Tityrus to his fair Phillis. [From England's Helicon.] THE silly swain, whose love breeds discontent, But when his fortune's malice doth relent, Then Tityrus, whom love hath happy made, J. D[AVIS ?]. HENRY PEACHAM Was author of " Minerva Britanna, or a garden of heroica? “Devises,” &c.1612.4to. (a collection of Emblems in verse, with a plate to each, from which the following extracts are taken) as well as "The Period of Mourning-in memorie "of the late Prince. Together with Nuptial Hymnes in "honour of this happy marriage betweene· Fred. "Count Pal.-and Eliz.-Daughter to our Sovereigne," 1613, 40. "A most true relation of the affaires of Cleve " and Gulick," &c. 1614, 4to. (prose) "Prince Henrie re"vived; or a Poeme upon the Birth-of-Prince H. Fre"derick-Heire apparant to Fred.Count Pal. of the Rhine,” &c. 1615, 4to. "The Compleat Gentleman,” 1622, 1627, 1634,1654,1661, 4to. (prose) "The Gentleman's Exercise," 1612, 1634, 1654, 1661, 4to. (prose) "Thalia's Banquet," a volume of epigrams, 1520, 12mo. "The Valley of Varie"tie," 1638, 12mo. (prose, as well as the two following.) "The Duty of all true subjects to their king; as also to "their native country in time of extremity and danger," &c. in "two bookes," 1639, 4to. "The Worth of a Peny, 66 or a caution to keep money," 1647, 1667, 1677, 1695, 4to. &c. All works of considerable merit. He is placed here owing to the uncertainty of the time of his birth. If, as Mr. Ritson assumes, he is the same as "Henry Pecham, Minister," who published "The Garden of Eloquence," (a treatise on rhetoric,) in 1577, 4to. bl. 1. he ought to be referred to the early part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. If, on the other hand, as Mr. Malone conceives, our author is a different person, (perhaps son to the last-mentioned,) and the earliest date of his compositions 1611, (verses in "The Odcombian Banquet") he would then rather belong to the succeeding one of James I. I have only to add, that he was born at or near St. Albans assisted in educating the children of Thomas, earl of Arundel; and attended that nobleman into the Low Countries. In the title to his "Minerva" he styles himself Master of Arts; and it appears that he was "sometime of "Trinity College, Cambridge." His father was "Mr. "Henry Peacham, of Leverton, in Holland, in the county "of Lincoln." Further particulars of his history I am unable to furnish, (though, in all probability, they might be supplied by an attentive perusal of his various publications,) and, till I have it in my power to ascertain with accuracy, either the year of his birth, or whether or not he was the author of "The Garden of Eloquence," venture to place him between the reigns of Elizabeth and James. Humilibus dat Gratiam. THE mountains huge, that seem to check the sky, With heath or moss for most part barren lie; And with his heat in hedge and grove begets The gifts of nature, or his heavenly grace, And those that high in honour's chair are set Do feel their wants; when men of meaner place, Although they lack the others' golden spring, Perhaps are blest above the richest king. Gloria lata Via. THOUGH life be short, and man doth, as the sun, His journey finish in a little space, The way is wide an honest course to run, And great the glories of a virtuous race, That, at the last, do our just labours crown Nor can night's shadow, or the Stygian deep, Conceal fair Virtue from the world's wide eye; The more oppress'd, the more she strives to peep, And raise her rose-bound golden head on high: When epicures, the wretch, and worldly slave, Shall rot in shame, alive and in the grave. Nec in una sede morantur. THE awful sceptre, though it can compel But, Venus' infant! dread of all beneath! Ad generosissimum et opt. spei juvenem Nobilem D. C. M. in Italiam nuperrime profectum. THE Spartan virgins, ere they had compos'd So ye, brave lord, who like the heavenly sphere With pleasure profit, that, returning home, Your skill and judgment more may make you known Than your French suit, or lock so largely grown. |