Qui Latrans, modo mordens. Blandus I heare will prove a Byter knowne Ad Lectorem. Reader, these Epigrams long since compos'd Had not the Stationer or the Divell beene in't. In the next we have an allusion to Bankes and his celebrated horse, the rare tract on which "Maroccus Extaticus" was published in 1595, 4to, and has already been noticed. Asinus ex Asino. Grillus, outragious grewe with selfe conceit Runnes to the Stable there to feede on Hay, Strives to Corvet, Cariere, Kick, Wince, and Praunce, But since that Grillus, nothing so much feares, As the appearance of his Asses eares. The following lines from the second satire, descriptive of the various persons who came to buy his book, are not without humour, and are illustrative of some of the characters of the time: 3. Trahit sua quemq: voluptas. Howle on yee Satyrs, whilst I sit and marke First comes a Statesman to the Stationer And many better Bookes hee passing ouer By chaunce findes this, whereon he reades a while Then bytes the lippe, then frownes, then giues a smile, And to the Seller sayes such fiery braines Should warme the prison to reward their paines. Becomes it any man of his profession Reproue vs of our manners, or transgression His ordinarie stomache is more nicer Who asks for new books; this this the stationer showes him The mending Poet takes it next in hand Who hauing oft the Verses ouer-scan'd, O filching streight, doth to the Stationer say Who forceth me his Friendship to inherit. He sees my Booke in Print, and streight hee knowes it, Fye on't (saith he) that any man should buye Such bookes prophane of fained Poetrie, That teacheth vice, worse then your Playes on Stages, And is a shame to olde and future Ages. To louiug Brother-Hoods Communitie, Warton, and Mr. Park after him, have assigned the year 1600 as the date of publication of this volume, but no work of Parrot's earlier than 1606 is known, and although he informs the reader that "these epigrams were long since compos'd," they did not make their appearance in print till 1615. Nothing certain appears to be known of the author. Mr. Collier, from some lines in the satire we have just quoted, thinks it probable he was an actor at the Fortune Theatre, while from another of his epigrams it might be conjectured that he was in the profession of the law. See Collier's Bridgw. Catal., p. 225; Warton's Hist. Eng. Poet., vol. iv, p. 403; Bibl. Ang. Poet., p. 458; and Restituta, vol. iii, p. 415. Bindley's copy, pt. iv, No. 922, sold for 25l. 10s.; Bibl. Ang. Poet., No. 458 (wanting a leaf), 30%.; Bibl. Heber, pt. iv, 1792, 71. 5s.; Bright's sale, No. 4189, 137. 108. Bound by C. Lewis. In Crimson Morocco. Gilt leaves. PERROT OF PARROT, (HENRY.)- Lapuei ridiculosi: or Springes for Woodcocks. By H. P. London Printed for Iohn Busby, and are to be sould in S. Dunstans Church-yarde in Fleet street. 1613. Sm. 8vo. Some copies of this volume are without the initials of the author, and have the motto "Caveat Emptor" in their place. On the title-page is, likewise, a woodcut representing two woodcocks caught in springs, and another flying away, with the motto, "Possis abire tutus." A Latin address, "Lectori benigno, scienti et ignoto," follows the title, in which he says, that more than two years had elapsed since he had hastily composed these epigrams, and that he had now taken leave of these studies or rather vanities, which, however, was not the case, as he published another work of a similar kind two years later, noticed in the next article. This address is signed "Hen. Parrot," and is succeeded by another in English "To the Reader," in which he again repeats that he "had long since bidden adue to these idle toyes, and that the work had been brought unto the press without his privitie." After this, on another leaf, are some lines "To the vulgar Censurers," and six others to his "honest friends." The work is divided into two books the first containing 224 epigrams, and the second 215, concluding with some English and Latin lines. Some of the epigrams in this collection had already appeared in his earlier volumes, and some few may be traced to the works of Sir John Harrington and others. Having already, in the previous article, given several examples of Parrot's epigrams, it will be needless to extend the present selection beyond a couple more from this volume, which are equally spiritless, and without point or humour, with those in his former productions. 31. Vindicta vim sequitur. Kit being kickt and spurnd pursues the Law 61. Invisibilis forma. Mistrisse Madrill weares evermore her maske But none so saucy dares the reason aske Or contradict it since 'tis her desire: For painted pictures must (you know the guise) 139. Stultus varietatis avidus. Zoilus expects my verses more should vary, Besides, it is no badge of my profession : Yet few have writ more Epigrams then I, Who sayes the contrary, I say, they lye. 161. Fomina ludificatur viros. Kind Katharen to her husband kist these words Mine own sweet Will, how dearely doe I love thee? If true (quoth Will) the world no such affords (And that is true I durst his warrant be:) For ne're heard I of woman good or ill But always loved best her owne sweet Will. Coriat and his Travels, from their absurd vanity, seem to have been a great butt for the epigrammatists of that day, and there are several in this work relating to him, of which we present our readers with two as a sample of the rest: 192. Ad Thomam Coriat, Nuper admirabilem. That such of note in trauall and desert, Like time lesse Blossomes should so soone be blasted, For thus farre boldly may thy Booke compare 252. Rarus, qui publicus olim. Of all the Toms that ever yet were namd Was neuer Tom like as Tom Coriat framd: Tom Foole may go to Schoole, but nere be taught Amongst his other attacks upon the various rhymesters of his day, the Water-Poet has not forgotten, in his own epigrams, to have a fling at those of Parrot. Epigram 6, p. 263. My Muse hath vow'd revenge shall have her swindge This work is frequently quoted by Mr. Malone in his Historical Account of the English Stage, and by Mr. Collier in his History of Dramatic Poetry. See also his Bridgew. Catol., p. 224; Warton's Hist. Eng. Poet., vol. iv, p. 401; Beloe's Anecd., vol. vi, p. 115; and Bibl. Ang. Poet, p. 554, where it is priced at 107. 108. The present copy was Steevens's, and sold at his sale, No. 1000, for 17. 15s.; Lloyd's do., No. 913, 5l. 17s. 6d.; White Knight's do., No. 3066, 71. 78.; Bibl. Heber, pt. iv, No. 1725, 3l. 19s. Bound in Blue Morocco, with joints. Gilt leaves. |