contemporary Sir +John Davies. Certainly it was not ours, and as certainly neither of the +two preceding.[1] + +[Footnote 1: Through B. H. Beedham, Esq., as before, I have many +details on the two contemporary Sir John Davieses from Sir Bernard +Burke Ulster King at Arms, &c., &c., and J. N. C. Atkinson Davis, +Esqr., Dublin; and the same acknowledgment has to be made on many +points in the Life.] + +The spelling of the family name, which is now Davies, varies very much. +I have found it as Dyve, Dayves, Davyes, Dauis, Davis, and Davies. +Usually our Worthy signs 'Dauyes;' but in his books changes, e.g., in +'Nosce Teipsum' of 1599, to the verse-dedication to Elizabeth, it is +'Dauies;' in 1602 'Dauys,' and in 1608 'Davis,' and so diversely in his +Prose. + +Among the Carte Papers in the Bodleian are rough jottings by the +Historian for a Memoir of our Sir John Davies, wherein it is stated +that the family came originally from South Wales to Tisbury, Wiltshire. +The words are: "His family had continued several generations in y^{e} +place, though descended from a family of that name in South Wales: but +planted heere in England Temp. Hen. 7: accompanying at that time y^{e} +Earle of Pembrooke out of Wales.[2] + +[Footnote 2: Carte Papers, folios 330-334: Vol. XII. The particular +MS. is headed "Notes of the life of Sr John Dauys. May 2d. 1674." +These Notes are not very accurate. To begin with, the father's name is +mistakenly given as Edward instead of John.] + +The 'estate' of the Davieses at Tisbury was named Chicksgrove +(sometimes spelled Chisgrove.) Only a small fragment of the Manor-house +remains "unto this day." The Tisbury parish registers, however, yield +abundant entries of the family-names under the wonted three-fold +'Baptisms,' 'Marriages,' 'Burials;' and the church itself, in tablets +and communion plate, and other memorials, possesses various evidences +of their influential position for many generations, and in many lines +of descent and local intermarriage. It must suffice here briefly to +summarize the Pedigree, and to extract the entries immediately bearing +on our present Life. + +Confirming the Carte statement of a Welsh descent, one John Davys, +of ... wyn, in Shropshire, temp. Henry VIII., recorded by Carney +(1606) in the Visitation of Dublin in Ulster Office, and according to +Chalmers settled at Tisbury, temp. Edward VI., came from Wales with +the Earl of Pembroke, and was living in 1517 and 1541.[3] This John +Davys married Matilda, daughter of ... Bridemore, who was buried as +"Maud, Master Davys widow, 18 May, 1570." There was a numerous family +of sons and daughters from this union.[4] We have only now to do +with their eighth, and youngest son, John, who was living in 1517 +and 1541.[5] He was of 'New Inn,' London; and thus, like his more +famous son, was brought up to the study of the Law. This will appear +authoritatively onward; but at this point it is needful to correct and +explain a long-continued error, originated by ANTHONY à-WOOD "Athenæ," +by Dr. Bliss, Vol. ii., p. 400) apparently, viz. that the father was +"a wealthy tanner," and so Sir John, of "low extraction," etc., etc. +I do not know that there should have been reason for shame had the +paternal Davies been a 'tanner,' wealthy or otherwise, if otherwise +he was that Christian gentleman which all reports represent. But the +matter-of-fact is that through the premature deaths of his elder +brothers, John Davyes, of Chisgrove, seems to have inherited the family +possessions and wealth, and to have been in the front rank of the +country gentry. The explanation of the mistake as to his having been a +'tanner,' is unexpectedly found in the Will of Thomas Bennett, brother +(as we shall see) of Sir John Davies' mother. Among other things he +leaves "a certain mess, or tent, in West Hatch now (1591) in the use of +Edward Scannell, and all lands thereto belonging, [to] be held by John +Bennett my son, Thomas Rose and Nicholas Graye as trustees to my own +use for life, and after my decease to the use and behoof" of various +relatives, of whom one is described as "Edward Davys of Tyssebury, +_tanner_." This Edward Davys, tanner, was no doubt of the Chisgrove +family; and hence the confusion. In all probability he was one of the +younger sons, and so brother of our Sir John. When he came to make his +Will (now before me), though engaged in trade, he asserts his gentility +by styling himself 'gentleman.' So much in correction of a second +important biographical mistake. + +[Footnote 3: In MS. F 4, 18, Trinity College, Dublin, the same origin +is given, but the place beyond ... 'wyn' is illegible in both.] + +[Footnote 4: Hoare's Wilts. gives many names; but his pedigrees are +rarely trustworthy; as a rule, are exceedingly untrustworthy.] + +[Footnote 5: The MSS. of note _supra_.] + +John Davyes, of Chisgrove, was married to Mary, daughter of John +Bennett (alias Pitt) of Pitt House, Wilts., (Visitation of Wilts., +1563) by Agnes his wife, daughter of ........ Toppe, of Fenny Sutton, +in Wilts. Hoare[6] and others, give ample proof of the almost lordly +position of the Bennetts. Woolrych observes (1869) "The Bennetts of +Pyt, have been well known in our own time. The struggles of Bennet +and Astley for the representation of the county are remembered as +severe and costly."[7] Thus if Davyes of Chisgrove was of good blood +in the county, he certainly advanced himself when he wooed and won +a daughter of the house of Bennett (or Benett). They had at least +three sons. The first was Matthew, who became D.D., Vicar of Writtle, +Essex. Hoare (as before) calls him second son, and states that he died +unmarried. Both are inaccuracies. The Tisbury Register shews that +he was the eldest not the second son; and the Will of our Sir John +remembers his family.[8] The second son was (probably) the Edward who +became a "tanner." He was baptized at Tisbury 6th December, 1566. He +too is named in our Sir John's Will. The third was the subject of our +Memorial-Introduction. The following is his baptismal entry from (_a_) +the paper or scroll-copy, (_b_) the parchment or extended register of +Tisbury--_literatim_: + +[Footnote 6: Wilts., as before, on Davies, Vol. IV. part I., p. 136; on +Bennetts, Vol. III., part II., p. 107.] + +[Footnote 7: Lives of Eminent Serjeants, 2 vols., 8vo. (1869). By +H. William Woolrych, Sergeant-at-Law: Vol. I., p. 187. Considerable +industry is shown in this work, but it literally swarms with blunders.] + +[Footnote 8: In the fuller Life to be prefixed to the Prose Works, I +hope to furnish more details.] + + (_a_) Paper MS.: 1569 Aprill xvj. John the sonne of John Dauy was + crysten'd. + + (_b_) Parchment MS.: Anno dni 1569 Aprill 16 John the sonne of John + Davis bapt.[9] + +There were two sisters, Edith and Maria. Master John was in his 11th +year only when he lost his father, who died in 1580. The Carte MS. +"Notes" (as before) tell us: "his father dyed when hee was very young +and left him with his 2 brothers to his mother to bee educated. She +therefore brought them vpp all to learning." The same "Notes" state +"y^{t} Iohn off whom we now write, being designed for a lawyer, +neglected his learning, butt being first a scholar in Winchester +Colledge, was afterwards removed to New Colledge in Oxford." According +to Chalmers (History of Oxford: I. p. 105) he became in Michaelmas term +1585, a Commoner of Queen's College, Oxford. From thence he removed +in 1587 (not 1588 as usually stated e.g. by Wood to George Chalmers +and Woolrych). The Admission Register of the Middle Temple contains +his entry, and it is interesting additionally as establishing that his +father was of the New Inn, London, and so of the legal profession: + + f. 193 D. + Teio Die februarij A^o 1587: + + Mr Iohes Davius filius tertius Johis Davis de Tisburie in Com Wiltes + gen de nov hospitio gen admissus est in societate medij Templi et + obligat^r vna m ' m^r is Lewes et Raynolde et dat p fine--xx^s.[10] + +[Footnote 9: In the same I intend to give account of these Registers, +and the many Davies entries, &c.] + +[Footnote 10: From the original books, as _supra_. See Pearce's Inns +of Court, p. 293, where it is stated that the elder Davies was a legal +practitioner in Wilts.] + +This 'entry' renders null all speculations as to whether by 'New +Inn' were not intended 'New Hall' Oxford, &c. &c.; and it is a third +correction of important biographical errors hitherto. + +It is to be regretted that other Records of New Inn commence only with +the year 1674. So that we are without light on the residence in the +Middle Temple. + +In 1590 the saddest of all human losses came on the young law-student +by the death of his mother, who was buried at Tisbury "XXVth +of Marche, 1590." In this year he is again at the University of +Oxford; for in the "Fasti" (by Bliss, Vol. ii., p. 250) he is entered +under 1590 as taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts. I fear that with +the death of his lady-mother there ensued a full plunge into the +frivolities and gaities of the University and Inns of Court society. +It was a 'fast' period; and while his after-books prove conclusively +that he must have studied Law widely and laboriously, there can be +little doubt that there were outbursts of youthful extravagance and +self-indulgence. None the less is it equally certain--rather is in +harmony therewith--that very early he mingled with the poets and wits +of the day. There is not a tittle of evidence warranting the ascription +of "Sir Martin Mar People his Coller of Esses Workmanly wrought by +Maister Simon Soothsaier, Goldsmith of London, and offered to sale upon +great necessity by John Davies. Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones. +1590 (4^to),"[11] to him; nor can any one really study "O Vtinam 1 +For Queene Elizabeths securitie, 2 For hir Subiects prosperitie, 3 +For a general conformitie, 4 And for Englands tranquilitie. Printed +at London, by R. Yardley and P. Short, for Iohn Pennie, dwelling in +Pater noster row, at the Grey hound. 1591 (16mo),"[12] and for a +moment concede his hastily alleged authorship. But in 1593 his poem of +"Orchestra, or a Poeme of Dauncing," was "licensed to Iohn Harison" the +elder. No earlier edition than that of 1596 has been proved; but the +"license" assures us that Harrison had negotiated for its publication +in 1593. The title-page of the 1596 edition is followed by a dedicatory +sonnet "To his very friend, Ma. Rich. Martin." The Reader may turn +to it "an' it please" him (Vol. I. p. 159): and "thereby hangs a +tale." The dedicatory sonnet, it will be seen, while characterizing +"Orchestra" as "this dauncing Poem," this "suddaine, rash, half-capreol +of my wit," informs us that his "very friend" Martin was the "first +mouer and sole cause of it, and that he was the Poet's "owne selues +better halfe," and "deerest friend." We have the time employed on it +too:-- + +[Footnote 11: There is a copy at Lambeth.] + +[Footnote 12: There is a copy in the Bodleian.] + + "You know the modest Sunne full fifteene times + Blushing did rise, and blushing did descend, + While I in making of these ill made rimes, + My golden howers unthriftily did spend: + Yet, if in friendship you these numbers prayse, + I will mispend another fifteene dayes." + +All this receives tragi-comical illumination from the fact that this +same "very friend" and "better halfe," and he who so sang of him, had +soon a deadly quarrel and estrangement. RICHARD MARTIN became +Recorder of London, and one memorial of him is a Speech to the King +which, if it partakes of the oddities of Euphues, must also be allowed +to contain weighty and bravely-outspoken counsel: and thus he has come +down to posterity as a grave and potent seignior. Moreover, he became +Reader of his Society, and M.P. for first Barnstaple, and later for +Cirencester. He appears, too, as the associate of Ben Jonson, John +Selden, and others of the foremost.[13] + +[Footnote 13: See Woolrych, as before, and the authorities therein +given. At the end of Thomas Coriate's "Traveller for the English Wits," +W. Jaggard, 1616 (4to), is a list of his acquaintances, to whom he +desires "the commendations of my dutiful respects." Among them occurs +"Mr. Richard Martin, Counsellor."] + +But as a youthful law-student he was 'wild.' He fell under the lash of +the Benchers, having been expelled from the Middle Temple in February, +1591, for the part he took in a riot at the prohibited festival of the +Lord of Misrule. He was fast of tongue and ribald of wit, with a dash +of provocative sarcasm. Evidently he was one of those men who would +rather (as the saying puts it) lose his friend than his joke (however +poor the joke and rich the friend). A consideration of the whole facts +seems to show that again restored to the Middle Temple he had let loose +his probably wine-charged sarcasms at his friend Davies. Whether it +was so or not, he was ignobly punished. For against all "good manners" +not to speak of the "law" and discipline of the Court, Master Davies +came into the Hall with his hat on, armed with a dagger, and attended +by two persons with swords. Master Martin was seated at dinner at the +Barristers' Table. Davies pulling a bastinado or cudgel from under his +gown, went up to his insulter and struck him repeatedly over the head. +The chastisement must have been given with a will; for the bastinado +was shivered to pieces--arguing either its softness or the head's +asinine thickness. Having "avenged" himself, Davies returned to the +bottom of the Hall, drew one of the swords belonging to his attendants, +and flourished it repeatedly over his head, turning his face towards +Martin, and then hurrying down the water-steps of the Temple, threw +himself into a boat.[14] This extraordinary occurrence happened at the +close of 1597 or January of 1598. In 1595 he had been called to the +bar; but in February 1598 Davies was expelled by a unanimous sentence; +"disbarred" and deprived for ever of all authority to speak or consult +in law.[15] These "outbreaks" and expulsions were familiar incidents; +and make us exclaim with Othello: "O thou invisible spirit of wine, if +thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil"--"O God, that +men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! +that we should with joy, pleasure, revel and applause, transform +ourselves into beasts" (ii. 3). This is the all-too-plain solution +of these "high jinks." It was a disaster of the most ominous kind. +Nevertheless the dark cloud that thus fell across the noon of the +full-and-hot-blooded young Barrister folded in it a "bright light:" +or--if we may fetch an illustration from Holy Scripture, as Moses the +great Lawgiver of ancient Israel through the slaying of the Egyptian +was compelled to be a fugitive in the wilderness and therein to master +his native impulsiveness and passion, so was the "offender" in the +Hall of the Middle Temple through the disgrace and penalties incurred +forced into retirement and introspection. It was a costly price to +pay. But it is to be doubted whether if the enforced return to Oxford +and the self-scrutiny and penitence that calm reflection wrought there +had not arrested him, he ever would have given our literature "Nosce +Teipsum." His great poem bears witness to very poignant self-accusation +and humiliation. Towards the close you seem to catch the echo of sobs +and the glistening of tears; nor is it "preaching" to recognize a +diviner element still--his unrest and burden alike laid on Him Who +alone can sustain and help a "wounded spirit" in its trouble. Besides +the hazardous as disastrous incident with Martin, his "Epigrams" +by their _abandon_ and general allusiveness reveal that he was the +associate of the "young gallants" of the city and lived "fast"; and so +give significance and interpretation to his later passionate regrets, +self-accusations and self-rebuke. How abased and yet in touches how +noble is this! + +[Footnote 14: Lord Stowell wrote an elaborate Paper on the whole +matter, and the restoration of Davies. It appeared in "Archæologia," +Vol. XXI. I propose to write the narrative _in extenso_ in my fuller +Life, as before.] + +[Footnote 15: Lord Stowell, as before.] + + "O ignorant poor man! what dost thou beare + Lockt vp within the casket of thy brest? + What iewels and what riches hast thou there! + What heauenly treasure in so weake a chest! + + Looke in thy soule, and thou shalt beauties find, + Like those which drownd Narcissus in the flood: + Honour and Pleasure both are in thy mind, + And all that in the world is counted good. + + Thinke of her worth, and think that God did meane, + This worthy mind should worthy things imbrace; + Blast not her beauties with thy thoughts vnclean, + Nor her dishonour with thy passions base: + + Kill not her quickning powers with surfettings, + Mar not her sense with sensualitie; + Cast not her serious wit on idle things: + Make not her free-will, slaue to vanitie. + + And when thou think'st of her eternitie, + Thinke not that death against her nature is, + Thinke it a birth; and when thou goest to die, + Sing like a swan, as if thou went'st to blisse. + + * * * * * + + + Take heed of over-weening, and compare + Thy peacock's feet with thy gay peacock's traine; + Study the best and highest things that are, + But of thyselfe an humble thought retaine."[16] + +"Expelled" and "disbarred," he retired to Oxford and there "followed +his studies, although he wore a cloak." (Wood's _Athenæ_, as before, +ii. 401). To lighten severer studies he now leisurely composed that +"Nosce Teipsum" from which has just been quoted the remarkable close. +His vein must have been a "flowing" one; for it was published within +a year of his disgrace, viz. in 1599.[17] It was dedicated to the +"great Queen;" without the all-too-common contemporary hyperbole of +laudation, yet showing the strange magnetism of her influence to win +allegiance from the greatest, even in her old age:-- + + "Loadstone to hearts and loadstone to all eyes." + +The Carte "Notes" (as before) thus tell the whole story and ratify +Anthony-a-Wood:--"Vpon a quarrell between him and Mr. Martin before +y^{e} Judges, where he strooke Mr. Martin hee was confined and made a +prisoner: after w^{ch} in discontentment he retired to y^{e} countrye, +and writt y^{t} excellent poeme of his Nosce Teipsum, w^{ch} was so +well aprooved of by the Lord Mountioy after Lord Deputy of Ireland and +Earle of Devonshire, that by his aduise he publisht it and dedicated +it to Queen Elizabeth, to whom hee presented it, being introduced by +y^{e} aforesaide Lord his pattron, and y^{e} first essay of his pen +was so well relisht y^{t} y^{e} Queen encouraged him in his studdys, +promising him preferment, and had him sworn her servant in ordinary." +"Nosce Teipsum" was not his "first essay" so that perchance the meaning +is that its verse-dedication was his "first essay" in addressing the +Queen--his second being the Hymns to Astræa. The "Hymns to Astræa" +appeared in quick succession to "Nosce Teipsum" in the same year 1599. +They are dainty trifles; but from all we know of Elizabeth would be +received as "sweet incense." If they seem to us to-day flattering not +to say adulatory, it must be remembered that such was the _mode_. Much +later, Epistles-dedicatory from Bacon and others of the mighties, +and not to Elizabeth but to James--are infinitely fulsome compared +with the ideal praises of an ideal Elizabeth--that Elizabeth who had +stirred the nation's pulses through her great patriotic words when +"The Armada" threatened--in the most superlative of these "Hymnes." +Their workmanship is as of diamond-facets. The "bright light" of +olden promise was now "lining" the dark cloud. The discipline of +his retirement to Oxford did him life-long good. Speedily outward +events dove-tailed with the deepened ethical experience and resultant +character. + +[Footnote 16: Vol. I., pp. 115-116, "Nosce Teipsum."] + +[Footnote 17: See Vol. I., pp. 9-11. The date 1592, sometimes +(modernly) appended to the dedication of "Nosce Teipsum," has +no authority, and is in contradiction with all the known facts +and circumstances. Equally erroneous and misleading is the +ultra-rhetorically given chronology in "Court and Society from +Elizabeth to Anne," (2 Vols., 8vo., 1864), which bears the name of +the present Duke of Manchester, as thus:--"This Templar ... who wrote +a noble work on the immortality of the soul in the very hey-day of +his young blood, who afterwards became famous for his gravity as a +judge, his wisdom as a politician, and his soundness as a statesman, +terminated his literary career as the author of a poem in praise of +dancing," (Vol. I., p. 289). This is precisely the reverse of the fact. +In his earlier hot-blooded days he threw off his gay and self-named +"light" verses. In an interval of penitent self-inspection and worthier +aspiration, he wrote "Nosce Teipsum," and he followed this up by +ever-deepened grave, wise and weighty (prose) books. It is a pity +(perhaps) to spoil your brilliant bits of antithetic scandal; and more +pity that they should be hazarded for inevitable spoiling. Or put it in +another way: it is too bad to have your cook serving up the Roast Beef +of Old England as if it were strawberries (and cream). One need not use +severer terms, knowing the ducal editorship is a blind. Campbell in his +"Specimens," preceded in the blundering.] + +For despair and disgrace there came hope and help. For a career +that seemed arrested, a higher, and wider, and nobler opened out in +inspiriting perspective. In 1599-1600 he was in all men's mouths as a +Poet. The "Poetical Rhapsody" of Davison of these years would have been +rendered incomplete without contributions from "I. D.;" and so there +went to it those Minor Poems, that are read still with pleasure. So +early as 1595 George Chapman had printed his "Ovid's Banquet of Sence," +with lines from "I. D." More important still, "Secretary Cecil" became +his friend and patron. "_By desire_" he prepared certain dialogues and +scenes for entertainments to the Queen. Three of these remain. The +first is "A Dialogue between a Gentleman Usher and a Poet."[18] The +second is "A Contention betwixt a Wife, a Widdow, and a Maide."[19] +The third is "A Lottery: presented (as the heading states) before +the late Queene's Maiesty at the Lord Chancelor's House, 1601."[20] +These indicate that the recluse of Oxford was once more restored to +society, and that the supremest. The favour of the aged Queen was +capricious; but the "Lottery" that formed part of the entertainment +at the Lord Chancellor's marked the turning of the tide, in flood not +ebb. Through Ellesmere steps were taken to cancel the "expulsion" and +"disbarring." He addressed a respectful and manly Petition to "his +Society." It was considered at a "Parliament of the Society, held on +the 30th October 1601." He had "presented" it in Trinity Term; but it +was adjourned until now. In the interval he had attended "the Commons" +and in November after making the admission and satisfaction required by +four Benches, it was unanimously agreed that he should be "restored to +his position at the bar and his seniority." He publicly pronounced his +"repentance" in due form on the feast of All Saints. This was done in +the Hall in the presence of Chief Iustice Popham, Chief Baron Periam, +Judge Fenner, Baron Savil, Sergeant Harris, Sergeant Williams, and the +Masters of the Bench." The legal or ceremonial part being completed, +and the Apology read in English, Davies turned to "Mr. Martin," then +present, and as he could offer no sufficient satisfaction to him, +entreated his forgiveness, promising sincere love and affection in all +good offices towards him for the future." "Mr. Martin" accepted the +tender thus made, and the re-instatement was completed.[21] That the +reconciliation between Davies and Martin was formal rather than real +has been too hastily assumed. True, that when in 1622 Davies collected +his Poems, the Sonnet to Martin was withdrawn and a _hiatus_ left +towards the close of "Orchestra." But both these things are otherwise +explainable. Both Elizabeth and Martin were now dead--the latter in +1618. Besides, it was only natural that the living friend should be +willing to remove all memory of the quarrel. The name should only +have revived it. This, and not a many-yeared carrying of an unclosed +wound is my judgment in charity. The restored 'Barrister' never forgot +his indebtedness to the Lord Chancellor. His dedication of his great +"Reports" of Irish Law Cases and their correspondence remain to attest +this--remain too to attest the reciprocal admiration, if a tenderer +word were not fitter, of Ellesmere.[22] His words in the 'Reports' +dedication are more than respectful. + +[Footnote 18: In Memorial-Introduction to Poems, as before, pp. 15-21.] + +[Footnote 19: See Vol. II., pp. 72-86.] + +[Footnote 20: Ibid, pp. 87-95. See on this in second division of this +Memorial-Introduction: Postscript.] + +[Footnote 21: See Lord Stowell's Paper, in Archælogia, Vol. XXI., pp. +107-112, and our fuller Life, as before.] + +[Footnote 22: See Prose Works, as before, Vol. II. With reference to +the Lines to the Lord Chancellor on the death of his "second wife" +(Vol. I. pp. 112-3) it may be noted that he married (1) Elizabeth, +d. of Thomas Ravenscroft of Bretton, co. Flint, Esq., (2) Elizabeth, +sister of Sir George More of Loseley co. Surrey, Kt., and widow of +Sir John Wolley of Pirford, Surrey, Kt., and before him of Richard +Polsted, Esq., of Aldbury, co. Surrey. Her second husband Sir John +Wolley (sometimes spelled Wooley) died in February or March 1595-6 and +was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. She appears to have remarried (viz. +the Lord Chancellor) in the same year: so that she did not live long +thereafter; for she died on 20th January 1599-1600 and was buried with +her second husband. The Lord Chancellor was in profound grief (as the +Lines of Davies confirm); but he got over it sufficiently to marry (3) +Alice, d. of Sir John Spencer of Althorpe co. Northampton, Kt., and +widow of Ferdinando, 5th Earl of Derby, on 21st October of the same +year (1599-1600) exactly nine months after the death of his (lamented) +second wife. She survived the Lord Chancellor until 26th January 1636-7 +and was buried at Harefield, co. Middlesex. Of Ellesmere himself these +_data_ may be given: Sir Thomas Egerton was created Lord Ellesmere 21 +July 1603, upon his appointment as Lord High Chancellor of England. +He was further created Viscount Brackley 7th Nov. 1616, and was about +being made Earl of Bridgewater when he died 15th March 1616-7. His son +John was so created 27th May 1617.] + +It would appear from the MS. dedication of a corrected MS. of "Nosce +Teipsum" to "the right noble, valorous, and learned Prince Henry, Earle +of Northumberland" that he must have joined in the intercession for +restoration, e.g. + + "Then to what spirit shall I these noates commend, + But unto that which doth them best expresse; + + Who will to them more kind protection lend, + Than Hee which did protect me in distresse."[23] + +[Footnote 23: Vol. I., pp. 12-13.] + +Contemporaneous with his full Restoration to his privileges at the +Bar, the student-lawyer--through influence that has not come down to +us--found his way into Parliament as M.P. for Corfe Castle. The House +'sat' for "barely two months"--October 27th to December 29th" (1601). +It was the last Parliament of Elizabeth. The records of it are meagre +and unsatisfying, but sufficient is preserved to inform us that untried +and inexperienced in Parliament as he was, the member for Corfe Castle +at once came to the front. A long-continued warfare on the part of +the Commons against monopolies found in him a vehement defender of +the privileges of the House. The wary Queen, who always knew when to +give way, withdrew certain "patents" that had been granted and led to +grievous abuses; and Davies was appointed one of the "Grand Committee" +to thank her Majesty[24]. He had spoken stoutly for procedure by "bill" +and not by "petition." Richard Martin supported the monopolies. + +[Footnote 24: The Carte "Notes," as before, make Davies go to the +Scottish Court on the birth of Prince Henry; but this is an obvious +mistake: and yet it is noticeable that among the hitherto unpublished +poems is one to the King, wherein contemporary allusion is made to his +Majesty's visit to Denmark for his Queen.] + +In 1602 a second edition "newly corrected and amended" of "Nosce +Teipsum" appeared. Still prefixed to it--and to his honour continued in +the third edition of 1608 when she was gone--was the verse-dedication +to the Queen. But it was now "the beginning of the end" with her. +Somewhat cloudily and thundrously was the great orb westering. She +died on 24th March 1603. It argues that Davies had advanced in various +ways that he accompanied Lord Hunsdon to Scotland when that nobleman +went with the formal announcement of James' accession to the throne. A +pleasant anecdote has survived that when "in the presence" Lord Hunsdon +announced John Davies, the King--who if a fool was a learned one and +capable of discerning genius--straightway asked "whether he were 'Nosce +Teipsum'" and on finding he was its author, "embraced him and conceived +a considerable liking for him."[25] That his position was regarded as a +potential one with the new King is incidentally confirmed by letters to +him from no less than Bacon, who addressing him in Scotland sought his +good influences in his behalf, using in one a sphinx-like expression +of "concealed poets" that it is a marvel Delia Bacon did not lay hold +of to buttress her egregious argument on the Baconian authorship of +Shakespeare's Plays. + +[Footnote 25: Wood, as before, ii., p. 401.] + +Accompanying the King southward, Davies held his own at the English +court. The royal 'liking' grew: and the royal brain--small no doubt yet +alert and in a sense animated with patriotic feeling--was in earnest +study of what has till to-day proved England's difficulty--Ireland. +Mountjoy (later Earl of Devonshire and husband of Sidney's +"Stella"[26]) was sent as Lord-Deputy, and Davies accompanied him as +Solicitor-General for Ireland, for which office the "patent" is dated +25th November, 1603. Immediately almost on his arrival at Dublin, viz. +on 18th December, 1603, he was knighted. The date hitherto given has +been "at Theobald's 11th February 1607," but the records of the Ulster +King of Arms make it certain that the knighthood was conferred on 18th +December, 1603. On the same occasion his "crest" is described as "On a +mount _vert_, a Pegasus, _or_, winged, gules."[27] + +[Footnote 26: See my edition of Sir Philip Sidney, being prepared for +reproduction from the Fuller Worthies' Library in the present Series.] + +[Footnote 27: Sir Bernard Burke and J. N. C. Atkins Davis, Esq., +communications through Mr. Beedham, as before.] + +I know no more noble story than the Work of Sir John Davies in and +for Ireland. Our collection of his Prose Works, wherein his State +Papers and Correspondence will appear _in extenso_--from H. M. Public +Record Office and other sources--will make it clear as day that +beyond all comparison he was the foremost man in the Government. +With the sheer hard toil of humblest attorney slaving for his daily +bread, there was a breadth of view, a self-denying resoluteness of +purpose to benefit his adopted country, a prescience of outlook +into the future combined with fearless and magnanimous dealing with +contemporary problems, a high-hearted resistance in the face of +manifold temptations to slacken effort, and a fecundity of resource +and fulness of knowledge and vigilance of observation, that ought to +be written on a white page of our national history. It is scarcely +possible to exaggerate the consuming labours and the actual and solid +results of Davies' almost ubiquitory activities in Ireland. In my full +Life of him I hope to make good to the uttermost this high praise. +Here and now a few outward facts alone can be stated. In 1606, by +patents dated successively 29th May, 1606, and 29th May, 1609,[28] he +was promoted to be Attorney-General for Ireland, and was also created +Sergeant-at-Arms.[29] He went as "Judge of Assize." His Reports +and State Papers, and "Pleadings" and Letters, from 1603 onward, +demonstrate how firm was his grasp of circumstance, and how statesmanly +he marked out his plans, while his forensic appearances astonish with +the omniverousness of his legal reading and knowledge of precedents. +Throughout he was 'backed' and cheered by his superiors in Ireland and +by the King and his ministers. So early as 9th September, 1604, the +Lord Chancellor thus wrote to Davies:-- + +[Footnote 28: See Smith's Law Officers of Ireland, _s.n._ The Patent of +29th May, 1609, I propose to give _in extenso_ in the Life, as before. +It is extremely interesting.] + +[Footnote 29: As Sergeant-at-Law he ought to have been resident in +London, but the King gave him "dispensation" that he might return to +Ireland.] + + Y^{r} lett^{r} written at Cavan the |13 of Julij Last I receyude + the 28 of August. I am gladde to heare of yo^{r} [illegible] & wysh + yo^{r} seruice & successe therein may be aunswerable to yo^{r} owne + expectations & best hopes. You maye haue comfort that you serue so + gracious a soueraigne, so religious & replete w^{th} all Royall + virtues, and so redy & wyllinge to acknowledge & remunerate the + services & dueties of his meanest servantes farre beyonde their + desertes. I doubt not but yo^{r} diligence & care will be such as + wyll be very acceptable to his Ma^{tie}. In the Discourse w^{ch} you + haue sent me, I fynde not only a very lovinge respcte w^{ch} you have + towardes me (for w^{ch} I owe you heartie thankes). But also a very + wyse & judicious obseruacon of the state of this wasted kingdome & the + condicon of the people. God staye his hande from further afflictinge + them. They haue alreadye fealte the scourge of Warre & oppresion & now + are vnder the grevous scourge of famine & pestilence. God gyue them + his grace and make them imprest as true Christians ought. To become + truly Religious towarde God, Loyall and faythfull to their Soueraigne, + constantly obedient to his lawes & to the effecting thereof. I euer + wysh & praye that they may haue religious virtuous & godly magistrates + sette ouer them. To yo^{r} selfe I wish all happines, and wherein + you shall haue occasion to vse mee, you shall alwayes finde me redy & + wyllinge to stande you in the best stede I can. And so w^{th} my very + swete comendacons I comitt you to the Almightye. And rest yo^{r} very + assured Loving frende + + T. ELLESMERE, Canc. + + At[torn]feile + 9 Septembris 1604. + + To the right wo^{r} my very Loving frende, Sr. John Davis Knight, his + Ma^{ties} Solict. generall in his Realme of Ireland.[30] + +A few years later--1608--one Letter in full--like all our MSS., +now for the first time printed,--from the Lord Deputy--the noble +Chichester--must suffice as a specimen of many kindred. + +[Footnote 30: Carte MSS. ff. 315-6.] + + Noble Mr. Attornie, + + Since your departure hence I haue received two ioynt letters from you, + and Sr. James Ley, and one from your selfe alone, for w^{ch} I am not + your debter vnlesse it be in the matter, w^{ch} I confesse bringes + more life w^{th} it comming freshe out of the stoorehouse of neewes + and noveltie, for I have written as manie and more vnto you both. + + Albeyt I expect you w^{th} the first passage (for so the lordes haue + promised by their letters) yet can I not leaue you vnremembred, + assuringe you thoe you have greater friendes, none respects you better + then my selfe, nor can be more readie to make demonstration therof + accordinge to the meanes I haue. I praye bringe w^{th} you the lordes + directions for Sr. Neale Odonnell, and the rest of the prisoners. + Sr. Neale and Ocatiance [O'Sullivan?] had contriued their escape + and woulde haue as desperately attempted it, had I not preuented it + within these sixe nightes by a discoverie made vnto me, albeyt I keep + 20 men euerie neight for the guarde of the Castle ouer and aboue the + warde of the same, whereof two or three lye in each of their chambers. + Their horses were come to the towne, and all thinges else in readines. + Sure these men doe goe beyond all nations in the worlde for desperate + escapes, Shane Granie Ocarratan [O'Sullivan?] after he was acquited + of three indictments, and as most men conceiued free from all danger + of the lawe, did on fridaye the 27th of Januarie cast himselfe out of + a wyndow in the topp of the Castle by the heelpe of a peece of rotten + match, and his mantell w^{ch} brake before he was halfe waye downe, + and thoe he were presently discovered yet he escaped about supper tyme. + + When I had written thus far worde was brought me that a passadge + [_sic_] was come from Hollyheade w^{ch} made me to pause for a tyme + hopinge you or some other w^{th} letters, or other directions, was + arriued, but beinge advertised that the Recorder of this Cyttie only + w^{th} a fewe other passengers had in this fayre weather wrought out a + passage by longe lyeinge att sea, although the wyndes were contrarie, + and that they came from London before Christmas and had no written + letters or message but in theise particulars, I fell to you againe. + + And do now praye you to geue your best assystance and furtherance to + such matters tuchinge my perticulare as John Strowd or Annesley shall + acquaint you w^{th} all, for w^{ch} you shall finde me verie thankfull + vnto you. + + I haue written to the lordes in the behalfe of the howse servitors + here, that they maye be remembered vpon the deuysion and plantation of + the scheated lands in Ulster. I am discreadited amonge them if they + should be forgotten, and sure the plantation woulde be weake w^{th} + out them, for they must be the pyllers to support it. Those that + shall come from thence wyll not affect it in that kynde as these do, + to make it a settlement for them and theirs; and in respect of their + wourthier deserts and paynfull labors, and that I haue vpon my promise + to speake effectually for them preuayled so farre as to staye them + from resortinge thither, w^{ch} they woulde doe in great multitudes + if I woulde haue given way to their desire. I wysh that an honorable + consideration maye be had of them before the diuision be concluded. + I knowe that worke is of great moment and on it dependes much of the + prosperitie, and good estate of the whole kingdome. I haue sayd enough + to one that vnderstandes so well: And so beinge called vpon sooner + then I expected I must end w^{th} the page, but wyll euer be found + + Your trewe affected friend + ARTHUR CHICHESTER. + + Att Dublyn Castle the 7th of + februarie 1608. + + I send here w^{th} the proceedinge of the Court of Kinges bench in + the cause of the Carrolans w^{ch} was violently prosecuted by the l. + of Howth. I send them by reason it is thought by the Judges that the + Baron will exclaime of their proceedinges here. + + To my verie wourthie friend Sr John Davis Knight his + + Ma^{ties} Attornie in the Realme of Irelande.[31] + +[Footnote 31: Carte, as before, Vol. 62, ff. 313-14.] + +Two short letters from Bacon--not before printed, having escaped +even Mr. Spedding's Argus-eyes--in the same Carte MSS.--show Davies's +pleasant relations with his great contemporary. They are as follow:-- + + +(I. Carte MS. Vol. 62, ff. 317-18.) + + Good Sr Jh. Davies yo^{r} mistaking shall not be imputed to you (for + the difference is not much). Yo^{r} gratulacons for my marrige I take + kyndly. And as I was all waies delighted w^{th} the fruites of yo^{r} + [illegible] so I would be gladde of yo^{r} [illegible] so as you plant + not yo^{r} self to[o] farre of[f]. For I had rather you should be a + laborer than a plant in that State. You giue me no occasion to wryte + longer in that you impart not by yo^{r} l^{rs} any occurrence of + y^{rs}. And so w^{th} my very lov^{g} consid^{n} towards you + + I remayne + Yo^{r} assured friend + FR. BACON. + + from Graies Inn, + this 26th of Dec. 1606. + + To my very good Frend Sr Jh. Davis Knt Attorny g'rall to his M. in + Ireland. + + (II. Ibid ff, 328-9.) + + Mr. Atturny, + + I thanke you for yo^{r} l^{re} and the discourse you sent of this mere + accident, as thinges then appeared. I see manifestly the begynnyng of + better or woorse. But me thinketh it is first a tender of the better, + and woorse foloweth but vpon refusall or default. I would haue been + gladd to see you hear, but I hope occasion restreineth o^{r} meeting + for a vacation when we may haue more fruite of conference. To requite + yo^{r} proclamacon (w^{ch} in my judgment is wysely and seriously + penned) I send you [illegible] w^{h} [illegible] w^{ch} happened to be + in my hands when y^{os} came. + + I would be gladde to hear oft from you and to be advertized how + [illegible] passe whereby to haue some occasion to thinke some good + thoughts though I can doe lyttell. At least it wilbe a contynuance in + exercise of o^r frendshippe w^{ch} on my part remayneth increased by + that I hear of yo^{r} service and the good respects I find towards my + self. And so in extreme hast I remayne + + Yo^{r} very [illegible] frend + FR. BACON. + + from Graies Inn this + 23th of Oct. 1607. + + To the R. W. his verie Lovinge frende Sr Iohn Dauys + Knight, his Ma^{ties} Atturnye in Irelande. + +During one of his 'circuits' in Ireland, he met Eleanor, daughter +of Lord Audley (afterwards Earl of Castlehaven) and was married to +her--though the date has not been traced. Her later years were darkened +with insanity of a strangely voluble type. It is to be feared she was +an ill "help-meet" for her husband. There is pathos, if also inevitable +comedy, in her career--not here to be entered on.[32] + +[Footnote 32: See Life to be prefixed to Prose Works for quotations +from her writings in verse and prose, and for further details.] + +While intensely occupied with his official duties, Sir John Davies did +not neglect his literary gift. He was making history every year--so +fundamental and permanent was the part he filled in Ireland--but the +Past was gone back on that he might fetch from it monition for the +Present, and hope for the Future. His imperishable book: "A Discourse +of the true reasons why Ireland has neuer been entirely subdued till +the beginning of His Majesty's reign," (4to)[33] will reward the most +prolonged study to-day. It was published in 1612. In the same year +he was made King's Sergeant and also elected M.P. for Fermanagh, +being the first representative for that county in the Irish House of +Parliament. He was likewise chosen to be Speaker of the House; but not +without a characteristically violent struggle between the Catholics +and Protestants.[34] He delivered a notable speech "to the House" on +its opening in 1613.[35] In 1614 he appears in the House of Commons in +England as M.P. for Newcastle-under-Lyne:[36] and his attendance in +England was preparatory to final retirement from Ireland. "Grants of +lands" there from the "forfeitures,"--which, if ever any righteously +acquired, he did[37]--gave him a special interest in Ireland as a +proprietor; but after all, for such a man, at such a time, to be +limited to Ireland, was but a splendid exile. It is not, therefore, to +be wondered at that having practically achieved all, and more than all, +he had been given to do, or himself originated, he sought to return. +It is usually stated (e.g. Chalmers, Woolrych, &c., &c.) that he so +returned in 1616; but it was not until 1619 that he did so finally and +absolutely; for in a letter under date "21 June, 1619," to Buckingham, +he is found still only pleading for retirement and for the transference +of his office to a relative.[38] It is one of the treasures of the +Fortescue MSS, in the Bodleian,[39] and is as follows: + +[Footnote 33: See Prose, Vol. II.] + +[Footnote 34: See fuller Life, as before, for a complete narrative from +contemporary documents.] + +[Footnote 35: Ibid, Vol. III.] + +[Footnote 36: Willis's Nat. Parl., Vol. III., p. 173.] + +[Footnote 37: In the Life, as before, will be given full details of the +Grants, with a curious paper of his daughter long afterwards making +inquiries as to what had become of the Irish estates, &c., &c.] + +[Footnote 38: It will be observed that in the Letter Sir John does +not name the gentleman he wishes to succeed him. It was no doubt Sir +William Ryves, who actually was appointed. The "neere alliance" was +through the family of Mervyn, and is shown in the following details +drawn up for me by Mr. B. H. Beedham, from information communicated by +Mr. J. N. C. Davis, as before: + + George Touchet, Earl of Castlehaven ¦ Lucy, d. of Sir James Mervyn, + ¦ Fonthill, Wilts. + 3-------------------------------^---------------------------2 + Sir John Davies Lady Eleanor Touchet Edward Davys + Joan Cave + ¦ + ---------------^------ + Matthew Davys ¦Ann d. of + b. 1595 ob. 1678. ¦Edward Mervyn + ¦of Fonthill, + ¦ob. 8th + ¦Nov. 1657. + -------------------------------^ + John Ryves of Daunsey Court ¦ Elizabeth d. of John Mervyn + ¦ (several children) + 6------------------^------------------8th son. + Sir William Ryves settled Sir Thomas Ryves, Master + in Ireland; had numerous in Chancery: Judge of the + appointments, and made Prerogative Court there. + large purchases of estates; + Attorney General.] + +[Footnote 39: No. 245. For a notice of the collection from which +the above Letter is for the first time printed, see Preface to "The +Fortescue Papers ... Edited ... by Samuel R. Gardiner, for the Camden +Society (1871). My friend Mr. Gardiner must have overlooked Davies's +important letter.] + + My most honored Lord, + + I præsent my most humble Thanks to y^{r} L^{p} for præsenting mee + to his Ma^{ty} the last Day, at Wansted; & for y^{r} noble favour + in furthering the suit I then made, as well for mine owne stay in + England, as for my recommending a fitt man to my place of service in + Ireland. + + The Gentleman to whom I wish this place now, is much obliged to y^{r} + L^{p} already, & well worthy of y^{r} L^{ps} favours, & besides his + owne worthines (hee being a Reader & Judge of a circuit, of w^{ch} + degree & quality never any before was sent out of England to supply + that place), hee is of neere alliance vnto mee. So as, where there + is concurrence of meritt & kinred, y^{r} L^{p} may conjecture that I + deale w^{th} him like a gentleman & a friend, & not like a marchent. + Albeit I wi^{ll} leave a good place there, w^{th}out any præsent + præferment heer (whereof none of my profession have failed at their + return out of Ireland) I might, perhaps w^{th} some reason expect + some Retribution, to recompence the charge of Transporting my famely + from thence, & of setling it heer in this Kingdome, where I am become + almost an Alien by reason of my long absence. + + For this particular favour of transferring my place to so well + deserving a successor, I doo wholly depend vppon y^{r} L^{p} as I + shall euer doo vpon all other occasions, while I live, as one that + have separated my self from all other dependancies, beeing entirely + devoted to doo y^{r} L^{p} all humble & faythful service + + Jo: Dauys. + + 21 Junij 1619. + + if my long service may induce favour, y^{r} L^{p} may bee pleased to + looke vppon the noate enclosed. + + To the right honorable my very good lord + my lord the Marques of Buckingham, &c. + +It is to be regretted that the "noate" of the postscript has not been +preserved. It probably enumerated his public services. + +Sir William Ryves succeeded as Attorney-General for Ireland by Patent +dated 30th October, 1619.[40] From 1619 onward, Sir John Davies is +found in the House of Commons (still for Newcastle-under-Lyne) and "on +circuit" as a Judge. His "Charges"--to be given in his Prose Works--as +"one of the Justices of Assize for the Northerne Circute"--are very +characteristic, being full of legal 'precedents,' and noticeable in +their tracing up the verdict sought to abiding principles. He took +part in the memorable "case" of Frances, Countess of Somerset, for the +poison-murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. In the House of Commons he spoke +seldom; but when anything that concerned Irish interests came up he +never failed to contend in behalf of Ireland.[41] + +[Footnote 40: By inadvertence the Patent describes Sir John Davies +as "deceased." Unless used as = departed (from Ireland), or = having +ceased to fill the office, it is a singular oversight.] + +[Footnote 41: In the Life, as before, his appearances in Parliament +will be noted and illustrated.] + +Lightening his legal employments were a large correspondence and +'fellowship' with his most eminent contemporaries, and the collection +of his Poetical Works, in so far as he wished them to go down to +posterity. Of the former I select one undated letter to the illustrious +Sir Robert Cotton, with whom he had been early acquainted, and +associated in 1614, in re-establishing the Society of Antiquaries, +originally founded in 1590. One of these is a sprightly and pleasant +letter, and all the more welcome that most of his correspondence that +remains is official and grave. The lighter letter is as follows, from +MSS. Cotton: Julius C. III., p. 14: now paged 133, British Museum: + + Sweet Robin, for a few sweet words, a client of mine hath presented me + w^{th} sweet meates, to what end I know not except it be, as Chaucer + speakes, + + To make mine English sweet uppon my tongue, that I may pleade the + better for him to morrow at the Seale. + + Not w^{th} standing, the best vse that I can make of it, is to + preesent you w^{th} it, especially at this time when you ar in + Physick, that you may sweeten your tast after the Rhewbarb. I have + been a little distracted w^{th} vnexpected busines these two or three + last dayes, that I cold not performe my officious promise to visit + you in this voluntary sicknes of yours; but [erased] now I am faine + to make my hands to excuse my feet from travayling vnto you, because + being the servant of the multitude I am not mine owne man. Make much + of your self, & make y^{r} self speedily well, that I may have your + company towards Cambridge, from whence I will go w^{th} you to see the + ancient Seat of Robt. le Bruis; so wishing you a prosperous operation + of your Phisick, at least that you may Imagine so, for it is the + Imagination that doth good, & not the Physick, w^{ch} I ever thought a + meere imposture; I cease to troble you least the intention of to much + Reading hinder the working of those vertuous drugs. + + Y^{rs} all & ever + J. Dauis. + + (Endorsed) To my worthy friend + Rob: Cotton esquier. + +A second letter runs thus, from MSS. Cotton: Julius C. III., p. 32:-- + + Noble S^{r} Robert: the ordinary subject of letters is, newes, whereof + this kingdome since the warres, hath been very barren; therefore I + must write vnto you that w^{ch} is no newes, that is, that I love you, + & hold a kind & dear memory of you. + + according to my promise to y^{r} self & Mr. Solliciter of England + who is now, I hear, a Judge, I have caused this bearer to draw some + Mapps of o^{r} principal Cittyes of Ireland; & he having occasion to + go for England, I have thought fitt to direct him vnto you. he is an + honest ingenuous yong m[=a] & of y^{r} owne Name. I hear not yet of + y^{e} Antiquities out of Cumberland; if they be brought hither I will + take care to transmitt th[=e] to London, & so in speciall hast, being + ready to go my circuit ov^{r} all Munster I leave you to y^{e} divine + p'servation. + + Y^{s} to do you Service, + Io: Dauys. + + Dublin 4 Martij 1607. + I desire to be affectionately remembred to Mr. + Justice Doddridge & Mr. Clarencieux. + +His Poems, as finally collected by him, appeared in a thin octavo +in 1622. His Prose Works he never collected, but allowed them to be +re-published separately. His "True Cause" passed through several +editions during his own life-time. One of his most important +prose-books after the "True Cause" brings us to the closing event +of his busy and various-coloured life. It is entitled in the first +issue, which was posthumous[42]--"The Question concerning Impositions, +Tonnage, Poundage, Prizage, Customs, &c. Fully stated and argued, from +Reason, Law, and Policy. Dedicated to King James in the latter end of +his Reign." (1656.) + +[Footnote 42: Woolrych, as before, splits the one work into several, +and mistakes MSS. of it for distinct works. Vol. I., pp. 209-10.] + +This historically-memorable treatise has already been reproduced in the +Prose Works.[43] Elsewhere I examine it critically.[44] It must suffice +here to state that later the King (Charles I.), having an impoverished +exchequer, had recourse to forced loans of various amounts. Hating the +control of Parliament, he persisted in substituting his will for law, +his "proclamation" for statute. Feeling the treacherousness of his +standing-ground of prerogative, the Judges were applied to, and with +loyalty to the monarch rather than to their country, they somewhat +favoured the King's 'demands.' Charles deemed their "opinion" to have +a somewhat "uncertain sound," and presented to the Judges a paper for +their signature, recognising the legality of the collection. This was +refused. One of the victims of the sovereign's wrath was Chief-Justice +Crew, who was "discharged" on the 9th of November, 1626 (Foss's +Judges, vi., p. 291). Sir John Davies was appointed as his successor; +and one cannot help recognising that the opinions revealed in his "Jus +Imponendi" contributed to the succession. For one, I should rather +have found Sir John Davies on the other side, spite of his great array +of "precedents" and ingenious applications to the then circumstances +and exigencies, and necessarily ignorant of the lengths Charles as +distinguished from James, was to proceed. Technically, there had been +"precedents" no doubt; but long "use and wont" had rendered so-called +regal rights obsolete, and it was insanity to revive them, as Charles +I.,--who inherited James's high notions of regal authority,--found out +when too late. But, passing to Davies, the "lean fellow" called Death +was nearer the Knight than was the Chief-Justiceship. Purple and ermine +robes were actually bought, but they were not to be donned. He had told +a Mr. Mead that he was at supper with the Lord Keeper on the 7th of +December,[45] and that he fully expected the great promotion. The air +was thick with "reports" to the same effect. He was found dead in his +bed on the morning of the 8th December, cut down, it has been supposed, +by apoplexy. Three days after, he was interred in S. Martin's Church, +London. Later a double inscription for himself and his widow (who was +re-married to Sir Archibald Douglas,) long hung on the third pillar, +near the grave. The original Latin, with our translation, are as +follow:[46]-- + +[Footnote 43: Vol. III., pp. 1-116.] + +[Footnote 44: In the fuller Life, as before.] + +[Footnote 45: Pearce's "Inns of Court," p. 293.] + +[Footnote 46: See Stow's "Environs of London," by Strype, Book VI., p. +72. But our text of the Inscriptions is from the Carte MSS. Dr. E. F. +Rimbault's MS. in the autograph of John Le Neve, as published in Notes +and Queries, 1st series, Vol. V., p. 331, is inexplicably imperfect and +blundering.] + +D. O. M. S. + + Johannes Davys Equestris ordinis quondam Attornati + Regii Generalis amplissima prudentiâ in regno + Hyberniæ functus, inde in patriam revocatus + inter servientes Domini Regis ad Legem primum + Locum obtinuit; post varia in utrone munere præ + clare gesta ad ampliora jam designatus, repente + spem suorum destituit suam implevit ab humanis + honoribus ad c[oe]lestem gloriam evocatus + Ætatis anno 57.^{o} + Vir ingenio compto, rarâ facundiâ + Oratione cum solutâ tum numeris restrictâ + Felicissimus. + Juridicam severitatem morum elegantiâ et ameniore eruditione temperavit. + Iudex incorruptus; Patronus fidus + Ingenuæ pietatis amore et anxiæ superstitionis contemptu + Iuxta insignis. + Plebeiarum animarum in religionis negotio + Pervicacem [Greek: mikropsuchian] ex edito despiciebet + Fastidium leniente miseratione. + Ipse magnanimè probus, religiosus, liber, et c[oe]lo admotus + Uxorem habuit Dominam Eleanoram Honoratissimi + Comitis de Castlehaven Baronis Audley filiam + Unicam ex eâ prolem superstitem hæredem reliquit + Luciam illustrissimo Ferdinando Baroni + Hastings Huntingdoniæ Comiti nuptam. + Diem Supremam obiit 8^{o} idus Decembris + Anno Domini 1626. + Apud nos exemplum relinquens, hic resurrectionem justorum expectat. + Accubat dignissimo marito incomparabilis uxor + Quæ illustre genus + Et generi pares animos + Christianâ mansuetudine temperavit + Erudita super sexum + Mitis infra sortem + Plurimis Major + Quia humilior + In eximiâ formâ sublime ingenium + In venustâ comitate singularem modestiam + In femineo corpore viriles animos + In rebus adversissimis serenam mentem + In impio sæculo pietatem et rectitudinem inconcussam + Possedit. + Non illi robustam animam aut res lauta laxavit, aut + Angusta contraxit, sed utramque sortem pari vultu + Animoque non excepit modo sed rexit + Quippe Dei plena cui plenitudini + Mundus nec benignus addere + Nec malignus detrahere potuisset + Satis Deum jamdudum spirans et sursum aspirans sui + Ante et Reip. fati præsaga, salutisque æternæ certissima + Ingente latoque ardore in Servatoris dilectissimi sinum + Ipsius sanguine lotam animam efflavit + Rebus humanis exempta immortalitatem induit + III. Non. Quintilis Anno Salutis 1652. + Ps. 16. 9. + Etiam caro mea habitat securè quà non es + Derelicturus animam meam in sepulchro. + + +D(eo) O(ptimo) M(aximo) S(acrum) + + To God the Best and Greatest: Sacred. + John Davys of knightly rank, having formerly + discharged with prudence the highest duties of + King's Attorney General in the realm of Ireland: + thence having been recalled to his own country, + secured the first place among the servants + of his lord the King, at the Law. After various + services nobly rendered in each office, being now + nominated to more distinguished (appointments) + he suddenly frustrated the hope of his friends + but fulfilled his own--being called away + from human honours to celestial glory, + in the year of his age 57. + A man for accomplished genius, for uncommon + eloquence, for language whether free or bound + in verse, + Most happy. + Judicial sternness with elegance of manners + and more pleasant learning + he tempered. + An uncorrupt Judge, a faithful Patron + For love of free-born piety and contempt of fretting superstition + alike remarkable. + He looked down from on high on the obstinate narrowness + of plebeian souls in the matter of religion, + pity softening his disdain. + Himself magnanimously just, religious, free, and moved by heaven, + Had for wife the Lady Eleanor of the Right Honble. + Earl of Castlehaven, Baron Audley, daughter: + His only surviving offspring by her he left as heiress, + Lucy, to the most illustrious Ferdinand Baron + Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, married. + He spent his last day the 8th December + In the year of our Lord 1626. + With us leaving an example: here for the resurrection + of the Just, he waits. + + * * * * * + + Near to her most worthy husband lies his incomparable Wife: + Who her illustrious birth + And spirit equal to her race + With Christian mildness tempered. + Learned above her sex, + Meek below her rank, + Than most people greater + Because more humble, + In eminent beauty She possessed a lofty mind, + In pleasing affability, singular modesty: + In a woman's body a man's spirit, + In most adverse circumstances a serene mind, + In a wicked age unshaken piety and uprightness. + Not for her did Luxury relax her strong soul, or + Poverty narrow it: but each lot with equal countenance + And mind, she not only took but ruled. + Nay she was full of God, to which fulness + Neither a smiling world could have added, + Nor from it a frowning world have taken away. + Now for a long time sufficiently breathing of God + and aspiring above, of her own + And the Commonwealth's fate divining beforehand, + And most sure of Eternal Salvation + With a mighty and huge ardour into her Beloved Saviour's + breast, She breathed forth her soul washed in His own blood. + Taken away from things human she put on immortality + on the fifth of July, in the year of Salvation, 1652. + Ps. 16. 9. + My flesh also dwells securely because Thou wilt not + leave my soul in the sepulchre. + +One is willing to accept the "golden lies" of these Epitaphs in either +case. + +Sir John Davies had several children. One, who was semi-idiotic, was +drowned in Ireland. Others alleged to have been born, have not been +traced. His daughter Lucy, of the Inscriptions, and by whom, no doubt, +they were procured, became famous in her generation as Countess of +Huntingdon. We have to deplore that while we have a fine portrait +of her, none, as yet, has been found of her Father. His Will and +Charities, and their singular after-history, will be given in my fuller +Life (as before). Pass we now to + + + + +II. CRITICAL. + + +I shall limit myself in this second half of the Memorial-Introduction +to a brief statement and examination of certain characteristics of +the Poetry of Sir John Davies--the limitation being imposed by the +contents of the present volumes.[47] There are Poets whose truest and +most certain fame rests on so-called minor poems; and yet commonly +their bulkier productions have over-shadowed these. From Milton to +Wordsworth it is to be lamented that to the many they should be +represented by "Paradise Lost" and "The Excursion"; or to descend, +that Thomas _Campbell_ and Samuel _Rogers_ should have so hidden +behind their "Pleasures of Hope" and "Pleasures of Memory" their rare +and real faculty as Poets--for while in the larger poems of Milton +and Wordsworth there is of the imperishable stuff that only genius +of a lofty type weaves, it is rather (_meo judicio_) in "purple +patches" than in the web as a whole. In Milton and Wordsworth you do +not read them at their high_est_ in their Epics but in their shorter +poems; while Campbell and Rogers should long since have died out of +men's hearts had they left nothing behind them save the smooth and +prize-poem-like common-places of their "Pleasures." In Milton the +remark requires modification, for only in "Paradise Lost" has he put +forth to uttermost daring his Imagination--than which no writer of +all time has approached him for grandeur of vision and splendour of +utterance. But substantially I think that those capable of discernment +will agree with me that if Time may shut and leave unread except by +an elect few, many pages of the 'great' and volume-filling poems, the +lesser will assuredly draw more and more homage, and abide the regalia +of our Literature. + +[Footnote 47: His Prose is of no common order; and will be critically +examined in the fuller Life, along with his Prose Works in the Fuller +Worthies' Library, as before.] + +It is different with Sir John Davies. His "Orchestra" and "Hymnes to +Astræa" and Minor Poems, preceded considerably his "Nosce Teipsum," but +it was his "Nosce Teipsum" that made King James I. prick up his ears on +hearing his name, and it is "Nosce Teipsum" that is the poem that will +secure immortality to Sir John Davies. His other poetry has special +remarkablenesses--as will appear--but in "Nosce Teipsum" alone have +we the inspiration and spontaneity, the insight and speculation, the +subtlety and yet definiteness, the "burden" (in the prophetic sense) +and the melody of the Poet as distinguished from the versifier or +verse-Rhetorician. + +I value "Nosce Teipsum" as a first thing for its _deep and original +thinking_, i.e. for its _intellectual strength_--all the more +remarkable that as the former part of the Memorial-Introduction +shows, he was only in his 28th-29th year when he composed it. Of +its art I shall have somewhat to say anon: but regarding it as a +"_philosophical_ poem" and as a contribution to metaphysic, I place +foremost the THOUGHT in it, as at once a characteristic and a +merit (if merit be not too poor a word). DAVIES (along with +FULKE GREVILLE, LORD BROOKE and DONNE) +simply as Thinker on the profoundest problems of nature and human +nature, seems to me to stand out pre-eminently, and in saying this, I +regard it as sheer nonsense to exalt the workmanship at the expense +of the material--to ask me to recognize in a bit of tin ingeniously +and painstakingly etched into a kind of miracle of execution something +co-equal with a solid bar of gold as it gleams i' the face of the sun +in its purged and massive simpleness; or to put it unmetaphorically, +I must pronounce judgment on the rank of a Poet _qua_ a Poet +fundamentally on the kind and quality of the thought on higher and +deeper things that he puts into his verse and that he strikes out in +others. Your mere artist-Poet is surely third-rate and must even go +beneath the music-composer of to-day. + +"Nosce Teipsum" as it was practically the earliest so it remains the +most remarkable example of deep reflective-meditative thinking in verse +in our language or in any language. The student of this great poem will +very soon discover that within sometimes homeliest metaphors there is +folded a long process of uncommon thought on the every-day facts of our +mysterious existence. I call the thinking deep, because "Nosce Teipsum" +reveals more than eyes that looked on the surface--reveals penetrative +and bold descent to the roots of our being and reachings upward to the +Highest. Your mere realistic word-painter of what he sees, is shallow +beside a Poet who passes beneath the surface and circumstance and +fetches up from sunless depths or down from radiant altitudes fact and +facts--each contributory to that ultimate philosophy which while it +shall accept every proved fact, will not rush off hysterically shouting +"eureka," with ribald accusations of all that generations have held to +be venerable and sustaining. I call the thinking original, for there +is evidence everywhere in "Nosce Teipsum" that the penitent recluse of +Oxford made his own self his study--as really if not as avowedly as +Wordsworth. + +I am aware in claiming originality for Davies that in that huge +waste-basket of our Literature--Nichols' Literary Illustrations +(Vol. IV. pp. 549-50) there is a letter from an Alexander Dalrymple, +Esq., who is designated "the great hydrographer" to "Mr. Herbert" +(the Bibliographer I opine) wherein he takes different ground. We +must traverse his charge. He thus writes:--"Dear Sir, I have lately +purchased the following old books" (he enumerates several).... "I have +also got 'Wither's translation of Nemesius de Naturâ hominis' by which +I find Sir John Davies's poem on the Immortality of the Soul is chiefly +taken from Nemesius" ... "I have picked up a tract in 4to. by Thomas +Jenner, with some very good plates, the marginal notes of which seem +to be what the heads of Tate's edition of Sir John Davies's are taken +from." + +Were this true it would utterly take from "Nosce Teipsum" the first +characteristic and merit I claim for it--deep and original thought. But +it is absolutely untrue, an utter delusion, as any one will find who +takes the pains that I have done to read, either the original Nemesius, +or what this sapient book-buyer mentions, Wither's translation. With my +mind and memory full of "Nosce Teipsum" and the poem itself beside me, +I have read and re-read every page, sentence and word of Nemesius and +Wither (and there is a good deal of Wither in his translation: 1636) +and I have not come upon a single metaphor or (as the old margin-notes +called them) "similies," or even observation in "Nosce Teipsum" drawn +from Nemesius or Wither. The only element in common is that necessarily +Nemesius adduces and discusses the opinions of the Heathen Philosophers +on the many matters handled by him, and Sir John Davies does the same +with equal inevitableness. But to base a charge of plagiarism against +"Nosce Teipsum" on this, is to reason on the connection between +Tenterden Steeple and Goodwin Sands (if the well-worn folly be a +permissible reference). The following is the title-page of the quaint +old tome and as it is by no means scarce, any reader can cross-question +our witness: "The Nature of Man. A learned and useful Tract written +in Greek by Nemesius, surnamed the Philosopher; sometime Bishop of a +City in Ph[oe]necia, and one of the most ancient Fathers of the Church. +Englyshed, and divided into Sections, with briefs of their principle +contents by Geo. Wither. London: Printed by M. F. for Henry Taunton in +St. Duncan's Churchyard in Fleetstreet. 1636." (12^{o} 21 leaves and +pp. 661.) Chronologically--Wither's translation was not published until +1636, while "Nosce Teipsum" was published in 1599; but Nemesius' own +book no more than Wither's warrants any such preposterous statements as +this Alexander Dalrymple makes. Even in the treatment of the "opinions" +of the Heathen Philosophers which come up in Nemesius, and in "Nosce +Teipsum," the latter while 'intermedling' with the same returns wholly +distinct answers in refutation. The "opinions" themselves as being +derived of necessity from the same sources are identical; but neither +their statement nor refutation. Nemesius is ingenious and well-learned, +but heavy and prosaic. Sir John Davies is light of touch and a light +of poetic glory lies on the lamest "opinion." The "Father of the +Church" goes forth to war with encumbering armour: the Poet naked +and unarmed beyond the spear wherewith he 'pierces' everything, viz. +human consciousness. Jenner's forgotten book had perhaps been read by +Tate, but that concerns Tate not Sir John Davies. I pronounce it a +hallucination to write "Sir John Davies' poem on the immortality of +the Soul is chiefly taken from Nemesius." Not one line was taken from +Nemesius. + +Before passing on it may be well to illustrate here from the "contents" +of two chapters (representative of the whole) in Wither's Nemesius, +the merely superficial agreement between them and "Nosce Teipsum." In +the Poem under "The Soule of Man and the Immortalitie thereof" various +opinions of its 'nature' are thus summarized: + + "One thinks the _Soule_ is _aire_; another _fire_; + Another _blood_, diffus'd about the heart; + Another saith, the _elements_ conspire, + And to her _essence_ each doth giue a part. + + _Musicians_ thinke our _Soules_ are _harmonies_, + _Phisicians_ hold that they _complexions_ bee; + _Epicures_ make them swarmes of _atomies_, + Which doe by chance into our bodies flee." (p. 26.) + +In Nemesius, c. 2. § I, the 'headings' are: "I. The severall and +different Opinions of the Ancients concerning the Sovl, as whether it +be a Substance; whether corporeall, or incoporeall, whether mortal +or immortal P. II. The confutation of those who affirme in general +that the Sovl is a corporeall-substance. III. Confutations of their +particular Arguments, who affirme that the Sovl is Blood, Water, or +Aire." These are all common-places of ancient 'opinion' and of the +subject; and anything less poetical than Nemesius' treatment of them is +scarcely imaginable. Here if anywhere Davies' indebtedness must have +been revealed; but not one scintilla of obligation suggests itself to +the Reader. Again in the Poem, after a subtle and very remarkable +'confutation' of the notion that the Soul is a thing of 'Sense' only, +there comes proof "That the Soule is more than the Temperature of the +humours of the Body;" and nowhere does Davies show a more cunning +hand than in his statement of the 'false opinion.' Turning once more +to Nemesius c. II. § 3, these are its 'headings:'--"I. It is here +declared, that the Soul is not (as Galen implicitly affirmeth) a +Temperature in general. II. It is here proved also, that the Soul is no +particular temperature or quality. III. And it is likewise demonstrated +that the Soul is rather governesse of the temperatures of the Body, +both ordering them, and subduing the vices which arise from the bodily +tempers." Here again we would have expected some resemblances or +suggestions; but again there is not a jot or tittle of either. Thus +is it throughout. One might as well turn up the words used in "Nosce +Teipsum" in a quotation-illustrated Dictionary of the English Language +(such as Richardson's) and argue 'plagiarism' because of necessarily +agreeing definitions, as from a few scattered places in "Nosce Teipsum" +discussing the same topics, allege appropriation of Nemesius. Your mere +readers of title-pages and contents, or glancers over indices are +constantly blundering after this fashion. Dalrymple was one of these. + +The headings of the successive sections--removed in our text from +the margins to their several places--suffice to inform us of the +original lines of thought and research and illustration pursued in +"Nosce Teipsum" and thither I refer the Reader. The merest glance +will show that in "Nosce Teipsum" you have the whole breadth of the +field traversed--and that for the first time in Verse. I can only very +imperfectly illustrate either the depth or the originality of the poem. +Almost as at the opening of the book, take these uniting both:-- + + "And yet alas, when all our lamps are burnd, + Our bodyes wasted, and our spirits spent; + When we haue all the learnèd _Volumes_ turn'd, + Which yeeld mens wits both help and ornament: + + What can we know? or what can we discerne? + When _Error_ chokes the windowes of the minde, + The diuers formes of things, how can we learne, + That haue been euer from our birth-day blind? + + When _Reasone's_ lampe, which (like the _sunne_ in skie) + Throughout _Man's_ little world her beames did spread; + Is now become a sparkle, which doth lie + Vnder the ashes, halfe extinct, and dead: + + How can we hope, that through the eye and eare, + This dying sparkle, in this cloudy place, + Can recollect these beames of knowledge cleere, + Which were infus'd in the first minds by grace? + + So might the heire whose father hath in play + Wasted a thousand pound of ancient rent; + By painefull earning of a groate a day, + Hope to restore the patrimony spent. + + The wits that diu'd most deepe and soar'd most hie + Seeking Man's pow'rs, haue found his weaknesse such: + "Skill comes so slow, and life so fast doth flie, + "We learne so little and forget so much. + + For this the wisest of all morall men + Said, '_He knew nought, but that he nought did know_'; + And the great mocking-Master mockt not then, + When he said, '_Truth was buried deepe below_.' + + For how may we to others' things attaine, + When none of vs his owne soule vnderstands? + For which the Diuell mockes our curious braine, + When, '_Know thy selfe_' his oracle commands. + + For why should wee the busie Soule beleeue, + When boldly she concludes of that and this; + When of her selfe she can no iudgement giue, + Nor how, nor whence, nor where, nor what she is? + + All things without, which round about we see, + We seeke to knowe, and how therewith to doe; + But that whereby we _reason, liue and be_, + Within our selues, we strangers are thereto. + + We seeke to know the mouing of each spheare, + And the strange cause of th' ebs and flouds of _Nile_; + But of that clock, within our breasts we beare, + The subtill motions we forget the while. + + We that acquaint our selues with euery _Zoane_ + And passe both _Tropikes_ and behold the _Poles_, + When we come home, are to our selues vnknown, + And vnacquainted still with our owne _Soules_. + + We study _Speech_ but others we perswade; + We _leech-craft_ learne, but others cure with it; + We interpret _lawes_, which other men haue made, + But reade not those which in our hearts are writ." + + (pp. 18-20.) + +Again:-- + + +IN WHAT MANNER THE SOULE IS UNITED TO THE BODY. + + But how shall we this _union_ well expresse? + Nought ties the _soule_; her subtiltie is such + She moues the bodie, which she doth possesse, + Yet no part toucheth, but by _Vertue's_ touch. + + Then dwels shee not therein as in a tent, + Nor as a pilot in his ship doth sit; + Nor as the spider in his web is pent; + Nor as the waxe retaines the print in it; + + Nor as a vessell water doth containe; + Nor as one liquor in another shed; + Nor as the heat doth in the fire remaine; + Nor as a voice throughout the ayre is spread: + + But as the faire and cheerfull _Morning light_, + Doth here and there her siluer beames impart, + And in an instant doth herselfe vnite + To the transparent ayre, in all, and part: + + Still resting whole, when blowes th' ayre diuide: + Abiding pure, when th' ayre is most corrupted; + Throughout the ayre, her beams dispersing wide, + And when the ayre is tost, not interrupted: + + So doth the piercing _Soule_ the body fill, + Being all in all, and all in part diffus'd; + Indiuisible, incorruptible still, + Not forc't, encountred, troubled or confus'd. + + And as the _sunne_ aboue, the light doth bring, + Though we behold it in the ayre below; + So from th' Eternall Light the _Soule_ doth spring, + Though in the body she her powers doe show. + + (pp. 61-2.) + +Further, "An Acclamation":-- + + +AN ACCLAMATION. + + O! what is Man (great Maker of mankind!) + That Thou to him so great respect dost beare! + That Thou adornst him with so bright a mind, + Mak'st him a king, and euen an angel's peere! + + O! what a liuely life, what heauenly power, + What spreading vertue, what a sparkling fire! + How great, how plentifull, how rich a dower + Dost Thou within this dying flesh inspire! + + Thou leau'st Thy print in other works of Thine, + But Thy whole image Thou in Man hast writ; + There cannot be a creature more diuine, + Except (like Thee) it should be infinit. + + But it exceeds man's thought, to thinke how hie + _God_ hath raisd _Man_, since _God a man_ became; + The angels doe admire this _Misterie_, + And are astonisht when they view the same. + + (pp. 81-2.) + +Again:-- + + +THAT THE SOULE IS IMMORTAL, AND CANNOT DIE. + + Nor hath he giuen these blessings for a day, + Nor made them on the bodie's life depend; + The _Soule_ though made in time, _suruives for aye_, + And though it hath beginning, sees no end. + + Her onely _end_, is _neuer-ending_ blisse; + Which is, _th' eternall face of God to see_; + Who _Last of Ends_, and _First of Causes_, is: + And to doe this, she must _eternall_ bee. + + How senselesse then, and dead a soule hath hee, + Which _thinks_ his _soule_ doth with his body die! + Or _thinkes_ not so, but so would haue it bee, + That he might sinne with more securitie. + + For though these light and vicious persons say, + Our _Soule_ is but a smoake, or ayrie blast; + Which, during life, doth in our nostrils play, + And when we die, doth turne to wind at last: + + Although they say, '_Come let us eat and drinke_'; + Our life is but a sparke, which quickly dies; + Though thus they _say_, they know not what to think, + But in their minds ten thousand doubts arise. + + Therefore no heretikes desire to spread + Their light opinions, like these _Epicures_: + For so the staggering thoughts are comfortèd, + And other men's assent their doubt assures. + + Yet though these men against their conscience striue, + There are some sparkles in their flintie breasts + Which cannot be extinct, but still reuiue; + That though they would, they cannot quite bee _beasts_; + + But who so makes a mirror of his mind, + And doth with patience view himselfe therein, + His _Soule's_ eternitie shall clearely find, + Though th' other beauties be defac't with sin. + + (pp. 82-3.) + +Further, "An Acclamation":-- + + +AN ACCLAMATION. + + O ignorant poor man! what dost thou beare + Lockt vp within the casket of thy brest? + What iewels, and what riches hast thou there! + What heauenly treasure in so weak a chest! + + Looke in thy _soule_, and thou shalt _beauties_ find, + Like those which drownd _Narcissus_ in the flood: + _Honour_ and _Pleasure_ both are in thy mind, + And all that in the world is counted _Good_. + + Thinke of her worth, and thinke that God did meane. + This worthy mind should worthy things imbrace; + Blot not her beauties with thy thoughts vnclean, + Nor her dishonour with thy passions base; + + Kill not her _quickning power_ with surfettings, + Mar not her _Sense_ with sensualitie; + Cast not her serious wit on idle things: + Make not her free-_will_, slaue to vanitie. + + And when thou think'st of her _eternitie_, + Thinke not that _Death_ against her nature is; + Thinke it a _birth_; and when thou goest to die, + Sing like a swan, as if thou went'st to blisse. + + And if thou, like a child, didst feare before, + Being in the darke, where thou didst nothing see: + Now I haue broght thee _torch-light_, feare no more; + Now when thou diest, thou canst not hud-winkt be. + + And thou, my _Soule_, which turn'st thy curious eye, + To view the beames of thine owne forme diuine; + Know, that thou canst know nothing perfectly, + While thou art clouded with this flesh of mine. + + Take heed of _ouer-weening_, and compare + Thy peacock's feet with thy gay peacock's traine; + Study the best, and highest things, that are, + But of thy selfe, an humble thought retaine. + + Cast down thy selfe, and onely striue to raise + The glory of thy Maker's sacred Name; + Vse all thy powers, that Blessed Power to praise, + Which giues the power to _bee_, and _use the same_. + + (pp. 114-16.) + +Finally, here is a simile well-wrought in itself and accidentally to be +for ever associated with a celebrated criticism:-- + + +THE MOTION OF THE SOULE. + + .... how can shee but immortall bee? + When with the motions of both _Will_ and _Wit_, + She still aspireth to eternitie, + And neuer rests, till she attaine to it? + + Water in conduit pipes, can rise no higher + Then the wel-head, from whence it first doth spring: + Then sith to eternall GOD shee doth aspire, + Shee cannot be but an eternall thing. + + (p. 85.) + +The second stanza contains a metaphor that was stolen and murdered as +well, by Robert Montgomery. Concerning _his_ use of it Macaulay thus +wrote in his merciless review:--"We would not be understood, however, +to say that Mr. Robert Montgomery cannot make similitudes for himself. +A very few lines further on we find one which has every mark of +originality and on which we will be bound, none of the poets whom he +has plundered will ever think of making reprisal:-- + + 'The soul aspiring, pants its source to mount, + As streams meander level with their fount.' + +"We take this to be on the whole the worst similitude in the world. +In the first place, no stream meanders, or can possibly meander level +with its fount. In the next place, if streams did meander level with +their fount, no two motions can be less like each other than that of +meandering level and that of mounting upwards." True; but none the less +is the original 'spoiled' and despoiled metaphor, accurate and vivid. + +If the Reader will surrender himself to the task, he will be rewarded +for studying and re-studying the entire poem of "Nosce Teipsum;" and, +unless I very much mistake, will then regard Hallam's judgment on it +as inadequate rather than exaggerate, as (with intercalated remarks), +thus: "A more remarkable poem [than Drayton's and Daniel's] is that +of Sir John Davies, afterwards Chief Justice of Ireland [a mistake], +entitled, 'Nosce Teipsum,' published in 1599, usually, though rather +inaccurately, called 'On the Immortality of the Soul.' Perhaps no +language can produce a poem, extending to so great a length, of +more condensation of thought, or in which fewer languid verses will +be found. Yet, according to some definitions [of poetry] the 'Nosce +Teipsum' is wholly unpoetical, inasmuch as it shows no passion [a +greater blunder still] and little fancy [a third mistake]. If it +reaches the heart at all, it is through the reason. But since strong +argument in terse and correct style fails not to give us pleasure in +prose, it seems strange that it should lose its effect when it gains +the aid of regular metre to gratify the ear and assist the memory. +Lines there are in Davies which far out-weigh much of the descriptive +and imaginative poetry of the last two centuries, whether we estimate +them by the pleasure they impart to us, or by the intellectual vigour +they display. Experience has shown that the faculties familiarly +deemed poetical are frequently exhibited in a considerable degree, +but very few have been able to preserve a perspicuous beauty without +stiffness or pedantry (allowance made for the subject and the times), +in metaphysical reasoning, so successfully as Sir John Davies."[48] +The alleged "no passion" is contradicted by the various pathetic +autobiographic introspections and confessions brought out in this +Memorial-Introduction, and not less so by the outbursts of adoration +and praise that thunder up like the hosannahs before the great White +Throne. The similarly alleged "little fancy" is one of manifold proofs +that the critic was the most superficial of all imaginable readers with +so much pretention. "Nosce Teipsum" is radiant as the dew-bedabbled +grass with delicacies of fancy, not a few of the "fancies" being as +exquisitely touched as divine work. + +[Footnote 48: Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the 15th, +16th, and 17th Centuries: Vol. II., p. 227, edn. 1860.] + +Campbell in his "Essay on English Poetry" (prefixed to his +"Specimens") may be read with interest after Hallam. Accepting from +Johnson as Johnson from Dryden the name of "metaphysical poets," he +observes:--"The term of metaphysical poetry would apply with much more +justice to the quatrains of Sir John Davies and those of Sir Fulke +Greville, writers who, at a later period, found imitators in Sir Thomas +Overbury and Sir William Davenant. Davies's poem on the Immortality +of the Soul, entitled "_Nosce teipsum_," will convey a much more +favourable idea of metaphysical poetry than the wittiest effusions of +Donne and his followers. Davies carried abstract reasoning into verse +with an acuteness and felicity which have seldom been equalled. He +reasons undoubtedly with too much labour, formality, and subtlety, +to afford uniform poetical pleasure. The generality of his stanzas +exhibit hard arguments interwoven with the pliant materials of fancy so +closely, that we may compare them to a texture of cloth and metallic +threads, which is cold and stiff, while it is splendidly curious. There +is this difference, however, between Davies and the commonly-styled +metaphysical poets, that _he_ argues like a hard thinker, and _they_, +for the most part, like madmen. If we conquer the drier parts of +Davies' poem, and bestow a little attention on thoughts which were +meant, not to gratify the indolence, but to challenge the activity of +the mind, we shall find in the entire essay fresh beauties at every +perusal: for in the happier parts we come to logical truths so well +illustrated by ingenious similes, that we know not whether to call the +thoughts more poetically or philosophically just. The judgment and +fancy are reconciled, and the imagery of the poems seems to start more +vividly from the surrounding shades of abstraction." + +The 'coldness' of 'cloth and metallic threads' which the critic applies +to the 'hard arguments' of _Nosce Teipsum_ is a mere imagination. But +besides, the 'metallic threads' are not for warmth but for splendour. +The lining of the 'splendidly curious' garment is to be looked for for +warmth. Similarly the 'hard arguments' would have been unpoetical as +unphilosophical had they been 'warm' with the warmth of the 'clothing' +in similes and fancies. The 'hardness' is where it ought to be--in +the thinking: but it is a hardness like the bough that is green with +leafage and radiant with bloom and odorous with 'sweet scent' and +pliant to every lightest touch of the breeze. The leaf and bloom start +from the 'hard' bough rightly, fittingly 'hard' to its utmost twig. The +alleged 'too much labour' is singularly uncharacteristic. As for the +'madness' I can but exclaim--Oh for more of such 'fine lunacy' as in +Donne is condemned! His and compeers' 'madness' is worth cart-loads of +most men's sanity. + +In our own day Dr. George Macdonald has spoken more wisely if still +somewhat superficially of "_Nosce Teipsum_" in his charming "England's +Antiphon." Having explained that by "Immortality of the Soul" is +intended "the spiritual nature of the soul, resulting in continuity +of existence," he proceeds:--"It [_Nosce Teipsum_] is a wonderful +instance of what can be done for metaphysics in verse, and by means +of imaginative or poetic embodiment generally. Argumentation cannot +of course naturally belong to the region of poetry, however well +it may comport itself when there naturalized; and consequently, +although there are most poetic no less than profound passages in the +treatise, a light scruple arises whether its constituent matter can +properly be called poetry. At all events, however, certain of the +more prosaic measures and stanzas lend themselves readily, and with +much favour, to some of the more complex of logical necessities. And +it must be remembered that in human speech, as in the human mind, +there are no absolute divisions: power shades off into feeling; and +the driest logic may find the heroic couplet render it good service." +(pp. 105-6). The 'scruple' must be 'light' indeed that has to decide +whether the 'reasoning' of "Nosce Teipsum" be or be not 'poetry.' It +is astounding that at this time o' day any should attempt to exclude +the highest region of the intellect and its noblest occupation from +poetry. Poetry I must hold absolutely is poetry, whatever be its matter +and form if the thinking be glorified by imagination or tremulous with +emotion. It is sheer folly to refuse to the Poet any material within +the compass of the universe. Especially deplorable is it to have to +argue for possibilities of poetry in the greatest of all thinking, +viz., metaphysics, in the face of such actualities of achievement as in +Davies and Lord Brooke and Donne. + +A second characteristic of "Nosce Teipsum" that calls for notice +is its _perfection of workmanship_ shown in the _mastery of an +extremely difficult stanza_, as well as its solidity of material. +Here unquestionably Sir John Davies far excels Lord Brooke and Donne, +and later, Sir William Davenant in "Gondibert." The two former are +occasionally (it must be granted) semi-inarticulate, and the last +is very often monotonous and trying. "Nosce Teipsum" is throughout +articulate and unmistakeable, and never flags. You have a fear o' +times that a metaphor will prove grotesque or mean: or a vein of +thought pinch and go out from ore to bare limestone. But invariably an +imaginative touch, or a colour-like epithet, or a thrill of emotion, +lifts up the mean into a transfiguring atmosphere as of sun-set purples +and crysolites, and gives to grotesquest gargoyles (as of cathedrals) +a strange fitness. Then when a thought or illustration seems about +to end, debasedly, another forward-carrying and ennobling, swiftly +succeeds. + +There is more than dexterity, there is consummate art--the art of a +conscious master--in the inter-weaving of the lines and stanzas of +"Nosce Teipsum." Professor Craik recognised the difficulty and the +triumph, but fails by ultra-ingenuity in accounting for either the +selection of the measure or the miracle of its continuous success. +His criticism is worth recalling, thus:--"A remarkable poem of this +age ... is the 'Nosce Teipsum' of Sir John Davies ... a philosophical +poem, the earliest of the kind in the language. It is written in rhyme, +in the common heroic ten-syllable verse, but disposed in quatrains, +like the early play of Misogonus, already mentioned, and other poetry +of the same era, or like Sir Thomas Overbury's poem of 'The Wife,' +the 'Gondibert' of Sir William Davenant, and the 'Annus Mirabilis' of +Dryden, at a later period. No one of these writers has managed this +difficult stanza so successfully as Davies: it has the disadvantage +of requiring the sense to be in general closed at certain regularly +and quickly-recurring turns, which yet are very ill adapted for an +effective pause; and even all the skill of Dryden has been unable to +free it from a certain air of monotony and languor,--a circumstance of +which that poet may be supposed to have been himself sensible, since he +wholly abandoned it after one or two early attempts. Davies, however, +has conquered its difficulty; and, as has been observed, 'perhaps no +language can produce a poem, extending to so great a length, of more +condensation of thought, or in which fewer languid verses will be +found.' (Hallam, as before.) In fact, it is by this condensation and +sententious brevity, so carefully filed and elaborated, however, as +to involve no sacrifice of perspicuity or fulness of expression, that +he has attained his end. Every quatrain is a pointed expression of a +separate thought, like one of Rochefoucault's maxims; each thought +being, by great skill and painstaking in the packing, made exactly to +fit and to fill the same case. It may be doubted, however, whether +Davies would not have produced a still better poem if he had chosen a +measure which would have allowed him greater freedom and real variety; +unless, indeed, his poetical talent was of a sort that required the +suggestive aid and guidance of such artificial restraints as he had to +cope with in this; and what would have been a bondage to a more fiery +and teeming imagination, was rather a support to his."[49] + +[Footnote 49: _A Compendious History of English Literature_, &c., Vol. +I., p. 577, edn. 1866.] + +Most of this must be read _cum grano salis_. Davies elected his +measure and stanza with evidently entire spontaneity; and it is an +odd reversal of the simple matter of fact to ascribe the 'artificial +restraints' chosen, to an absence 'of a fiery and teeming imagination,' +when, as all observation demonstrates, the more fiery and fecund +the imagination of a Poet, the more exquisitely obedient is he to +the subtlest and most intricate movements of his measure--just as +the bluest-blooded race-horse is a law to itself whereas your stolid +dray-cart or plough-drawer needs the "artificial restraints" of all +kinds of gear, and the constraint of whip and blow and vociferation. I +can well suppose that but for the "Fairy Queen" Sir John Davies might +have chosen its stanza, but just as to-day "In Memoriam" has taken +to itself its form and music to the exclusion of every other--though +a very ancient English measure--so Spenser's immortal poem precluded +"Nosce Teipsum" following in the same. I cannot admit "artificial +restraints" in the sense of needed restraints or aid. There was the +stanza, and the genius of Sir John Davies appropriated it--since +Spenser's, in all worship, could not be taken--and, like a great Vine, +clad its natural slenderness and poorness of build with wealth of +bright green leafage and clustered fruitage. The nicety and daintiness +of workmanship, the involute and nevertheless firmly-completed and +manifested imagery of "Nosce Teipsum" wherewith this nicety and +daintiness are wrought, place Sir John Davies artistically among the +finest of our Poets. Southey wrote decisively on this:--"Sir John +Davies and Sir William Davenant, avoiding equally the opposite faults +of too artificial and too careless a style, wrote in numbers which, for +precision and clearness, and felicity and strength, have never been +surpassed." For 'felicity' I should have said 'flexibility.'[50] + +[Footnote 50: To Southey's praise be it remembered, that he was the +first emphatically to regret that there had been no collective edition +of Sir John Davies's Works, as thus: "It may be regretted that he did +not leave representatives who would have thought it a duty and an +honour to publish all that could be collected of his writings; thus +erecting the best and most enduring monument to his memory." (British +Poets: Chaucer to Jonson: p. 686). Our edition of his Prose and Verse +fulfils Southey's wish.] + +Again our examples of the mastery and perfection of workmanship must be +brief; but take these:-- + + "Nor can her wide imbracements fillèd bee; + For they that most, and greatest things embrace, + Inlarge thereby their minds' capacitie, + As streames inlarg'd, inlarge the channel's space. + + _All things receiu'd, doe such proportion take, + As those things haue, wherein they are receiu'd_: + So little glasses little faces make, + And narrow webs on narrow frames be weau'd; + + Then what vast body must we make the _mind_ + Wherin are men, beasts, trees, towns, seas, and lands; + And yet each thing a proper place doth find, + And each thing in the true proportion stands? + + Doubtlesse this could not bee, but that she turnes + Bodies to spirits, by _sublimation_ strange; + As fire conuerts to fire the things it burnes + As we our meats into our nature change. + + From their grosse _matter_ she abstracts the _formes_, + And draws a kind of _quintessence_ from things; + Which to her proper nature she transformes, + To bear them light on her celestiall wings: + + This doth she, when, from things _particular_, + She doth abstract the _universall kinds_; + Which bodilesse and immateriall are, + And can be lodg'd but onely in our minds: + + And thus from diuers _accidents_ and _acts_, + Which doe within her obseruation fall, + She goddesses, and powers diuine, abstracts: + As _Nature_, _Fortune_, and the _Vertues_ all." + + (pp. 42-44.) + +Again:-- + + _Are they not sencelesse_ then, that thinke the Soule + Nought but a fine perfection of the _Sense_; + Or of the formes which _fancie_ doth enroule, + A _quicke resulting_, and a _consequence_? + + What is it then that doth the _Sense_ accuse, + Both of _false judgements_, and _fond appetites_? + What makes vs do what _Sense_ doth most refuse? + Which oft in torment of the _Sense_ delights? + + _Sense_ thinkes the _planets_, _spheares_ not much asunder; + What tels vs then their distance is so farre? + _Sense_ thinks the lightning borne before the thunder; + What tels vs then they both together are? + + When men seem crows far off vpon a towre, + _Sense_ saith, th'are crows; what makes vs think them men? + When we in _agues_, thinke all sweete things sowre, + What makes vs know our tongue's false iudgement then? + + What power was that, whereby _Medea_ saw, + And well approu'd, and prais'd the better course, + When her rebellious _Sense_ did so withdraw + Her feeble powers, as she pursu'd the worse? + + Did _Sense_ perswade _Vlisses_ not to heare + The mermaid's songs, which so his men did please; + As they were all perswaded, through the eare + To quit the ship, and leape into the _seas_? + + Could any power of _Sense_ the _Romane_ moue, + To burn his own right hand with courage stout? + Could _Sense_ make _Marius_ sit vnbound, and proue + The cruell lancing of the knotty gout? + + Doubtlesse in _Man_ there is a _nature_ found, + Beside the _Senses_, and aboue them farre; + 'Though most men being in sensuall pleasures drownd, + 'It seems their _Soules_ but in their _Senses_ are.' + + If we had nought but _Sense_, then onely they + Should haue sound minds, which haue their _Senses_ sound; + But _Wisdome_ growes, when _Senses_ doe decay, + And _Folly_ most in quickest _Sense_ is found. + + If we had nought but _Sense_, each liuing wight, + Which we call _brute_, would be more sharp then we; + As hauing _Sense's apprehensiue might_, + In a more cleere, and excellent degree. + + But they doe want that _quicke discoursing power_, + Which doth in vs the erring _Sense_ correct; + Therefore the _bee_ did sucke the painted flower, + And _birds_, of grapes, the cunning shadow, peckt. + + _Sense_ outsides knows; the Soule throgh al things sees; + _Sense_, _circumstance_; she, doth the _substance_ view; + _Sense_ sees the barke, but she, the life of trees; + _Sense_ heares the sounds, but she, the concords true. + + (pp. 35-38.) + +Once more:-- + + I know my bodie's of so fraile a kind, + As force without, feauers within can kill; + I know the heauenly nature of my minde, + But 'tis corrupted both in wit and will: + + I know my _Soule_ hath power to know all things, + Yet is she blinde and ignorant in all; + I know I am one of Nature's little kings, + Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall. + + I know my life's a paine and but a span, + I know my _Sense_ is mockt with euery thing: + And to conclude, I know my selfe a MAN, + Which is a _proud_, and yet a _wretched_ thing. + + (p. 24.) + + If the pathos and grandeur of Pascal be anticipated in + these lines, Pope has certainly appropriated Davies' + favourite metaphor of the 'spider.' Witness the Sense + of Feeling illustrated:-- + + Much like a subtill spider, which doth sit + In middle of her web, which spreadeth wide; + If ought doe touch the vtmost thred of it, + Shee feeles it instantly on euery side. + + (p. 70). + +So in the _Essay of Man_:-- + + "The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine, + Feels at each thread, and lives along the line." + +Another now familiar 'metaphor' also occurs in "Nosce Teipsum":-- + + "Heere _Sense's apprehension_, end doth take; + As when a stone is into water cast, + One circle doth another circle make, + Till the last circle touch the banke at last." + + (p. 72.) + +These two characteristics, viz., (1) _deep and original thinking_, +(2) _perfection of workmanship, or mastery of an extremely difficult +stanza_--embrace that in "Nosce Teipsum," regarded broadly, which +I am anxious to have the Reader recognize and 'prove' for himself. +Subsidiary to them is one other thing--not shared with many of +our Poets and therefore demanding specific statement--viz. its +_condensation throughout_. Hallam and Craik have called attention to +this; and the student cannot fail to be struck with it. It is not +simply that the stanzas are as so many rings of gold each complete in +itself--much as Proverbs are--but that whether it be idea or opinion or +metaphor there is no beating of it out, as though yards of gold-leaf +or tin-foil were more valuable than the relatively small solid ore +that has been so manipulated: or the common mistake of imagining that +a pound of feathers is heavier than a pound of lead. From Dean Donne +until now "comparisons are odious." Nevertheless when one recalls +the attenuated thought and the blatant verbiage of not a few of our +Poets, this resolute sifting out of everything extraneous is not less +noticeable than commendable. It assures us that the Poet was conscious +of his resources--of his unused wealth of thought and imagination and +fancies. He who compacts his carbon into a Koh-i-noor has infinite +supplies of it. Similarly a Poet who could and did so lavishly add +great thought to great thought and vivid metaphor to vivid metaphor, +and still go on adding in smallest possible compass, declares his +intellect to be of the highest. I take two stanzas as illustrative +equally of condensed thought and condensed metaphor concerning our +First Parents:-- + + When their reasons eye was sharpe and cleare, + And (as an eagle can behold the sunne) + Could haue approcht th' Eternall Light as neare, + As the intellectuall angels could haue done: + + Euen then to them the _Spirit of Lyes_ suggests + That they were blind, because they saw not ill; + And breathes into their incorrupted brests + A curious _wish_, which did corrupt their _will_. + +Your Rhetorician-poet would have expatiated on his 'Eagle' through +a hundred lines. Your mere Metaphysician would have entangled +himself with distinctions between 'wish' and 'will' endlessly. +Similarly how succinctly memorable is this of man's un-willinghood +to know himself--every stanza a perfect circle but all the circles +interlinked:-- + + We study _Speech_ but others we perswade; + We _leech-craft_ learne, but others cure with it; + We interpret _lawes_, which other men haue made, + But reade not those which in our hearts are writ. + + Is it because the minde is like the eye, + Through which it gathers knowledge by degrees-- + Whose rayes reflect not, but spread outwardly: + Not seeing it selfe when other things it sees? + + No, doubtlesse; for the mind can backward cast + Vpon her selfe, her vnderstanding light; + But she is so corrupt, and so defac't, + As her owne image doth her selfe affright. + + As in the fable of the Lady faire, + Which for her lust was turnd into a cow; + When thirstie to a streame she did repaire, + And saw her selfe transform'd she wist not how: + + At first she startles, then she stands amaz'd, + At last with terror she from thence doth flye; + And loathes the watry glasse wherein she gaz'd, + And shunnes it still, though she for thirst doe die: + + Euen so _Man's Soule_ which did God's image beare, + And was at first faire, good, and spotlesse pure; + Since with her _sinnes_ her beauties blotted were, + Doth of all sights her owne sight least endure: + + For euen at first reflection she espies, + Such strange _chimeraes_, and such monsters there; + Such toyes, such _antikes_, and such vanities, + As she retires, and shrinkes for shame and feare. + + And as the man loues least at home to bee, + That hath a sluttish house haunted with _spirits_; + So she impatient her owne faults to see, + Turnes from her selfe and in strange things delites. + + For this few _know themselues_: for merchants broke + View their estate with discontent and paine; + And _seas_ are troubled, when they doe reuoke + Their flowing waues into themselues againe. + + (pp. 20-22.) + +How daintily-put and how divinely ennobled by the sacred reference +is this of the soul's yearning after that higher ideal that is ever +receding horizon-like to our vision:-- + + Then as a _bee_ which among weeds doth fall, + Which seeme sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay; + She lights on that, and this, and tasteth all, + But pleasd with none, doth rise, and soare away; + + So, when the _Soule_ finds here no true content, + And, like _Noah's_ doue, can no sure footing take; + She doth returne from whence she first was sent, + And flies to _Him_ that first her wings did make. (p. 87) + +For condensed and close-packed thought and imagery the 'Reasons' for +the 'Immortalitie of the Soule' (pp. 83-99) are not to be equalled +anywhere. + +We may not linger over "Nosce Teipsum." Passing to the "Hymnes to +Astræa" and "Orchestra, or a Poeme of Dauncing" while they have the +same characteristics with "Nosce Teipsum," they yet suggest another +characteristic in Davies as a Poet--_unexpectedness of brilliant and +great things_. You count on the Lark's up-springing and the Lark's +idyllic song, if you are traversing its bladed or daisied possession; +but you are startled if it rise from the mired or dusty street or +the inodorous slum. You look for the eagle when you have climbed +Shehallion and other Highland mountain fastnesses; but suppose it +were to flap out upon you as you paced into your semi-suburban villa. +So in "Nosce Teipsum," as seen, deep thought perfectly worked is what +knowing the Poet you look for therein; but even in "Hymnes to Astræa" +and "Orchestra" you very soon discover that it is still the Poet of +"Nosce Teipsum" who sings. The moods of thought are airier and more +vivacious substantively, but the thinking and shaping and colouring of +imagination is the same; and 'unexpected' is really _the_ word that +seems to me to express the out-flashing of the higher faculty. Turning +to the "Hymnes to Astræa," how exquisite are the fancy and the flattery +of Hymne V., "To the Larke," as she is wooed by the Poet-Courtier to be +his minstrel to 'sing' of Elizabeth. You do not for a moment feel the +'artificial restraint' of the margin-letters that go to form Elizabetha +Regina:-- + + Earley, cheerfull, mounting Larke, + Light's gentle vsher, Morning's clark, + In merry notes delighting; + Stint awhile thy song, and harke, + And learn my new inditing. + + Beare vp this hymne, to heau'n it beare, + Euen vp to heau'n, and sing it there, + To heau'n each morning beare it; + Haue it set to some sweet sphere, + And let the Angels heare it. + Renownd Astræa, that great name, + Exceeding great in worth and fame, + Great worth hath so renownd it; + It is Astræa's name I praise, + Now then, sweet Larke, do thou it raise, + And in high Heauen resound it. + + (p. 133.) + +Meet companion to this is Hymne VII., "To the Rose:"-- + + Eye of the Garden, Queene of flowres, + Love's cup wherein he nectar powres, + Ingendered first of nectar; + Sweet nurse-child of the Spring's young howres, + And Beautie's faire character. + + Best iewell that the Earth doth weare, + Euen when the braue young sunne draws neare, + To her hot Loue pretending; + Himselfe likewise like forme doth beare, + At rising and descending. + + Rose of the Queene of Loue belou'd; + England's great Kings diuinely mou'd, + Gave Roses in their banner; + It shewed that Beautie's Rose indeed, + Now in this age should them succeed, + And raigne in more sweet manner. + + (p. 135.) + +That the large and intense homage of Davies (among his illustrious +contemporaries), in these "Hymnes" was genuine not simulated, +spontaneous not mercenary, the apostrophe to Envy protests. With an +echo of the old 'exegi monumentum' or reminiscence of Shakespeare's +then not long published Sonnets, he thus writes:-- + + Enuy, goe weepe; my Muse and I + Laugh thee to scorne; thy feeble eye + Is dazeled with the glory + Shining in this gay poesie, + And little golden story. + + Behold how my proud quill doth shed + Eternall _nectar_ on her head; + The pompe of coronation + Hath not such power her fame to spread, + As this my admiration. + + Respect my pen as free and franke + Expecting not reward nor thanke, + Great wonder onely moues it; + I never made it mercenary, + Nor should my Muse this burthen carrie + As hyr'd, but that she loues it. + + (p. 154.) + +Then in "Orchestra" you are again and again reminded that, mere sport +of wit though it be, "suddaine, rash, half-capreol of my wit," as he +himself calls it to Martin (p. 159), it is a man of rare genius who +sports. So much so that ever and anon you perceive, as Cleopatra of her +Anthony: + + ------"his delights + Were dolphin-like; _they show'd his tack above_ + _The element they lived in_." (v. 2.) + +That is, even among the trivialities about 'Dauncing' and the +frivolities of laudation, you are re-called to grander things--as in +the Summer one sees breaks of blue in the over-arching sky above some +miserable Pick-nick party desecrating some glorious forest-dell. I cull +two out of manifold examples of the unexpectedness that I now wish to +point out--as thus of the antiquity yet vitality of 'Dauncing':-- + + "Thus doth it equall age with age inioy, + And yet in lustie youth for euer flowers; + Like loue his sire, whom Paynters make a boy, + Yet is the eldest of the heau'nly powers; + Or like his brother Time, whose wingèd howers + Going and comming will not let him dye, + But still preserve him in his infancie." + + (p. 169.) + +That is 'brilliant' but this is 'great,' indeed magnificent, of the +Sea:-- + + "Loe the _Sea_ that fleets about the Land, + And like a girdle clips her solide waist, + Musicke and measure both doth vnderstand; + For his great chrystall eye is always cast + Vp to the Moone, and on her fixèd fast; + And as she daunceth in her pallid spheere, + So daunceth he about her Center heere." (p. 179.) + +I know not where, outside of Milton, to match that personification of +the Sea, with its "great chrystall eye"; and 'palid' is as tenderly +delicate as the other is grand. Coleridge must have carried it in his +omniverous memory, for surely one of the most memorable of the stanzas +in his "Ancient Mariner" drew its inspiration thence, as thus:-- + + "Still as a slave before his lord, + The ocean hath no blast; + His great bright eye most silently + Up to the Moon is cast-- + If he may know which way to go; + For she guides him smooth or grim. + See, brother, see! how graciously + She looketh down on him." + (Pt. VI.) + +At this point it may interest some to read Sir John Harington's welcome +to the Poet on the publication of 'Orchestra', thus:-- + + +_Of Master_ John Dauies _Booke of Dancing_. _To Himselfe._ + + While you the Planets all doe set to dancing, + Beware such hap, as to the Fryer was chancing: + Who preaching in a Pulpit old and rotten, + Among some notes, most fit to be forgotten: + Vnto his Auditory thus he vaunts, + To make all Saints after his pype to dance: + It speaking, which as he himselfe aduances, + To act his speech with gestures, lo, it chances, + Downe fals the Pulpit, sore the man is brusèd, + Neuer was Fryer and Pulpit more abusèd. + Then beare with me, though yet to you a stranger, + To warne you of the like, nay greater danger. + For though none feare the falling of those sparkes, + (And when they fall, t'will be good catching Larkes) + Yet this may fall, that while you dance and skip, + With female Planets, sore your foote may trip, + That in your lofty Caprioll and turne + Their motion may make your dimension burne." + + (Epigrams, Book II. 67.) + +I am tempted to further critical examination of this very remarkable +Poetry; but feel constrained by already transgressed limits to withhold +them for the present. But I must say something on the Epigrams +and Minor Poems. I have 'compunctious visitings' in re-publishing +them, even though they have been included by Dyce and by Colonel +Cunningham in their successive editions of Marlowe. In my Note (Vol. +II., pp. 3-6), I give bibliographical and other details concerning +these Epigrams; and I correct a mis-assignation of certain by Dyce +to Davies that belong to Henry Hutton. It must be conceded that the +Epigrams have dashes of the roughness, even coarseness, of the age. +They self-drevealingly belong to the wild-oats sowing of the Poet's +youthful period. Nevertheless, I have ventured their reproduction in +integrity for four reasons:-- + + (_a_) These Epigrams, from their subjects and style, are valuable, as + expressing the _tone_ of society at the time. + + (_b_) It would be _suppressio veri_ to withhold them, toward an + accurate estimate of their Author. They furnish elements of judgment. + + (_c_) They were what gained the Poet 'a name': even when tartly spoken + of by Guilpin he is called the 'English Martial' from them. + + (_d_) These Epigrams belong to a section of our early Literature + that contemporaneously was abundant; and it were advantageous if + characteristics of particular periods were more recognised in literary + criticism. + +Besides Guilpin, a very rare volume of early Verse by Ashmore, +furnishes a hitherto overlooked Epigram, wherein "Nosce Teipsum" and +the Epigrams, are noticed with well-put praise. I am fortunate enough +to be able to give it, which I do in its English form only, the Latin +being poor and inaccurate. It is inscribed "Ad D. Io. Davies, Milite +Iudicem Itinerium" and thus runs:-- + + "If Plato lived and saw those heaven-breathed Lines + Where thou the Essence of the Soule confines; + Or merry Martiale read thy Epigrammes, + Where sportingly, these looser times thou blames: + Though both excel, yet (in their severall wayes) + They both ore-come, would yeeld to thee the Prise."[51] + +[Footnote 51: Ashmore (J). Certain Selected Odes of Horace Englished, +with Poems of divers Subiects translated. Whereunto are added, both +in Latin and English, sundry new Epigrammes, Anagrammes, Epitaphes. +1621 sm. 4^{o}. As this Volume is seldom to be met with, I take the +opportunity of adding here the Anagram to Bacon, which does not appear +to have been known to his Editors or Biographers. + +To the Right Honourable, Sir Francis Bacone, Knight, Lord High +Chancelor of England. + + Anagr { Bacone + { Beacon + + Thy Vertuous Name and Office, joyne with Fate, + To make thee the bright Beacon of the State. + +I just observe, as my book passes through the Press, that ANTHONY +A-WOOD quotes (probably) above, without naming the author.] + + +His name-sake, John Davies of Hereford similarly saluted him. His +'Lines' with others, will appear more fitly in the fuller 'Life.' +Meanwhile, as carrying within it, perhaps the most memorable +circumstance appertaining to these 'Epigrams,' I must ask attention +here, to one of Wordsworth's finest minor poems--his + + +"POWER OF MUSIC. + + An Orpheus! an Orpheus! yes, Faith may grow bold, + And take to herself all the wonders of old;-- + Near the stately Pantheon you'll meet with the same, + In the street that from Oxford hath borrowed its name. + + His station is there; and he works on the crowd, + He sways them with harmony merry and loud; + He fills with his power all their hearts to the brim-- + Was aught ever heard like his fiddle and him? + + What an eager assembly! what an empire is this! + The weary have life, and the hungry have bliss; + The mourner is cheered, and the anxious have rest; + And the guilt-burthened soul is no longer opprest. + + As the Moon brightens round her the clouds of the night, + So He, where he stands, is a centre of light; + It gleams on the face, there, of the dusky-browed Jack, + And the pale-visaged Baker's, with basket on back. + + That errand-bound 'Prentice was passing in haste-- + What matter! he's caught--and his time runs to waste; + The Newsman is stopped, though he stops on the fret; + And the half-breathless Lamp-lighter--he's in the net! + + The Porter sits down on the weight which he bore; + The Lass with her barrow wheels hither her store;-- + If a thief could be here he might pilfer at ease; + She sees the Musician, 'tis all that she sees! + + He stands, backed by the wall; he abates not his din; + His hat gives him vigour, with boons dropping in, + From the old and the young, from the poorest; and there! + The one-pennied Boy has his penny to spare. + + O blest are the hearers, and proud be the hand + Of the pleasure it spreads through so thankful a band; + I am glad for him, blind as he is!--all the while + If they speak 'tis to praise, and they praise with a smile. + + That tall Man, a giant in bulk and in height, + Not an inch of his body is free from delight; + Can he keep himself still, if he would? oh, not he! + The music stirs in him like wind through a tree. + + Mark that Cripple who leans on his crutch; like a tower + That long has leaned forward, leans hour after hour!-- + That Mother, whose spirit in fetters is bound, + While she dandles the Babe in her arms to the sound. + + Now, coaches and chariots! roar on like a stream; + Here are twenty souls happy as souls in a dream: + They are deaf to your murmurs--they care not for you, + Nor what ye are flying, nor what ye pursue! + +What is this but a glorified version of a portion of Epigram 38? Here +it is:-- + + "As doth the Ballad-singer's auditory, + Which hath at Temple-barre his standing chose, + And to the vulgar sings an Ale-house story: + First stands a Porter: then, an Oyster-wife + Doth stint her cry, and stay her steps to heare him; + Then comes a Cut-purse ready with a knife, + And then a Countrey-clyent passeth neare him; + There stands the Constable, there stands the whore, + And, listening to the Song, heed not each other; + There by the Serjeant stands the debitor, + And doth no more mistrust him than his brother: + Thus Orpheus to such hearers giveth musick + And Philo to such patients giveth physic." + +Any charge of plagiarism were an outrage on Genius: but the coincidence +is remarkable. It is just possible that the later Poet may have found +the 'Epigrams' in his bookish friend SOUTHEY'S library, +and that the rough lines lingered semi-unconsciously in his memory. +The earlier is to the later, as a photograph of the actual coarse +street-group to the idealizations of the Artist: nevertheless it has +its own interest and value, neither are the Characters ill-chosen, nor +without humour. + +But on the other hand Davies, in his 47th Epigram, was no doubt +influenced by a remembrance of Sidney's 30th Stella sonnet. The +likeness as to the countries mentioned is remarkable.[52] + +[Footnote 52: See my edition of Sidney, Vol. I.] + +One flagrant appropriater of Davies' Epigrams must be nailed-up, in +the person of William Winstanley in his "The Muses Cabinet stored with +variety of Poems, both pleasant and profitable. London 1655." Thus we +read "On Rembombo":-- + + "Rembombo having spent all his estate + Went to the wars to prove more fortunate. + Being return'd, he speaks such warlike words, + No dictionary half the like affords: + He talks of flankers, gabions and scalados, + Of curtneys, parapets & palizados, + Retreats & triumphs & of carnisadoes, + Of sallies, halfe moones & of ambuscadoes: + I to requite the fustian termes he uses, + Reply with words belonging to the Muses; + As Spondes, Dactiles & Hexameters, + Stops, commas, accents, types, tropes, & pentameters, + Madrigalls, Epicediums, elegies, + Satyres, Iambicks, & Apostrophes, + Acrosticks, Aquiuoques, & epigrams: + Thus talking and being understood by neither, + We part wise as when we came together." + + (p. 43) + +Let the Reader compare this with Davies' Epigram (Vol. II., p. 23-4). +Various others are similarly transmogrified; and John Heath also is +'spoiled' (in a double sense). Yet has Winstanley the impudence to +close his volume bitingly thus:-- + + "Cease Muse, here comes a criticke, close thy page, + These lines are not strong enough for this age; + The nice new-fangled readers of these times + Will scarcely relish thy plain country rimes." + +The Minor Poems, not hitherto collected, will reward critical perusal. +Some of them are noticeable: quaint fancies, glances of wit and +wisdom, felicitous epithet, racy similes, aphoristic sayings, bird-like +notes of genuine music, and now and then, powerful sarcasm, will meet +the studious reader. The HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED MSS., which +include, besides secular poems, his long vainly-sought Metaphrase +of certain Psalms, speak for themselves. And so I leave the Reader +to raise the lid of the casket of gems now put into his hands. It +demands robustness of brain and sensibilities of spirit to appreciate +adequately Sir John Davies as a Poet; but if, in all humility of +receptiveness and open-eyedness, these volumes be read, no one +competent can go away unimpressed. Whether as Thinker or Singer he must +be placed among the rare few who have enriched our highest Literature. + + ALEXANDER B. GROSART. + + + + +POSTSCRIPT. + +MINOR POEMS, ETC. + + +There are several things relative to the Minor Poems of Sir John Davies +that require statement and elucidation; and I deem it well to give such. + + I. The Ten Sonnets to Philomel and Hymn to Music. + + II. The Entertainment to Elizabeth at Harefield by the Countess of + Derby. + + III. The Poem to King James 1st. + + IV. Dacus not Samuel Daniel. + + V. Marston and "Orchestra," &c. + + VI. Hymnes to Astræa. + +_I. The Ten Sonnets to Philomel and Hymn to Music._ In my Fuller +Worthies' Library edition of Davies, I admitted "Canzonet: a Hymne +in praise of Musick" among his Poems (pp. 297-9) because in the +"Rhapsody" it bore his initials I. D. precisely as his other accepted +pieces therein did. But I excluded the 'Ten Sonnets to Philomel' from +their having the signature originally of "Melophilus," and I. D. only +subsequently. I too hastily agreed with Sir Egerton Brydges (in his +edition of the "Rhapsody" 2 Vols., 1826) in assigning them to Dean +Donne. I could not discern Donne's manner in the 'Canzonet,' and so +had no difficulty in rejecting Brydges' alleged 'internal evidence' in +respect of it, initialled as it was. Neither did I find the 'internal +evidence' in the 'Ten Sonnets' for its Donne authorship, but, in +addition to the early signature "Melophilus," there was a note of +"Manuscripts to get" by Davison, from Donne, that has seemed to warrant +the "Ten Sonnets" being regarded as his contribution, and the later I. +D. as representing J[ohn] D[onne], and not Sir John Davies. My friend +Dr. Brinsley Nicholson has satisfied me that Davison's List of MSS. +to be received could not refer to his "Rhapsody," but to some other +intended work or private collection; and so the one point in favour +of Donne falls to the ground. The evidence as communicated to myself, +and since, in a lengthy communication to the _Athenæum_ (January 22d, +1876), may be thus summarized, (1) There is nothing in Davison's +notings which even hints that he was thinking of the "Rhapsody." (2) +The greater number of the MSS. mentioned never appeared even by a +specimen in the "Rhapsody." (3) The second entry is of + + "Sports, Masks, and Entertainments to y^{e} { late Queen + { the King," &c. + +Therefore it was written in or after 1603. But the first edition of +the "Rhapsody" containing the "Hymn to Music" signed I. D., and the +"Ten Sonnets" signed "Melophilus," and in the subsequent editions I. +D., was published in 1602, (4) There is not in the subsequent editions +a single piece by any of these memorandum-noted authors that is not in +the first--so shewing further that the memorandum had no reference to +the "Rhapsody." Of Donne and Constable there are in the editions 1608, +1611, 1621, only those given in 1602, and in no edition at all is there +a single specimen of Ben Jonson, Hodgson, Harington, Joseph Hall, &c., +&c. There remains thus only (5). The I. D. evidence, e.g.: + + 1602. 1608. 1611. 1621. + Hymn I. D. I. D. I. D. Unsigned. + Sonnets Melophilus. I. D. I. D. I. D. + 12 Wonders } Not John Dauis Sir John Dauis Sir John Davies + Lottery } in I. D. I. D. Sir I. D. + Contention } 1st Jonn Dauis Sir John Unsigned. + } edn. Dauis. + Absence hear this my protestation. Unsigned in all four editions. + +That two are unsigned in the 1621 edition is probably due to omission +made during the thorough re-distribution of the pieces into books of +Odes, &c., &c. Further (6) the "Hymn to Music" and the "Ten Sonnets" +follow consecutively, and are the very first among the "pieces by +sundry others." So in editions of 1608 and 1611 the "Twelve Wonders," +"Lottery," and "Contention" are the first of the new pieces, in +fact, open the book and follow one another successively in a group of +three--John Dauis--I. D.--John Davies. (7) We gather from inspection +of the "Table" that (_a_) the "Lottery," I. D., is John Davies; (_b_) +that Davison put I. D. after the "Lottery," knowing that he had already +appropriated I. D. to the author of the "Hymne;" and what is more, he +chose to put I. D. to the "Lottery" just when he associated the "Ten +Sonnets" with I. D. and John Davies' poems by altering Melophilus to +I. D.; (_c_) at the same time he left "Absence hear," &c., unsigned; +(_d_) what has been said under (5) and (6) suggests that Davies was a +personal friend of Davison's, and this is strengthened by there being +no MS. of Davies noted as "to get." If so, Davison was still less +likely to use ambiguous initials for anything by Davies. Once more (8) +When we add to this that the "Hymne" must go with the "Ten Sonnets" and +that it is clearly by the author of "Orchestra"; and that neither the +"Hymne" nor the "Ten Sonnets" appear in any collection of Donne's poems +printed or in MS. the external evidence in favour of Sir John Davies +as author of the work is as strong as it well can be. Internally the +student of "Orchestra" and the "Hymnes to Astræa" will readily see the +"fine Roman hand" that wrote them in the "Hymne to Music" and related +"Ten Sonnets to Philomel." There is none of the style, or conceits, or +wording, or rhythm of Donne. I add finally (9) If the "Ten Sonnets to +Philomel" were based on real love experiences, we can understand how +at first at any rate the disguise of "Melophilus" might be preferred +to I. D. It does not seem probable that they were addressed to her who +became his wife. In accord with all this both the "Hymne to Music" and +the "Ten Sonnets to Philomel" are now included among Sir John Davies's +Poems (Vol. ii. pp. 96-106.) + +II. _The Entertainment to Elizabeth at Harefield by the Countess of +Derby._ In the foot-notes to the "Lottery," (Vol. II., pp. 87-94) +several variations from Manningham's "Diary" are accepted as decided +improvements, especially those in VII., XIX., +and XXI., which were probably taken from a revised or +autograph MS. That Manningham had full information on the "Lottery" +is proved by the list he gives of the persons to whom the 'lots' +went, viz., I., To hir M^{tie}. III. La[dy] +Scroope. XXVII. La[dy] Scudamore. VI. Lady Francis. +VII. Earle of Darby's countes. VIII. Lady Southwell, +II. Countess of Darby dowager: [the Lord Keeper's wife]. +XII. Countess of Kildare. XIII. La[dy] Effingham. +XIX. La[dy] Newton. XXI. Not named. XXII. +La[dy] Warwike. XXV. La[dy] Dorothy. XXXIII. La[dy] +Susan ... XXXII. La[dy] Kidderminster. XXXI. Blank. +But there remains an interesting question to be settled, viz., the +date of this "Lottery." Nichols, apparently on the sole authority of +the "Rhapsody," gives it to a visit to the Lord Keeper's town-house +[York House] in 1601; and assigns it to York House because Sir Thomas +Egerton did not buy Harefield till 1602, and clearly by the speeches +in the "Entertainment" the Queen had never been there before August, +1602. But the "Rhapsody" date is a slip of Davison's pen or of his +printer for 1602, and the "Lottery" took place at Harefield as part of +the "Entertainment." Notices in the "Lottery" itself guide us to this +conclusion, e.g., it was about August, for in Lot 22 we read:-- + + "'Tis Summer yet,... + But 'twill be winter one day, doubt you not." + +and the visit to Harefield was in August. Then there is this to +be noted that the masquer is "A Mariner ... supposed to come from +the Carrick." Let 'the' be marked '_the_ Carrick.' The allusion is +historical. The Queen sent out Sir Richard Levison (or Lawson) and Sir +William Morrison on 19th and 26th March, 1602 to intercept the plate +fleet and do any other damage along the Spanish coast. They did not +get the Fleet and were wholly unsuccessful till 1st June, when they +came upon an immense 'carrick' from the East Indies of 1,600 tons +flanked on one side by a castle and on the other by eleven Spanish and +Portugese galleys. On the 2nd the admirals with five men of war and +two merchantmen Easterlings, beat the gallies and silenced the castle, +and on the 3rd the carrick surrendered with a cargo estimated by the +Portugese at a million of ducats. Our killed in this brilliant exploit +was six seamen (see Camden's Annals and Monson's Naval Tracts). This +proves that the Verses were _vers d'occasion_. We have '_the_ carrick' +and Cynthia who sent forth Fortune to the sea, and many a "jewel and a +gem" brought, and Fortune so commanded + + ------"as makes me now to sing + There is no fishing to the sea, no service to the King." + +Further, the Queen writing to Lord Mountjoy (Deputy to Ireland) 15th +July 1602 says "... first to assure you that we have sent a fleet +to the coast of Spain, notwithstanding our former fleet returned +with the Carrick," which shows two things (1) That Lawson and Monson +had returned prior to the 15th of July (2) that the Queen had sent +out another fleet at once; and thus Davies' verses were the more +appropriate as being not only a remembrance of good luck but an +anticipation of continued good fortune. + +These proofs of date which require no confirmation are confirmed by +this, that Manningham after the "Lottery," and on the same leaf, +gives a "dialogue betweene the bayly and a dairy mayd" before "her +Mtis coming to the house," quoting a sentence from it as found in the +"Entertainment." This leads me to state why I have given the entire +"Entertainment" to Sir John Davies. It certainly is contrary to natural +expectation that the "Lottery" verses are not introduced into the +"Entertainment," and but for other considerations the inference might +have been that only the "Lottery" was by Davies, and the rest by some +other. But there is this explanation of the absence of the "Lottery" +verses, that evidently they formed part of the amusement of one of +the rainy days--for it was a wet S^{t}. Swithin--when the speeches +and other things of the "Entertainment" took place without doors, +and distinct from the "Lottery." Then on reading the "Entertainment" +itself, there are manifold marks that the whole came from one pen, +and that pen Davies's; for throughout there is likeness of style and +thought to his avowed writings. Take these few examples: (1) "If thou +knewest the cause, thou wouldst not wonder; for I stay to entertaine +the Wonder of this time," &c. ("Entertainment," &c., Vol. II., pp. +249-50.) Cf. this with "Orchestra" st. 120, "wonder of posteritie" +(i.e., of her own time): (2) "The Guest that wee are to entertaine doth +fill all places with her divine vertues, as the Sunne fills the World +with the light of his beames." (_Ibid_, p. 250). Cf. Hymnes to Astræa, +XIV., stanza 2:-- + + "Behold her in her vertues' beames, + Extending sun-like to all realities." + +Again, XV., st. 1:-- + + "Eye of that mind most quicke and cleere,-- + Like Heaven's eye, which from his spheare + Into all things prieth; + Sees through all things euery where, + And all their natures trieth." + +(3) "Though her selfe shall eclipse her soe much, as to suffer her +brightness to bee shadowed in this obscuere and narrow _Place_, yet the +sunne beames that follow her, the traine I meane that attends vpon her, +must, by the necessitie of this _Place_, be deuided from her." (_Ibid_, +p. 251). Cf. XIX., st. 1:-- + + "Eclipsed she is, and her bright rayes, + Lie under vailes, yet many wayes + Is her faire forme reuealed." + +'Beams' and 'sunbeams' are favourite words with Davies: so too +'mirror.' (4) "Time weare very vngratefull, if it should not euer stand +still, to serue and preserue, cherish and delight her, that is the +glory of her time, and makes the Time happy wherein she liueth" (_Ibid_ +p. 251). Cf. II. st. 3, ll. 1-3. + + "Right glad am I that now I live: + Even in these days whereto you give + Great happiness and glory." + +(5) "What if she make thee a contynewell holy-day, she makes me [Place] +a perpetuall sanctuary" (_Ibid_ p. 251). Cf. IV., st. 1:-- + + "Each day of time, sweet moneth of May, + Love makes a solemne holy-day." + +(6) "Doth not the presence of a Prince make a Cottage a Court, and the +presence of the Gods make euery place Heaven?" (_Ibid_ pp. 251-2). Cf. +Dedication of "Nosce Teipsum":-- + + "Stay long (sweet spirit) ere thou to Heauen depart, + Which makest each place a heauen wherein thou art." + +In the Verse (pp. 253-4) there are abundant parallels. I must content +myself with references. With the 1st stanza + + "Beauties rose, and vertues booke, &c." + +compare Hymnes to Astræa VII., st. 3: XVII., st. 2-3 and the +"Contention" (_ad. fin._) and XIII. st. 2: XV. st. 2. Also IV. last 2 +lines: VII. st. 3. ll. 1-3: X. last 4 lines. Similar results are found +on a comparison of the "Entertainment" with the "Dialogue between a +Gentleman Usher and a Poet" (Fuller Worthies' Library edn. of Davies' +Poems: pp. 15-21.) + +I have accordingly given the whole "Entertainment" as belonging to +Sir John Davies. It is to be regretted that the Satyrs Verses are +unaccompanied by the rest of the Masque to which apparently they +belong. Harefield has the further light of glory on it of having been +the scene of Milton's "Arcades" and of the famous elm-aisle celebrated +by him in imperishable verse. The Countess of Derby, afterwards the +Lord Keeper's third wife, was the early friend of Spenser and of +Milton, and of all her eminent literary contemporaries.[53] + +[Footnote 53: As for much more I am indebted to Dr. Brinsley Nicholson +(as before) for most of the details of the above statement. He has +likewise favoured me with these additional illustrations of a refrain +in the introduction to the "Lottery." In the Queen's Entertainment at +Cawdray (Lord Montacute's), in 1591, an angler says, "Madame, it is an +olde saying, There is no fishing to the sea nor service to the King: +but it holdes when the sea is calme and the King vertuous" (Nichols' +Progresses). Greene also uses it in his James IV., when the schemer who +has gained by flattering the King, says (I. 2) + + "Now may I say as many often sing, + No fishing to the sea nor service to a King." + +See Note to the "Lottery," Vol. II., p. 88. It was surely an error +of judgment of the late Mr. John Bruce, in reproducing Manningham's +"Diary," to leave out the "Lottery," and related entries, on the weak +plea that the former had been printed in Shakespeare and Percy Society +publications. It may be here mentioned that Manningham, in giving some +of the "Lottery" verses, writes on a leaf which is followed by one of +the date of 1601; but as Mr. Collier remarks, either the leaves of +the Diary got misplaced, or else he was in the habit of using up at +after times leaves that he had left blank. Further: Chamberlain, in +a letter of October 2, 1602, mentions the visit to the Lord Keeper's +at Harefield as part of the late "Progress." The original M.S. of the +Entertainment belonged to Sir Roger Newdegate, but is now missing. +Finally: I over-looked to annotate _in loco_ in the "Entertainment" +itself, that as the Dairy house was to the left while the "House" (of +Harefield) was to the right, the Dairymaid ridicules the idea of the +Bailiff taking such a party to what she calls a Pigeon house for its +size, and which was moreover at that moment in the carpenters' hands. +In effect the Queen had to be separated from at least the greater part +of her suite.] + +III. "_Yet other Twelve Wonders of the World._" In foot-note (Vol. II., +p. 67) I promise an account of an autograph MS. of this characteristic +set of verses. It finds more fitting place here than in the Preface. +The MS. is preserved at Downing College, Cambridge, and having been +described on p. 325 of the "Third Report of the Historical MSS. +Commissioners," Mr. Beedham, (as before) was kind enough to make a +_literatim_ transcript for me (with the permission of the College +authorities). The MS. is headed "Verses giuen to the L. Treasurer vpon +Newyeares day vpon a dosen of Trenchers by Mr. Davis." In the margin +against "The Lawyer," in the same handwriting as the Verses, is this: +"This is misplaced, it should be before the physis^{n}," and similarly +against "The Country Gentleman," also in the same handwriting, is: +"This is misplaced, in the original it is before the m^{r} chant." +There is nothing to give any clue as to the precise New Year's day upon +which the Verses were furnished to the Lord Treasurer; but unless I +very much mistake, they were the "cobweb" of his "inuention" enclosed +in that letter which Mr. J. Payne Collier supposed to have gone with a +gift-copy of "Nosce Teipsum." The letter speaks for itself:-- + + "Mr. Hicks. I have sent you heer inclosed that cobweb of my + invention which I promised before Christmas: I pray you present + it, commend it, and grace it, as well for your owne sake as mine: + bycause by your nominacion I was first put to this taske, for which + I acknowledge my self beholding to you in good earnest, though the + imployment be light and trifling, because I am glad of any occasion + of being made knowne to that noble gentl. whom I honore and admire + exceedingly. If ought be to be added, or alter'd; lett me heare from + you. I shall willingly attend to doo it, the more speedily if it + be before the terme. So in haste I commend my best service to you. + Chancery Lane, 20 Jan. 1600. Yours to do you service very willingly, + Jo. Davys." (Bibl. Account, V. I., pp. 193-4; no specification of + source beyond S. P. O.) + +The handwriting of the copy in Downing College belongs to the close +of the 16th or to the earliest years of the 17th century. The second +marginal note above would seem to show that the transcript was made +from the original, then perhaps being circulated from hand to hand. +Specimens of variations may interest. In "The Courtier," l. 1, for +'liu'd' the MS. reads 'serued': l. 4, "from them that fall" for "such +as fall": l. 5, "my" for "a rich array": in the "Divine," l. 1, "one +cure doth me contente" for "and I from God am sent": l. 3, "true kinde" +for "kind true": l. 5, "Nor followe princes' Courts" for "Much wealth +I will not seeke ": "The Souldier," l. 6, "brag" for "boast": "The +Physitian," l. 1, "prolonge" for "vphold" and "life" for "state": l. 2, +"I" for "me" (_bis_): l. 6, "time & youth" for "youth and time": "The +Lawyer," l. 1, "My practice is the law" for "the Law my calling is": +ll. 5-6, + + "Some say I haue good gifts, and love where I doe take + Yet never tooke I fee, but I advisd or spake," + + + for + + + "Nor counsell did bewray, nor of both parties take, + Nor euer tooke I fee for which I neuer spake." + +"The Merchant" l. 2, "vnknowne worlds ... kingdomes doth" for "unknowne +coasts ... countries to": "The Married Man," l. 4, "choise" for +"chance": "The Wife," l. 1, "my" for "our": l. 2, "Thither am I ... +where firste" for "I thither am ... from whence": l. 3, + + "I goe not maskd abroad to visit, when I do + My secrets I bewray to none but one or two," + + for + + "I doe not visite oft, nor many, when I doe, + I tell my mind to few, and that in counsell too." + +"The Widowe" l. 1, "dyinge" _is_ inserted here before "husband": l. +3, "love" for "haue": l. 6, "Nor richer then I am, nor younger would +I seeme" for "Nor younger then I am, nor richer will I seeme": "The +Maide," l. 4, "of" for "on": l. 5, "but" for "yet." These embrace all +save orthographical and other slight variants. As derived from an +authentic _autograph_ MS. the Downing College copy is interesting and +its variants serve further to illustrate the letter to Hicks wherein +Davies expresses his willingness to make any changes--which alone +might have led Mr. Collier to see that he could not possibly refer to +"Nosce Teipsum," which was then published. + +IV. _Dacus not Samuel Daniel._ Turning to Epigrams 30 and 45 (pp. +30, 45) the reader will find in Dyce's note to the latter that he +identified 'Dacus' with Daniel, and the passage whereon he based the +identification. I passed his note though not at all satisfied with +the parallel of "dumb eloquence" to the Epigram's "silent eloquence." +Epigram 30 points rather to a rhymster of the John Taylor Water-Poet +type, and if one had patience to make the search "silent eloquence" +should doubtless be found in one or other of his many books--clumsily +appropriated from Sir Philip Sidney. Then the "dumb eloquence" of the +Complaint of Rosamond which Dyce quotes, was to the King _not_ "to his +Mistress"--even if it were what the Epigram hints "silent eloquence." +_En passant_ the phrases and variants on it was one of the aped phrases +of the gallants and poetasters of the day. Jonson who disliked Daniel, +ridicules the stanza in a way that informs us it was affected by them. +Griffin in his _Fidessa_ also has it in his "dumb message of my hidden +grief." Further: Davies of Hereford in his "Scourge of Folly" who must +have known his namesake's use of Dacus calls him Dacus the pot-poet +and speaks as much against his character as our Davies does against his +rhymes--all of which was curiously inapplicable to Samuel Daniel. At +the time Davies of Hereford wrote Daniel was a gentleman of the Queen's +bed-chamber. Lastly--and conclusively--Sir John Davies praises three +English poets in his "Orchestra" (Elizabethan edn.) of whom one is +Daniel:-- + + "O that I could old Gefferie's Muse awake + Or borrow Colin's fayre heroike stile, + Or smooth my rimes with Delia's servant's file." + +(Vol. I. p. 212). It is a pleasure to be able to vindicate Sir John +Davies from abuse of so genuine a Poet-contemporary as Daniel, and +Daniel from so weighty an adverse judgment, had it really been +Davies's. To the same good friend who has so helped me elsewhere--Dr. +Brinsley Nicholson--I owe thanks for these too-long-delayed corrections. + +V. _Marston and 'Orchestra.'_ But if Harrington and Davies of Hereford +praised, there were others who had their jeers at Orchestra, e.g. John +Marston in his 11th Satire of his Scourge of Villanie, in ridiculing +the gallant who thinks of nothing but dancing, as he afterwards does +Luscus, who talks of nothing but Plays, and vents only play-scraps, +says (1599). + + "Who ever heard spruce skipping Curio + Ere prate of ought but of the whirle on toe. + + * * * * * + + Praise but Orchestra, and the skipping art, + You shall command him, faith you have his hart + Even capring in your fist." + +Then there follows (_meo judicio_) a reminiscence or two of the poem +itself, and a laugh at the "worthy poet." Thus in 'Orchestra,' st. 59, +we have + + "According to the musicke of the spheres," + +and st. 60, + + "And imitate the starres cælestiall." + +and st. 71, speaking of Castor and Pollux: + + "Where both are carried with an equall pace + Together iumping in their turning race," + +and where, though 'iumping' is of course used in the sense not of our +'jumping' (leaping) but in that of equal or agreeing, as in "jump where +may find Cassio," or as where the folio (I. 1) has "just as this same +hour" the 4^{o} Hamlet has "jump at this dead hour"; yet it has for the +context an unlucky sound and association. Hence Marston wickedly and +waggishly continues: + + "A hall, a hall + Roome for the spheres, the orbs celestiall + Will daunce Kemps jigge; they'le revel with neate jumps; + A worthy poet hath put on their pumps. + O wits quick traverse but _sance ceo's_ slowe, + Good faith 'tis hard for nimble Curio. + Ye gracious orbes, keepe the old measuring + All's spoilde if once yee fall to capering." + +VI. _Hymnes to Astræa._ I adhere to Sir John Davies' own form of +Astraea in the collective edition of 1621. Doubtless he and the Printer +meant it for "æ' not '[oe]' inasmuch as besides Astraea's mythological +reign in the golden age over a people that became too wicked for her, +she became the constellation Virgo, as celebrated, among others, by +Barnfield in his _Cynthia_.[54] The whole of Hy. I. shows this, where +the flattery was specially apt to the subject on account of making +Astraea the daughter of Aurora: and so Hy. V. of the Lark: and Hy. XXI. + + A. B. G. + +[Footnote 54: See my edition of his Complete Poems for the Roxburghe +Club.] + + + + + THE + + COMPLETE POEMS + + OF + + SIR JOHN DAVIES: + + I. NOSCE TEIPSUM. + + + + +NOTE. + +'Nosce Teipsum' was originally published in 1599 (4to). The following +is its title-page and collation: + + Nosce teipsum + + _This Oracle expounded in two + Elegies_ + + 1. Of Humane knowledge. + + 2. Of the Soule of Man, and the immortalitie + thereof. + + [Wood-engraving of an anchor within a + border and the motto Anchora Spei.] + + London, + Printed by _Richard Field_ for _Iohn Standish_, + 1599. [4to.] + +Title-page--Dedication pp. 2--Of humane Knowledge pp. 1-8--Of the +soule of man and the immortalitie thereof pp. 9-101. A second edition +appeared in 1602, whereof the following are title-page and collation:-- + + Nosce teipsum, + + _This Oracle expounded in two + Elegies_. + + 1. Of Humane knowledge. + + 2. Of the Soule of Man, and the immortalitie + thereof. + + _Newly corrected and amended._ + + London, + Printed by _Richard Field_ for _Iohn Standish_. + 1602. [4to.] + Title-page--Dedication pp. 2, signed 'Dauys': + poem pp. 101. + +A third edition was issued in 1608. I give its title-page also: + + Nosce teipsum + + _This Oracle expounded in two + Elegies_. + + 1. Of Humane Knowledge. + + 2. Of the Soule of Man and the immortalitie + thereof. + + _Written by_ Sir Iohn Davis, _his Maiesties + Atturney generall in Ireland_. + + London, + Printed by Henry Ballard for + _Iohn Standish_. 1608. [4to.] + + Collation same with the others, _supra_. + +The next edition known to me, bears the date of 1618, along with +Orchestra and Hymnes to Astræa: and the last during the life-time of +the Author, was in the sm. 8vo of 1622, which volume contained the same +Poems with that of 1618. + + * * * * * + +Our text is a faithful reproduction, including the significant and +suggestive italics, of the last edition published by Sir John Davies, +viz., that of 1622, with the few various readings from the first and +subsequent editions. The following is the title-page and collation of +1622 edn. + + _Nosce Teipsum_ + + This Oracle expounded in two + _Elegies_. + + 1. Of Humane Knowledge. + + 2. Of the Soule of Man, and the immortalitie + thereof. + + Hymnes of _Astræa_ in + Acrosticke Verse. + + ORCHESTRA, + + OR, + + _A Poeme of Dauncing_. + + In a Dialogue betweene _Penelope_ + and one of her Wooers. + + _Not finished._ + + * * * * * + + London, + + Printed by _Augustine Mathewes_ for _Richard + Hawkins_, and are to be sold at his Shop in + Chancery Lane, neere Serieants + Inne. 1622. [8vo.] + +Title-page--Dedic^{n} pp 2--Of Humane Knowledge pp 1-8--Of the +Soule of Man and the Immortalitie thereof pp 9-81. Hymnes pp 20 +[unpaged]--Orchestra pp 47 [unpaged]. + +In my first edition of Sir John Davies' Poems in the Fuller Worthies' +Library, I printed, perhaps with too hasty decision, at the bottom +of each page, certain slight MS. notes written by the famous Bp. +Hacket, in his copy of Nosce Teipsum (1599). When it was too late to +stop progress, the mere curiosity of the jottings was perceived. I do +not deem it expedient to reproduce them here; but a specimen may be +acceptable, and here and there in the places, a few. I limit myself to +the Dedication: + + Heading, 'soveraigne': Emmanuel [but Elizabeth was meant]. + + L. 1, 'maiestie': Elizabetha: and near it [meaningless] Richar[d] + Yeorck. + + L. 1, 'North': Scotland [but erased], and so against 'sunne' (l. 2) + James, but erased. + + L. 3, 'heauenly worth': Shewes for thy glory. + + L. 5, 'alone': Supported by none but God. + + L. 6, 'great States': Great affaires. + + L. 8, 'the Almightie's hand': Per me reges regnant et dixi dii estis. + + L. 10, 'Nature's dowre': Arte's excellence the gift of nature. + + L. 13, 'Great Spirit': Deus. + + L. 16, 'Cynthia': Luna. + + L. 30, 'angell': Angellus Pommi. + + L. 32, 'angell': [Greek: [Ag]gellos Phôtos]. + + L. 33, 'Heauen': Superior: to the higher heauen. + + L. 34, 'heauen': Inferior. + +These suffice to show how carefully, if not always accurately, the +good Bishop read the poem, but also how unimportant his notes are. +On the title-page opposite the words "This Oracle," &c., is written +"written in the temple of Apollo, letters commendatory." On _verso_ of +the title-page, is this memorandum by a former owner: "This Edition +is extremely scarce. Vide Smith's Catgue. Iron Bridge, 1822. Pr. O. +16. O. This Book came out of Mr. Hacket's Library, a Descendant of Bp. +Hacket, whose Book it was, and the MS. notes are by him." The book is +now in the library of my excellent fellow-collector, G. W. Napier, +Esq., of Merchiston House, Alderley Edge, Manchester, to whom I owe its +re-use, as well as of other early editions of Davies. G. + + + + +I. $Royal Dedication$ + +TO MY MOST GRACIOVS DREAD SOVERAIGNE. + + + _To that cleere maiestie which in the North + Doth, like another Sunne in glory rise; + Which standeth fixt, yet spreads[55] her heauenly worth; + Loadstone to hearts, and loadstarre to all eyes._ + + _Like Heau'n in all; like th' Earth in this alone, + That though[56] great States by her support doe stand, + Yet she herselfe supported is of none, + But by the finger of the Almightie's hand:_ + + _To the diuinest and the richest minde, + Both by Art's purchase and by Nature's dowre, + That euer was from Heau'n to Earth confin'd, + To shew the vtmost of a creature's power:_ + + _To that great Spirit,[57] which doth great kingdomes mooue, + The sacred spring whence $right$ and $honor$ streames, + Distilling $Vertue$, shedding $Peace$ and $Loue$, + In euery place, as $Cynthia$ sheds her beames:_ + + _I offer up some sparkles of that fire, + Whereby wee $reason, liue, and moue, and be$; + These sparkes by nature euermore aspire, + Which makes them to so $high$ an $highnesse$ flee._ + + _Faire $Soule$, since to the fairest body knit,[58] + You giue such liuely life, such quickning power, + Such sweet celestiall influences to it,[59] + As keepes it still in youth's immortall flower:_ + + _(As where the sunne is present all the yeere, + And neuer doth retire his golden ray, + Needs must the Spring bee euerlasting there, + And euery season like the month of May.)_ + + _O! many, many yeeres may you remaine, + A happy angell to this happy Land; + Long, long may you on Earth our empresse raigne, + Ere you in Heauen a glorious angell stand._ + + _Stay long (sweet spirit) ere thou to Heauen depart, + Which mak'st each place a heauen wherein thou art._ + + + Her Maiestie's least and vnworthiest Subiect[60] + + IOHN DAVIES.[61] + +[Footnote 55: Spreds in 1st edn. G.] + +[Footnote 56: Thomas Davies, as before, misprints 'thro.' G.] + +[Footnote 57: Bp. Hacket writes 'Deus' against 'Spirit': but perhaps +the Queen only was (flatteringly) intended, as her poetic name of +Cynthia would seem to indicate. This word 'Spirit' is misprinted by +Thomas Davies and by Southey and usually, 'spring'. G.] + +[Footnote 58: Misprinted by Davies and Southey, as before, 'join'd'. G.] + +[Footnote 59: Davies and Southey misread + + 'And influence of such celestial kind' + +which I find supported by none of the author's own texts. G.] + +[Footnote 60: Davies and Southey, as before, misread 'Her +Maiesty's Devoted Subject and Servant' from Tate (1697). See our +Memorial-Introduction. G.] + +[Footnote 61: In 1599 edition 'Dauies,' and in 1608 edition 'Davis' and +also in its title-page: in 1622 edition, as above. G. + +[asterism]: TATE, and after him THOMAS DAVIES, +dates this Dedication 'July 11th, 1592.' It is possible that the 'Poem' +was then in manuscript: but it was not printed or published until 1599, +and there is no date to the Dedication either in that edition or in +those of 1602, 1608 or 1622. G.] + + + + +II. ANOTHER DEDICATION OF A GIFT-COPY (IN MS.) IN THE POSSESSION OF +HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, AT ALNWICK CASTLE.[62] + +[Footnote 62: On this MS. of Nosce Teipsum see our Preface. G.] + + _To the right noble, valorous, and learned Prince Henry, Earle of + Northumberland_: + + + The strongest and the noblest argument + To proue the soule immortall, rests in this: + That in no mortall thing it finds content, + But seekes an object that æternall is. + + If any soule hath this immortall signe, + (As every soule doth show it, more or lesse), + It is your spirit, heröick and diuine; + Which this true noate most liuely doth expresse; + + For being a prince, and hauing princely blood, + The noblest of all Europe in your vaines; + Having youth, wealth, pleasure, and every good, + Which all the world doth seek, with endlesse paynes. + + Yet can you never fixe y^{r} thoughts on these, + These cannot with your heavenly mind agree; + These momentary objects cannot please, + Your wingèd spirit, which more aloft doth flee. + + It only longs to learne and know the truth, + The truth of every thing, which never dies; + The nectar which præserves the soule in youth; + The manna which doth minds immortalize. + + These noble studdies, more ennoble you, + And bring more honor to your race and name + Than Hotspur's fier, which did the Scots subdew, + Then Brabant's scion, or great Charles his name. + + Then to what spirit shall I these noates commend, + But unto that which doth them best expresse; + Who will to them more kind protection lend, + Then Hee which did protect me in distresse? + + + + +_Of Humane Knowledge._ + + + Why did my parents send me to the Schooles, + That I with knowledge might enrich my mind? + Since the _desire to know_ first made men fools, + And did corrupt the root of all mankind: + + For when God's hand had written in the hearts + Of the first Parents, all the rules of good, + So that their skill infusde did passe all arts + That euer were, before, or since the Flood; + + And when their reason's eye was sharpe and cleere, + And (as an eagle can behold the sunne) + Could haue approcht th' Eternall Light as neere, + As the intellectuall angels could haue done: + + Euen then to them the _Spirit of Lyes_ suggests + That they were blind, because they saw not ill; + And breathes into their incorrupted brests + A curious _wish_, which did corrupt their _will_. + + For that same ill they straight desir'd to know; + Which ill, being nought but a defect of good, + In[63] all God's works the Diuell could not show + While Man their lord in his perfection stood. + + So that themselues were first to doe the ill, + Ere they thereof the knowledge could attaine; + Like him that knew not poison's power to kill, + Vntill (by tasting it) himselfe was slaine. + + Euen so by tasting of that fruite forbid, + Where they sought _knowledge_, they did _error_ find; + Ill they desir'd to know, and ill they did; + And to giue _Passion_ eyes, made _Reason_ blind. + + For then their minds did first in Passion see + Those wretched shapes of _Miserie_ and _Woe_, + Of _Nakednesse_, of _Shame_, of _Pouertie_, + Which then their owne experience made them know. + + But then grew _Reason_ darke, that _she_ no more, + Could the faire formes of _Good[64]_ and _Truth_ discern; + _Battes_ they became, that _eagles_ were before: + And this they got by their _desire_ to _learne_. + + But we their wretched of-spring, what doe we? + Doe not we still taste of the fruit forbid + Whiles with fond[65] fruitlesse curiositie, + In bookes prophane we seeke for knowledge hid? + + What is this _knowledge_ but the sky-stolne fire, + For which the _thiefe[66]_ still chain'd in ice doth sit? + And which the poore rude _Satyre_ did admire, + And needs would kisse but burnt his lips with it.[67] + + What is it? but the cloud of emptie raine, + Which when _Ioue's_ guest imbrac't, hee monsters got?[68] + Or the false _payles_[69] which oft being fild with paine[70], + Receiv'd the water, but retain'd it not! + +[Footnote 63: Misprinted 'and' in 1st edition and in 1608. G.] + +[Footnote 64: 'God' in 1st edition. G.] + +[Footnote 65: Foolish. G.] + +[Footnote 66: In 1st edition 'Thief' is misprinted 'shie' and Bp. +Hacket writes here: 'Prometheus stole fire: qui in tulit in terram +malum.' G.] + +[Footnote 67: Fable in Æsop [Babrius]. G.] + +[Footnote 68: Ixion. G.] + +[Footnote 69: Danaides. G.] + +[Footnote 70: Painstaking. G.] + + Shortly, what is it but the firie coach + Which the _Youth_ sought, and sought his death withal?[71] + Or the _boye's_ wings, which when he did approch + The _sunne's_ hot beames, did melt and let him fall?[72] + + And yet alas, when all our lamps are burnd, + Our bodyes wasted, and our spirits spent; + When we haue all the learnèd _Volumes_ turn'd, + Which yeeld mens wits both help and ornament: + + What can we know? or what can we discerne? + When _Error_ chokes the windowes of the minde, + The diuers formes of things, how can we learne, + That haue been euer from our birth-day blind?[73] + + When _Reasone's_ lampe, which (like the _sunne_ in skie) + Throughout _Man's_ little world her beames did spread; + Is now become a sparkle, which doth lie + Vnder the ashes, halfe extinct, and dead: + + How can we hope, that through the eye and eare, + This dying sparkle, in this cloudy place, + Can recollect these beames of knowledge cleere, + Which were infus'd in the first minds by grace? + + So might the heire whose father hath in play + Wasted a thousand pound of ancient rent; + By painefull earning of a[74] groate a day, + Hope to restore the patrimony spent. + +[Footnote 71: Phaethon. Hacket.] + +[Footnote 72: Icarus. Hacket.] + +[Footnote 73: Anima tanquam tabula, Aris[totle]. Hacket.] + +[Footnote 74: 'One' in 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + + + The wits that diu'd most deepe and soar'd most hie + Seeking Man's pow'rs, haue found his weaknesse such: + "Skill comes so slow, and life so fast doth flie, + "We learne so little and forget so much. + + For this the wisest of all morall[75] men + Said, '_He knew nought, but that he nought did know_'; + And the great mocking-Master mockt not then, + When he said, '_Truth was buried deepe[76] below_.' + + For how may we to others' things attaine, + When none of vs his owne soule vnderstands? + For which the Diuell mockes our curious braine, + When, '_Know thy selfe_' his oracle commands.[77] + +[Footnote 75: 'Mortal' in 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + +[Footnote 76: Misprinted 'here' but corrected in the errata of 1622 +edition, as above, from 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + +[Footnote 77: Oraculum Appollinis [f]uit Diabolicum. Hacket.] + + For why should wee the busie Soule beleeue, + When boldly she concludes of that and this; + When of her selfe she can no iudgement giue, + Nor how, nor whence, nor where, nor what she is? + + All things without, which round about we see, + We seeke to knowe, and how therewith to doe; + But that whereby we _reason, liue and be_, + Within our selues, we strangers are thereto. + + We seeke to know the mouing of each spheare, + And the strange cause of th' ebs and flouds of _Nile_; + But of that clocke within our breasts we beare, + The subtill motions we forget the while. + + We that acquaint our selues with euery[78] _Zoane_ + And passe both _Tropikes_ and behold the _Poles_, + When we come home, are to our selues vnknown, + And vnacquainted still with our owne _Soules_. + + We study _Speech_ but others we perswade; + We _leech-craft_ learne, but others cure with it; + We interpret _lawes_, which other men haue made, + But reade not those which in our hearts are writ. + + Is it[79] because the minde is like the eye, + Through which it gathers knowledge by degrees-- + Whose rayes reflect not, but spread outwardly: + Not seeing it selfe when other things it sees? + +[Footnote 78: Thomas Davies, as before, misprints 'each' G.] + +[Footnote 79: Misprinted 'It is': corrected by H... G.] + + No, doubtlesse; for the mind can backward cast + Vpon her selfe, her vnderstanding light; + But she is so corrupt, and so defac't, + As her owne image doth her selfe affright. + + As in the fable of the Lady faire, + Which for her lust was turnd into a cow;[80] + When thirstie to a streame she did repaire, + And saw her selfe transform'd she wist not how: + + At first she startles, then she stands amaz'd, + At last with terror she from thence doth flye; + And loathes the watry glasse wherein she gaz'd, + And shunnes it still, though she for thirst doe die: + + Euen so _Man's Soule_ which did God's image beare, + And was at first faire, good, and spotlesse pure; + Since with her _sinnes_ her beauties blotted were, + Doth of all sights her owne sight least endure: + + For euen at first reflection she espies, + Such strange _chimeraes_, and such monsters there; + Such toyes, such _antikes_, and such vanities, + As she retires, and shrinkes for shame and feare. + +[Footnote 80: Io. G.] + + And as the man loues least at home to bee, + That hath a sluttish house haunted with _spirits_;[81] + So she impatient her owne faults to see, + Turnes from her selfe and in strange things delites. + + For this few _know themselues_: for merchants broke + View their estate with discontent and paine; + And _seas_ are troubled, when they doe reuoke + Their flowing waues into themselues againe. + + And while the face of outward things we find, + Pleasing and faire, agreeable and sweet; + These things transport, and carry out the mind, + That with her selfe her selfe[82] can neuer meet. + + Yet if _Affliction_ once her warres begin, + And threat the feebler _Sense_ with sword and fire; + The _Minde_ contracts her selfe and shrinketh in, + And to her selfe she gladly doth retire: + + As _Spiders_ toucht, seek their webs inmost part; + As _bees_ in stormes vnto their hiues returne; + As bloud in danger gathers to the heart; + As men seek towns, when foes the country burn. + + If ought can teach vs ought, _Afflictions_ lookes, + (Making vs looke[83] into our selues so neere,) + Teach vs to _know our selues_ beyond all bookes, + Or all the learned Schooles that euer were. + + This _mistresse_ lately pluckt me by the eare, + And many a golden lesson hath me taught; + Hath made my _Senses_ quicke, and Reason cleare, + Reform'd my Will and rectifide my Thought. + + So doe the _winds_ and _thunders_ cleanse the ayre; + So working lees[84] settle and purge the wine; + So lop't and prunèd trees doe flourish faire; + So doth the fire the drossie gold refine. + + Neither _Minerua_ nor the learnèd Muse, + Nor rules of _Art_, not _precepts_ of the wise; + Could in my braine those beames of skill infuse, + As but the glance of this _Dame's_ angry eyes. + + She within _lists_[85] my ranging minde hath brought, + That now beyond my selfe I list[86] not goe; + My selfe am _center_ of my circling thought, + Onely _my selfe_ I studie, learne, and know. + + I know my bodie's of so fraile a kind, + As force without, feauers within can kill; + I know the heauenly nature of my minde, + But 'tis corrupted both in wit and will: + + I know my _Soule_ hath power to know all things, + Yet is she blinde and ignorant in all; + I know I am one of Nature's little kings, + Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall. + + I know my life's a paine and but a span, + I know my _Sense_ is mockt with euery thing: + And to conclude, I know my selfe a MAN, + Which is a _proud_, and yet a _wretched_ thing. + +[Footnote 81: In 1599 and 1608 more accurately 'sprites'. G.] + +[Footnote 82: Davies and Southey substitute 'the mind'. G.] + +[Footnote 83: Davies and Southey, as before, mis-substitute 'pry.' G.] + +[Footnote 84: An overlooked misprint here is 'seas': found in all the +author's own editions, and repeated until now, _e.g._ by Thomas Davies +and Southey, as before. G.] + +[Footnote 85: Bounds: as in Race-courses. G.] + +[Footnote 86: Thoms Davies, as before, mis-reads 'will'. G.] + + +OF THE SOULE OF MAN AND THE IMMORTALITE THEREOF. + + + _The lights of heau'n_ (which are the World's fair eies) + Looke downe into the World, the World to see; + And as they turne, or wander in the skies, + Suruey all things that on this _Center_ bee. + + And yet the _lights_ which in my _towre_ do shine, + Mine _eyes_ which view all obiects, nigh and farre; + Looke not into this little world of mine, + Nor see my face, wherein they fixèd are. + + Since _Nature_ failes vs in no needfull thing, + Why want I meanes my inward selfe to see? + Which sight the knowledg of my self might bring, + Which to true wisdome is the first degree. + + That _Power_ which gaue me eyes the World to view, + To see my selfe infus'd an _inward light_; + Whereby my _Soule_, as by a mirror true, + Of her owne forme may take a perfect sight, + + But as the sharpest _eye_ discerneth nought, + Except the _sunne_-beames in the ayre doe shine; + So the best _Soule_[87] with her reflecting thought, + Sees not her selfe without some light diuine. + + _O Light_ which mak'st the light, which makes the day! + Which setst the eye without, and mind within; + 'Lighten my spirit with one cleare heauenly ray, + Which now to view it selfe doth first begin. + + For her true forme how can my sparke discerne? + Which dimme by _nature_, _Art_ did neuer cleare; + When the great wits, of whom all skill we learn, + Are ignorant both _what_ shee is, and _where_. + + One thinks the _Soule_ is _aire_; another, _fire_; + Another _blood_, diffus'd about the heart; + Another saith, the _elements_ conspire, + And to her _essence_ each doth giue a part. + + _Musicians_ thinke our _Soules_ are _harmonies_, + _Phisicians_ hold that they _complexions_ bee; + _Epicures_ make them swarmes of _atomies_, + Which doe by chance into our bodies flee. + + Some thinke one generall _Soule_ fils euery braine, + As the bright _sunne_ sheds light in euery starre; + And others thinke the name of _Soule_ is vaine, + And that we onely _well-mixt_ bodies are. + + In judgement of her _substance_ thus they vary; + And thus they vary in iudgement of her _seat_; + For some her chaire vp to the braine doe carry, + Some thrust it downe into the _stomackes_ heat. + + Some place it in the root of life, the _heart_; + Some in the _liuer_[88], fountaine of the veines; + Some say, _Shee is all in all, and all in part_: + Some say, She is not containd but all containes. + + Thus these great clerks their little wisdome show, + While with their doctrines they at _hazard_ play, + Tossing their light opinions to and fro, + To mocke the _lewd_, as learn'd in this as they. + + For no craz'd braine could euer yet propound, + Touching the _Soule_, so vaine and fond a thought, + But some among these masters haue been found, + Which in their _Schooles_ the self-same thing haue taught. + + _God onely wise_, to punish pride of wit, + Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought, + As the proud _towre_ whose points the clouds did hit, + By tongues' confusion was to ruine brought. + + But _Thou_ which didst _Man's soule_ of nothing make, + And when to nothing it was fallen agen, + "To make it new, the forme of man didst take, + "And _God_ with _God_, becam'st a _Man_ with men. + + Thou, that hast fashioned twice this _Soule_ of ours, + So that she is by double title Thine; + Thou onely knowest her nature and her pow'rs, + Her subtill forme Thou onely canst define. + + To iudge her selfe she must her selfe transcend, + As greater circles comprehend the lesse; + But she wants power, her owne powers to extend, + As fettered men can not their strength expresse. + + But Thou bright Morning Star, Thou rising _Sunne_, + Which in these later times hast brought to light + Those mysteries, that since the world begun, + Lay hid in darknesse, and eternall night: + + Thou (_like the sunne_) dost with indifferent ray, + Into the _palace_ and the _cottage_ shine, + And shew'st the _soule_ both to the clerke and lay[89], + By the cleare _lampe_ of Thy _Oracle_ diuine. + +[Footnote 87: 'Sense' in 1st edn. G.] + +[Footnote 88: Davies and Southey misprint egregiously 'river.' G.] + +[Footnote 89: Laymen. G.] + + This Lampe through all the regions of my braine, + Where my _soule_ sits, doth spread such beames of grace, + As now, me thinks, I do distinguish plain, + Each subtill line of her immortall face. + + +WHAT THE SOULE IS. + + _The soule a substance_, and a _spirit_ is, + Which _God_ Himselfe doth in the body make; + Which makes the _Man_: for euery man from this, + The _nature_ of a _Man_, and _name_ doth take. + + And though this[1] spirit be to the body knit, + As an apt meane her powers to exercise; + Which are _life_, _motion_, _sense_, and _will_, and _wit_, + Yet she _suruiues_, although the body _dies_. + + +THAT THE SOULE IS A THING SUBSISTING BY IT SELFE WITHOUT THE +BODY. + + _She is a substance_, and a reall thing, + Which hath it selfe an actuall working might; + Which neither from the Senses' power doth spring, + Nor from the bodie's humors, tempred right. + + She is a _vine_, which doth no propping need, + To make her spread her selfe or spring vpright; + She is a _starre_, whose beames doe not proceed + From any _sunne_, but from a _natiue_ light. + + For when she sorts things _present_ with things _past_, + And thereby things to _come_ doth oft foresee; + When she doth _doubt_ at first, and _chuse_ at last, + These acts her owne, without her body bee. + + When of the deaw,[90] which the _eye_ and _eare_ doe take + From flowers abroad, and bring into the braine, + She doth within both waxe and hony make: + This worke is her's, this is her proper paine.[91] + + When she from sundry acts, one skill doth draw, + Gathering from diuers fights one art[92] of warre, + From many cases like, one rule of Law; + These her collections, not the _Senses_ are. + +[Footnote 90: Dew: and so spelled also by the Fletchers and other +contemporaries. G.] + +[Footnote 91: Painstaking. G.] + +[Footnote 92: Misprinted 'act' in the 1st edn. G.] + + When in th' effects she doth the causes know, + And seeing the stream, thinks wher the spring doth rise; + And seeing the branch, conceiues the root below; + These things she views without the bodie's eyes. + + When she, without a _Pegasus_, doth flie + Swifter then lightning's fire from _East_ to _West_, + About the _Center_ and aboue the _skie_, + She trauels then, although the body rest. + + When all her works she formeth first within, + Proportions them, and sees their perfect end, + Ere she in act does anie part begin; + What instruments doth then the body lend? + + When without hands she doth thus[93] _castles_ build, + Sees without eyes, and without feet doth runne; + When she digests the world, yet is not fil'd: + By her owne power these miracles are done. + +[Footnote 93: In 1st edition 'she thus doth.' G.] + + When she defines, argues, diuides, compounds, + Considers _vertue_, _vice_, and _generall things_, + And marrying diuers principles and grounds, + Out of their match a true conclusion brings. + + These actions in her closet all alone, + (Retir'd within her selfe) she doth fulfill; + Vse of her bodie's organs she hath none, + When she doth vse the powers of Wit and Will. + + Yet in the bodie's prison so she lies, + As through the bodie's windowes she must looke, + Her diuers powers of _sense_ to exercise, + By gath'ring notes out of the _World's_ great book. + + Nor can her selfe discourse or iudge of ought, + But what the _Sense_ collects and home doth bring; + And yet the power of her discoursing thought, + From these collections, is a diuers thing. + + For though our eyes can nought but colours see, + Yet colours giue them not their powre of sight; + So, though these fruits of _Sense_ her obiects bee, + Yet she discernes them by her proper light. + + The workman on his stuffe his skill doth show, + And yet the stuffe giues not the man his skill; + _Kings_ their affaires do by their seruants know, + But order them by their owne royall will. + + So, though this cunning mistresse and this queene, + Doth, as her instrument, the _Senses_ vse, + To know all things that are _felt_, _heard_, or _seene_, + Yet she her selfe doth onely _iudge_ and _chuse_: + + Euen as our great wise _Empresse_[94] that now raignes + By _soueraigne_ title ouer sundry Lands; + Borrowes in meane affaires her _subiects_ paines, + Sees by their eyes, and writeth by their hands; + + But things of waight and consequence indeed, + Her selfe doth in her chamber them debate; + Where all her Counsellers she doth exceed + As farre in iudgement, as she doth in State. + + Or as the man whom she doth now aduance,[95] + Vpon her gracious _mercy-seat_ to sit; + Doth common things, of course and circumstance, + To the reports of common men commit: + +[Footnote 94: Q. Eliz[abeth]. H. [Davies and Southey, as before, +substitute 'a prudent emperor.' G.]] + +[Footnote 95: Davies and Southey, as before, substitute 'whom princes +do.' Ellesmere. See sonnet addressed to him among 'Minor poems.' G.] + + But when the cause it selfe must be decreed, + Himselfe in person, in his proper Court, + To graue and solemne hearing doth proceed, + Of euery proofe and euery by-report. + + Then, like God's angell he pronounceth right, + And milke and hony from his tongue doth flow; + Happie are they that still are in his sight, + To reape the wisedome which his lips doe sow. + + Right so the _Soule_, which is a lady free, + And doth the iustice of her _State_ maintaine; + Because the senses ready seruants be, + Attending nigh about her Court, the braine: + + By them the formes of outward things she learnes, + For they returne into the fantasie, + What euer each of them abroad discernes, + And there inrole it for the Minde to see. + + But when she sits to iudge the good and ill, + And to discerne betwixt the false and true; + She is not guided by the _Senses'_ skill, + But doth each thing in her owne mirrour view. + + Then she the _Senses_ checks, which oft do erre, + And euen against their false reports decrees; + And oft she doth condemne what they preferre, + For with a power aboue the _Sense_, she sees. + + Therefore no _Sense_ the precious ioyes conceiues, + Which in her priuate contemplations bee; + For then the rauish't spirit the _Senses_ leaues, + Hath her owne powers, and proper actions free. + + Her harmonies are sweet, and full of skill, + When on the Bodie's instrument she playes; + But the proportions of the _wit_ and _will_, + Those sweete accords, are euen the angel's layes. + + These tunes of _Reason_ are _Amphion's_ lyre, + Wherewith he did the _Thebane_ citie found; + These are the notes wherewith the heauenly _quire_, + The praise of Him which made[96] the heauen doth sound. + +[Footnote 96: 'Spreads' in 1st edn. G.] + + Then her _selfe-being nature_ shines in this, + That she performes her noblest works alone; + "The _worke_, the touch-stone of the _nature_ is, + "And by their operations, things are knowne. + + +THAT THE SOULE IS MORE THEN A PERFECTION OR REFLECTION OF THE +SENSE. + + _Are they not sencelesse_ then, that thinke the Soule + Nought but a fine perfection of the _Sense_; + Or of the formes which _fancie_ doth enroule, + A _quicke resulting_, and a _consequence_? + + What is it then that doth the _Sense_ accuse, + Both of _false judgements_, and _fond appetites_? + What makes vs do what _Sense_ doth most refuse? + Which oft in torment of the _Sense_ delights? + + _Sense_ thinkes the _planets_, _spheares_ not much asunder; + What tels vs then their distance is so farre? + _Sense_ thinks the lightning borne before the thunder; + What tels vs then they both together are? + + When men seem crows far off vpon a towre, + _Sense_ saith, th'are crows; what makes vs think them men? + When we in _agues_, thinke all sweete things sowre, + What makes vs know our tongue's false iudgement then? + + What power was that, whereby _Medea_ saw, + And well approu'd, and prais'd the better course, + When her rebellious _Sense_ did so withdraw + Her feeble powers, as she pursu'd the worse?[97] + + Did _Sense_ perswade _Vlisses_ not to heare + The mermaid's songs, which so his men did please; + As they were all perswaded, through the eare + To quit the ship, and leape into the _seas_? + + Could any power of _Sense_ the _Romane_ moue, + To burn his own right hand with courage stout?[98] + Could _Sense_ make _Marius_ sit vnbound, and proue + The cruell lancing of the knotty gout?[99] + + Doubtlesse in _Man_ there is a _nature_ found, + Beside the _Senses_, and aboue them farre; + "Though most men being in sensuall pleasures drownd, + "It seemes their _Soules_ but in their _Senses_ are. + + If we had nought but _Sense_, then onely they + Should haue sound minds, which haue their _Senses_ sound; + But _Wisdome_ growes, when _Senses_ doe decay, + And _Folly_ most in quickest _Sense_ is found. + + If we had nought but _Sense_, each liuing wight, + Which we call _brute_, would be more sharp then we; + As hauing _Sense's apprehensiue might_, + In a more cleere, and excellent degree. + + But they doe want that _quicke discoursing power_, + Which doth in vs the erring _Sense_ correct; + Therefore the _bee_ did sucke the painted flower, + And _birds_, of grapes, the cunning shadow, peckt.[100] + + _Sense_ outsides knows; the Soule throgh al things sees; + _Sense_, _circumstance_; she, doth the _substance_ view; + _Sense_ sees the barke, but she, the life of trees; + _Sense_ heares the sounds, but she, the concords true. + + But why doe I the _Soule_ and _Sense_ diuide? + When _Sense_ is but a power, which she extends; + Which being in diuers parts diuersifide, + The diuers formes of obiects apprehends? + + This power spreds outward, but the root doth grow + In th' inward _Soule_, which onely doth perceiue; + For th' _eyes_ and _eares_ no more their obiects know, + Then glasses know what faces they receiue. + + For if we chance to fixe our thoughts elsewhere, + Although our eyes be ope, we cannot see; + And if one power did not both see and heare, + Our sights and sounds would alwayes double be. + + Then is the _Soule_ a nature, which containes + The powre of _Sense_, within a greater power + Which doth imploy and vse the _Senses_ paines, + But sits and rules within her priuate bower. + + +[Footnote 97: Meliora proboq ... iora ... sequor ... Sen'a. H. [Rather +Ovid vii. 20. + + ... Video meliora, proboque + Deteriora sequor' + +Pathetically quoted by BYRON in his remarkable Letter to +JOHN SHEPPARD. G.]] + +[Footnote 98: The allusion is to Mutius Scaevola, who was taken in an +attempt to assassinate Porsena, and thrust his hand into the fire to +prove his fortitude: Livy II. 12. G.] + +[Footnote 99: The story is told by Plutarch in his Life of Marius c. +VI. 415. G.] + +[Footnote 100: Pliny XXXV. 36 § 3: told of a picture of +Zeuxis, as that of the horse neighing is of another by Apelles (_ib_ § +17.) G.] + + +THAT THE SOULE IS MORE THEN THE TEMPERATURE[101] OF THE HUMORS OF +THE BODY. + + _If shee doth then_ the subtill _Sense_ excell, + How gross are they that drown her in the blood! + Or in the bodie's humors tempred well, + As if in them such high perfection stood? + + As if most skill in that _Musician_ were, + Which had the best, and best tun'd instrument; + As if the pensill neate[102] and colours cleare, + Had power to make the Painter excellent. + + Why doth not beautie then refine the wit? + And good complexion rectifie the will? + Why doth not health bring wisdom still with it? + Why doth not sicknesse make men bruitish still? + + Who can in _memory_, or _wit_, or _will_, + Or _ayre_, or _fire_, or _earth_, or _water_ finde? + What alchymist can draw, with all his skil, + The _quintessence_ of these, out of the mind? + + If th' _elements_ which haue nor _life_, nor _sense_, + Can breed in vs so great a powre as this; + Why giue they not themselues like excellence, + Or other things wherein their mixture is? + + If she were but the Bodie's qualitie + Then would she be with it _sicke_, _maim'd_ and _blind_; + But we perceiue where these priuations be + A _healthy_, _perfect_, and _sharpe-sighted_ mind. + + If she the bodie's nature did pertake, + Her strength would with the bodie's strength decay; + But when the bodie's strongest sinewes slake, + Then is the _Soule_ most actiue, quicke and gay. + + If she were but the bodie's accident, + And her sole _being_ did in it subsist; + As _white in snow_; she might her selfe absent, + And in the bodie's substance not be mist. + + But _it_ on _her_, not _shee_ on _it_ depends; + For _shee_ the body doth sustaine and cherish; + Such secret powers of life to it she lends, + That when they faile, then doth the body perish. + + Since then the _Soule works by her selfe alone, + Springs not from Sense, nor humors, well agreeing_; + Her nature is peculiar, and her owne: + She is a _substance_, and a _perfect being_. + +[Footnote 101: Misprinted 'temparature.' G.] + +[Footnote 102: Clean, pure. G.] + + +THAT THE SOULE IS A SPIRIT. + + But though this substance be the root of _Sense_, + _Sense_ knowes her not, which doth but _bodies_ know; + _Shee is a spirit_, and heauenly influence, + Which from the fountaine of God's Spirit doth flow. + + Shee is a Spirit, yet not like _ayre_, or _winde_, + Nor like the _spirits_ about the _heart_ or _braine_; + Nor like those spirits which alchymists do find, + When they in euery thing seeke gold in _vaine_. + + For shee all _natures_ vnder heauen doth passe; + Being like those spirits, which God's bright face do see; + Or like _Himselfe_, Whose _image_ once she was, + Though now (alas!) she scarce His _shadow_ bee. + + Yet of the _formes_, she holds the first degree, + That are to grosse materiall bodies knit; + Yet shee her selfe is _bodilesse_ and free; + And though confin'd, is almost infinite. + + + THAT IT CANNOT BE A BODY. + + Were she a _body_ how could she remaine + Within this body, which is lesse then she? + Or how could she the world's great shape contain, + And in our narrow brests containèd bee? + + All _bodies_ are confin'd within some place, + But _she_ all place within her selfe confines; + All _bodies_ haue their measure, and their space, + But who can draw the _Soule's_ dimensiue lines? + + No _body_ can at once two formes admit, + Except the one the other doe deface; + But in the _soule_ ten thousand formes do sit, + And none intrudes into her neighbour's place. + + All _bodies_ are with other bodies fild, + But she receiues both heauen and earth together; + Nor are their formes by rash incounter spild, + For there they stand, and neither toucheth either. + + Nor can her wide imbracements fillèd bee; + For they that most, and greatest things embrace, + Inlarge thereby their minds' capacitie, + As streames inlarg'd, inlarge the channel's space.[103] + + _All things receiu'd, doe such proportion take, + As those things haue, wherein they are receiu'd_: + So little glasses little faces make, + And narrow webs on narrow frames be weau'd; + + Then what vast body must we make the _mind_ + Wherin are men, beasts, trees, towns, seas, and lands; + And yet each thing a proper place doth find, + And each thing in the true proportion stands? + + Doubtlesse this could not bee, but that she turnes + Bodies to spirits, by _sublimation_ strange; + As fire conuerts to fire the things it burnes + As we our meats into our nature change. + + From their grosse _matter_ she abstracts the _formes_, + And drawes a kind of _quintessence_ from things; + Which to her proper nature she transformes, + To bear them light on her celestiall wings: + + This doth she, when, from things _particular_, + She doth abstract the _universall kinds_; + Which bodilesse and immateriall are, + And can be lodg'd but onely in our minds: + + And thus from diuers _accidents_ and _acts_, + Which doe within her obseruation fall, + She goddesses, and powers diuine, abstracts: + As _Nature_, _Fortune_, and the _Vertues_ all. + + Againe, how can she seuerall _bodies_ know, + If in her selfe a _bodie's_ forme she beare? + How can a mirror sundry faces show, + If from all shapes and formes it be not cleare? + + Nor could we by our eyes all colours learne, + Except our eyes were of all colours voide; + Nor sundry tastes can any tongue discerne, + Which is with grosse and bitter humors cloide. + + Nor may a man of _passions_ iudge aright, + Except his minde bee from all passions free; + Nor can a _Iudge_ his office well acquite, + If he possest of either partie bee. + + If lastly, this quicke power a body were, + Were it as swift as is[104] the _winde_ or _fire_; + (Whose atomies doe th' one down side-waies beare, + And make the other in _pyramids_ aspire:) + + Her nimble body yet in time must moue, + And not in instants through all places slide; + But she is nigh, and farre, beneath, aboue, + In point of time, which thought cannot deuide: + + She is sent as soone to _China_ as to _Spaine_, + And thence returnes, as soone as shee is sent; + She measures with one time, and with one paine, + An ell of silke, and heauen's wide spreading tent. + + As then the _Soule_ a substance hath alone, + Besides the Body in which she is confin'd; + So hath she not a _body_ of her owne, + But is a _spirit_, and _immateriall minde_. + +[Footnote 103: + + 'Time but the impression stronger makes + As streams their channels deeper wear.' + + BURNS: to Mary in Heaven.] + +[Footnote 104: Southey misprints 'in.' G.] + + +THAT THE SOULE IS CREATED IMMEDIATELY BY GOD. + + _Since body and soule_ haue such diuersities, + Well might we muse, how first their match began; + But that we learne, that He that spread the skies, + And fixt the Earth, first form'd the _soule_ in man. + + This true _Prometheus_ first made Man of earth, + And shed in him a beame of heauenly fire; + Now in their mother's wombs before their birth, + Doth in all sonnes of men their _soules_ inspire. + + And as _Minerua_ is in fables said, + From _Ioue_, without a mother to proceed; + So our true _Ioue_, without a mother's ay'd, + Doth daily millions of _Mineruas_ breed. + + +ERRONIOUS OPINIONS OF THE CREATION OF SOULES. + + Then neither from eternitie before, + Nor from the time when _Time's_ first point begun; + Made He all _souls_: which now He keepes in store, + Some in the moone, and others in the sunne: + + Nor in a _secret cloyster_ doth Hee keepe + These virgin-spirits, vntill their marriage-day; + Nor locks them vp in chambers, where they sleep, + Till they awake, within these beds of clay. + + Nor did He first a certaine number make, + Infusing part in _beasts_, and part in _men_, + And, as vnwilling further paines to take, + Would make no more then those He framèd then. + + So that the widow _Soule_ her _body_ dying, + Vnto the next-borne _body_ married was; + And so by often changing and supplying, + Mens' _soules_ to beasts, and beasts to men did passe. + + (These thoughts are fond; for since the bodies borne + Be more in number farre then those that dye; + Thousands must be abortiue, and forlorne, + Ere others' deaths to them their _soules_ supply.) + + But as _God's handmaid_, _Nature_, doth create + Bodies in time distinct, and order due;[105] + So God giues _soules_ the like successiue date, + Which _Himselfe_ makes, in bodies formèd new: + + Which _Him selfe_ makes, of no materiall thing; + For vnto angels He no power hath giuen, + Either to forme the shape, or stuffe to bring + From _ayre_ or _fire_, or _substance of the heauen_. + + Nor He in this doth _Nature's_ seruice vse; + For though from bodies, she can bodies bring, + Yet could she neuer soules from Soules _traduce_, + As fire from fire, or light from light doth spring. + + +OBJECTION:--THAT THE SOULE IS EXTRADUCE. + + Alas! that some, that were great lights of old, + And in their hands the _lampe_ of God did beare;[106] + Some reuerend Fathers did this error hold, + Hauing their eyes dim'd with religious feare! + + For when (say they) by Rule of Faith we find, + That euery _soule_ vnto her _body_ knit, + Brings from the mother's wombe, the _sinne of kind_, + The roote of all the ill she doth commit. + + How can we say that God the _Soule_ doth make, + But we must make Him author of her sinne? + Then from man's soule she doth beginning take, + Since in man's soule corruption did begin. + + For if God make her, first He makes her ill, + (Which God forbid our thoghts should yeeld vnto!) + Or makes the body her faire forme to spill,[107] + Which, of it selfe it had no power to doe. + + Not _Adam's body_ but his _soule_ did sinne + And so her selfe vnto corruption brought; + But the poore _soule_ corrupted is within, + Ere shee had sinn'd, either in act, or thought: + + And yet we see in her such powres diuine, + As we could gladly thinke, _from God she came_; + Faine would we make Him Author of the wine, + If for the dregs we could some other blame. + +[Footnote 105: Misprinted in 1608 and 1622 edition 'other:' correctly, +as above, in 1599 edition. G.] + +[Footnote 106: Holy Scriptures. G.] + +[Footnote 107: = Spoil. G.] + + + THE ANSWERE TO THE OBIECTION. + + _Thus these_ good men with holy zeale were blind, + When on the other part the truth did shine; + Whereof we doe cleare demonstrations find, + By light of _Nature_, and by light _Diuine_ + + None are so grosse as to contend for this, + That soules from bodies may traducèd bee; + Betweene whose natures no proportion is, + When roote and branch in nature still agree. + + But many subtill wits haue iustifi'd, + That _soules_ from _soules_ spiritually may spring; + Which (if the nature of the _soule_ be tri'd) + Will euen in Nature proue as grosse a thing. + + +REASONS DRAWNE FROM NATURE. + + For all things made, are either made of nought, + Or made of stuffe that ready made doth stand; + Of nought no creature euer formèd ought, + For that is proper to th' Almightie's hand. + + If then the _soule_ another _soule_ doe make, + Because her power is kept within a bound, + Shee must some former stuffe or _matter_ take; + But in the soule there is no _matter_ found. + + Then if her heauenly Forme doe not agree + With any _matter_ which the world containes; + Then she of nothing must created bee, + And to _create_, to God alone pertaines. + + Againe, if _soules_ doe other _soules_ beget, + 'Tis by themselues, or by the bodie's power; + If by themselues, what doth their working let, + But they might _soules_ engender euery houre? + + If by the body, how can _wit_ and _will_ + Ioyne with the body onely in this act? + Sith[108] when they doe their other works fulfill, + They from the body doe themselues _abstract_? + + Againe, if _soules_ of _soules_ begotten were, + Into each other they should change and moue; + And _change_ and _motion still corruption_ beare; + How shall we then the _soule_ immortall proue? + + If lastly, _soules_ doe[109] generation vse, + Then should they spread incorruptible seed; + What then becomes of that which they doe lose, + When th' acts of generation doe not speed? + + And though the _soule_ could cast spirituall seed, + Yet _would_ she not, because she _neuer dies_; + For mortall things desire their _like_ to breed, + That so they may their kind immortalize. + + Therefore the angels, sonnes of God are nam'd, + And marry not, nor are in marriage giuen; + Their spirits and ours are of one _substance_ fram'd, + And haue one Father, euen the _Lord of heauen_: + + Who would at first, that in each other thing, + The _earth_ and _water_ liuing _soules_ should breed; + But that _man's soule_ whom He would make their king, + Should from Himselfe immediatly proceed. + + And when He took the _woman_ from _man's_ side, + Doubtlesse Himselfe inspir'd her _soule_ alone; + For 'tis not said, He did _man's soule_ diuide, + But took _flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone_. + + Lastly, God being made Man for man's owne sake, + And being like Man in all, except in sin, + His body from the _virgin's_ wombe did take; + But all agree, _God form'd His soule within_. + + Then is the _soule_ from God; so _Pagans_ say, + Which saw by _Nature's_ light her heauenly kind; + Naming her _kin to God, and God's bright ray_, + A citizen of Heauen to Earth confined. + + But now, I feele, they plucke me by the eare + Whom my young _Muse_ so boldly termèd blind; + And craue more heauenly light, that cloud to clear, + Which makes them think God doth not make the mind. + +[Footnote 108: Here and elsewhere, the 1622 edn. alters 'since' of the +1599 and 1608 edns. to the earlier form 'sith': on which see Wright's +Bible Word-Book. _s.v._ G.] + +[Footnote 109: In 1599 and 1608 edns., 'did.' G.] + + + +REASONS DRAWNE FROM DIUINITY. + + God doubtlesse makes her, and doth make her good, + And graffes her in the body, there to spring; + Which, though it be corrupted, flesh and blood + Can no way to the _Soule_ corruption bring: + + And yet this _Soule_ (made good by God at first,[110] + And not corrupted by the bodie's ill) + Euen in the wombe is sinfull, and accurst, + Ere shee can _iudge_ by _wit_ or _chuse_ by _will_.[111] + +[Footnote 110: By an unhappy oversight, the whole of this stanza is +dropped out of 1697 edition: and thence, by Davies, and generally. G.] + +[Footnote 111: Davies and Southey, as before, substitute 'ill.' G.] + + Yet is not God the Author of her sinne + Though Author of her _being_, and _being there_; + And if we dare to iudge our _Iudge_ herein,[112] + He can condemne vs, and Himselfe can cleare. + +[Footnote 112: Davies and Southey, as before, substitute 'Maker's +will.' G.] + + First, God from infinite eternitie + _Decreed_, what _hath beene_, _is_, or _shall bee_ done; + And was resolu'd, that euery man should bee, + And in his turne, his race of life should run: + + And so did purpose all the _soules_ to make, + That euer _have beene_ made, or _euer shall_; + And that their _being_ they should onely take + In humane bodies, or not _bee_ at all. + + Was it then fit that such a weake euent + (_W[e]aknesse it selfe_,--the sinne and fall of Man) + His counsel's execution should preuent, + Decreed and fixt before the World began? + + Or that one _penall law_ by _Adam_ broke, + Should make God breake His owne _eternall Law_; + The setled order of the World reuoke, + And change all forms of things, which He foresaw? + + Could _Eue's_ weake hand, extended to the tree, + In sunder rend that _adamantine chaine_, + Whose golden links, _effects_ and causes be, + And which to God's owne chair doth fixt remaine.[113] + + O could we see, how cause from cause doth spring! + How mutually they linkt and folded are! + And heare how oft one disagreeing string + The harmony doth rather make then marre? + + And view at once, how _death_ by _sinne_ is brought, + And how from _death_, a better _life_ doth rise, + How this God's _iustice_, and His _mercy_ tought: + We this decree would praise, as right and wise. + + But we that measure times by first and last, + The sight of things successiuely, doe take; + When God on all at once His view doth cast, + And of all times doth but one _instant_ make. + + All in _Himselfe_ as in a _glasse_ Hee sees, + For _from Him, by Him, through Him, all things bee_: + His sight is not discoursiue, by degrees, + But seeing the whole, each single part doth see.[114] + +[Footnote 113: Homer, Iliad, VIII. 19: and _cf._ Tennyson ('Morte d' +Arthur,' p. 200: edition 1848.) + + 'For so the whole round world is every way + + Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.' G.] + +[Footnote 114: It is noticeable that the supreme Divine and Thinker of +America--Jonathan Edwards--accepts this symbol of the 'Tree,' and works +it out marvellously in his great treatise on 'Original Sin.' G.] + + He lookes on _Adam_, as a _root_, or _well_, + And on his heires, as _branches_, and as _streames_; + He sees _all_ men as _one_ Man, though they dwell + In sundry cities, and in sundry realmes: + + And as the _roote_ and _branch_ are but one _tree_, + And _well_ and _streame_ doe but one _riuer_ make; + So, if the _root_ and _well_ corrupted bee, + The _streame_ and _branch_ the same corruption take: + + So, when the root and fountaine of Mankind + Did draw corruption, and God's curse, by sin; + This was a charge that all his heires did bind, + And all his offspring grew corrupt therein. + + And as when the hand doth strike, the Man offends, + (For _part from whole, Law seuers not in this_) + So _Adam's_ sinne to the whole kind extends; + For all their natures are but part of his. + + Therefore this _sinne of kind_, not personall, + But reall and hereditary was; + The guilt whereof, and punishment to all, + By course of Nature, and of Law doth passe. + + For as that easie Law was giuen to all, + To ancestor and heire, to first and last; + So was the first transgression generall, + And all did plucke the fruit and all did tast. + + Of this we find some foot-steps in our Law, + Which doth her root from God and Nature take; + Ten thousand men she doth together draw, + And of them all, one Corporation make: + + Yet these, and their successors, are but one, + And if they gaine or lose their liberties; + They harme, or profit not themselues alone, + But such as in succeeding times shall rise. + + And so the ancestor, and all his heires, + Though they in number passe the stars of heauen, + Are still but one; his forfeitures are theirs, + And vnto them are his aduancements giuen: + + His ciuill acts doe binde and bar them all; + And as from _Adam_, all corruption take, + So, if the father's crime be _capitall_ + In all the _bloud_, Law doth _corruption_ make. + + Is it then iust with vs, to dis-inherit + The vnborn nephewes for the father's fault? + And to aduance againe for one man's merit, + A thousand heires, that have deservèd nought? + + And is not God's decree as iust as ours, + If He, for _Adam's_ sinne, his sonnes depriue, + Of all those natiue vertues, and those powers, + Which He to him, and to his race did giue? + + For what is this contagious sinne of kinde + But a priuation of that grace within? + And of that great rich dowry of the minde + Which all had had, but for the first man's sin? + + If then a man, on light conditions gaine + A great estate, to him and his, for euer; + If wilfully he forfeit it againe + Who doth bemone his heire or blame the giuer? + + So, though God make the _Soule_ good, rich and faire, + Yet when her forme is to the body knit, + Which makes the Man, which man is _Adam's heire_ + Iustly forth-with He takes His grace from it: + + And then the soule being first from nothing brought, + When God's grace failes her, doth to nothing fall; + And this _declining pronenesse unto nought_, + Is euen that sinne that we are borne withall. + + Yet not alone the first good qualities, + Which in the first _soule_ were, depriuèd are; + But in their place the contrary doe rise, + And reall spots[115] of sinne her beauty marre. + + Nor is it strange, that Adam's ill desart + Should be transferd vnto his guilty Race; + When Christ His grace and iustice doth impart + To men vniust, and such as haue no grace. + + Lastly, the _Soule_ were better so to bee + Borne slaue to sinne, then not to be at all; + Since (if she do belieue) One sets her free, + That makes her mount the higher for her fall. + + _Yet this_ the curious wits will not content; + They yet will know (sith[116] God foresaw this ill) + Why His high Prouidence did not preuent + The declination of the first man's will. + + If by His Word He had the current staid + Of _Adam's_ will, which was by nature free; + It had bene one, as if His Word had said, + I will henceforth that _Man no man shall bee_. + + For what is Man without a moouing mind, + Which hath a iudging _wit_, and chusing _will_? + Now, if God's power should her election bind, + Her motions then would cease and stand all still. + + And why did God in man this _soule_ infuse, + But that he should his Maker _know_ and _loue_? + Now, if _loue_ be compeld and cannot chuse, + How can it gratefull or thankeworthy proue? + + Loue must free-hearted be, and voluntary, + And not enchanted, or by Fate constraind; + Nor like that loue, which did _Ulisses_ carry, + To _Circe's_ ile, with mighty charmes enchaind. + + Besides, were we vnchangeable in _will_, + And of a _wit_ that nothing could mis-deeme; + Equall to God, Whose wisedome shineth still, + And neuer erres, we might our selues esteeme. + + So that if Man would be vnuariable, + He must be God, or like a rock or tree; + For euen the perfect Angels were not stable, + But had a fall more desperate then wee. + + Then let vs praise that Power, which makes vs be + _Men_ as we are, and rest contented so; + And knowing Man's fall was curiositie, + Admire God's counsels, which we cannot know. + + And let vs know that God the Maker is + Of all the _Soules_, in all the men that be: + Yet their corruption is no fault of His, + But the first man's that broke God's first decree. + +[Footnote 115: Misprinted in 1622 'sports:' 'spots' from 1599, 1602 and +1608. G.] + +[Footnote 116: 'Since,' as before in 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + + +WHY THE SOULE IS UNITED TO THE BODY. + + _This substance_, and this _spirit of God's owne making_, + Is in the body plact, and planted heere; + "That both of God, and of the world partaking, + "Of all that is, Man might the image beare. + + Then other things, which mindlesse bodies be; + Last, He made Man, th' _horizon_ 'twixt both kinds, + In whom we doe the World's abridgement see.[117] + + Besides, this World below did need _one wight_, + Which might thereof distinguish euery part; + Make vse thereof, and take therein delight, + And order things with industry and art: + + Which also God might in His works admire, + And here beneath, yeeld Him both praier and praise; + As there, aboue, the holy angels quire + Doth spread His glory[118] with spirituall layes. + + Lastly, the bruite, unreasonable wights, + Did want a _visible king_ on[119] them to raigne: + And God, Himselfe thus to the World vnites, + That so the World might endlesse blisse obtaine. + +[Footnote 117: One of Heylin's numerous books is called +'_Microcosmus_:' a little Description of the great World. Oxon: 1st +edn., 1622. The word is met with in other old title-pages and in +theological (Puritan) writings. G.] + + +IN WHAT MANNER THE SOULE IS UNITED TO THE BODY. + + "But how shall we this _union_ well expresse? + Nought ties the _soule_; her subtiltie is such + She moues the bodie, which she doth possesse, + Yet no part toucheth, but by _Vertue's_ touch. + + Then dwels shee not therein as in a tent, + Nor as a pilot in his ship doth sit; + Nor as the spider in his[120] web is pent; + Nor as the waxe retaines the print in it; + + Nor as a vessell water doth containe; + Nor as one liquor in another shed; + Nor as the heat doth in the fire remaine; + Nor as a voice throughout the ayre is spread: + + But as the faire and cheerfull _Morning light_, + Doth here and there her siluer beames impart, + And in an instant doth herselfe vnite + To the transparent ayre, in all, and part: + + Still resting whole, when blowes th' ayre diuide; + Abiding pure, when th' ayre is most corrupted; + Throughout the ayre, her beams dispersing wide, + And when the ayre is tost, not interrupted: + + So doth the piercing _Soule_ the body fill, + Being all in all, and all in part diffus'd; + Indiuisible, incorruptible[121] still, + Not forc't, encountred, troubled or confus'd. + + And as the _sunne_ aboue, the light doth bring, + Though we behold it in the ayre below; + So from th' Eternall Light the _Soule_ doth spring, + Though in the body she her powers doe show. + +[Footnote 118: Davies and Southey, as before, insert 'forth' here. G.] + +[Footnote 119: Davies and Southey, as before, substitute 'o'er:' but +'on' is the Poet's own word here and elsewhere. G.] + +[Footnote 120: In 1599 and 1608 editions, 'her.' G.] + +[Footnote 121: In 1598 and 1608 editions, 'vncorruptible.' G.] + + +HOW THE SOUL DOTH EXERCISE HER POWERS IN THE BODY. + + _But as_ the[122] world's _sunne_ doth effects beget, + Diuers, in diuers places euery day; + Here _Autumnes_ temperature, there _Summer's_ heat, + Here flowry _Spring-tide_, and there _Winter_ gray: + + Eere _Euen_, there _Morne_, here _Noone_, there _Day_, there _Night_; + Melts wax, dries clay, mak[e]s flowrs, som quick,[123] som dead; + Makes the _More_ black, and th' _Europ[oe]an_ white, + Th' _American_ tawny, and th' _East-Indian_ red: + + So in our little World: this _soule_ of ours, + Being onely one, and to one body tyed, + Doth vse, on diuers obiects diuers powers, + And so are her effects diuersified. + + +THE VEGETATIUE OR QUICKENING POWER. + + _Her quick'ning_ power in euery lining part, + Doth as a nurse, or as a mother serue; + And doth employ her _oeconomicke art_, + And busie care, her houshold to preserue + + Here she _attracts_, and there she doth _retaine_, + There she _decocts_, and doth the food prepare; + There she _distributes_ it to euery vaine, + There she _expels_ what she may fitly spare. + + This power to _Martha_ may comparèd be,[124] + Which busie was, the _houshold-things_ to doe; + Or to a _Dryas_, liuing in a tree:[125] + For euen to trees this power is proper too. + + And though the Soule may not this power extend + Out of the body, but still vse it there; + She hath a power which she abroad doth send, + Which views and searcheth all things euery where. + +[Footnote 122: 'This' in 1599 edition. G.] + +[Footnote 123: Living. G.] + + +THE POWER OF SENSE. + + _This power is Sense_, which from abroad doth bring[126] + The _colour_, _taste_, and _touch_, and _sent_,[127] and _sound_; + The _quantitie_, and _shape_ of euery thing + Within th' Earth's center, or Heauen's circle found. + + This power, in parts made fit, fit obiects takes, + Yet not the things, but forms of things receiues; + As when a seale in waxe impression makes, + The print therein, but not it selfe it leaues. + + And though things sensible be numberlesse, + But onely fiue the _Senses'_ organs be; + And in those fiue, all things their formes expresse, + Which we can _touch_, _taste_, _feele_, or _heare_, or _see_. + + These are the windows throgh the which she views + The _light of knowledge_, which is life's loadstar: + "And yet while she these spectacles doth vse, + "Oft worldly things seeme greater then they are. + +[Footnote 124: St. Luke, x. 40, 41. G.] + +[Footnote 125: On the Dryads Cf. Paus. viii. 4. § 2 Apollon. Rhod. ii. +447, &c. G.] + +[Footnote 126: Misprinted 'spring,' but corrected in the errata of 1622 +edition, as above. G.] + +[Footnote 127: Scent. G.] + + +SIGHT. + + First, the two _eyes_ that haue the _seeing_ power, + Stand as one watchman, spy, or sentinell; + Being plac'd aloft, within the head's high tower; + And though both see, yet both but one thing tell. + + These mirrors take into their little space + The formes of _moone_ and _sun_, and euery _starre_; + Of euery body and of euery place, + Which with the World's wide armes embracèd are: + + Yet their best obiect, and their noblest vse, + Hereafter in another World will be; + When God in them shall heauenly light infuse, + That face to face they may their _Maker_ see. + + Here are they guides, which doe the body lead, + Which else would stumble in eternal night; + Here in this world they do much knowledge _read_, + And are the casements which admit most light: + + They are her farthest reaching instrument, + Yet they no beames vnto their obiects send; + But all the rays are from their obiects sent, + And in the _eyes_ with pointed angles end: + + If th' obiects be farre off, the rayes doe meet + In a sharpe point, and so things seeme but small; + If they be neere, their rayes doe spread and fleet, + And make broad points, that things seeme great withall. + + Lastly, nine things to _Sight_ requirèd are; + The _power_ to see, the _light_, the _visible_ thing, + Being not too _small_, too _thin_, too _nigh_, too _farre_, + _Cleare_ space, and _time_, the forme distinct to bring. + + Thus we see how the _Soule_ doth vse the eyes, + As instruments of her quicke power of sight; + Hence do th' Arts _opticke_ and faire _painting_ rise: + _Painting_, which doth all gentle minds delight. + + +HEARING. + + Now let vs heare how she the _Eares_ imployes: + Their office is the troubled ayre to take, + Which in their mazes formes a sound or noyse, + Whereof her selfe doth true distinction make. + + These wickets of the _Soule_ are plac't on hie + Because all sounds doe lightly mount aloft; + And that they may not pierce too violently, + They are delaied with turnes, and windings oft. + + For should the voice directly strike the braine, + It would astonish and confuse it much; + Therfore these plaits and folds the sound restraine, + That it the organ may more gently touch. + + As streames, which with their winding banks doe play, + Stopt by their creeks, run softly through the plaine; + So in th' Eares' labyrinth the voice doth stray, + And doth with easie motion touch the braine. + + It is the slowest, yet the daintiest _sense_; + For euen the _Eares_ of such as haue no skill, + Perceiue a discord, and conceiue offence; + And knowing not what is good, yet find the ill. + + And though this _sense_ first gentle _Musicke_ found, + Her proper obiect is _the speech of men_; + But that speech chiefely which God's heraulds sound, + When their tongs vtter what His Spirit did pen. + + Our _Eyes_ haue lids, our _Eares_ still ope we see, + Quickly to heare how euery tale is proouèd; + Our _Eyes_ still moue, our _Eares_ vnmouèd bee, + That though we hear quick we be not quickly mouèd. + + Thus by the organs of the _Eye_ and _Eare_, + The _Soule_ with knowledge doth her selfe endue; + "Thus she her prison, may with pleasure beare, + "Hauing such prospects, all the world to view. + + These conduit-pipes of knowledge feed the Mind, + But th' other three attend the Body still; + For by their seruices the _Soule_ doth find, + What things are to the body, good or ill. + + +TASTE. + + The _bodie's_ life with meats and ayre is fed, + Therefore the _soule_ doth vse the _tasting_ power, + In veines, which through the tongue and palate spred, + Distinguish euery relish, sweet and sower. + + This is the bodie's _nurse_; but since man's wit + Found th' art of _cookery_, to delight his _sense_; + More bodies are consum'd and kild with it, + Then with the sword, famine, or pestilence. + + +SMELLING. + + _Next_, in the nosthrils she doth vse the _smell_: + As God the _breath of life_ in them did giue, + So makes He now this power in them to dwell, + To iudge all ayres, whereby we _breath_ and _liue_. + + This _sense_ is also mistresse of an Art, + Which to soft people sweete perfumes doth sell; + Though this deare Art doth little good impart, + "Sith[128] they smell best, that doe of nothing smell. + + And yet good _sents_[129] doe purifie the braine, + Awake the fancie, and the wits refine; + Hence old _Deuotion_, _incense_ did ordaine + To make mens' spirits apt for thoughts diuine. + +[Footnote 128: In 1599 and 1608 editions, 'since,' as before. G.] + +[Footnote 129: Scents. G.] + + +FEELING. + + _Lastly, the feeling power_, which is Life's root, + Through euery liuing part it selfe doth shed; + By sinewes, which extend from head to foot, + And like a net, all ore the body spred. + + Much like a subtill spider, which doth sit + In middle of her web, which spreadeth wide; + If ought doe touch the vtmost thred of it, + Shee feeles it instantly on euery side. + + By _Touch_, the first pure qualities we learne, + Which quicken all things, _hote_, _cold_, _moist_ and _dry_; + By _Touch_, _hard_, _soft_, _rough_, _smooth_, we doe discerne; + By _Touch_, _sweet pleasure_, and _sharpe paine_, we try. + + * * * * * + + These are the outward instruments of Sense, + These are the guards which euery thing must passe + Ere it approch the mind's intelligence, + Or touch the Fantasie, _Wit's looking-glasse_. + + +THE IMAGINATION OR COMMON SENSE. + + And yet these porters, which all things admit, + Themselues perceiue not, nor discerne the things; + One _common_ power doth in the forehead sit, + Which all their proper formes together brings. + + For all those _nerues_, which _spirits of Sence_ doe beare, + And to those outward organs spreading goe; + Vnited are, as in a center there, + And there this power those sundry formes doth know. + + Those outward organs present things receiue, + This inward _Sense_ doth absent things retaine; + Yet straight transmits all formes shee doth perceiue, + Vnto a higher region of the _braine_. + + +THE FANTASIE. + + Where _Fantasie_, neere _hand-maid_ to the mind, + Sits and beholds, and doth discerne them[130] all; + Compounds in one, things diuers in their kind; + Compares the black and white, the great and small. + + Besides, those single formes she doth esteeme, + And in her ballance doth their values trie; + Where some things good, and some things ill doe seem, + And neutrall some, in her _fantasticke_[131] eye. + + This busie power is working day and night; + For when the outward _senses_ rest doe take, + A thousand dreames, fantasticall and light, + With fluttring wings doe keepe her still awake.[132] + + +[Footnote 130: Misprinted 'then' in 1622 edition, but as above +correctly in 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + +[Footnote 131: Misprinted 'Fancasticke' in 1622 edition. G.] + + +THE SENSITIUE MEMORIE. + + Yet alwayes all may not afore her bee; + Successiuely, she this and that intends; + Therefore such formes as she doth cease to see, + To _Memorie's_ large volume shee commends. + + The _lidger-booke_ lies in the braine behinde, + Like _Ianus'_ eye, which in his poll was set; + The _lay-man's tables, store-house of the mind_, + Which doth remember much, and much forget. + + Heere _Sense's apprehension_, end doth take; + As when a stone is into water cast, + One circle doth another circle make, + Till the last circle touch the banke at last.[133] + +[Footnote 132: Cf. Milton's Il Penseroso, lines 5-10. G.] + +[Footnote 133: Cf. Phineas Fletcher: Purple Island c. v., stanza 47. +G.] + + +THE PASSIONS OF SENSE. + + But though the _apprehensiue[134] power_ doe pause, + The _motiue_ vertue then begins to moue; + Which in the heart below doth PASSIONS cause, + _Ioy_, _griefe_, and _feare_, and _hope_, and _hate_, and _loue_. + + These passions haue a free commanding might, + And diuers actions in our life doe breed; + For, all acts done without true Reason's light, + Doe from the passion of the _Sense_ proceed. + + But sith[135] the _braine_ doth lodge the powers of _Sense_, + How makes it in the heart those passions spring? + The mutuall loue, the kind intelligence + 'Twixt heart and braine, this _sympathy_ doth bring. + + From the kind heat, which in the heart doth raigne, + The _spirits_ of life doe their begining take; + These _spirits_ of life ascending to the braine, + When they come there, the _spirits of Sense_ do make. + + These _spirits of Sense_, in Fantasie's High Court, + Iudge of the formes of _obiects_, ill or well; + And so they send a good or ill report + Downe to the heart, where all affections dwell. + + If the report bee _good_, it causeth _loue_, + And longing _hope_, and well-assurèd _ioy_: + If it bee _ill_, then doth it _hatred_ moue, + And trembling _feare_, and vexing _grief's_ annoy. + + Yet were these naturall affections good: + (For they which want them, _blockes_ or _deuils_ be) + If _Reason_ in her first perfection stood, + That she might _Nature's_ passions rectifie. + +[Footnote 134: Misprinted 'apprehension;' corrected in the errata of +1622 edition from 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + +[Footnote 135: In 1599 and 1608 editions 'since,' as before. G.] + + +THE MOTION OF LIFE. + + Besides, another _motiue_-power doth rise + Out of the heart; from whose pure blood do spring + The _vitall spirits_; which, borne in _arteries_, + Continuall motion to all parts doe bring. + + +THE LOCALL MOTION. + + This makes the pulses beat, and lungs respire, + This holds the sinewes like a bridle's reines; + And makes the Body to aduance, retire, + To turne or stop, as she them[136] slacks, or straines. + + Thus the _soule_ tunes the _bodie's_ instrument; + These harmonies she makes with _life_ and _sense_; + The organs fit are by the body lent, + But th' actions flow from the _Soule's_ influence. + + +THE INTELLECTUALL POWERS OF THE SOULE. + + _But now_ I haue a _will_, yet want a _wit_, + To expresse the working of the _wit_ and _will_; + Which, though their root be to the body knit, + Vse not the body, when they vse their skill. + + These powers the nature of the _Soule declare_, + For to man's _soule_ these onely proper bee; + For on the Earth no other wights there are + That haue these heauenly powers, but only we. + + +THE WIT OR UNDERSTANDING. + + The WIT, the pupill of the _Soule's_ cleare eye, + And in man's world, the onely shining _starre_; + Lookes in the mirror of the Fantasie, + Where all the gatherings of the _Senses_ are. + + From thence this power the shapes of things abstracts, + And them within her _passiue part_ receiues; + Which are enlightned by that part which _acts_, + And so the formes of single things perceiues. + + But after, by discoursing to and fro, + Anticipating, and comparing things; + She doth all vniversall natures know, + And all _effects_ into their _causes_ brings.[137] + +[Footnote 136: Misprinted 'them' in 1622 edition, corrected as above +from 1599 and 1608 editions. G.] + + +REASON, VNDERSTANDING. + + When she _rates_ things and moues from ground to ground, + The name of _Reason_ she obtaines by this; + But when by Reason she the truth hath found, + And _standeth fixt_, she VNDERSTANDING is. + + +OPINION, JUDGEMENT. + + When her assent she _lightly_ doth encline + To either part, she is OPINION[138] light: + But when she doth by principles define + A certaine truth, she hath _true Judgement's_ sight. + + And as from _Senses_, _Reason's_ worke doth spring, + So many _reasons understanding_ gaine; + And many _understandings_, _knowledge_ bring; + And by much _knowledge_, _wisdome_ we obtaine. + + So, many stayres we must ascend vpright + Ere we attaine to _Wisdome's_ high degree;[139] + So doth this Earth eclipse our Reason's light. + Which else (in instants) would like angels see. + + Yet hath the _Soule_ a dowrie naturall, + And _sparkes of light_, some common things to see; + Not being a _blancke_ where nought is writ at all, + But what the writer will, may written be + + For Nature in man's heart her lawes doth pen; + Prescribing _truth_ to _wit_, and _good_ to _will_; + Which doe _accuse_, or else _excuse_ all men, + For euery thought or practise, good or ill: + + And yet these sparkes grow almost infinite, + Making the World, and all therein their food; + As fire so spreads as no place holdeth it, + Being nourisht still, with new supplies of wood. + + And though these sparkes were almost quencht with sin, + Yet they whom that _Iust One_ hath iustifide; + Haue them encreasd with heauenly light within, + And like the _widowe's oyle_ still multiplide. + +[Footnote 137: Thomas Davies, as before, mis-prints 'bring.' G.] + +[Footnote 138: Thomas Davies and Southey, as before, read 'opinion's +light:' but in all the Author's editions it is as above = light +opinion: or query is 'hight' = named, meant? G.] + +[Footnote 139: Davies, as before, 'decree.' G.] + + +THE POWER OF WILL. + + And as this _wit_ should goodnesse truely know, + We haue a _Will_, which that true good should chuse; + Though _Wil_ do oft (when _wit_ false formes doth show) + Take _ill_ for _good_, and _good_ for _ill_ refuse. + + +THE RELATIONS BETWIXT WIT AND WILL. + + _Will_ puts in practice what the _Wit_ deuiseth: + _Will_ euer acts, and _Wit_ contemplates still; + And as from _Wit_, the power of _wisedome_ riseth, + _All other vertues_ daughters are of _Will_. + + _Will_ is the _prince_, and _Wit_ the counseller, + Which doth for common good in Counsell sit; + And when _Wit_ is resolu'd, _Will_ lends her power + To execute what is aduis'd by _Wit_. + + _Wit_ is the mind's chief iudge, which doth controule + Of _Fancie's_ Court the iudgements, false and vaine; + _Will_ holds the royall septer in the _soule_ + And on[140] the passions of the heart doth raigne. + + _Will_ is as free as any emperour, + Naught can restraine her _gentle_ libertie; + No tyrant, nor no torment, hath the power, + To make vs _will_, when we vnwilling bee. + + +THE INTELLECTUALL MEMORIE. + + To these high powers, a store-house doth pertaine, + Where they all arts and generall reasons lay; + Which in the _Soule_, euen after death, remaine + And no _Lethæan_[141] flood can wash away. + + This is the _Soule_, and these her vertues bee; + Which, though they haue their sundry proper ends, + And one exceeds another in degree, + Yet each on other mutually depends. + + _Our Wit_ is giuen, _Almighty God_ to _know_; + Our _Will_ is giuen to _loue_ Him, being _knowne_; + But God could not be _known_ to vs below, + But by His _workes_ which through the sense are shown. + + And as the _Wit_ doth reape the fruits of _Sense_, + So doth the _quickning_ power the _senses feed_; + Thus while they doe their sundry gifts dispence, + "The best, the seruice of the least doth need. + + Euen so the King his Magistrates do serue, + Yet Commons feed both magistrate and king; + The Commons' peace the magistrates preserue + By borrowed power, which from the Prince doth spring. + + The _quickning power_ would _be_, and so would rest; + The _Sense_ would not _be_ onely, but _be well_; + But _Wit's_ ambition longeth to the _best_, + For it desires in endlesse blisse to dwell. + + And these three powers, three[142] sorts of men doe make: + For some, like plants, their veines doe onely fill; + And some, like beasts, their senses' pleasure take; + And some, like angels, doe contemplate still. + + Therefore the fables turnd some men to flowres, + And others, did with bruitish formes inuest; + And did of others, make celestiall powers, + Like angels, which still trauell, yet still rest. + + Yet these three powers are not three _soules_, but one; + As one and two are both containd in _three_; + _Three_ being one number by it selfe alone: + A shadow of the blessed Trinitie. + +[Footnote 140: Here = o'er as on page 61 _ante_. G.] + +[Footnote 141: = forgetfulness: from Lethe. G.] + +[Footnote 142: A numeral '3' here, and in the next stanza but one. G.] + + +AN ACCLAMATION. + + O! what is Man (great Maker of mankind!) + That Thou to him so great respect dost beare! + That Thou adornst him with so bright a mind, + Mak'st him a king, and euen an angel's peere! + + O! what a liuely life, what heauenly power, + What spreading vertue, what a sparkling fire! + How great, how plentifull, how rich a dower + Dost Thou within this dying flesh inspire! + + Thou leau'st Thy print in other works of Thine, + But Thy whole image Thou in Man hast writ; + There cannot be a creature more diuine, + Except (like Thee) it should be infinit. + + But it exceeds man's thought, to thinke how hie + _God_ hath raisd _Man_, since _God a man_ became; + The angels doe admire this _Misterie_, + And are astonisht when they view the same. + + +THAT THE SOULE IS IMMORTAL, AND CANNOT DIE. + + Nor hath He giuen these blessings for a day, + Nor made them on the bodie's life depend; + The _Soule_ though made in time, _suruives for aye_, + And though it hath beginning, sees no end. + + Her onely _end_, is _neuer-ending_ blisse; + Which is, _th' eternall face of God to see_; + Who _Last of Ends_, and _First of Causes_, is: + And to doe this, she must _eternall_ bee. + + How senselesse then, and dead a soule hath hee, + Which _thinks_ his _soule_ doth with his body die! + Or _thinkes_ not so, but so would haue it bee, + That he might sinne with more securitie. + + For though these light and vicious persons say, + Our _Soule_ is but a smoake, or ayrie blast; + Which, during life, doth in our nostrils play, + And when we die, doth turne to wind at last: + + Although they say, '_Come let us eat and drinke_'; + Our life is but a sparke, which quickly dies; + Though thus they _say_, they know not what to think, + But in their minds ten thousand doubts arise. + + Therefore no heretikes desire to spread + Their light opinions, like these _Epicures_:[143] + For so the staggering thoughts are comfortèd, + And other men's assent their doubt assures. + + Yet though these men against their conscience striue, + There are some sparkles in their flintie breasts + Which cannot be extinct, but still reuiue; + That though they would, they cannot quite bee _beasts_; + + But who so makes a mirror of his mind, + And doth with patience view himselfe therein, + His _Soule's_ eternitie shall clearely find, + Though th' other beauties be defac't with sin. + + +REASON I. + +DRAWNE FROM THE DESIRE OF KNOWLEDGE. + + First _in Man's mind_ we find an appetite + To _learne_ and _know the truth_ of euery thing; + Which is co-naturall, and borne with it, + And from the _essence_ of the _soule_ doth spring. + + With this _desire_, shee hath a natiue _might_ + To find out euery truth, if she had time; + Th' innumerable effects to sort aright, + And by degrees, from cause to cause to clime. + + But sith our life so fast away doth slide, + As doth a hungry eagle through the wind, + Or as a ship transported with the tide; + Which in their passage leaue no print behind; + + Of which swift little time so much we spend, + While some few things we through the sense doe straine; + That our short race of life is at an end, + Ere we the principles of skill attaine. + + Or God (which to vaine ends hath nothing done) + In vaine this _appetite_ and _power_ hath giuen; + Or else our knowledge, which is here begun, + Hereafter must bee perfected in heauen. + + God neuer gaue a _power_ to one whole kind, + But most part of that kind did vse the same; + Most eies haue perfect sight, though some be blind; + Most legs can nimbly run, though some be lame: + + But in this life no _soule_ the truth can know + So perfectly, as it hath power to doe; + If then perfection be not found below, + An higher place must make her mount thereto. + +[Footnote 143: = disciples of Epicurus's Philosophy. G.] + + +REASON II. + +DRAWN FROM THE MOTION OF THE SOULE. + + _Againe_ how can shee but immortall bee? + When with the motions of both _Will_ and _Wit_, + She still aspireth to eternitie, + And neuer rests, till she attaine to it? + + Water in conduit pipes, can rise no higher + Then the wel-head, from whence it first doth spring: + Then sith to eternall GOD shee doth aspire, + Shee cannot be but an eternall thing. + + "All mouing things to other things doe moue, + "Of the same kind, which shews their nature such; + So _earth_ falls downe and _fire_ doth mount aboue, + Till both their proper elements doe touch. + + +THE SOUL COMPARED TO A RIUER. + + _And as_ the moysture, which the thirstie earth + Suckes from the sea, to fill her emptie veines, + From out her wombe at last doth take a birth, + And runs a _Nymph_[144] along the grassie plaines: + +[Footnote 144: Davies and Southey, as before, have the extraordinary +misprint here of 'lymph.' Cf. 'Orchestra,' stanza 63, which explains +the personification. G.] + + Long doth shee stay, as loth to leaue the land, + From whose soft side she first did issue make; + Shee tastes all places, turnes to euery hand, + Her flowry bankes vnwilling to forsake: + + Yet _Nature_ so her streames doth lead and carry, + As that her course doth make no finall stay, + Till she her selfe vnto the _Ocean_ marry, + Within whose watry bosome first she lay: + + Euen so the _Soule_ which in this earthly mold + The Spirit of God doth secretly infuse; + Because at first she doth the earth behold, + And onely this materiall world she viewes: + + At first her _mother-earth_ she holdeth deare, + And doth embrace the world and worldly things: + She flies close by the ground, and houers here, + And mounts not vp with her celestiall wings. + + Yet vnder heauen she cannot light on ought + That with her heauenly _nature_ doth agree; + She cannot rest, she cannot fix her thought, + She cannot in this world contented bee: + + For who did euer yet, in _honour_, _wealth_, + Or _pleasure of the sense_, contentment find? + Who euer ceasd to wish, when he had _health_? + Or hauing _wisedome_ was not vext in mind? + + Then as a _bee_ which among weeds doth fall, + Which seeme sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay; + She lights on that, and this, and tasteth all, + But pleasd with none, doth rise, and soare away; + + So, when the _Soule_ finds here no true content, + And, like _Noah's_ doue, can no sure footing take; + She doth returne from whence she first was sent, + And flies to _Him_ that first her wings did make. + + _Wit_, seeking _Truth_, from cause to cause ascends, + And neuer rests, till it the _first_ attaine: + _Will_, seeking _Good_, finds many middle ends, + But neuer stayes, till it the _last_ doe gaine. + + Now God, the _Truth_, and _First of Causes_ is: + God is the _Last Good End_, which lasteth still; + Being _Alpha_ and _Omega_ nam'd for this; + _Alpha_ to _Wit_, _Omega_ to the _Will_. + + Sith[145] then her heauenly kind shee doth bewray, + In that to God she doth directly moue; + And on no mortall thing can make her stay, + She cannot be from hence, but from _aboue_. + +[Footnote 145: In 1599 and 1608 editions, 'since,' as before. G.] + + And yet this _First True Cause_, and _Last Good End_, + Shee cannot heere so _well_, and _truely_ see; + For this perfection shee must yet attend, + Till to her _Maker_ shee espousèd bee. + + As a _king's_ daughter, being in person sought + Of diuers princes, who doe neighbour neere; + On none of them can fixe a constant thought, + Though shee to all doe lend a gentle eare: + + Yet she can loue a forraine _emperour_, + Whom of great worth and power she heares to be; + If she be woo'd but by _embassadour_, + Or but his _letters_, or his pictures see: + + For well she knowes, that when she shalbe brought + Into the _kingdome_ where her _Spouse_ doth raigne; + Her eyes shall see what she conceiu'd in thought, + Himselfe, his state, his glory, and his traine. + + So while the _virgin Soule_ on _Earth_ doth stay, + She woo'd and tempted is ten thousand wayes, + By these great powers, which on the _Earth_ beare sway; + The _wisdom of the World_, _wealth_, _pleasure_, _praise_: + + With these sometime she doth her time beguile, + These doe by fits her Fantasie possesse; + But she distastes them all within a while, + And in the sweetest finds a tediousnesse. + + But if upon the World's Almighty King + She once doe fixe her humble louing thought; + Who by His _picture_, drawne in euery thing, + And _sacred messages_, her _loue_ hath sought; + + Of Him she thinks, she cannot thinke too much; + This hony tasted still, is euer sweet; + The pleasure of her rauisht thought is such, + As almost here, she with her blisse doth meet: + + But when in Heauen she shall His _Essence_ see, + This is her _soueraigne good, and perfect blisse_: + Her longings, wishings, hopes all finisht be, + Her ioyes are full, her motions rest in this: + + There is she crownd with garlands of _content_, + There doth she manna eat, and nectar drinke; + That Presence doth such high delights present, + As neuer tongue could speake, nor heart could thinke. + + +REASON III. + +FROM CONTEMPT OF DEATH IN THE BETTER SORT OF SPIRITS. + + _For this_ the better _Soules_ doe oft despise + The bodie's death, and doe it oft desire; + For when on ground, the burdened ballance lies + The emptie part is lifted vp the higher: + + But if the bodie's death the _soule_ should kill, + Then death must needs _against her nature_ bee; + And were it so, all _soules_ would flie it still, + "For Nature hates and shunnes her contrary. + + For all things else, which Nature makes to bee, + Their _being_ to preserue, are chiefly taught; + And though some things desire a change to see, + Yet neuer thing did long to turne to naught. + + If then by death the _soule_ were quenchèd quite, + She could not thus against her nature runne; + Since euery senselesse thing, by Nature's light, + Doth preservation seeke, destruction shunne. + + Nor could the World's best spirits so much erre, + If death tooke all--that they should all agree, + Before this life, their _honour_ to preferre; + For what is praise to things that nothing bee? + + Againe, if by the bodie's prop she stand; + If on the bodie's life, her life depend; + As _Meleager's_ on the fatall brand[146],-- + The bodie's good shee onely would intend: + + We should not find her half so braue and bold, + To leade it to the Warres and to the seas; + To make it suffer watchings, hunger, cold, + When it might feed with plenty, rest with ease. + + Doubtlesse all _Soules_ have a suruiuing thought; + Therefore of death we thinke with quiet mind; + But if we thinke of _being turn'd to nought_, + A trembling horror in our _soules_ we find. + +[Footnote 146: Apollod I., 8, § 2, _et alibi_: Ovid, _Met._ +viii., 450; _et seq_: 531: Diod. IV., 34. G.] + + +REASON IV. + +FROM THE FEARE OF DEATH IN THE WICKED SOULES. + + _And as_ the better spirit, when shee doth beare + A scorne of death, doth shew she cannot die; + So when the wicked _Soule_ Death's face doth feare, + Euen then she proues her owne eternitie. + + For when Death's forme appeares, she feareth not + An vtter quenching or extinguishment; + She would be glad to meet with such a lot, + That so she might all future ill preuent: + + But shee doth doubt what after may befall; + For Nature's law accuseth her within; + And saith, 'Tis true that is affirm'd by all, + _That after death there is a paine for sin_. + + Then she which hath bin hud-winkt from her birth, + Doth first her selfe within Death's mirror see; + And when her body doth returne to earth, + She first takes care, how she alone shall bee. + + Who euer sees these irreligious men, + With burthen of a sicknesse weake and faint; + But heares them talking of Religion then, + And vowing of their _soules_ to euery saint? + + When was there euer cursèd _atheist_ brought + Vnto the _gibbet_,[147] but he did adore + That blessed Power, which he had set at nought, + Scorn'd and blasphemèd all his life before? + + These light vaine persons still are drunke and mad, + With surfettings and pleasures of their youth; + But at their deaths they are fresh,[148] sober, sad + Then they discerne, and then they speake the truth. + + If then all _Soules_, both good and bad, doe teach, + With generall voice, that _soules_ can neuer die; + 'Tis not man's flattering glosse, but _Nature's speech_, + Which, like _God's_ Oracle, can neuer lie. + + +REASON V. + +FROM THE BENERALL DESIRE OF IMMORTALITIE. + + _Hence springs_ that vniuersall strong desire, + Which all men haue of Immortalitie: + Not some few spirits vnto this thought aspire, + But all mens' minds in this vnited be. + + Then this desire of Nature is not vaine, + "She couets not impossibilities; + "Fond thoughts may fall into some idle braine, + "But one _assent_ of all, is euer wise. + + From hence that generall care and study springs, + That _launching_ and _progression of the mind_; + Which all men haue so much, of future things, + That they no ioy doe in the present find. + + From this desire, that maine desire proceeds, + Which all men haue suruiuing Fame to gaine; + By _tombes_, by _bookes_, by memorable _deeds_: + For she that this desires, doth still remaine. + + Hence lastly, springs care of posterities, + For things their kind would euerlasting make; + Hence is it that old men do plant young trees, + The fruit whereof another age shall take. + + If we these rules vnto our selues apply, + And view them by reflection of the mind; + All these true notes of immortalitie + In our _heart's tables_ we shall written find. + +[Footnote 147: Spelled in 1622 edition 'Iiebbet,' but in 1599 and 1608 +as above. G.] + +[Footnote 148: = active, vigorous: an uncommon use of the word. G.] + + +REASON VI. + +FROM THE VERY DOUBT AND DISPUTATION OF IMMORTALITIE. + + _And though_ some impious wits do questions moue, + And doubt if _Soules_ immortall be, or no; + That _doubt_ their immortalitie doth proue, + Because they seeme immortall things to know. + + For he which reasons on both parts doth bring, + Doth some things mortall, some immortall call; + Now, if himselfe were but a mortall thing, + He could not iudge immortall things at all. + + For when we iudge, our minds we mirrors make: + And as those glasses which materiall bee, + Formes of materiall things doe onely take, + For _thoughts_ or _minds_ in them we cannot see; + + So, when we God and angels do conceiue, + And thinke of _truth_, which is eternall too; + Then doe our minds immortall formes receiue, + Which if they mortall were, they could not doo: + + And as, if beasts conceiu'd what Reason were, + And that conception should distinctly show, + They should the name of _reasonable_ beare; + For without _Reason_, none could _Reason_ know: + + So, when the _Soule_ mounts with so high a wing, + As of eternall things she _doubts_ can moue; + Shee proofes of her eternitie doth bring, + Euen when she striues the contrary to proue. + + For euen the _thought_ of immortalitie, + Being an act done without the bodie's ayde; + Shewes, that her selfe alone could moue and bee, + Although the body in the graue were layde. + + +THAT THE SOULE CANNOT BE DESTROYED. + + And if her selfe she can so liuely moue, + And neuer need a forraine helpe to take; + Then must her motion euerlasting proue, + "Because her selfe she neuer can forsake. + + +HER CAUSE CEASETH NOT. + + _But though_ corruption cannot touch the minde, + By any cause that from it selfe may spring; + Some outward cause Fate hath perhaps designd, + Which to the _Soule_ may vtter quenching bring. + + +SHE HATH NO CONTRARY. + + _Perhaps_ her cause may cease, and she may die; + God is her _cause_, His _Word_ her Maker was; + Which shall stand fixt for all eternitie + When Heauen and Earth shall like a shadow passe. + + _Perhaps_ some thing repugnant to her kind, + By strong _antipathy_, the _Soule_ may kill; + But what can be _contrary_ to the minde, + Which holds all _contraries_ in concord still? + + She lodgeth heat, and cold, and moist, and dry, + And life, and death, and peace, and war together; + Ten thousand fighting things in her doe lye, + Yet neither troubleth, or disturbeth either. + + +SHEE CANNOT DIE FOR WANT OF FOOD. + + _Perhaps_ for want of food the _soule_ may pine; + But that were strange, sith all things _bad_ and _good_, + Sith all God's creature's _mortall_ and _diuine_, + Sith _God Himselfe_, is her eternall food. + + Bodies are fed with things of mortall kind, + And so are subiect to mortalitie; + But _Truth_ which is eternall, feeds the mind; + The _Tree of life_, which will not let her die. + + +VIOLENCE CANNOT DESTROY HER. + + _Yet violence_, perhaps the _Soule_ destroyes: + As lightning, or the _sun-beames_ dim the sight; + Or as a thunder-clap, or cannons' noyse, + The power of hearing doth astonish quite. + + But high perfection to the _Soule_ it brings, + T' encounter things most excellent and high; + For, when she views the best and greatest things + They do not hurt, but rather cleare her[149] eye, + + Besides,--as _Homer's gods_ 'gainst armies stand,-- + Her subtill forme can through all dangers slide; + _Bodies are captiue_, _minds_ endure no band, + "And Will is free, and can no force abide. + + +TIME CANNOT DESTROY HER. + + _But lastly_, _Time_ perhaps at last hath power + To spend her liuely powers, and quench her light; + But old god _Saturne_ which doth all deuoure, + Doth cherish her, and still augment her might. + + Heauen waxeth old, and all the _spheres_ aboue + Shall one day faint, and their swift motion stay; + And _Time_ it selfe in time shall cease to moue; + _Onely the Soule suruives_, and liues for aye. + + "Our Bodies, euery footstep that they make, + "March towards death, vntill at last they die; + "Whether we worke, or play, or sleepe, or wake, + "Our life doth passe, and with _Time's_ wings doth flie: + + But to the _Soule_ Time doth perfection giue, + And ads fresh lustre to her beauty still; + And makes her in eternall youth to liue, + Like her which nectar to the gods doth fill.[150] + + The more she liues, the more she feeds on _Truth_; + The more she feeds, her _strength_ doth more increase: + And what is _strength_, but an effect of _youth_? + Which if _Time_ nurse, how can it euer cease? + +[Footnote 149: Thomas Davies and Southey, as before, misread 'the.' G.] + + +OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE IMMORTALITIE OF THE SOULE. + + _But now_ these _Epicures_ begin to smile, + And say, my doctrine is more false then true; + And that I fondly doe my selfe beguile, + While these receiu'd opinions I ensue. + +[Footnote 150: Hebe. G.] + + +OBJECTION I. + + For what, say they, doth not the _Soule_ waxe old? + How comes it then that agèd men doe dote; + And that their braines grow sottish, dull and cold, + Which were in youth the onely spirits of note? + + What? are not _Soules_ within themselues corrupted? + How can there idiots then by nature bee? + How is it that some wits are interrupted, + That now they dazeled are, now clearely see? + + +ANSWERE. + + _These questions_ make a subtill argument, + To such as thinke both _sense_ and _reason_ one; + To whom nor agent, from the instrument, + Nor power of working, from the work is known. + + But they that know that wit can shew no skill, + But when she things in _Sense's glasse_ doth view; + Doe know, if accident this glasse doe spill, + It _nothing sees_, or _sees the false for true_. + + For, if that region of the tender braine, + Where th' inward sense of Fantasie should sit, + And the outward senses gatherings should retain, + By Nature, or by chance, become vnfit; + + Either at first vncapable it is, + And so few things, or none at all receiues; + Or mard by accident, which haps amisse + And so amisse it euery thing perceiues. + + Then, as a cunning prince that vseth _spyes_, + If they returne no newes doth nothing know; + But if they make aduertisement of lies, + The Prince's Counsel all awry doe goe. + + Euen so the _Soule_ to such a body knit, + Whose inward senses vndisposèd be, + And to receiue the formes of things vnfit; + Where nothing is brought in, can nothing see. + + This makes the idiot, which hath yet a mind, + Able to _know_ the truth, and _chuse_ the good; + If she such figures in the braine did find, + As might be found, if it in temper stood. + + But if a _phrensie_ doe possesse the braine, + It so disturbs and blots the formes of things; + As Fantasie prooues altogether vaine, + And to the Wit no true relation brings. + + Then doth the Wit, admitting all for true, + Build fond[151] conclusions on those idle grounds; + Then doth it flie the good, and ill pursue, + Beleeuing all that this false _spie_ propounds. + + But purge the humors, and the rage appease, + Which this distemper in the fansie wrought; + Then shall the _Wit_, which never had disease, + Discourse, and iudge discreetly, as it ought. + + So, though the clouds eclipse the _sunne's_ faire light, + Yet from his face they doe not take one beame; + So haue our eyes their perfect power of sight, + Euen when they looke into a troubled streame. + + Then these defects in _Senses'_ organs bee, + Not in the _soule_ or in her working might; + She cannot lose her perfect power to see, + Thogh mists and clouds do choke her window light. + + These imperfections then we must impute, + Not to the agent but the instrument; + We must not blame _Apollo_, but his lute, + If false accords from her false strings be sent. + + The _Soule_ in all hath one intelligence; + Though too much moisture in an infant's braine, + And too much drinesse in an old man's sense, + Cannot the prints of outward things retaine: + + Then doth the _Soule_ want worke, and idle sit, + And this we _childishnesse_ and _dotage_ call; + Yet hath she then a quicke and actiue Wit, + If she had stuffe and tooles to worke withall: + + For, giue her organs fit, and obiects faire; + Giue but the aged man, the young man's sense; + Let but _Medea_, _Æson's_ youth repaire,[152] + And straight she shewes her wonted excellence. + + As a good harper stricken farre in yeares, + Into whose cunning hand the gowt is fall;[153] + All his old crotchets in his braine he beares, + But on his harpe playes ill, or not at all. + + But if _Apollo_ takes his gowt away, + That hee his nimble fingers may apply; + _Apollo's_ selfe will enuy at his play, + And all the world applaud his minstralsie. + + Then _dotage_ is no weaknesse of the mind, + But of the _Sense_; for if the mind did waste, + In all old men we should this wasting find, + When they some certaine terme of yeres had past: + + But most of them, euen to their dying howre, + Retaine a mind more liuely, quicke, and strong; + And better vse their vnderstanding power, + Then when their braines were warm, and lims were yong. + + For, though the body wasted be and weake, + And though the leaden forme of earth it beares; + Yet when we heare that halfe-dead body speake, + We oft are rauisht to the heauenly _spheares_. + +[Footnote 151: Foolish. G.] + +[Footnote 152: Ovid, _Met._ vii. 163, 250 _et alibi_. G.] + +[Footnote 153: _Sic_: and also onward. G.] + + +OBJECTION II. + + Yet say these men, If all her organs die, + Then hath the _soule_ no power her powers to vse; + So, in a sort, her powers extinct doe lie, + When vnto _act_ shee cannot them reduce. + + And if her powers be dead, then what is shee? + For sith from euery thing some powers do spring, + And from those powers, some _acts_ proceeding bee, + Then kill both _power_ and _act_, and kill the _thing_. + + +ANSWERE. + + _Doubtlesse_ the bodie's death when once it dies, + The instruments of sense and life doth kill; + So that she cannot vse those faculties, + Although their root rest in her substance still. + + But (as the body liuing) _Wit_ and _Will_ + Can _iudge_ and _chuse_, without the bodie's ayde; + Though on such obiects they are working still, + As through the bodie's organs are conuayde: + + So, when the body serues her turne no more, + And all her _Senses_ are extinct and gone, + She can discourse of what she learn'd before, + In heauenly contemplations, all alone. + + So, if one man well on a lute doth play, + And haue good horsemanship, and Learning's skill; + Though both his lute and horse we take away, + Doth he not keep his former learning still? + + He keepes it doubtlesse, and can vse it to[o]; + And doth both th' other _skils_ in power retaine; + And can of both the proper actions doe, + If with his lute or horse he meet againe. + + So (though the instruments by which we liue, + And view the world, the bodie's death doe kill;)[154] + Yet with the body they shall all reuiue, + And all their wonted offices fulfill. + + +OBJECTION III. + + _But how_, till then, shall she herselfe imploy? + Her spies are dead which brought home newes before; + What she hath got and keepes, she may enioy, + But she hath meanes to vnderstand no more. + + Then what do those poore _soules_, which nothing get? + Or what doe those which get, and cannot keepe? + Like buckets[155] bottomlesse, which all out-let + Those _Soules_, for want of exercise, must sleepe. + + +ANSWERE. + + _See how_ man's _Soule_ against it selfe doth striue: + Why should we not haue other meanes to know? + As children while within the wombe they liue, + Feed by the nauill: here they feed not so. + + These children, if they had some vse of sense, + And should by chance their mothers' talking heare; + That in short time they shall come forth from thence, + Would feare their birth more then our death we feare. + + They would cry out, 'If we this place shall leaue, + Then shall we breake our tender nauill strings; + How shall we then our nourishment receiue, + Sith our sweet food no other conduit brings?' + + And if a man should to these babes reply, + That into this faire world they shall be brought; + Where they shall see the Earth, the Sea, the Skie, + The glorious Sun, and all that God hath wrought: + + That there ten thousand dainties they shall meet, + Which by their mouthes they shall with pleasure take; + Which shall be cordiall too, as wel as sweet, + And of their little limbes, tall bodies make: + + This would[156] they thinke a fable, euen as we + Doe thinke the _story_ of the _Golden Age_; + Or as some sensuall spirits amongst vs bee, + Which hold the _world to come, a fainèd stage_: + + Yet shall these infants after find all true, + Though then thereof they nothing could conceiue; + As soone as they are borne, the world they view, + And with their mouthes, the nurses'-milke receiue. + + So, when the _Soule_ is borne (for Death is nought + But the _Soule's_ birth, and so we should it call) + Ten thousand things she sees beyond her thought, + And in an vnknowne manner knowes them all. + + Then doth she see by spectacles no more, + She heares not by report of double spies; + Her selfe in instants doth all things explore, + For each thing present, and before her, lies. + +[Footnote 154: The parenthetic marks are as _supra_: but perhaps they +ought to begin at 'by' and end with 'world.' G.] + +[Footnote 155: Davies and Southey, as before, oddly misprint +'bucklers.' G.] + +[Footnote 156: Misprinted 'world,' but corrected in the errata of +1622 edition. Davies and Southey, as before, repeat the misprint, and +accommodate 'they' to it by reading 'they'd:' so rare is it to recur to +an author's own text. G.] + + +OBJECTION IV. + + _But still_ this crue with questions me pursues: + If _soules_ deceas'd (say they) still liuing bee; + Why do they not return, to bring vs newes + Of that strange world, where they such wonders see?[157] + +[Footnote 157: + + 'Tell us, ye dead, will none of you in pity, + To those you left behind, disclose the secret? + + Oh! that some courteous ghost would blab it out; + What 'tis you are, and we must shortly be.' + + ROBERT BLAIR: 'The Grave.' G.] + + +ANSWERE. + + _Fond[158] men!_ If we beleeue that men doe liue + Vnder the _Zenith_ of both frozen _Poles_, + Though none come thence aduertisement to giue; + Why beare we not the like faith of our _soules_? + + The _soule_ hath here on Earth no more to doe, + Then we haue businesse in our mother's wombe; + What child doth couet to returne thereto? + Although all children first from thence do come? + + But as _Noah's_ pidgeon, which return'd no more, + Did shew, she footing found, for all the Flood; + So when good soules, departed through Death's dore, + Come not againe, it shewes their dwelling good. + + And doubtlesse, such a _soule_ as vp doth mount, + And doth appeare before her Maker's Face; + Holds this vile world in such a base account, + As she looks down, and scorns this wretched place. + + But such as are detruded downe to Hell, + Either for shame, they still themselues retire; + Or tyed in chaines, they in close prison dwell, + And cannot come, although they much desire. + +[Footnote 158: Foolish. G.] + + +OBJECTION V. + + _Well, well_, say these vaine spirits, though vaine it is + To thinke our _Soules_ to Heauen or Hell to[159] goe, + _Politike_ men haue thought it not amisse, + To spread this _lye_, to make men vertuous so. + + +ANSWERE. + + _Doe you_ then thinke this _morall vertue_ good? + I thinke you doe, euen for your priuate gaine; + For Common-wealths by _vertue_ euer stood, + And common good the priuate doth containe. + + If then this _vertue_ you doe loue so well, + Haue you no meanes, her practise to maintaine; + But you this lye must to the people tell, + That good _Soules_ liue in ioy, and ill in paine? + + Must _vertue_ be preseruèd by a _lye_? + _Vertue_ and _Truth_ do euer best agree; + By this it seemes to be a veritie, + Sith the effects so good and vertuous bee. + + For, as the deuill father is of lies, + So vice and mischiefe doe his lyes ensue; + Then this good doctrine did not he deuise, + But made this _lye_, which saith it is not true. + +[Footnote 159: In 1599 and 1608 editions, 'do.' G.] + + +THE GENERALL CONSENT OF ALL. + + _For how_ can that be false, which euery tongue + Of euery mortall man affirmes for true? + Which truth hath in all ages been so strong, + As lodestone-like, all hearts it euer drew. + + For, not the _Christian_, or the _Iew_ alone, + The _Persian_, or the _Turke_, acknowledge this; + This mysterie to the wild _Indian_ knowne, + And to the _Canniball_ and _Tartar_ is. + + This rich _Assyrian_ drugge growes euery where; + As common in the _North_, as in the _East_; + This doctrine does not enter by the _eare_, + But of it selfe is natiue in the breast. + + None that acknowledge God, or prouidence, + Their _Soule's_ eternitie did euer doubt; + For all _Religion_ takes her root from hence, + Which no poore naked nation liues without. + + For sith the World for Man created was, + (For onely Man the vse thereof doth know) + If man doe perish like a withered grasse, + How doth God's Wisedom order things below? + + And if that Wisedom still wise ends propound, + Why made He man, of other creatures King? + When (if he perish here) there is not found + In all the world so poor and vile a thing? + + If death do quench vs quite, we haue great wrong, + Sith for our seruice all things else were wrought; + That _dawes_, and _trees_, and _rocks_, should last so long, + When we must in an instant passe to nought. + + But blest be that _Great Power_, that hath vs blest + With longer life then Heauen or Earth can haue; + Which hath infus'd into our mortall breast + Immortall powers, not subiect to the graue. + + For though the Soule doe seeme her graue to beare, + And in this world is almost buried quick; + We haue no cause the bodie's death to feare, + For when the shell is broke, out comes a chick. + + +THREE KINDS OF LIFE ANSWERABLE TO THE THREE POWERS OF THE +SOULE. + + _For_ as the _soule's essentiall_ powers are three, + The _quickning power_, the _power of sense_ and _reason_; + Three kinds of life to her designèd bee, + Which perfect these three[160] powers in their due season. + + The first life, in the mother's wombe is spent, + Where she her _nursing power_ doth onely vse; + Where, when she finds defect of nourishment, + Sh' expels her body, and this world she viewes. + + This we call _Birth_; but if the child could speake, + He _Death_ would call it; and of Nature plaine,[161] + That she would thrust him out naked and weake, + And in his passage pinch him with such paine. + + Yet, out he comes, and in this world is plac't, + Where all his _Senses_ in perfection bee; + Where he finds flowers to smell, and fruits to taste; + And sounds to heare, and sundry formes to see. + + When he hath past some time vpon this stage, + His _Reason_ then a litle seemes to wake; + Which, thogh she spring, when sense doth fade with age, + Yet can she here no perfect practise make. + + Then doth th' aspiring _Soule_ the body leaue, + Which we call _Death_; but were it knowne to all, + What _life_ our _soules_ do by this _death_ receiue, + Men would it _birth_ or _gaole[162] deliuery_ call. + + In this third life, Reason will be so bright, + As that her sparke will like the _sun-beames_ shine; + And shall of God enioy the reall sight. + Being still increast by influence diuine. + +[Footnote 160: Numeral '3,' as before, in 1622 edition. G.] + +[Footnote 161: _Id est_ 'complain.' G.] + + +AN ACCLAMATION. + + O Ignorant poor man! what dost thou beare + Lockt vp within the casket of thy brest? + What iewels, and what riches hast thou there! + What heauenly treasure in so weake a chest! + + Looke in thy _soule_, and thou shalt _beauties_ find, + Like those which drownd _Narcissus_ in the flood:[163] + _Honour_ and _Pleasure_ both are in thy mind, + And all that in the world is counted _Good_. + + Thinke of her worth, and think that God did meane, + This worthy mind should worthy things imbrace; + Blot not her beauties with thy thoughts vnclean, + Nor her dishonour with thy passions base; + + Kill not her _quickning power_ with surfettings, + Mar not her _Sense_ with sensualitie; + Cast not her serious[164] wit on idle things: + Make not her free-_will_, slaue to vanitie. + + And when thou think'st of her _eternitie_, + Thinke not that _Death_ against her nature is, + Thinke it a _birth_; and when thou goest to die, + Sing like a swan, as if thou went'st to blisse.[165] + + And if thou, like a child, didst feare before, + Being in the darke, where thou didst nothing see; + Now I haue broght thee _torch-light_, feare no more; + Now when thou diest, thou canst not hud-winkt be. + + And thou my _Soule_, which turn'st thy curious eye, + To view the beames of thine owne forme diuine; + Know, that thou canst know nothing perfectly, + While thou art clouded with this flesh of mine. + + Take heed of _ouer-weening_, and compare + Thy peacock's feet with thy gay peacock's traine;[166] + Study the best, and highest things that are, + But of thy selfe an humble thought retaine. + + Cast downe thy selfe, and onely striue to raise + The glory of thy Maker's sacred Name; + Vse all thy powers, that Blessed Power to praise, + Which giues thee power to _bee_, and _vse the same_. + +[Footnote 162: 'Goale' in 1608 edition. G.] + +[Footnote 163: See Ovid, _Met._ III., 341 _et alibi_, and +Eustathius (ad Hom. p. 266). G.] + +[Footnote 164: 'Serious' dropped by Davies and Southey, as before. G.] + +[Footnote 165: Cf. Sir Thomas Browne: 'Vulgar Errors,' _s.v._ G.] + +[Footnote 166: More usually applied to the swan: as ancient +WORSHIP puts it 'The whitest swanne hath a blacke foot:' +'Christian's Mourning Garment.' G.] + + $Finis.$ + + + + +$Appendix.$ + +REMARKS PREFIXED TO NAHUM TATE'S EDITION (1697) OF 'NOSCE TEIPSUM.'[167] + + +There is a natural love and fondness in Englishmen for whatever was +done in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. We look upon her time as our +golden age; and the great men who lived in it, as our chiefest heroes +of virtue, and greatest examples of wisdom, courage, integrity and +learning. + +[Footnote 167: The Original, Nature, and Immortality of the Soul. A +Poem. With an Introduction concerning Humane Knowledge. Written by Sir +John Davies, Attorney-General to Q. Elizabeth. With a Prefatory Account +concerning the Author and Poem. London, Printed by W. Rogers at the +Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet street. 1697'--TATE +informs us that the 'Remarks' were 'written by an ingenious and learned +Divine'--It will be noticed that they finish somewhat abruptly: and +while there is 'account' of the Poem, none of the Author.'--Dr. +BLISS, in his edition of Anthony-a-Wood's ATHENÆ, +describes above as containing only the second portion: but he is +mistaken: the Poem is given completely.] + +Among many others, the author of this poem merits a lasting honour; +for, as he was a most eloquent lawyer, so, in the composition of this +piece, we admire him for a good poet and exact philosopher. 'Tis not +rhyming that makes a poet, but the true and impartial representing +of virtue and vice, so as to instruct mankind in matters of greatest +importance. And this observation has been made of our countrymen, That +Sir John Suckling wrote in the most courtly and gentleman-like style; +Waller in the most sweet and flowing numbers; Denham with the most +accurate judgment and correctness; Cowley with pleasing softness and +plenty of imagination: none ever uttered more divine thought than Mr. +Herbert; none more philosophical than Sir John Davies. His thoughts are +moulded into easy and significant words; his rhymes never mislead the +sense, but are led and governed by it: so that in reading such useful +performances, the wit of mankind may be refined from its dross, their +memories furnished with the best notions, their judgments strengthened, +and their conceptions enlarged: by which means the mind will be raised +to the most perfect ideas it is capable of in this degenerate state. + +But as others have laboured to carry out our thoughts, and to +entertain them with all manner of delights abroad; 'tis the peculiar +character of this author, that he has taught us (with Antoninus) to +meditate upon ourselves; that he has disclosed to us greater secrets +at home; self-reflection being the only way to valuable and true +knowledge, which consists in that rare science of a man's self, which +the moral philosopher loses in a crowd of definitions, divisions and +distinctions: the historian cannot find it among all his musty records, +being far better acquainted with the transactions of a thousand years +past, than with the present age, or with himself: the writer of fables +and romances wanders from it, in following the delusions of a wild +fancy, chimeras and fictions that do not only exceed the works, but +also the possibility of Nature. Whereas the resemblance of truth is +the utmost limits of poetical liberty, which our author has very +religiously observed; for he has not only placed and connected together +the most amiable images of all those powers that are in our souls, but +he has furnished and squared his matter like a true philosopher; that +is, he has made both body and soul, colour and shadow of his poem, out +of the storehouse of his own mind, which gives the whole work a real +and natural beauty; when that which is borrowed out of books, (the +boxes of counterfeit complexion) shews well or ill, as it has more or +less likeness to the natural. But our author is beholding to none but +himself; and by knowing himself thoroughly, he has arrived to know +much; which appears in his admirable variety of well-chosen metaphors +and similitudes that cannot be found within the compass of a narrow +knowledge. For this reason the poem, on account of its intrinsic worth, +would be as lasting as the Iliad or the Æneid, if the language 'tis +wrote in were as immutable as that of the Greeks and Romans. + +Now it would be of great benefit to the beaus of our age to carry this +glass in their pocket, whereby they might learn to think rather than +dress well. It would be of use also to the wits and virtuosoes to carry +this antidote against the poison they have sucked in from Lucretius +or Hobbes. This would acquaint them with some principles of religion; +for in old times the poets were the divines, and exercised a kind of +spiritual authority amongst the people. Verse in those days was the +sacred style, the style of Oracles and Lawes. The vows and thanks of +the people were recommended to their gods in songs and hymns. Why may +they not retain this priviledge? for if prose should contend with +verse, it would be upon unequal terms, and (as it were) on foot against +the wings of Pegasus. With what delight are we touched in hearing the +stories of Hercules, Achilles, Cyrus, and Æneas? Because in their +characters we have wisdom, honour, fortitude and justice, set before +our eyes. It was Plato's opinion, that if a man could see virtue, he +would be strangely enamoured on her person. Which is the reason why +Horace and Virgil have continued so long in reputation, because they +have drawn her in all the charms of poetry. No man is so senseless +of rational impressions, as not to be wonderfully affected with the +pastorals of the ancients, when under the stories of wolves and sheep, +they describe the misery of people under hard masters, and their +happiness under good. So the bitter and wholesome Iambick was wont to +make villainy blush; the Satire invited men to laugh at folly; the +Comedian chastised the common errors of life; and the Tragedian made +kings afraid to be tyrants, and tyrants to be their own tormentors. + +Wherefore, as Sir Philip Sidney said of Chaucer, that he knew not which +he should most wonder at, either that he in his dark time should see +so distinctly, or that we in this clear age should go so stumblingly +after him; so may we marvel at and bewail the low condition of poetry +now, when in our Plays scarce any one rule of decorum is observed, but +in the space of two hours and a half we pass through all the fits of +Bedlam; in one scene we are all in mirth, in the next we are all in +sadness; whilst even the most laboured parts are starved for want of +thought; a confused heap of words, and empty sound of rhyme. + +This very consideration should advance the esteem of the following +poem, wherein are represented the various movements of the mind; at +which we are as much transported as with the most excellent scenes of +passion in Shakespear, or Fletcher: for in this, as in a mirror (that +will not flatter) we see how the soul arbitrates in the understanding +upon the various reports of sense, and all the changes of imagination: +how compliant the will is to her dictates, and obeys her as a queen +does her king: at the same time acknowledging a subjection, and yet +retaining a majesty: how the passions move at her command, like a +well-disciplined army; from which regular composure of the faculties, +all operating in their proper time and place, there arises a +complacency upon the whole soul, that infinitely transcends all other +pleasures. + +What deep philosophy is this! to discover the process of God's art +in fashioning the soul of man after His own image; by remarking how +one part moves another, and how those motions are varied by several +positions of each part, from the first springs and plummets, to the +very hand that points out the visible and last effects. What eloquence +and force of wit to convey these profound speculations in the easiest +language, expressed in words so vulgarly received, that they are +understood by the meanest capacities. + +For the poet takes care in every line to satisfy the understandings of +mankind: he follows step by step the workings of the mind, from the +first strokes of sense, then of fancy, afterwards of judgment, into +the principles both of natural and supernatural motives: hereby the +soul is made intelligible, which comprehends all things besides; the +boundless tracks of sea and land, and the vaster spaces of heaven; that +vital principle of action, which has always been busied in enquiries +abroad, is now made known to itself; insomuch that we may find out what +we ourselves are, from whence we came, and whither we must go; we may +perceive what noble guests those are, which we lodge in our bosoms, +which are nearer to us than all other things, and yet nothing further +from our acquaintance. + +But here all the labyrinths and windings of the human frame are laid +open: 'tis seen by what pullies and wheels the work is carried on, as +plainly as if a window were opened in the breast: for it is the work +of God alone to create a mind. The next to this is to shew how its +operations are performed. + + + + +II. HYMNES OF ASTRÆA. + + + + +NOTE. + + +The following is the original title-page of 'Astr[oe]a': + + HYMNES OF + ASTR[OE]A, IN + Acrosticke verse + + London + Printed for J. S. + 1599 + + [4^{o} pp. 27: register A. B. C. D. of 4 leaves each.] + +Throughout, the Poet spells 'Astr[oe]a': probably Asteria ([Greek: +'Asteria]) were more accurate. Our text for these 'Hymnes' is, as in +Nosce Teipsum, the edition of 1622: but throughout, compared with the +first, as _supra_. Title-page in 1622 edition is as follows: + + HYMNES + of + ASTREA + + _In Acrosticke Verse._ + + London + Printed by A. M. for _Richard Hawkins_. + 1622. [8vo.] + +With reference to Elizabeth who is so glorified in these 'Hymnes' as +'Astræa,' cf. the 'Conference between a Gentleman-Usher and a Post' in +our Memorial-Introduction. I have since found that another copy of +this interesting MS. is preserved among the Harleian MSS.: No. cclxxxvi +fol. 248. I would here call attention to the correspondence between the +metaphor of the Senses serving the Intellect in 'Nosce Teipsum' and in +the 'Conference' as flatteringly descriptive of the position held by +her 'ministers' to the Queen. In Davison's 'Rhapsody' _the_ name for +Elizabeth is Astræa. G. + + + + +_Hymnes to Astr[oe]a._ + +HYMNE I. + +OF ASTR[OE]A.[168] + + + $E$ arly before the day doth spring, + $L$ et us awake my Muse, and sing; + $I$ t is no time to slumber, + $S$ o many ioyes this time doth bring, + $A$ s Time will faile to number. + + $B$ ut whereto shall we bend our layes? + $E$ uen vp to Heauen, againe to raise[169] + $T$ he Mayd, which thence descended; + $H$ ath brought againe the golden dayes, + $A$ nd all the world amended. + + $R$ udenesse it selfe she doth refine, + $E$ uen like an Alchymist diuine; + $G$ rosse times of yron turning + $I$ nto the purest forme of gold; + $N$ ot to corrupt, till heauen waxe old, + $A$ nd be refined with burning. + +[Footnote 168: Here spelled 'Astrea.' G.] + +[Footnote 169: = to praise or exalt. G.] + + +HYMNE II. + +TO ASTRÆA. + + $E$ ternall Virgin, _Goddesse_ true, + $L$ et me presume to sing to you. + $I$ oue, euen great _Ioue_ hath leasure + $S$ ometimes to heare the vulgar crue, + $A$ nd heares them oft with pleasure. + + $B$ lessèd _Astræa_, I in part + $E$ nioy the blessings you impart; + $T$ he Peace, the milke and hony, + $H$ umanitie, and civil _Art_, + $A$ richer dower then money. + + $R$ ight glad am I that now I liue, + $E$ uen in these dayes whereto you giue + $G$ reat happinesse and glory; + $I$ f after you I should be borne, + $N$ o doubt I should my birth-day scorne, + $A$ dmiring your sweet storie. + + +HYMNE III. + +TO THE SPRING. + + $E$ arth now is greene, and heauen is blew, + $L$ iuely Spring which makes all new, + $I$ olly Spring, doth enter; + $S$ weete yong sun-beames doe subdue + $A$ ngry, agèd Winter. + + $B$ lasts are milde, and seas are calme, + $E$ uery meadow flowes with balme, + $T$ he Earth weares all her riches; + $H$ armonious birdes sing such a psalme, + $A$ s eare and heart bewitches. + + $R$ eserue (sweet Spring) this Nymph of ours, + $E$ ternall garlands of thy flowers, + $G$ reene garlands neuer wasting; + $I$ n her shall last our _State's_ faire Spring, + $N$ ow and for euer flourishing, + $A$ s long as Heauen is lasting. + + +HYMNE IV. + +TO THE MONETH OF MAY. + + $E$ ach day of thine, sweet moneth of May, + $L$ oue makes a solemne holy-day. + $I$ will performe like duty, + $S$ ith thou resemblest euery way + $A$ stræa, Queen of beauty, + + $B$ oth you fresh beauties do pertake, + $E$ ither's aspect doth Summer make, + $T$ houghts of young Loue awaking; + $H$ earts you both doe cause to ake, + $A$ nd yet be pleas'd with akeing. + + $R$ ight deare art thou, and so is shee, + $E$ uen like attractiue sympathy, + $G$ aines vnto both like dearenesse; + $I$ weene this made Antiquitie + $N$ ame thee, sweet _May of Maiestie_, + $A$ s being both like in _clearnesse_. + + +HYMNE V. + +TO THE LARKE. + + $E$ arley, cheerfull, mounting Larke, + $L$ ight's gentle vsher, Morning's clark, + $I$ n merry notes delighting; + $S$ tint awhile thy song, and harke, + $A$ nd learne my new inditing. + + $B$ eare vp this hymne, to heau'n it beare, + $E$ uen vp to heau'n, and sing it there, + $T$ o heau'n each morning beare it; + $H$ aue it set to some sweet sphere, + $A$ nd let the Angels heare it. + + $R$ enownd Astræa, that great name, + $E$ xceeding great in worth and fame, + $G$ reat worth hath so renownd it; + $I$ t is Astræa's name I praise, + $N$ ow then, sweet Larke, do thou it raise, + $A$ nd in high Heauen resound it. + + +HYMNE VI. + +TO THE NIGHTINGALE. + + $E$ uery night from euen till morne, + $L$ oue's Quirister amidde the thorne + $I$ s now so sweet a singer; + $S$ o sweet, as for her song I scorne + $A$ pollo's voice, and finger. + + $B$ ut Nightingale, sith you delight + $E$ uer to watch the starry night; + $T$ ell all the starres of heauen, + $H$ eauen neuer had a starre so bright, + $A$ s now to Earth is giuen. + + $R$ oyall Astræa makes our day + $E$ ternall with her beames, nor may + $G$ rosse darknesse ouercome her; + $I$ now perceiue why some doe write, + $N$ o countrey hath so short a night, + $A$ s England hath in Summer. + + +HYMNE VII. + +TO THE ROSE. + + $E$ ye of the Garden, Queene of flowres, + $L$ ove's cup wherein he nectar powres, + $I$ ngendered first of nectar; + $S$ weet nurse-child of the Spring's young howres, + $A$ nd Beautie's faire character. + + $B$ est iewell that the Earth doth weare, + $E$ uen when the braue young sunne draws neare, + $T$ o her hot Loue pretending;[170] + $H$ imselfe likewise like forme doth beare, + $A$ t rising and descending. + + $R$ ose of the Queene of Loue belou'd; + $E$ ngland's great Kings diuinely mou'd, + $G$ ave Roses in their banner; + $I$ t shewed that Beautie's Rose indeed, + $N$ ow in this age should them succeed, + $A$ nd raigne in more sweet manner. + +[Footnote 170: = reaching forward. G.] + + +HYMNE VIII. + +TO ALL THE PRINCES OF EUROPE. + + $E$ urope, the earth's sweet Paradise, + $L$ et all thy kings that would be wise, + $I$ n _politique deuotion_; + $S$ ayle hither to obserue her eyes, + $A$ nd marke her heaunly motion. + + $B$ raue Princes of this ciuill age, + $E$ nter into this pilgrimage; + $T$ his saint's tongue is an oracle, + $H$ er eye hath made a Prince a page, + $A$ nd works each day a miracle. + + $R$ aise but your lookes to her, and see + $E$ uen the true beames of maiestie, + $G$ reat Princes, marke her duly; + $I$ f all the world you doe suruey, + $N$ o forehead spreades so bright a ray, + $A$ nd notes a Prince so truly. + + +HYMNE IX. + +TO FLORA. + + $E$ mpresse of flowers, tell where away + $L$ ies your sweet Court this merry[171] May, + $I$ n _Greenewich_ Garden allies?[172] + $S$ ince there the heauenly powers do play + $A$ nd haunt no other vallies. + + $B$ _eautie_, _vertue_, _maiestie_, + $E$ loquent Muses, three times three, + $T$ he new fresh _Houres_ and Graces, + $H$ aue pleasure in this place to be, + $A$ boue all other places. + + $R$ oses and lillies did them draw, + $E$ re they diuine _Astræa_ saw; + $G$ ay flowers they sought for pleasure: + $I$ nstead of gathering crownes of flowers, + $N$ ow gather they Astræa's dowers, + $A$ nd beare to heauen that treasure, + +[Footnote 171: Thomas Davies, as before, drops 'merry.'] + +[Footnote 172: = alleys. G.] + + +HYMNE X. + +TO THE MONETH OF SEPTEMBER. + + $E$ ach moneth hath praise in some degree; + $L$ et May to others seeme to be + $I$ n sense the sweetest Season; + $S$ eptember thou art best to me, + $A$ nd best dost please my reason. + + $B$ ut neither for thy corne nor wine + $E$ xtoll I those mild dayes of thine, + $T$ hough corne and wine might praise thee; + $H$ eauen giues thee honour more diuine, + $A$ nd higher fortunes raise thee. + + $R$ enown'd art thou (sweet moneth) for this, + $E$ mong thy dayes her birth-day is;[173] + $G$ race, plenty, peace and honour + $I$ n one faire hour with her were borne; + $N$ ow since they still her crowne adorne, + $A$ nd still attend vpon her. + +[Footnote 173: Queen Elizabeth was born on 7th September, 1533. G.] + + +HYMNE XI. + +TO THE SUNNE. + + $E$ ye of the world, fountaine of light, + $L$ ife of Day, and death of Night; + $I$ humbly seek thy kindnesse: + $S$ weet, dazle not my feeble sight, + $A$ nd strike me not with blindnesse. + + $B$ ehold me mildly from that face, + $E$ uen where thou now dost run thy race, + $T$ he spheare where now thou turnest; + $H$ auing like _Phaeton_ chang'd thy place, + $A$ nd yet hearts onely burnest. + + $R$ ed in her right cheeke thou dost rise, + $E$ xalted after in her eyes, + $G$ reat glory there thou shewest; + $I$ n th' other cheeke when thou descendest, + $N$ ew rednesse vnto it thou lendest, + $A$ nd so thy round thou goest. + + +HYMNE XII. + +TO HER PICTURE. + + $E$ xtreame was his audacitie, + $L$ ittle his skill, that finisht thee; + $I$ am asham'd and sorry, + $S$ o dull her counterfeit should bee, + $A$ nd she so full of glory. + + $B$ ut here are colours red and white, + $E$ ach line, and each proportion right; + $T$ hese lines, this red and whitenesse, + $H$ aue wanting yet a life and light, + $A$ maiestie, and brightnesse. + + $R$ ude counterfeit, I then did erre, + $E$ uen now when I would needs inferre + $G$ reat boldnesse in thy maker; + $I$ did mistake, he was not bold, + $N$ or durst his eyes her eyes behold: + $A$ nd this made him mistake her. + + +HYMNE XIII. + +OF HER MINDE. + + $E$ arth, now adiew, my rauisht thought + $L$ ifted to Heau'n sets thee at nought; + $I$ nfinite is my longing, + $S$ ecrets of angels to be taught, + $A$ nd things to Heau'n belonging. + + $B$ rought downe from heau'n of angels kind, + $E$ uen now doe I admire her _mind_; + $T$ his is my contemplation, + $H$ er cleare sweet spirit, which is refin'd + $A$ boue humane _creation_. + + $R$ ich sun-beame of th' Æternall light, + $E$ xcellent _Soule_, how shall I wright?[174] + $G$ ood angels make me able; + $I$ cannot see but by your eye, + $N$ or, but by your tongue, signifie + $A$ thing so admirable. + +[Footnote 174: = write. G.] + + +HYMNE XIIII. + +OF THE SUN-BEAMES OF HER MIND. + + $E$ xceeding glorious is the starre, + $L$ et vs behold her beames afarre + $I$ n a side line reflected; + $S$ ight bears them not, when neere they are, + $A$ nd in right lines directed. + + $B$ ehold her in her vertues' beames, + $E$ xtending sun-like to all realmes; + $T$ he sunne none viewes too neerly: + $H$ er well of goodnes in these streames, + $A$ ppeares right well and clearely. + + $R$ adiant vertues, if your light + $E$ nfeeble the best iudgement's sight, + $G$ reat splendor aboue measure + $I$ s in the _mind_ from whence you flow; + $N$ o wit may haue accesse to know, + $A$ nd view so bright a treasure. + + +HYMNE XV. + +OF HER WIT. + + $E$ ye of that mind most quicke and cleere,-- + $L$ ike Heauen's eye, which from his spheare + $I$ nto all things prieth; + $S$ ees through all things euery where, + $A$ nd all their natures trieth. + + $B$ right image of an angel's wit, + $E$ xceeding sharpe and swift like it, + $T$ hings instantly discerning; + $H$ auing a nature infinit, + $A$ nd yet increas'd by learning. + + $R$ ebound vpon thy selfe thy light, + $E$ nioy thine own sweet precious sight + $G$ iue us but some reflection; + $I$ t is enough for vs if we + $N$ ow in her speech, now policie, + $A$ dmire thine high perfection. + + +HYMNE XVI. + +OF HER WILL. + + $E$ uer well affected _will_, + $L$ ouing _goodnesse_, loathing _ill_, + $I$ nestimable treasure! + $S$ ince such a power hath power to spill,[175] + $A$ nd save vs at her pleasure. + + $B$ e thou our law, sweet _will_, and say + $E$ uen what thou wilt, we will obay + $T$ his law, if I could reade it; + $H$ erein would I spend night and day, + $A$ nd study still to plead it. + + $R$ oyall _free-will_, and onely _free_, + $E$ ach other _will_ is slaue to thee; + $G$ lad is each will to serue thee: + $I$ n thee such princely power is seene, + $N$ o spirit but takes thee for her Queene, + $A$ nd thinkes she must obserue thee. + +[Footnote 175: = spoil. G.] + + +HYMNE XVII. + +OF HER MEMORIE. + + $E$ xcellent iewels would you see, + $L$ ouely ladies? come with me, + $I$ will (for loue I owe you). + $S$ hew you as rich a treasurie, + $A$ s East or West can shew you. + + $B$ ehold, if you can iudge of it, + $E$ uen that great store-house of her wit: + $T$ hat beautiful large Table, + $H$ er Memory; wherein is writ + $A$ ll knowledge admirable. + + $R$ eade this faire book, and you shall learne + $E$ xquisite skill; if you discerne, + $G$ aine heau'n by this discerning; + $I$ n such a memory diuine, + $N$ ature did forme the _Muses_ nine, + $A$ nd _Pallas_ Queene of Learning. + + +HYMNE XVIII. + +OF HER PHANTASIE. + + $E$ xquisite curiositie, + $L$ ooke on thy selfe with iudging eye, + $I$ f ought be faultie, leaue it; + $S$ o delicate a phantasie + $A$ s this, will straight perceiue it. + + $B$ ecause her temper is so fine, + $E$ ndewèd with harmonies diuine; + $T$ herefore if discord strike it, + $H$ er true proportions doe repine, + $A$ nd sadly do[176] mislike it. + + $R$ ight otherwise a pleasure sweet + $E$ uer she takes in actions meet, + $G$ racing with smiles such meetnesse; + $I$ n her faire forehead, beames appeare, + $N$ o Summer's day is halfe so cleare, + $A$ dorn'd with halfe that sweetnesse. + +[Footnote 176: Misprinted 'to.' G.] + + +HYMNE XIX. + +OF THE ORGANS OF HER MINDE. + + $E$ clipsed she is, and her bright rayes. + $L$ ie under vailes, yet many wayes + $I$ s her faire forme reuealed; + $S$ he diuersly her selfe conueyes, + $A$ nd cannot be concealed. + + $B$ y instruments her powers appeare + $E$ xceedingly well tun'd and cleare: + $T$ his lute is still in measure, + $H$ olds still in tune, euen like a spheare, + $A$ nd yeelds the world sweet pleasure. + + $R$ esolue me, Muse, how this thing is, + $E$ uer a body like to this + $G$ aue Heau'n to earthly creature? + $I$ am but fond[177] this doubt to make + $N$ o doubt the angels bodies take, + $A$ bove our common nature. + +[Footnote 177: = Foolish. G.] + + +HYMNE XX. + +OF THE PASSIONS OF HER HEART. + + $E$ xamine not _th' inscrutable heart_, + $L$ ight _Muse_ of her, though she in part + $I$ mpart it to the subiect; + $S$ earch not, although from Heau'n thou art, + $A$ nd this an heauenly obiect. + + $B$ ut since she hath a heart, we know, + $E$ uer some passions thence doe flow, + $T$ hough euer rul'd with Honor; + $H$ er judgment raignes, they waite below, + $A$ nd fixe their eyes vpon her. + + $R$ ectified so, they in their kind + $E$ ncrease each vertue of her mind, + $G$ ouern'd with mild tranquilitie; + $I$ n all the regions vnder heau'n, + $N$ o State doth beare it selfe so euen, + $A$ nd with so sweet facilitie. + + +HYMNE XXI. + +OF THE INNUMERABLE VERTUES OF HER MINDE. + + $E$ re thou proceed in this sweet paines, + $L$ earne _Muse_ how many drops it raines + $I$ n cold and moist _December_; + $S$ um up _May_ flowres, and _August_ graines, + $A$ nd grapes of mild _September_. + + $B$ eare the Sea's sand in memory, + $E$ arth's grasses, and the starres in skie; + $T$ he little moates which mounted, + $H$ ang, in the beames of _Ph[oe]bus'_ eye, + $A$ nd neuer can be counted. + + $R$ ecount these numbers numberlesse,[178] + $E$ re thou her vertue canst expresse, + $G$ reat wits this count will, cumber. + $I$ nstruct thy selfe in numbring Schooles; + $N$ ow courtiers vse to begge for fooles, + $A$ ll such as cannot number. + +[Footnote 178: Cf. Paradise Regained, iii. 310. G.] + + +HYMNE XXII. + +OF HER WISDOME. + + $E$ [a]gle-eyed Wisdome, life's loadstarre, + $L$ ooking neere on things afarre; + $I$ oue's best beloued daughter, + $S$ howes to her spirit all[179] that are, + $A$ s Ioue himselfe hath taught her. + + $B$ y this straight rule she rectifies + $E$ ach thought that in [her] heart doth rise: + $T$ his is her cleane true mirror, + $H$ er _looking-glasse_, wherein she spies + $A$ [ll] forms of Truth and Error. + + $R$ ight princely vertue fit to raigne, + $E$ nthroniz'd in her spirit remaine, + $G$ uiding our fortunes euer; + $I$ f we this starre once cease to see, + $N$ o doubt our State will shipwrackt bee, + $A$ nd torne and sunke for euer. + +[Footnote 179: In first edition 'things.' G.] + + +HYMNE XXIII. + +OF HER JUSTICE. + + $E$ xil'd _Astræa_ is come againe, + $L$ o here she doth all things maintaine + $I$ n _number_, _weight_, and _measure_: + $S$ he rules vs with delightfull paine, + $A$ nd we obey with pleasure. + + $B$ y _Loue_ she rules more then by _Law_, + $E$ uen her great mercy breedeth awe; + $T$ his is her sword and scepter: + $H$ erewith she hearts did euer draw, + $A$ nd this guard euer kept her. + + $R$ eward doth sit in her right-hand, + $E$ ach vertue thence taks her garland + $G$ ather'd in Honor's garden; + $I$ n her left hand (wherein should be + $N$ ought but the sword) sits Clemency + $A$ nd conquers Vice with pardon. + + +HYMNE XXIV. + +OF HER MAGNANIMITIE. + + $E$ uen as her State, so is her mind, + $L$ ifted aboue the vulgar kind; + $I$ t treades proud Fortune vnder: + $S$ un-like it sits aboue the wind, + $A$ boue the stormes, and thunder. + + $B$ raue spirit, large heart, admiring _nought_, + $E$ steeming each thing as it ought, + $T$ hat swelleth not, nor shrinketh; + $H$ onour is alwayes in her thought, + $A$ nd of great things she thinketh. + + $R$ ocks, pillars, and heauen's axeltree, + $E$ xemplifie her constancy; + $G$ reat changes neuer change her: + $I$ n her sexe, feares are wont to rise, + $N$ _ature_ permits, _Vertue_ denies, + $A$ nd scornes the face of _Danger_. + + +HYMNE XXV. + +OF HER MODERATION. + + $E$ mpresse of kingdomes though she be, + $L$ arger is her soueraigntie + $I$ f she her selfe doe gouerne; + $S$ ubiect vnto her self is she, + $A$ nd of her selfe true soueraigne. + + $B$ eautie's crowne though she do weare, + $E$ xalted into Fortune's chaire, + $T$ hron'd like the Queene of Pleasure; + $H$ er vertues still possesse her eare, + $A$ nd counsell her to measure. + + $R$ eason, if shee incarnate were, + $E$ uen Reason's selfe could neuer beare + $G$ reatnesse with moderation; + $I$ n her one temper still is seene, + $N$ o libertee claimes she as Queene, + $A$ nd showes no alteration. + + +HYMNE XXVI. + +TO ENUY. + + $E$ nuy, goe weepe; my Muse and I + $L$ augh thee to scorne: thy feeble eye + $I$ s dazeled with the glory + $S$ hining in this gay poesie, + $A$ nd little golden story. + + $B$ ehold how my proud quill doth shed + $E$ ternall _nectar_ on her head; + $T$ he pompe of coronation + $H$ ath not such power her fame to spread, + $A$ s this my admiration. + + $R$ espect my pen as free and franke + $E$ xpecting not reward nor thanke, + $G$ reat wonder onely moues it; + $I$ never made it mercenary, + $N$ or should my Muse this burthen carrie + $A$ s hyr'd, but that she loues it. + + $Finis.$ + + + + +III. ORCHESTRA. + + + + +NOTE. + + +In the Registers of the Stationer's Company, under date 25th June, +1594, a Mr. Harrison entered for copy-right of 'Orchestra' (Notes +and Queries 3 S. II., p. 461: Dec. 13, '62): but it was not +published till 1596. The following is the original title-page: + + ORCHESTRA + + OR + + A POEME ON DAUN- + CING + + Iudicially prooving the + true observation of time and + measure, in the Authenticall + and laudable use of Daun- + cing. + + Ouid. Art. Aman. lib I. + Si vox est, canta: si mollia + brachia, salta + Et quacunque potes dote + placere, place. + + AT LONDON: + + Printed by J. Robarts + for N. Ling. + + 1596. + + [18mo: pp 46: register A B C of 8 leaves each.] + +In the Bodleian copy there is this inscription at top of title-page "Ex +dono Wilti. Burdett, amici sui primo die Decembr. 1596 36. E. R." + +Instead of the after-dedication 'To the Prince' there was the 'Sonnet' +to Martin which we have placed before it. The title-page from the +edition of 1622 may be added here:-- + + ORCHESTRA. + + OR + + A Poeme expressing the An- + _tiquitie and Excellencie_ + OF DAVNCING. + + In a Dialogue betweene _Penelope_ + and one of her Wooers. + + _Not Finished._ + + LONDON. + + Printed by A. M. for Richard Hawkins. + + 1622. [8vo.] + +With reference to 'Not finished' placed on the later title-page (1622), +it is explained by the stanzas restored from the first edition. These +shew that the Poet had intended to pursue his subject further; even the +hitherto omitted stanzas reading more like a fresh 'invocation' than a +'conclusion.' + +Our text, as with 'Nosce Teipsum,' is from the edition of 1622: but +compared throughout with above very rare, if not unique, first edition +from the Bodleian. At close, by recurrence to the original edition +we are able to supply the blanks of all the subsequent editions and +reprints. See our Memorial-Introduction, for explanation of the +omission: and for Sir John Harington's 'Epigram' on 'Orchestra.' G. + + + + +[$Dedications.$] + + +I. TO HIS VERY FRIEND, MA. RICH. MARTIN.[180] + + To whom shall I this dauncing Poem send, + This suddaine, rash, half-capreol[181] of my wit? + To you, first mouer and sole cause of it, + Mine-owne-selues better halfe, my deerest frend. + O, would you yet my Muse some Honny lend + From your mellifluous tongue, whereon doth sit + Suada in Maiestie, that I may fit + These harsh beginnings with a sweeter end. + You know the modest Sunne full fifteene times + Blushing did rise, and blushing did descend, + While I in making of these ill made rimes, + My golden howers unthriftily did spend: + Yet, if in friendship you these numbers prayse, + I will mispend another fifteene dayes. + +[Footnote 180: See Memorial-Introduction concerning Martin. G.] + +[Footnote 181: Cf. st. 68. l. 6. G.] + + +II. TO THE PRINCE.[182] + + Sir, whatsoeuer YOV are pleas'd to doo + It is your special praise, that you are bent, + And sadly[183] set your princely mind thereto: + Which makes YOV in each thing so excellent. + + Hence is it that YOV came so soon to bee + A man-at-armes in euery point aright; + The fairest flowre of noble chiualrie; + And of Saint _George_ his band, the brauest knight. + + And hence it is, that all your youthfull traine + In actiueness and grace, YOV doe excell; + When YOV doe courtly dauncings entertaine + Then Dauncing's praise may be presented well + + To YOV, whose action adds more praise thereto, + Then all the _Muses_ with their penns can doo. + +[Footnote 182: Query--Henry, son of James I.? He died in 1612. Or +Prince Charles, afterwards Charles I.? Most probably the former. G.] + +[Footnote 183: = seriously. Cf. Milton: P. L. vi. 541 and Comus, 509. +So in Shakespeare frequently. G.] + + + + +_Orchestra_, + +OR + +A POEME OF DAUNCING. + + +1. + + Where liues the man that neuer yet did heare + Of chaste _Penelope_, _Ulisses'_ Queene? + Who kept her faith vnspotted twentie yeare, + Till he return'd that farre away had beene, + _And many men, and many townes had seen_: + Ten yeare at siege of Troy he lingring lay, + And ten yeare in the Mid-land-Sea did stray. + + +2. + + _Homer_, to whom the Muses did carouse + A great deepe cup with heauenly nectar filld: + The greatest, deepest cup in _Ioue's_ great house, + (For _Ioue_ himselfe had so expresly willd) + He dranke off all, ne let one drop be spilld; + Since when, his braine that had before been drie, + Became the well-spring of all Poetrie. + + +3. + + _Homer_ doth tell in his aboundant verse, + The long laborious trauailes of the _Man_; + And of his lady too he doth reherse, + How shee illudes with all the art she can, + Th' vngratefull loue which other lords began; + For of her lord, false Fame long since had sworn, + That _Neptune's_ monsters had his carkase torne. + + +4. + + All this he tells, but one thing he forgot, + One thing most worthy his eternall song; + But he was old, and blind, and saw it not, + Or else he thought he should _Ulisses_ wrong, + To mingle it his tragike acts among; + Yet was there not in all the world of things, + A sweeter burden for his Muse's wings. + + +5. + + The courtly loue _Antinous_ did make: + _Antinous_ that fresh and iolly knight, + Which of the gallants that did vndertake + To win the widdow, had most wealth and might, + Wit to perswade, and beautie to delight: + The courtly loue he made vnto the Queene, + _Homer_ forgot, as if it had not beene. + + +6. + + Sing then _Terpischore_, my light Muse sing + His gentle art, and _cunning curtesie_; + You lady can remember euery thing, + For you are daughter of Queene Memorie; + But sing a plaine and easy melodie: + For the soft meane that warbleth but the ground, + To my rude eare doth yeeld the sweetest sound. + + +7. + + One onely night's discourse I can report, + When the great Torch-bearer of Heauen was gone + Downe in a maske vnto the Ocean's Court, + To reuell it with Thetis[184] all alone; + Antinous disguisèd and vnknowne, + Like to the Spring in gaudie ornament, + Vnto the Castle of the Princesse went. + + +8. + + The soueraine Castle of the rockie Ile, + Wherein _Penelope_ the Princesse lay; + Shone with a thousand lamps, which did exile + The shadowes darke,[185] and turn'd the night to day; + Not _Ioue's_ blew tent, what time the sunny ray + Behind the Bulwarke of the Earth retires, + Is seene to sparkle with more twinckling fires. + +[Footnote 184: Misprinted 'Tethis.' G.] + +[Footnote 185: In 1st edition 'dim darke shades.' G.] + + +9. + + That night the Queen came forth from far within, + And in the presence of her Court was seene; + For the sweet singer _Ph[oe]mius_[186] did begin + To praise the worthies that at _Troy_ had beene; + Somewhat of her _Ulisses_ she did weene. + In his graue hymne the heau'nly man would sing, + Or of his warres, or of his wandering. + + +10. + + _Pallas_ that houre with her sweet breath diuine + Inspir'd immortall beautie in her eyes; + That with cælestiall glory shee did shine, + Brighter[187] then _Venus_ when shee doth arise + Out of the waters to adorne the skies; + The Wooers all amazèd doe admire + And checke their owne presumptuous desire. + +[Footnote 186: Phemius, a great singer at the court of Ulysses: Odys. +i. 154, 337: the latter contains the allusion _supra_, where Penelope +stands at the door of the hall and listens to the song. G.] + +[Footnote 187: Misprinted 'brigher.' G.] + + +11. + + Onely _Antinous_ when at first he view'd + Her starbright eyes, that with new honour shind; + Was not dismayd, but there-with-all renew'd + The noblesse and the splendour of his mind; + And as he did fit circumstances find, + Vnto the throne he boldly gan aduance, + And with faire maners wooed the Queene to dance. + + +12. + + 'Goddesse of women, sith your heau'nlinesse + 'Hath now vouchsaft it selfe to represent + 'To our dim eyes, which though they see the lesse + 'Yet are they blest in their astonishment; + 'Imitate heau'n, whose beauties excellent + 'Are in continuall motion day and night, + 'And moue thereby more wonder and delight. + + +13. + + 'Let me the moouer be, to turne about + 'Those glorious ornaments, that Youth and Loue + 'Haue fixed in you, euery part throughout; + 'Which if you will in timely measure moue, + 'Not all those precious iemms in heau'n aboue, + 'Shall yeeld a sight more pleasing to behold, + 'With all their turnes and tracings manifold.' + + +14. + + With this the modest Princesse blusht and smil'd, + Like to a cleare and rosie euentide, + And softly did returne this answer mild: + 'Faire Sir, you needs must fairely be denide + 'Where your demaund cannot be satisfide; + 'My feet, which onely Nature taught to goe, + 'Did neuer yet the art of footing know. + + +15. + + 'But why perswade you me to this new rage? + '(For all disorder and misrule is new) + 'For such misgouernment in former age, + 'Our old diuine Forefathers neuer knew; + 'Who if they liu'd, and did the follies view, + 'Which their fond nephews make their chiefe affaires, + 'Would hate themselues that had begot such heires.' + + +16. + + 'Sole heire of Vertue and of Beautie both, + 'Whence cometh it (_Antinous_ replies) + 'That your imper[i]ous vertue is so loth + 'To graunt your beauty her chiefe exercise? + 'Or from what spring doth your opinion rise + 'That dauncing[188] is a frenzy and a rage, + 'First knowne and vs'd in this new-fangled age? + +[Footnote 188: Misprinted in 1612 edition 'danching.' G.] + + +17. + + '_Dauncing_[189] (bright Lady) then began to bee, + 'When the first seeds whereof the World did spring, + 'The fire, ayre, earth, and water--did agree, + 'By Loue's perswasion,--Nature's mighty King,-- + 'To leaue their first disordred combating; + 'And in a daunce such measure to obserue, + 'As all the world their motion should preserue. + +[Footnote 189: Margin-Note here 'The antiquitie of dancing.' G.] + + +18. + + 'Since when, they still are carried in a round, + 'And changing, come one in another's place; + 'Yet doe they neither mingle nor confound, + 'But euery one doth keepe the bounded space + 'Wherein the Daunce doth bid it turne or trace; + 'This wondrous myracle did Loue deuise, + 'For Dauncing is Love's proper exercise. + + +19. + + 'Like this, he fram'd the gods' eternall Bower, + 'And of a shapelesse and confusèd masse, + 'By his through-piercing and digesting power, + 'The turning vault of heauen formèd was; + 'Whose starry wheeles he hath so made to passe, + 'As that their moouings do a musicke frame, + 'And they themselues still daunce vnto the same. + + +20. + + 'Or if this All which round about we see, + '(As idle _Morpheus_ some sicke braines hath taught) + 'Of vndeuided _motes_ compacted bee: + 'How was this goodly Architecture wrought? + 'Or by what meanes were they together brought? + 'They erre that say they did concurre by chance: + 'Loue made them meet in a well-ordered daunce. + + +21. + + 'As when _Amphion_ with his charming lire + 'Begot so sweet a syren of the ayre; + 'That with her Rethorike made the stones conspire + 'The ruines of a citie to repaire: + '(A worke of wit and reason's wise affaire) + 'So Loue's smooth tongue, the _motes_ such measure taught + 'That they ioyn'd hands; and so the world was wrought. + + +22. + + 'How iustly then is Dauncing tearmèd new, + 'Which with the World in point of time begun? + 'Yea Time it selfe, (whose birth _Ioue_ neuer knew, + 'And which indeed is elder then the sun)[190] + 'Had not one moment of his age outrunne, + 'When out leapt Dauncing from the heap of things, + 'And lightly rode vpon his nimble wings. + + +23. + + 'Reason hath both their pictures in her treasure, + 'Where _Time the measure of all mouing is_, + 'And Dauncing is a moouing all in measure; + 'Now if you doe resemble that to this, + 'And thinke both one, I thinke you thinke amis: + 'But if you iudge them twins, together got, + 'And Time first borne, your iudgement erreth not. + + +24. + + 'Thus doth it equall age with age inioy, + 'And yet in lustie youth for euer flowers; + 'Like loue his sire, whom Paynters make a boy, + 'Yet is the eldest of the heau'nly powers; + 'Or like his brother Time, whose wingèd howers + 'Going and comming will not let him dye, + 'But still preserve him in his infancie.' + +[Footnote 190: In first edition reads: 'And which is far more ancient +then the sun.' G.] + + +25. + + This said; the Queene with her sweet lips diuine, + Gently began to moue the subtile ayre, + Which gladly yeelding, did itselfe incline + To take a shape betweene those rubies fayre; + And being formèd, softly did repayre + With twenty doublings in the emptie way, + Vnto _Antinous_ eares, and thus did say: + + +26. + + 'What eye doth see the heau'n, but doth admire + 'When it the moouings of the heau'ns doth see? + 'My selfe, if I to heau'n may once aspire, + 'If that be dauncing, will a Dauncer be; + 'But as for this your frantick iollitie + 'How it began, or whence you did it learne, + 'I neuer could with Reason's eye discerne. + + +27. + + Antinous answered: 'Iewell of the Earth, + 'Worthy you are that heau'nly daunce to leade; + 'But for you thinke our dauncing base of birth, + 'And newly-borne but of a braine-sicke head, + 'I will foorthwith his antique gentry read; + 'And for I loue him, will his herault[191] be, + 'And blaze his Armes, and draw his petigree.[192] + + +28. + + 'When Loue had shapt this World,--_this great faire wight_, + 'That all wights else in this wide womb containes; + 'And had instructed it to daunce aright,[193] + 'A thousand measures with a thousand straines, + 'Which it should practise with delightfull paines,[194] + 'Vntill that fatall instant should reuolue, + 'When all to nothing should againe resolue: + + +29. + + 'The comely order and proportion faire + 'On euery side, did please his wandring eye: + 'Till glauncing through the thin transparent ayre, + 'A rude disordered rout he did espie + 'Of men and women, that most spightfully + 'Did one another throng, and crowd so sore, + 'That his kind eye in pitty wept therefore. + +[Footnote 191: Herald. G.] + +[Footnote 192: Pedigree. G.] + +[Footnote 193: Margin-Note here 'The original of dancing.' G.] + +[Footnote 194: 'Painstaking.' G.] + + +30. + + 'And swifter then the lightning downe he came, + 'Another shapelesse Chaos to digest; + 'He will begin another world to frame, + '(For Loue till all be well will neuer rest) + 'Then with such words as cannot be exprest, + 'He cutts the troups, that all asunder fling, + 'And ere they wist, he casts them in a ring. + + +31. + + 'Then did he rarifie the element, + 'And in the center of the ring appeare; + 'The beams that from his forehead spreading[195] went, + 'Begot an horrour, and religious feare + 'In all the soules that round about him weare; + 'Which in their eares attentiueness procures, + 'While he, with such like sounds, their minds allures. + + +32. + + 'How doth Confusion's mother, headlong Chance,[196] + 'Put Reason's noble squadron to the rout? + 'Or how should you that haue the gouernance + 'Of Nature's children, Heauen and Earth throughout, + 'Prescribe them rules, and liue your selues without? + 'Why should your fellowship a trouble be, + 'Since man's chiefe pleasure is societie? + +[Footnote 195: In 1st edition 'shining.' G.] + +[Footnote 196: Margin-Note here 'The speech of Love, perswading men to +learn Dancing.' G.] + + +33. + + 'If sence hath not yet taught you, learne of me + 'A comely moderation and discreet; + 'That your assemblies may well ordered bee + 'When my vniting power shall make you meet, + 'With heau'nly tunes it shall be temperèd sweet: + 'And be the modell of the World's great frame, + 'And you Earth's children, _Dauncing_ shall it name. + + +34. + + 'Behold the _World_, how it is _whirled round_, + 'And for it is so _whirl'd_, is namèd so; + 'In whose large volume many rules are found + 'Of this new Art, which it doth fairely show; + 'For your quicke eyes in wandring too and fro + 'From East to West, on no one thing can glaunce, + 'But if you marke it well, it seemes to daunce. + + +35. + + 'First[197] you see fixt in this huge mirrour blew, + 'Of trembling lights, a number numberlesse:[198] + '_Fixt they are_ nam'd, but with a name vntrue, + 'For they all mooue[199] and in a Daunce expresse + 'That _great long yeare_, that doth containe no lesse + 'Then threescore hundreds of those yeares in all, + 'Which the sunne makes with his course naturall. + +[Footnote 197: Margin-Note here 'By the orderly motion of the fixed +stars.' G.] + +[Footnote 198: Cf. 'Paradise Regained' iii. 310, as in Astr[oe]a, Hymne +xxi. G.] + + +36. + + 'What if to you these sparks disordered seeme + 'As if by chaunce they had beene scattered there? + 'The gods a solemne measure doe it deeme, + 'And see a iust proportion euery where, + 'And know the points whence first their mouings were; + 'To which first points when all returne againe, + 'The axel-tree of Heau'n shall breake in twaine. + + +37. + + 'Vnder that spangled skye, fiue wandring flames[200] + 'Besides the King of Day, and Queene of Night, + 'Are wheel'd around, all in their sundry frames, + 'And all in sundry measures doe delight, + 'Yet altogether keepe no measure right; + 'For by it selfe each doth it selfe aduance, + 'And by it selfe each doth a galliard[201] daunce. + +[Footnote 199: In 1st edition 'are mov'd.' G.] + +[Footnote 200: Margin-Note here 'Of the planets.' G.] + + +38. + + '_Venus_, the mother of that bastard Loue, + 'Which doth vsurpe the World's great Marshal's name, + 'Iust with the sunne her dainty feete doth moue, + 'And vnto him doth all the iestures frame; + 'Now after, now afore, the flattering Dame, + 'With diuers cunning passages doth erre, + 'Still him respecting that respects not her. + + +39. + + 'For that braue Sunne the Father of the Day, + 'Doth loue this Earth, the Mother of the Night; + 'And like a reuellour in rich aray, + 'Doth daunce his galliard in his lemman's sight, + 'Both back, and forth, and sidewaies, passing light; + 'His princely[202] grace doth so the gods amaze, + 'That all stand still and at his beauty gaze. + +[Footnote 201: A French 'dance': the name meaning gay or brisk, and +so a quick liuely dance, introduced into England about 1541. Thomas +Wright's 'Dictionary' _s.v._ G.] + +[Footnote 202: In 1st edition 'gallant.' G.] + + +40. + + 'But see the Earth, when he approcheth neere, + 'How she for ioy doth spring and sweetly smile; + 'But see againe her sad and heauy cheere + 'When changing places he retires a while; + 'But those blake[203] cloudes he shortly will exile, + 'And make them all before his presence flye, + 'As mists consum'd before his cheerefull eye. + +[Footnote 203: Black. G.] + + +41. + + 'Who doth not see the measures of the Moone, + 'Which thirteene times she daunceth euery yeare? + 'And ends her pauine[204] thirteene times as soone + 'As doth her brother, of whose golden haire[205] + 'She borroweth part, and proudly doth it weare; + 'Then doth she coyly turne her face aside, + 'Then halfe her cheeke is scarse sometimes discride. + +[Footnote 204: Spanish _pavana_: a solemn Spanish dance. G.] + +[Footnote 205: Spelled in first edition, 'heire.' G.] + + +42. + + 'Next her, the pure, subtile, and clensing Fire[206] + 'Is swiftly carried in a circle euen; + 'Though Vulcan be pronounst by many a lyer, + 'The only halting god that dwels in heauen: + 'But that foule name may be more fitly giuen + 'To your false Fire, that farre from heauen is fall:[207] + 'And doth consume, waste, spoile, disorder all. + +[Footnote 206: Margin-Note here 'Of the Fire.' G.] + +[Footnote 207: Cf. 'Nosce Teipsum' page 103, _ante_: st. fourth, line +second. G.] + + +43. + + 'And now behold your tender nurse the _Ayre_[208] + 'And common neighbour that ay runns around; + 'How many pictures and impressions faire + 'Within her empty regions are there found; + 'Which to your sences Dauncing doe propound. + 'For what are _Breath_, _Speech_, _Ecchos_, _Musicke_, _Winds_, + 'But Dauncings of the Ayre in sundry kinds? + +[Footnote 208: Margin-Note here, 'Of the Ayre.' G.] + + +44. + + 'For when you breath, the _ayre_ in order moues, + 'Now in, now out, in time and measure trew; + 'And when you speake, so well she dauncing loues, + 'That doubling oft, and oft redoubling new, + 'With thousand formes she doth her selfe endew + 'For all the words that from our lips repaire + 'Are nought but tricks and turnings of the ayre. + + +45. + + 'Hence is her pratling daughter _Eccho_ borne, + 'That daunces to all voyces she can heare; + 'There is no sound so harsh that shee doth scorne, + 'Nor any time wherein shee will forbeare + 'The ayrie pauement with her feet to weare; + 'And yet her hearing sence is nothing quick, + 'For after time she endeth euery trick. + + +46. + + 'And thou sweet _Musicke_, Dauncing's onely life, + 'The eare's sole happinesse, the ayre's best speach; + 'Loadstone of fellowship, charming-rod of strife, + 'The soft mind's Paradice, the sicke mind's leach; + 'With thine own tong, thou[209] trees and stons canst teach, + 'That when the Aire doth dance her finest measure, + 'Then art thou borne, the gods and mens sweet pleasure. + +[Footnote 209: In first edition 'y^{e}' = the, and so elsewhere. G.] + + +47. + + 'Lastly, where keepe the _Winds_ their reuelry, + 'Their violent turnings, and wild whirling hayes,[210] + 'But in the Ayre's tralucent[211] gallery? + 'Where shee herselfe is turnd a hundreth wayes, + 'While with those Maskers wantonly she playes; + 'Yet in this misrule, they such rule embrace, + 'As two at once encomber not the place. + +[Footnote 210: A round country dance. G.] + +[Footnote 211: Translucent. Cf. Milton, Samson Agonistes 548, and +Comus, 861. G.] + + +48. + + 'If then fire,[212] ayre, wandring and fixed lights + 'In euery prouince of the imperiall skie, + 'Yeeld perfect formes of dauncing to your sights, + 'In vaine I teach the eare, that which the eye + 'With certaine view already doth descrie. + 'But for your eyes perceiue not all they see, + 'In this I will your Senses master bee. + +[Footnote 212: In first edition spelled 'fier.' G.] + + +49. + + 'For loe the _Sea_[213] that fleets about the Land, + 'And like a girdle clips her solide waist, + 'Musicke and measure both doth vnderstand; + 'For his great chrystall eye is alwayes cast + 'Vp to the Moone, and on her fixèd fast; + 'And as she daunceth in her pallid spheere, + 'So daunceth he about his Center heere. + +[Footnote 213: Margin-Note here 'Of the sea.' G.] + + +50. + + 'Sometimes his proud greene waues in order set, + 'One after other flow vnto the shore; + 'Which, when they haue with many kisses wet, + 'They ebbe away in order as before; + 'And to make knowne his courtly loue the more, + 'He oft doth lay aside his three-forkt mace, + 'And with his armes the timorous Earth embrace. + + +51. + + 'Onely the Earth doth stand for euer still: + 'Her rocks remoue not, nor her mountaines meet: + '(Although some wits enricht with Learning's skill + 'Say heau'n stands firme, and that the Earth doth fleet, + 'And swiftly turneth vnderneath their feet) + 'Yet though the Earth is euer stedfast seene, + 'On her broad breast hath Dauncing euer beene. + + +52. + + 'For those blew vaines that through her body spred, + 'Those saphire streames which from great hils do spring.[214] + '(The Earth's great duggs; for euery wight is fed + 'With sweet fresh moisture from them issuing): + 'Obserue a daunce in their wilde wandering; + 'And still their daunce begets a murmur sweet, + 'And still the murmur with the daunce doth meet. + +[Footnote 214: Margin-Note here 'Of the riuers.' G.] + + +53. + + 'Of all their wayes I love _Mæander's_ path, + 'Which to the tunes of dying swans doth daunce;[215] + 'Such winding sleights, such turns and tricks he hath, + 'Such creeks, such wrenches, and such daliaunce; + 'That whether it be hap or heedlesse chaunce, + 'In this indented course and wriggling play + 'He seemes to daunce a perfect cunning _hay_.[216] + +[Footnote 215: Ovid (Heroides VII. 1, 2) + + 'Sic ubi fata vocant, udis abjectus in herbis, + Ad vada Maeandri concinit albus olor.' + +Cf. Sir Thomas Browne 'Enquiries into Vulgar and Common Errors' Book +III.c.xxvii: Works by Wilkin, Vol. II. pp. 517, 518 +(edition Pickering 1835.) G.] + +[Footnote 216: A round country dance, as before.] + + +54. + + 'But wherefore doe these streames for euer runne? + 'To keepe themselues for euer sweet and cleere: + 'For let their euerlasting course be donne, + 'They straight corrupt and foule with mud appeare. + 'O yee sweet Nymphs that beautie's losse do feare, + 'Contemne the drugs that Physicke doth deuise, + 'And learne of Loue this dainty exercise. + + +55. + + 'See how those flowres that have sweet beauty too, + '(The onely iewels that the Earth doth weare,[217] + 'When the young Sunne in brauery her doth woo): + 'As oft as they the whistling wind doe heare, + 'Doe waue their tender bodies here and there; + 'And though their daunce no perfect measure is, + 'Yet oftentimes their musicke makes them kis. + +[Footnote 217: Margin-Note here 'Of other things upon the earth.' G.] + + +56. + + 'What makes the vine about the elme to daunce, + 'With turnings, windings, and embracements round? + 'What makes the loadstone to the North aduance + 'His subtile point, as if from thence he found + 'His chiefe attractiue vertue to redound? + 'Kind Nature first doth cause all things to loue, + 'Loue makes them daunce and in iust order moue. + + +57. + + 'Harke how the birds doe sing, and marke then how + 'Iumpe[218] with the modulation of their layes, + 'They lightly leape, and skip from bow to bow: + 'Yet doe the cranes deserue a greater prayse + 'Which keepe such measure in their ayrie wayes, + 'As when they all in order rankèd are, + 'They make a perfect forme triangular. + +[Footnote 218: 'Exact': this illustrates Hamlet i., I, and Othello ii., +3. G.] + + +58. + + 'In the chiefe angle flyes the watchfull guid, + 'And all the followers their heads doe lay + 'On their foregoers backs, on eyther side; + 'But for the captaine hath no rest to stay, + 'His head forewearied with the windy way, + 'He back retires, and then the next behind, + 'As his lieuetenaunt leads them through the wind. + + +59. + + 'But why relate I euery singular? + 'Since all the World's great fortunes and affaires + 'Forward and backward rapt and whirled are, + 'According to the musicke of the spheares: + 'And Chaunge[219] herselfe her nimble feete vpbeares + 'On a round slippery wheele that rowleth ay, + 'And turnes all States with her imperuous[220] sway. + +[Footnote 219: In first edition a probable misprint is, 'Chaunce.' G.] + +[Footnote 220: In first edition 'impetuous.' G.] + + +60. + + 'Learne then to daunce, you that are Princes borne, + 'And lawfull lords of earthly creatures all; + 'Imitate them, and thereof take no scorne, + 'For this new art to them is naturall-- + 'And imitate the starres cælestiall: + 'For when pale Death your vital twist shall seuer, + 'Your better parts must daunce, with them for euer. + + +61. + + 'Thus Loue perswades, and all the crowd[221] of men + 'That stands around, doth make a murmuring; + 'As when the wind loosd from his hollow den, + 'Among the trees a gentle base[222] doth sing, + 'Or as a brooke through peebles wandering; + 'But in their looks they vttered this plain speach, + 'That they would learn to daunce, if Loue would teach.[223] + +[Footnote 221: In first and 1622 editions there is a probable misprint +of 'crowne' here. G.] + +[Footnote 222: Bass. G.] + +[Footnote 223: Margin-Note here: 'How Loue taught men to dance.' G.] + + +62. + + 'Then first of all he doth demonstrate plaine + 'The motions seauen that ar in Nature found, + '_Upward_ and _downeward_, _forth_ and _backe againe_, + '_To this side_ and _to that_, and _turning round_;[224] + 'Whereof a thousand brawles he doth compound, + 'Which he doth teach vnto the multitude, + 'And euer with a turne they must conclude. + +[Footnote 224: Margin-Note here 'Rounds or Country Dances.' G.] + + +63. + + 'As when a Nimph[225] arysing from the land, + 'Leadeth a daunce with her long watery traine + 'Down to the Sea; she wries to euery hand, + 'And euery way doth crosse the fertile plaine; + 'But when at last shee falls into the maine, + 'Then all her trauerses concluded are, + 'And with the Sea her course is circulare. + +[Footnote 225: This interprets 'Nosce Teipsum,' Reason II, st. 1, page +86 _ante_.] + + +64. + + 'Thus when at first Loue had them marshallèd, + 'As earst he did the shapeless masse of things, + 'He taught them _rounds_ and _winding heyes_ to tread, + 'And about trees to cast themselues in rings: + 'As the two Beares, whom the First Mouer flings + 'With a short turn about heauen's axeltree, + 'In a round daunce for ever wheeling bee. + + +65. + + 'But after these, as men more ciuell grew, + 'He did more graue and solemn measures frame,[226] + 'With such faire order and proportion true,[227] + 'And correspondence euery way the same, + 'That no fault-finding eye did euer blame; + 'For euery eye was mouèd at the sight + 'With sober wondring, and with sweet delight. + +[Footnote 226: Margin-Note here 'Measures.' G.] + +[Footnote 227: In 1st edition spelled 'trew,' G.] + + +66. + + 'Not those yong[228] students of the heauenly booke, + '_Atlas_ the great, _Promethius_ the wise, + 'Which on the starres did all their life-time looke, + 'Could euer finde such measures in the skies, + 'So full of change and rare varieties; + 'Yet all the feete whereon these measures goe, + 'Are only spondeis, solemne, graue and sloe. + +[Footnote 228: In 1st edition 'old': 'young' in 1622 must be a +misprint, unless used in the grand meaning of SIR THOMAS +BROWNE. In 1622 it is mis-spelled 'youg.' G.] + + +67. + + 'But for more diuers and more pleasing show, + 'A swift and wandring daunce she did inuent, + 'With passages vncertaine to and fro, + 'Yet with a certaine answer and consent + 'To the quicke musicke of the instrument.[229] + 'Fiue was the number of the Musick's feet, + 'Which still the daunce did with fiue paces meet. + +[Footnote 229: Margin-Note here 'Galliards.' G.] + + +68. + + 'A gallant daunce, that lively doth bewray + 'A spirit and a vertue masculine; + 'Impatient that her house on earth should stay + 'Since she her selfe is fiery and diuine; + 'Oft doth she make her body vpward fline[230], + 'With lofty turnes and capriols[231] in the ayre, + 'Which with the lusty tunes accordeth faire. + +[Footnote 230: In 1st edition spelled 'flyne': A.S. 'to fly.' G.] + +[Footnote 231: A 'capriole' is a 'lady's head-dress' (Wright): but here +seems to mean 'springings and turnings': degenerated into 'capers' at +this later day. G.] + + +69. + + 'What shall I name those currant trauases,[232] + 'That on a triple _dactile_ foot doe runne + 'Close by the ground with sliding passages, + 'Wherein that Dauncer greatest praise hath wonne + 'Which with best order can all orders shunne; + 'For euery where he wantonly must range, + 'And turne, and wind, with vnexpected change. + +[Footnote 232: Margin-Note here, 'Courantoes.' G.] + + +70. + + 'Yet is there one, the most delightfull kind, + 'A loftie iumping, or a leaping round;[233] + 'Where arme in arme two dauncers are entwind + 'And whirle themselues with strict embracements bound, + 'And still their feet an _anapest_ do sound; + 'An _anapest_ is all their musick's song, + 'Whose first two feet are short, and third is long. + +[Footnote 233: Margin-Note here, 'Lavoltaes.' G.] + + +71. + + 'As the victorious _twinnes_ of _Læda_ and _Ioue_ + 'That taught the Spartans dauncing on the sands + 'Of swift _Eurotas_, daunce in heaun aboue, + 'Knit and vnited with eternall hands; + 'Among the starres their double image stands, + 'Where both are carried with an equall pace, + 'Together iumping in their turning race. + + +72. + + 'This is the net wherein the Sunn's bright eye + '_Venus_ and _Mars_ entangled did behold; + 'For in this daunce, their armes they so imply[234] + 'As each doth seeme the other to enfold; + 'What if lewd wits another tale haue told + 'Of iealous _Vulcan_, and of yron chaynes? + 'Yet this true sence that forgèd lye containes. + +[Footnote 234: There is a misprint of 'employ' in Thomas Davies' +edition, as before. G.] + + +73. + + 'These various formes of dauncing, Loue did frame + 'And beside these, a hundred millions moe; + 'And as he did inuent, he taught the same, + 'With goodly iesture, and with comly show, + 'Now keeping state, now humbly honoring low: + 'And euer for the persons and the place + 'He taught most fit and best according grace.[235] + +[Footnote 235: Margin-Note here 'Grace in dauncing.' G.] + + +74. + + 'For Loue, within his fertile working braine + 'Did[236] then conceiue those gracious Virgins three; + 'Whose ciuell moderation does maintaine + 'All decent order and conueniencie, + 'And faire respect, and seemlie modestie; + 'And then he thought it fit they should be borne, + 'That their sweet presence dauncing might adorne. + +[Footnote 236: In the errata of 1622 edition 'doo' is substituted for +'did,' itself a misprint, perhaps, for 'does.' G.] + + +75. + + 'Hence is it that these _Graces_ painted are + 'With hand in hand dauncing an endlesse round; + 'And with regarding eyes, that still beware + 'That there be no disgrace amongst them found; + 'With equall foote they beate the flowry ground, + 'Laughing, or singing, as their passions will: + 'Yet nothing that they doe becomes them ill. + + +76. + + 'Thus Loue taught men, and men thus learnd of Loue + 'Sweet Musick's sound with feet to counterfaite; + 'Which was long time before high thundering _Ioue_ + 'Was lifted vp to Heauen's imperiall seat; + 'For though by birth he were the Prince of _Creete_, + 'Nor _Creet_, nor Heau'n should the yong Prince haue seen, + 'If dancers with their timbrels had not been. + + +77. + + 'Since when all ceremonious misteries, + 'All sacred orgies and religious rights,[237] + 'All pomps, and triumphs, and solemnities, + 'All funerals, nuptials, and like publike sights, + 'All Parliaments of peace, and warlike fights, + 'All learnèd arts, and euery great affaire + 'A liuely shape of dauncing seemes to beare.[238] + +[Footnote 237: 'Rites.' G.] + +[Footnote 238: Margin-Note here, 'The use and formes of dauncing in +sundry affaires of man's life.' G.] + + +78. + + 'For what did he who with his ten-tong'd lute + 'Gaue beasts and blocks an vnderstanding eare? + 'Or rather into bestiall minds and brute + 'Shed and infus'd the beames of reason cleare? + 'Doubtlesse for men that rude and sauage were + 'A ciuill forme of dauncing he deuis'd, + 'Wherewith vnto their gods they sacrifiz'd. + + +79. + + 'So did _Musæus_, so _Amphion_ did, + 'And _Linus_ with his sweet enchanting song; + 'And he whose hand the Earth of monsters rid, + 'And had men's eares fast chaynèd to his tongue + 'And _Theseus_ to his wood-borne slaues among, + 'Vs'd dauncing as the finest policie + 'To plant religion and societie. + + +80. + + 'And therefore now the Thracian _Orpheus_ lire + 'And _Hercules_ him selfe are stellified;[239] + 'And in high heau'n amidst the starry quire, + 'Dauncing their parts continually doe slide; + 'So on the Zodiake _Ganimed_ doth ride, + 'And so is _Hebe_ with the Muses nine + 'For pleasing _Ioue_ with dauncing, made diuine. + +[Footnote 239: Made stellæ=stars or constellations. G.] + + +81. + + 'Wherefore was _Proteus_ sayd himselfe to change + 'Into a streame, a lyon, and a tree; + 'And many other formes fantastique, strange, + 'As in his fickle thought he wisht to be? + 'But that he daunc'd with such facilitie, + 'As like a lyon he could pace with pride, + 'Ply like a plant, and like a riuer slide. + + +82. + + 'And how was _Cæneus_[240] made at first a man, + 'And then a woman, then a man againe, + 'But in a daunce? which when he first began + 'Hee the man's part in measure did sustaine: + 'But when he chang'd into a second straine, + 'He daunc'd the woman's part another space, + 'And then return'd into his former place. + +[Footnote 240: Virgil, Æneid VI., 448, calls him Cænis: + + .... 'et juvenis quondam, nunc femina, Cænis, + Rursus et in veterem fato revoluta figuram.' + +He is mentioned again in Homer, Iliad I. 264. G.] + + +83. + + 'Hence sprang the fable of _Tiresias_, + 'That he the pleasure of both sexes tryde; + 'For in a daunce he man and woman was + 'By often chaunge of place from side to side; + 'But for the woman easily did slide + 'And smoothly swim with cunning hidden art, + 'He tooke more pleasure in a woman's part. + + +84. + + 'So to a fish _Venus_ herselfe did change,[241] + 'And swimming through the soft and yeelding waue, + 'With gentle motions did so smoothly range, + 'As none might see where she the water draue; + 'But this plaine truth that falsèd fable gaue, + 'That she did daunce with slyding easines, + 'Plyant and quick in wandring passages. + +[Footnote 241: _Met._ III., 320, &c., &c. G.] + + +85. + + 'And merry _Bacchus_ practis'd dauncing to[o], + 'And to the Lydian numbers,[242] rounds did make: + 'The like he did in th' Easterne India doo, + 'And taught them all when _Ph[oe]bus_ did awake, + 'And when at night he did his coach[243] forsake: + 'To honor heaun, and heau'ns great roling eye + 'With turning daunces, and with melodie. + +[Footnote 242: Cf. L'Allegro 'Lap me in soft Lydian airs.' (l 136.) G.] + +[Footnote 243: Qu: couch? G.] + + +86. + + 'Thus they who first did found a Common-weale, + 'And they who first Religion did ordaine, + 'By dauncing, first the peoples hearts did steale: + 'Of whom we now a thousand tales doe faine; + 'Yet doe we now their perfect rules retaine + 'And vse them stil in such deuises new, + 'As in the World, long since their withering, grew. + + +87. + + 'For after townes and kingdomes founded were, + 'Betweene greate States arose well-ordered War; + 'Wherein most perfect measure doth appeare, + 'Whether their well-set rankes respected are + 'In quadrant forme or semicircular: + 'Or else the march, when all the troups aduance, + 'And to the drum, in gallant order daunce. + + +88. + + 'And after Warrs, when white-wing'd Victory + 'Is with a glorious tryumph beautified, + 'And euery one doth _Io Io_ cry, + 'Whiles all in gold the conquerour doth ride; + 'The solemne pompe that fils the Citty wide + 'Obserues such ranke and measure euerywhere, + 'As if they altogether dauncing were. + + +89. + + 'The like iust order mourners doe obserue, + '(But with vnlike affection and atire) + 'When some great man that nobly did deserue, + 'And whom his friends impatiently desire, + 'Is brought with honour to his latest fire:[244] + 'The dead corps too in that sad daunce is mou'd + 'As if both dead and liuing, dauncing lou'd. + +[Footnote 244: Incremation. G.] + + +90. + + 'A diuers cause, but like solemnitie + 'Vnto the Temple leads the bashfull bride: + 'Which blusheth like the Indian iuory + 'Which is with dip of Tyrian purple died; + 'A golden troope doth passe on euery side, + 'Of flourishing young men and virgins gay, + 'Which keepe faire measure all the flowry way. + + +91. + + 'And not alone the generall multitude, + 'But those choise _Nestors_ which in councell graue + 'Of citties, and of kingdomes doe conclude, + 'Most comly order in their sessions haue; + 'Wherefore the wise Thessalians euer gaue + 'The name of leader of their Countrie's daunce + 'To him that had their Countrie's gouernance. + + +92. + + 'And those great masters of their liberall arts, + 'In all their seurall Schooles doe Dauncing teach: + 'For humble Grammer first doth set the parts + 'Of congruent and well-according speach; + 'Which Rethorike, whose state the clouds doth reach, + 'And heau'nly Poetry, doe forward lead, + 'And diuers measures diuersly doe tread. + + +93. + + 'For Rhetorick, clothing speech in rich aray + 'In looser numbers teacheth her to range, + 'With twenty tropes, and turnings euery way, + 'And various figures and licencious change; + 'But Poetry with rule and order strange, + 'So curiously doth moue each single pace, + 'As all is mard if she one foot misplace. + + +94. + + 'These Arts of speach, the guids and marshals are; + 'But Logick leadeth Reason in a daunce: + '(Reason the cynosure and bright load-star, + 'In this World's sea t' auoid the rock of Chaunce.) + 'For with close following and continuance + 'One reason doth another so ensue,[245] + 'As in conclusion still the daunce is true. + +[Footnote 245: Pursue or succeed. G.] + + +95. + + 'So Musicke to her owne sweet tunes doth trip + 'With tricks of 3, 5, 8, 15, and more; + 'So doth the Art of Numbering seeme to skip + 'From eu'n to odd in her proportion'd score; + 'So doe those skils, whose quick eyes doe explore + 'The iust dimension both of Earth and Heau'n, + 'In all their rules obserue a measure eu'n. + + +96. + + 'Loe this is Dauncing's true nobilitie, + 'Dauncing, the child of Musicke and of Loue; + 'Dauncing it selfe, both loue and harmony, + 'Where all agree, and all in order moue; + 'Dauncing, the Art that all Arts doe approue; + 'The faire caracter of the World's consent, + 'The Heau'ns true figure and th' Earth's ornament. + + +97. + + The Queene, whose dainty eares had borne too long, + The tedious praise of that she did despise; + Adding once more the musicke of the tongue + To the sweet speech of her alluring eyes, + Began to answer in such winning wise, + As that forthwith _Antinous'_ tongu[e] was tyde, + His eyes fast fixt, his eares were open wide. + + +98. + + 'Forsooth (quoth she) great glory you haue won, + 'To your trim minion, Dauncing, all this while, + 'By blazing him Loue's first begotten sonne; + 'Of euery ill the hateful father vile + 'That doth the world with sorceries beguile; + 'Cunningly mad, religiously prophane, + 'Wit's monster, Reason's canker, Sence's bane. + + +99. + + 'Loue taught the mother that vnkinde desire + 'To wash her hands in her owne infant's blood; + 'Loue taught the daughter to betray her sire + 'Into most base vnworthy seruitude; + 'Loue taught the brother to prepare such foode + 'To feast his brothers that the all-seeing sun + 'Wrapt in a clowd, that wicked sight did shun.[246] + +[Footnote 246: The Cenci of Shelley has 'married' this tragical crime +to 'immortal verse.' G.] + + +100. + + 'And euen this self same Loue hath dauncing taught, + 'An Art that showes th' Idea of his minde + 'With vainesse, frenzie, and misorder fraught; + 'Sometimes with blood and cruelties vnkinde: + 'For in a daunce, _Tereus'_ mad wife did finde + 'Fit time and place by murther[247] of her sonne, + 'T' auenge the wrong his trayterous sire had done. + +[Footnote 247: In first edition, 'murthering.' G.] + + +101. + + 'What meane the mermayds when they daunce and sing + 'But certaine death vnto the marriner? + 'What tydings doe the dauncing dilphins[248] bring, + 'But that some dangerous storme approcheth nere? + 'Then sith both Loue and Dauncing lyueries beare + 'Of such ill hap, vnhappy may I[249] proue, + 'If sitting free I either daunce or loue.' + +[Footnote 248: In first edition also spelled 'dilphins' = dolphins. G.] + +[Footnote 249: In first edition, 'they.' G.] + + +102. + + Yet once again _Antinous_ did reply; + 'Great Queen, condemne not Loue[250] the innocent, + 'For this mischeuous lust, which traterously + 'Vsurps his name, and steales his ornament: + 'For that true Loue which Dauncing did inuent, + 'Is he that tun'd the World's whole harmony, + 'And linkt all men in sweet societie. + +[Footnote 250: Note here, 'True Loue inventor of dauncing.' G] + + +103. + + 'He first extracted from th' earth-mingled mind + 'That heau'nly fire, or quintessence diuine, + 'Which doth such simpathy in beauty find, + 'As is betweene the elme and fruitful vine, + 'And so to beauty euer doth encline; + 'Life's[251] life it is, and cordiall to the heart, + 'And of our better part, the better part. + +[Footnote 251: Spelled 'Liues.' G.] + + +104. + + 'This _is true Loue_, by that true _Cupid_ got, + 'Which daunceth galliards in your amorous eyes, + 'But to your frozen hart approcheth not-- + 'Onely your hart he dares not enterprise; + 'And yet through euery other part he flyes, + 'And euery where he nimbly daunceth now, + 'Though[252] in your selfe, your selfe perceiue not how. + +[Footnote 252: Thomas Davies and Southey, as before, misprint +egregiously 'that.' G.] + + +105. + + 'For your sweet beauty daintily transfus'd + 'With due proportion throughout euery part; + 'What is it but a daunce where Loue hath vs'd + 'His finer cunning, and more curious art? + 'Where all the elements themselues impart, + 'And turne, and wind, and mingle with such measure, + 'That th' eye that sees it surfeits with the pleasure? + + +106. + + 'Loue in the twinckling of your eylids daunceth, + 'Loue daunceth in your pulses and your vaines, + 'Loue when you sow, your needle's point aduanceth + 'And makes it daunce a thousand curious straines + 'Of winding rounds, whereof the forme remaines; + 'To shew, that your faire hands can daunce the hey, + 'Which your fine feet would learne as well as they. + + +107. + + 'And when your iuory fingers touch the strings + 'Of any siluer-sounding instrument; + 'Loue makes them daunce to those sweete murmerings, + 'With busie skill, and cunning excellent; + 'O that your feet those tunes would represent + 'With artificiall motions to and fro, + 'That Loue this art in ev'ry part might sho[w]e! + + +108. + + 'Yet your faire soule, which came from heau'n aboue + 'To rule thys house,--another heau'n below,-- + 'With diuers powers in harmony doth moue, + 'And all the vertues that from her doe flow, + 'In a round measure hand in hand doe goe: + 'Could I now see, as I conceiue thys Daunce, + 'Wonder and Loue would cast me in a traunce. + + +109. + + 'The richest iewell in all the heau'nly treasure + 'That euer yet vnto the Earth was showne, + 'Is perfect Concord, th' onely perfect pleasure[253] + 'That wretched earth-borne men haue euer knowne, + 'For many harts it doth compound in one; + 'That when so one doth will, or speake, or doe, + 'With one consent they all agree thereto. + +[Footnote 253: Margin-Note here, 'Concord.' G.] + + +110. + + 'Concord's true picture shineth in this art, + 'Where diuers men and women rankèd be, + 'And euery one doth daunce a seuerall part, + 'Yet all as one, in measure doe agree, + 'Obseruing perfect vniformitie; + 'All turne together, all together trace, + 'And all together honour and embrace. + + +111. + + 'If they whom sacred Loue hath link't in one, + 'Doe as they daunce, in all their course of life, + 'Neuer shall burning griefe nor bitter mone, + 'Nor factious difference, nor vnkind strife, + 'Arise betwixt the husband and the wife; + 'For whether forth or bake[254] or round he goe + As the man doth, so must the woman doe. + +[Footnote 254: 'Back,' same as 'blake,' page 176, _ante_, for 'black.' +G.] + + +112. + + 'What if by often enterchange of place + 'Sometime the woman gets the vpper hand? + 'That is but done for more delightfull grace, + 'For one[255] that part shee doth not euer stand; + 'But, as the measure's law doth her command, + 'Shee wheeles about, and ere the daunce doth end, + 'Into her former place shee doth transcend. + +[Footnote 255: = on. G.] + + +113. + + 'But not alone this correspondence meet + 'And vniform consent doth dauncing praise; + 'For _Comlines_ the child of order sweet,[2] + 'Enamels it with her eye-pleasing raies; + 'Fair Comlines, ten hundred thousand waies, + 'Through dauncing shedds it selfe, and makes shine + 'With glorious beauty, and with grace diuine. + + +114. + + 'For _Comliness_ is a disposing faire + 'Of things and actions in fit time and place; + 'Which doth in dauncing shew it selfe most cleere, + 'When troopes confus'd, which here and there doe trace + 'Without distinguishment or bounded space: + 'By dauncing's rule, into such ranks are brought, + 'As glads the eye, as rauisheth the thought. + + +115. + + 'Then why should Reason iudge that reasonles + 'Which is wit's ofspring, and the worke of art, + 'Image of concord and of comlines? + 'Who sees a clock mouing in euery part, + 'A sayling pinnesse,[256] or a wheeling cart; + 'But thinks that Reason, ere it came to passe + 'The first impulsiue cause and mouer was? + +[Footnote 256: In first edition, spelled 'pinnesse' also, = pinnace. G.] + + +116. + + 'Who sees an Armie all in ranke aduance, + 'But deemes a wise Commaunder is in place, + 'Which leadeth on that braue victorious daunce? + 'Much more in Dauncing's Art, in Dauncing's grace, + 'Blindnes it selfe may Reason's footstep trace; + '_For of Loue's maze it is the curious plot, + 'And of Man's fellowship the true-love knot_. + + +117. + + 'But if these eyes of yours, (load-starrs of Loue, + 'Shewing the World's great daunce to your mind's eye!) + 'Cannot with all their demonstrations moue + 'Kinde apprehension in your fantasie, + 'Of Dauncing's vertue, and nobilitie; + 'How can my barbarous tongue win you there to, + 'Which Heau'n and Earth's faire speech could neuer do? + + +118. + + 'O Loue my king: if all my wit and power + 'Haue done you all the seruice that they can, + 'O be you present in this present hower, + 'And help your seruant and your true Leige-man + 'End that perswasion which I earst began; + 'For who in praise of Dauncing can perswade + 'With such sweet force as Loue, which Dancing made? + + +119. + + Loue heard his prayer, and swifter then the wind, + Like to a page, in habit, face, and speech, + He came, and stood _Antinous_ behind, + And many secrets to his thoughts did teach;[257] + At last a christall mirrour he did reach + Vnto his hands, that he with one rash view, + All formes therein by Loue's reuealing knew. + +[Footnote 257: Margin-Note here, 'A passage to the description of +dauncing in this age.' G.] + + +120. + + And humbly honouring, gaue it to the Queene + With this faire speech: 'See fairest Queene (quoth he) + 'The fairest sight that euer shall be seene, + 'And th' onely wonder of posteritie, + 'The richest worke in Nature's treasury; + 'Which she disdaines to shew on this World's stage, + 'And thinkes it far too good for our rude age. + + +121. + + 'But in another World diuided far: + 'In the great, fortunate, triangled Ile, + 'Thrise twelue degrees remou'd from the North star, + 'She will this glorious workemanship compile; + 'Which she hath beene conceiuing all this while + 'Since the World's birth, and will bring forth at last, + 'When sixe and twenty hundred yeares are past.' + + +122. + + _Penelope_, the Queene, when she had view'd + The strang eye-dazeling, admirable sight, + Faine would have praisd the state and pulchritude, + But she was stricken dumbe with wonder quite, + Yet her sweet minde retain'd her thinking might; + Her rauisht minde in heaunly thoughts did dwel, + But what she thought, no mortall tongue can tel. + + +123. + + You lady Muse, whom _Ioue_ the Counsellour + Begot of Memorie, Wisdom's treasuresse; + To your diuining tongue is giuen a power + Of vttering secrets large and limitlesse: + You can _Penelope's_ strange thoughts expresse + Which she conceiu'd, and then would faine haue told, + When shee the wond'rous christall did behold. + + +124. + + Her wingèd thoughts bore vp her minde so hie, + As that she weend shee saw the glorious throne + Where the bright moone doth sit in maiesty: + A thousand sparkling starres about her shone, + But she herselfe did sparkle more alone + Then all those thousand beauties would haue done + If they had been confounded all in one. + + +125. + + And yet she thought those stars mou'd in such measure. + To do their soueraigne honor and delight, + As sooth'd her minde, with sweet enchanting plesure, + Although the various change amaz'd her sight, + And her weake iudgement did entangle quite; + Beside, their mouing made them shine more cleare, + As diamonds mou'd more sparkling do appeare. + + +126. + + This was the picture of her wondrous thought; + But who can wonder that her thought was so, + Sith _Vulcan_ king of fire that mirror wrought, + (Who things to come, present, and past, doth know) + And there did represent in liuely show + Our glorious English Courts diuine image, + As it should be in this our Golden Age. + + * * * * * + + _Here are wanting some Stanzaes describing Queene Elizabeth. Then + follow these._ + + +127. + + Her brighter dazeling beames of maiestie + Were laid aside, for she vouchsaft awhile + With gracious, cheerefull, and familiar eye + Vpon the reuels of her Court to smile; + For so Time's Iourneis she doth oft beguile: + Like sight no mortall eye might elsewhere see, + So full of State, Art, and varietie. + + +128. + + For of her barons braue, and ladies faire,-- + Who had they been elsewhere, most faire had been; + Many an incomparable louely payre, + With hand in hand were interlinkèd seene, + Making faire honour to their soueraigne Queene; + Forward they pac'd, and did their pace apply + To a most sweet and solemne melody. + + +129. + + So subtile and curious was the measure, + With such[258] vnlookt for chaunge in euery straine; + As that _Penelope_ rapt with sweet pleasure, + Weend[259] shee beheld the true proportion plaine + Of her owne webb, weaud and unweaud againe; + But that her art was somewhat lesse she thought, + And on a meere ignoble subiect wrought. + +[Footnote 258: Thomas Davies, as before, drops 'such.' G.] + +[Footnote 259: Thomas Davies and Southey misread 'when.' G.] + + +130. + + For here like to the silkeworme's industry, + Beauty it selfe out of it selfe did weaue + So rare a worke, and of such subtilty, + As did all eyes entangle and deceiue, + And in all mindes a strange impression leaue; + In this sweet laborinth did _Cupid_ stray, + And neuer had the power to passe away. + + +131. + + As when the Indians, neighbours of the morning, + In honour of the cheerefull rising sunne; + With pearle and painted plumes themselues adorning, + A solemne stately measure haue begun; + The god well pleasd with that faire honour done, + Sheds foorth his beames, and doth their faces kis + With that immortal glorious face of his. + +132. + + So, &c., &c. * * * + + + _Such is 'Orchestra' as given by the Author in 1622: but in the first + edition (1596) no fewer than five omitted stanzas are found. They here + follow._ + + +127. + + Away, Terpsechore, light Muse away! + And come Vranie, prophetese diuine; + Come, Muse of heau'n, my burning thirst allay: + Euen now for want of sacred drinke I tine: + In heau'nly moysture dip thys pen of mine, + And let my mouth with nectar ouerflow, + For I must more then mortall glory show. + + +128. + + O, that I had Homer's aboundant vaine, + I would hierof another Ilias make: + Or els the man of Mantua's[260] charmèd braine, + In whose large throat great Joue the thunder spake. + O that I could old Gefferie's[261] Muse awake, + Or borrow Colin's[262] fayre heroike stile, + Or smooth my rimes with Delia's servants file.[263] + +[Footnote 260: Virgil. G.] + +[Footnote 261: Chaucer. G.] + +[Footnote 262: Spenser. G.] + +[Footnote 263: Daniel: The allusion being to his 'Sonnets to Delia.' G.] + + +129. + + O, could I, sweet Companion, sing like you, + Which, of a shadow, under a shadow sing;[264] + Or, like _Salue's_ sad lover true, + Or like the Bay, the Marigold's darling,[265] + Whose suddaine verse Loue covers with his wing: + O that your braines were mingled all with mine, + T' inlarge my wit for this great worke diuine! + +[Footnote 264: Edward Guilpin calls his volume 'Skialetheia, or a +_Shadowe_ of Truth in certain Epigrams and Satyres,' 1598. G.] + +[Footnote 265: I hazard a guess, that this may refer to _Charles +Best_, an associate of DAVIES in the 'Rhapsody,' and author +of certain vivid lines called 'A Sonnet of the Sun: a jewell, being +a sun shining upon the _Marigold_ closed in a heart of gold, sent to +his mistress, named Mary, among others. See _Nicolas's_ edition of the +'Rhapsody,' Vol. I., pp. 183, 184. G.] + + +130. + + Yet, Astrophell might one for all suffize, + Whose supple Muse Camelion-like doth change + Into all formes of excellent deuise: + So might the Swallow,[266] whose swift Muse doth range + Through rare Idæas, and inuentions strange, + And euer doth enioy her ioyfull Spring, + And sweeter then the Nightingale doth sing. + +[Footnote 266: Perhaps a play on his 'then' friend's name of Martin. G.] + + +131. + + O that I might that singing Swallow heare, + To whom I owe my seruice and my loue! + His sugred tunes would so enchant mine eare, + And in my mind such sacred fury moue, + As I should knock at Heau'ns gate aboue, + With my proude rimes, while of this heau'nly state + I doe aspire the shadow to relate.[267] + +[Footnote 267: Collier gives _supra_ in his 'Bibliographical Account of +Early English Literature,' _s.n._] + + $Finis.$ + + + _Uniform with the present volume._ + + EARLY ENGLISH POETS + + Edited, with Introductions and copious Notes, by the REV + A. B. GROSART. Elegantly printed on fine paper, Crown + 8vo., Cloth, 6s. per volume. + + [asterism] LARGE PAPER COPIES, ONLY 50 PRINTED. + + "Mr. Grosart has spent the most laborious and the most enthusiastic + care on the perfect restoration and preservation of the + text; and it is very unlikely that any other edition of the poet + can ever be called for.... From Mr. Grosart we always + expect and always receive the final results of most patient and + competent scholarship."--_Examiner._ + + I. FLETCHER'S (GILES B. D.) COMPLETE POEMS, + Christ's Victorie in Heaven, Christ's Victorie on Earth, + Christ's Triumph over Death, and Minor Poems, with + Memorial-Introduction and Notes. + + II. DAVIES' (SIR JOHN) COMPLETE POETICAL + WORKS, including Psalms I. to L. in Verse, and other + hitherto unpublished MSS., for the first time collected + and edited, with Memorial-Introduction and Notes, 2 + volumes. + + III. HERRICK'S (ROBERT) HESPERIDES, NOBLE + NUMBERS, and complete Collected Poems, with + Notes, Introductory Memoir, and facsimile Portrait, + Index of First Lines and Glossary, 3 volumes. [_In the + press._ + + IV. SIDNEY'S (SIR PHILIP) COMPLETE POETICAL + WORKS, including the Songs and Sonnets, + Astrophel and Stella, the May Lady, &c., &c., with + Memorial-Introduction and copious notes. [_In preparation._ + + V. DONNE'S (JOHN) COMPLETE POETICAL + WORKS, including the Poems on Several Occasions, + the Satyrs, Polydoran, &c., &c., with Introductory Memoir + and copious Explanatory Notes. [_In preparation._ + + + Other volumes are in active preparation. + + _CHATTO AND WINDUS, Piccadilly, W._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. +Volume 1 of 2., by John Davies + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44977 *** |