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What head so staid that altereth not intent?

What thought so sure that steadfast doth remain ? What wit so wise that never needs repent?

What tongue so true but sometime wonts to feign? What foot so firm that never treads awry? What sooner dimmed than sight of clearest eye? What heart so fixed but soon inclines to change? What mood so mild that never moved debate? What faith so strong but lightly takes to range? What love so true that never learned to hate? What life so pure that lasts without offence? What worldly mind but moves with ill pretence? What knot so fast that may not be untied?

What seal so sure but fraud or force shall break? What prop of stay but one time shrinks aside? What ship so staunch that never had a leak? What grant so large that no exception makes? What hopéd help but friend at need forsakes? What seat so high but low to ground may fall? What haps so good that never found mislike? What state so sure but subject is to thrall ?

What force prevails where Fortune lists to strike? What wealth so much but time may turn to want? What store so great but wasting maketh scant?

What profits hope in depth of danger's thrall ?

What ruste in time but waxeth worse and worse? What helps good heart if Fortune frown withal ?

What blessing thrives 'gainst heavenly helpless curse? What wins desire to get and can not gain? What boots to wish and never to obtain?

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THE following beautiful poem has been claimed on behalf of a considerable number of authors. Bishop Percy assigns it to Sir Walter Raleigh, who is said to have written it the night before his execution. Such an account of it is clearly indefensible from the fact that, whereas Raleigh was not executed till the year 1618, this poem had been published in the second edition of Francis Davison's "Poetical Rhapsody," in 1608; and had, moreover, found a place in a manuscript collection of poems completed some years earlier. There is no direct evidence that it was written by Raleigh at all. It appears, indeed, with the title of "The Farewell," amongst Raleigh's poems in the edition of Sir Egerton Brydges; but that ingenious antiquarian objects that it is found in a MS. collection in the British Museum, of date 1596. (It occurs, it may be parenthetically remarked, in numbers 2296 and 6910 of the Harleian MSS. The latter, evidently the one referred to, is a singularly beautiful volume; but Sir Egerton Brydges has been hasty in attaching to it as a whole the date 1596. This date certainly appears in it, but it is at the end of the ninth group of poems, fol. 74; whilst the "satirical ballad of Go Soul, etc.," is at the head of group number eighteen, and on folios 141, 142. The nearness of the time of its insertion to the year mentioned, would, therefore, depend either upon the collector's opportunities or his industry; or, to group both these into one expres

sion, upon his rate of compilation. After this explanation, the assertion of Sir E. Brydges that this poem is found in a MS. volume of date 1596, may be accepted with the addition of the alternative clause, or a short time after. It is likely, and indeed all but evident, that it must have been known more or less widely by the end of the sixteenth century.)

Mr. Ellis in his "Specimens," refers it provisionally, "until a more authorized claimant shall be produced," to Joshua Sylvester, on the ground that it had appeared in an issue of that writer's poems, under the conduct of an editor who was, presumably, well informed. The inconclusiveness of such an argument will be understood from the fact that the claim of Lord Pembroke, resting on precisely the same basis, is of precisely the same validity.

Ritson puts forward another candidate for the keenly contested honour. He asserts unhesitatingly, in his "Bibliographia Poetica," that "the Answer to the Lie,' usually ascribed to Raleigh, and pretended to have been written the night before his execution, was, in fact, by Francis Davison." But the objection which Campbell urges against Davison's claim on the score of his youth --Davison was only twenty-one years old in 1596—seems perfectly valid. It is altogether improbable that a satire, which bears in every line the stamp of authority and firsthand experience, should have been the product of an age the proper attributes of which are enthusiasm and anticipation. Not even the contemplation of the dilapidated fortune of the secretary, his father, could so early have broken Davison in to such a view of worldly sterility and hollowness.

Some other critics seem to have drawn lots for the claimant whose pretensions they would enforce; or else to have referred the piece to the particular poet whom they personally held in greatest esteem. Probably its authorship will never be ascertained; certainly, up to the

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sion, upon his rate of compilation. After this eling tion, the assertion of Sir E. Brydges that the found in a MS. volume of date 1596, may be with the addition of the alternative clans, or a sho after. It is likely, and indeed all but evident that it must have been known more or less widely by the end of the sixteenth century.)

Mr. Ellis in his "Specimens," refers it provisionally. "until a more authorized claimant shall be prodwood," to Joshua Sylvester, on the ground that it had appeared in an issue of that writer's poems, under the conduct of an editor who was, presumably, well informed. The incon clusiveness of such an argument will be understood from the fact that the claim of Lord Pembroke, resting on pros cisely the same basis, is of precisely the same validity,

Ritson puts forward another candidate for the koonly comtested honour. He asserts unhesitatingly, in his Biographia Poetica," that "the Answer to the Lie,' nualy ascribed to Raleigh, and pretended to have been write fue night before his execution, was, in fact, by Fra Davis" But the objection which Campbell gagnst Davison's claim on the score of his youth -Don was only twenty-one years old in 1500 **** jelly wild Baltogether improbable that i wars, Mean every me the slap of authority and fun That experience, dould the product of

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