724 Verses supposed to be written by Alexander Selkirk, during his solitary Abode in the On the Receipt of my Mother's Picture out of Island of Juan Fernandez ...................... 791 792 725 | An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq. ................ 794 Friendship ......................****** 726 | Yardley Oak ................ .................. Book I. The Sofa ........ ....................... IJ. The Time-Piece ..................... 799 III. The Garden .......................... 746 IV. The Winter Evening ............... ... 752 The Minstrel : or, The Progress of Genius. V. The Winter-Morning Walk ...... 758 In Two Books. VI, The Winter Walk at Noon ......... 764 Book I. .......................................... 798 BENJAMIN JONSON. BersamIN Jonson, (or Johnson,) a poet, who, gives a particular examination of his “ Silent Wo. during life, attained a distinguished character, was man," as a model of perfection. He afterwards, the posthumous son of a clergyman in Westminster, however, seems to make large deductions from this where he was born in 1574, about a month after his commendation. “You seldom (says Dryden) find father's decease. His family was originally from him making love in any of his scenes, or endeavourScotland, whence his grandfather removed to Car-ing to move the passions ; his genius was too sullen lisle, in the reign of Henry VIII. and saturnine to do it gracefully. Humour was his Benjaınin received his education under the learned proper sphere ; and in that he delighted most to Camden, at Westminster school ; and had made represent mechanics.” Besides his comedies, Jonson extraordinary progress in his studies, when his mo composed two tragedies, Sejanus and Catiline, both ther, who had married a bricklayer for her second formed upon ancient models, and full of transhusband, took him away to work under his step-lations; and neither of them successful. His drafather. From this humble employment he escaped, matic compositions, however, do not come within by enlisting as a soldier in the army, then serving in the scope of the present publication. the Netherlands against the Spaniards. An exploit In 1616, he published a folio volume of his works, which he here performed, of killing an enemy in which procured for him a grant from his majesty of single combat, gave him room to boast ever after of the salary of poet-laureat for life, though he did not a degree of courage which has not often been found take possession of the post till three years after. in alliance with poetical distinction. With high intellectual endowments, he had many On his return, Jonson entered himself at St. unamiable traits in his character, having a high deJohn's College, Cambridge, which he was shortly gree of pride and self-conceit, with a disposition to obliged to quit from the scanty state of his finances. abuse and disparage every one who incurred his He then turned his thoughts to the stage, and jealousy or displeasure. Jonson was reduced applied for employment at the theatres ; but his to necessitous circumstances in the latter part of talents, as an actor, could only procure for him his life, though he obtained from Charles I. an adadmission at an obscure playhouse in the suburbs. vance of his salary as laureat. He died in 1637, at Here he had the misfortune to kill a fellow-actor the age of 63, being at that time considered as at the in a duel, for which he was thrown into prison. head of English poetry. He was interred in WestThe state of mind to which he was here brought, minster Abbey, where an inscription was placed over gave the advantage to a Popish priest in converting his grave, familiarly expressive of the reputation him to the Catholic faith, under which religion he he had acquired among his countrymen : it was, continued for twelve years. “ O rare Ben Jonson." Six months after his death, After his liberation from prison, he married, and a collection of poems to his honour, by a number applied in earnest to writing for the stage, in which of the most eminent writers and scholars in the nabe appears to have already made several attempts. tion, was published, with the title of “ Jonsonius His comedy of “ Every Man in his Humour," the Virbius; or the memory of Ben Jonson, revived by first of his acknowledged pieces, was performed with the Friends of the Muses." applause in 1596 ; and henceforth he continued to Although, as a general poet, Jonson for the most furnish a play yearly, till his time was occupied by part merits the character of harsh, frigid, and tedious; the composition of the masques and other enter- there are, however, some strains in which he appears tainments, by which the accession of James was with singular elegance, and may be placed in comcelebrated. Dryden, in his Essay on Dramatic petition with some of the most favoured writers of Poetry, speaks of him as the “ most learned and that class. judicious writer which any theatre ever had," and TO WILLIAM CAMDEN. 2. I have been gathering wolves' hairs, The mad-dogs' foam, and the adders' ears ; CAMDEN, most reverend head, to whom I owe The spurgings of a dead-man's eyes, All that I am in arts, all that I know. And all since the evening-star did rise. (How nothing 's that!) to whom my country owes The great renown, and name wherewith she goes. 3. I, last night, lay all alone Than thee the age sees not that thing more grave, O' the ground, to hear the mandrake groan; More high, more holy, that she more would crave. And pluck'd him up, though he grew full low; What name, what skill, what faith hast thou in And, as I had done, the cock did crow. things! And frighted a sexton out of his wits. By day; and, when the child was asleep, At night, I suck'd the breath ; and rose, DAME. FROM THE SILENT WOMAN. Yes, I have brought (to help our vows) The fig-tree wild, that grows on tombs, The basilisk's blood, and the viper's skin : EPITAPH SIDNEY HAGS. UNDERNEATH this marble herse FROM THE SHEPHERD'S HOLIDAY. ON LUCY COUNTESS OF BEDFORD. XYMPH I. This morning, timely rapt with holy fire, Thus, thus, begin the yearly rites I thought to form unto my zealous Muse, Are due to Pan on these bright nights; What kind of creature I could most desire, His morn now riseth, and invites To honour, serve, and love; as poets use. To sports, to dances, and delights : I meant to make her fair, and free, and wise, All envious, and prophane away, This is the shepherd's holiday. NYMPH ΙΙ. Strew, strew, the glad and smiling ground, I meant each softest virtue there should meet, With every flower, yet not confound Fit in that softer bosom to reside. The primrose drop, the spring's own spouse, Bright daisies, and the lips of cows, The garden-star, the queen of May, The rose, to crown the holiday. NYMPH III. Drop, drop you violets, change your hues, As when you lived unto the smell : That from your odour all may say, This is the shepherd's holiday. LOVE, A LITTLE BOY. FROM THE MASQUE ON LORD HADDINGTON'S MARRIAGE. FIRST GRACE. Then a thousand, then another BEAUTIES, have ye seen this toy, Hundred, then unto the tother Called Love, a little boy, Add a thousand, and so more: Almost naked, wanton, blind, Till you equal with the store, Cruel now; and then as kind ? All the grass that Romney yields, If he be amongst ye, say ; He is Venus' run-away. SECOND GRACE. She, that will but now discover When youths ply their stol’n delights. Where the winged wag doth hover, Shall, to-night, receive a kiss, How, or where herself would wish : But, who brings him to his mother, TO THE SAME. And I will pledge with mine; And I'll not look for wine. Doth ask a drink divine : I would not change for thine. THIRD GRACE. FIRST GRACE. I sent thee, tate, & rosy wreath, Not so much honouring thee, It could not withered be. And sent'st it back to me: Not of itself, but thee. SECOND GRACE. |