Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

ciency to use the art of printing. The com- | missioners appointed by the council could bring him to nothing, but still he continued to print what he pleased without allowance, by his own authority, and such books as were warranted by her highness's letters patent to other men; and sold and uttered the same in city and country, to men of other arts: whereby the company sustained great loss, in taking the sale of them; and particularly to the decay of seven young men, who executed a privilege granted to Wm. Seres for a yearly rent. This man, notwithtanding, had given two several bonds to the 1590. Printing introduced into Angra, a seaqueen, the one not to print any more disorderly, port town, capital of Tercera, one of the Azores the other to bring in such books as he had so islands. "Perhaps," says Dr. Cotton, “there printed; but none performed. All this was laid are few of us who would have expected to find open in the said petition; the signers of it were the art of printing established in the Azores, John Harrison, master; and Richard Watkins and that at so early a period as nearly two and Ralph Newbury, wardens; and besides them centuries and a half ago; but it is a fact of Christopher Barker, John Day, William Norton, which existing evidence will not allow us to George Bishop, John Judson, and Francis Col- doubt for a moment. The Bodleian library condock; all booksellers in these times of the chiefest tains a very rare and curious specimen of tyreputation. His first work is dated 1582, and pography from these islands, being a volume in the last in 1593. Ten books bear his imprint. folio, entitled, Relacion de la jornada, expugnaIn 1585, Roger Ward printed the Choice of cion, y conquista de la isla Tercera, y las demas Change, containing the triplicia of divinitie, phi-circunvezinas, q hizo don Albaro de Baçan, marphy, and poetrie, by J. R. student in Cam-quez de Santacruz, &c. It consists of twelve bridge. leaves only; at the end occurs the following colophon, Fecha en la ciudad de Angra de la isla Tercera, a onze de Agosto, mil y quinientos ochenta y tres. I have never seen nor heard of either a second specimen or a second copy of the book here described.-Cotton.

six leaves in folio. De Rossi states this edition to be one of the rarest books any where to be met with. [A copy of it is in the Oppenheimer collection, now deposited in the Bodleian library.] He gives to the productions of this press generally, the merit of being original and genuine editions, as well as that of great neatness of type and execution, declaring that almost all of them are scarce, and diligently sought for by collectors of books. Several of these Sabionetta volumes, some of them printed upon vellum, may be seen in the Bodleian library.-Cotton.

1590. A table of the two swannes. Wherein is comprehended the original and increase of the Ever Lee) commonly called Ware river; togethery with the antiquitie of sundrie places and townes seated upon the same. Pleasant to be read, and Bot unprofitable to be understood, by W. Vallans. In this work mention is made of a paper mill at Hartford, belonging to John Tate, whose father at lord mayor of London (perhaps the person mentioned at page 201, ante.) Printed by Roger Ward, for John Sheldrake. 24 pages 4to. 1590. Sabionetta, a populous town of Austrian aly, famous for an Hebrew printing establishant, which was commenced in the year 1551, as in this year put down by authority, on count of the intemperate and improper uage used in some of its productions; Le types were carried to Venice, and there used or an edition of the Bible in 1615 and 1616. From De Rossi, who has written a specific ratise on this establishment, we are informed, at it was carried on chiefly in the house of as Foa, a wealthy Jew, who was assisted by Jabus Tedesco Potavinus and several other sons: that Tedesco was corrector and editor, Jacob ben Napthali Cohen the printer: Fat it continued to work with some interruptions antil this time. The same author also observes, at this press reached its height of perfection in year 1553, while under the direction of a ebrated printer named Adel-kind, who had en sent for from Venice to undertake the Management of the establishment at Sabionetta. le enumerates thirty-four editions which issued n it between the years 1551 and 1590, the arliest of which, the Sabionetta typography, Commentary on Deuteronomy by R. Isaac large paper) was sold for 1,210 livres (£50 8s. 4d.) at the Abarbanel, consisting of one hundred and forty-chased by the duke of Grafton for £61 18.

1590. An edition of the bible was printed at Rome, in three vols. folio, with the following title, Biblia sacra vulgatæ editions, tribus tomis distincta jussu Sixt. V. pontificis maximi edita ;) Roma, ex typographia apostolia vaticana, in fol. red; and prefixed to the first volume is the bull of pope Sixtus V., which excommunicates all printers, editors, &c., who in reprinting the work shall make any alterations in the text. Of all literary blunders, none equalled that of this edition of the Vulgate.* His holiness carefully superintended every sheet as it passed through the press, and to the amazement of the world, the work remained without a rival-it swarmed

with Errata! A multitude of scraps were printed to paste over the erroneous passages, in order to give the true text. The book makes a whimsical appearance with these patches; and the heretics exulted in the demonstration of papal infallibility! Gregory XIV., successor to Sixtus, caused it to be entirely suppressed. Clement VIII., who succeeded Gregory, caused a new edition to be made; and having made alterations in the text, he was to all intents and purposes excommunicated by the bull of Sixtus. But pope Clement VII. detected in this edition two thousand errors, and recalled all the copies, and in two years after published an amended edition, with another anathema.

* A superb copy (the only one known in England, on

sale of Mr. de Limare. At M. Paris's sale it was pur

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

Felix Peretti, pope Sixtus V. who is said to have been born for great things," did not, if we may depend upon his biographer, confine his biblical labours to the publication of the Vulgate and Septuagint, but added to them an edition of the Bible in the vernacular Italian. A curious account of it, and of the event of its publication, is given by Gregorio Leti,* an Italian, in his Life of Pope Sixtus V. written first in Latin, and translated into English by Ellis Farneworth. Sixtus V. was born December 13, 1521, and died August 27, 1590.

1591, March. DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FOUNDED. The lateness of the period assigned to the foundation of the University of Dublin, is not to be considered as indicative of the ignorance or apathy of the Irish. It arose, not from their want of zeal to obtain such an institution, or abilities to adorn it, but from the unhappy circumstances of the time. Clement V., in 1312, then in the seventh year of his pontificate, issued a bull upon the application of archbishop Lech, "for the foundation of a university in Dublin;" but the death of the archbishop prevented the fulfilment of the design. This was, however, effected in 1320, by Alexander de Bicknor, in St. Patrick's church; but it declined and fell from the deficiency of funds. Thus, at a period when literature, rich with the stores of time, unfolded her treasures to expectant nations, Ireland, predominant over every other in the desire for similar advantages, could only boast the memory of plans for their possession. But the ministers of Elizabeth were equal to the spirit and the wants of the time: their desire was to base the government upon the interests and affection of the people. There was, at that time, belonging to the corporation of the city, a piece of ground which had formed the scite, ambit, and precinct, of the Augustinian monastery of All Saints, a priory of Aroasian Canons, founded in 1166, by Dermot M'Murrough, king of Leinster. These buildings were in ruins, but were apparently well calculated for the purpose. The archbishop immediately applied to the mayor and common council, and addressed them with an eloquence "pathetic," as to obtain the monastery and lands for the purposes explained. The formality of petitioning the queen for "her charter was performed by Henry Usher, which was, of course, complied with; and on the 3d of March following, letters patent passed the great seal for the

SO

* Gregorio Leti was born at Milan, 1630. In 1657, he made a public profession of the Protestant religion, at Lausanne.

for about twenty years, and was presented in 1674 with the He then settled at Geneva, where he resided

freedom of the city, an honour never before granted to a stranger.

Holland. He died suddenly, June 9, 1701, aged 71. His He afterwards visited France, England, and boast was, that he had been the father of a book, and the father of a child, for twenty years successively.

+ Ellis Farneworth was born in Derbyshire, and educated at Cambridge. In 1762 he obtained the rectory of Carsington, in his native county, where he died on the 25th of March, in the following year. He translated the Life of Pope Sixtus V. from the Italian, 1754, folio; Davila's History of the Civil Wars in France, in 1757, 2 vols. 4to.; the Works of Machiavel, 1761, 2 vols. 4to.; and Fleury's

History of the Israelites, 12mo,

erection of a university, called "Collegium Sanc-
ta et Individuæ Trinitatis juxta Dublin-a
Serenissima Regina Elizabetha fundatum.”
and three scholars, were appointed in the name
By this instrument, one provost, three fellows,
of more.
vost, Henry Usher, A.M., Luke Challoner, A.M.,
These were, Adam Loftus, the pro-
and Launcelot Moyne, A.B., for fellows, and
Henry Lee, William Daniel, and Stephen
White, as scholars. Lord Burleigh, lord high
treasurer of England, was the first chancellor.

deputy, and the privy council, issued circular On March 11, 1591, Fitzwilliam, the lord letters for the furtherance of their views; but the amount received was apparently inconsiderable, unsuccessful results of his application. On the as Robert Taaffe, its collector, complains of the 13th of March, 1591, the first stone was laid by Thomas Smyth, then mayor, and on the 9th of January, 1593, the first students were admitted. offers the following apposite remarks upon the A correspondent in the Dublin Penny Journal, founders of universities, and we cannot, in this place, refrain from giving them.

[ocr errors]

feelings which pervade the mind on the contem"It is difficult to analyse with accuracy the plation of those edifices which have been erected by the piety and munificence of our ancestors, for the improvement of the moral, the social, and political condition of mankind. The very barbarism from amid which they rose, tends to heighten the solemn feeling they invariably inspire. We consider them as the depositories of knowledge, when all around was sunk in the darkness of ignorance, and we respect them; we consider them, through the successive gradations of ages, still advancing moral science and philosophic truth, and we venerate them the more. There is, besides, a feeling in the heart, What endears that past to a nation? The repuwhich connects us indissolubly with the past. tation of the great men it has produced.—What can excite a deeper interest for institutions such as these, than the reflection that it is to them we has acquired. Of what materials must his owe that fame which genius has won, or learning character be composed, who does not feel his best sensibilities awakened-his piety animated-his thoughts dignified, and his moral tendencies strengthened, by the consideration of structures erected for purposes so ennobling and so dignified as these. It is, however, asserted, that we of habit, and as of that which is established the reverence them less for their objects than ther antiquity. Man is the creature of system and fresh authority for respect, institutions of this advantages are known, and as every age has given conviction of their present benefit, but from the nature, it is said, exact esteem, not from our hallowing influence of time. antiquity be considered like "every other quality that attracts the notice of mankind," has unAntiquitydoubtedly votaries; but votaries that reverence her more from prejudice than reason. Her circir is, however, limited, and her worshippers ave few; for admiration of this nature is rather th

1556.

1556.

1556. 1556. 1557. 1557.

8. d.

5 0

[ocr errors]

0 22

0 21

result of ignorance than of refinement, as an- | 1591. The following extracts from the churchtiquity can only be exalted from its connexion warden's accounts of the parish of St. Helen, with the history, the interests, and improvement in Abingdon, Berkshire, from 1555 to 1591, may of mankind. Now, as colleges are the immedi- throw some light on the value of books in those ate promoters of these, when antiquity displays days; the original of which is now in the posthe influence they have exerted on the past, her session of the Rev. George Benson. claims are admitted, her influence is felt-she blends herself alike with our imagination and 1555. Payde for a legend reason, and her power is at once venerated, 1555. Payde for holie water pott......... 6 acknowledged, and despotic. The establishment 1556. Receyved at the buryall and of colleges and halls may be traced to that monethes mynd* of Geo.Chynche devotional sentiment which induced the affluent Receyved for 12 tapers at the yeres to endeavour to propitiate heaven by the erection mynd of Maister John Hide of edifices, where the sacred principles of religion Payde at the buriall and moneths might be inculcated, and its truths advanced. mynd of the good wiff Braunche 12 4 As the dark clouds of ignorance rolled Payde for a shippe of frankencenset 0 20 away, they shed the light of revelation on mankind. Payde for a boke of the articles... 0 2 They reclaimed him from an impure and mystical Payde to the sexton for watching religion, and inculcated the Christian worship of the sepulter two nyghtes his Creator. "They collected the learned, who Payde to the suffrigan for hallowwere few; and made them a compact and ing the churche yard, and other honourable confederacy against the ignorant, implements of the churche...... 30 who were powerful and many. They gave rise Payde for the communion boke... 5 to the plan of collective exertion and emulative Payde for 4 song bokes and a industry, which advanced the energies of the sawter (psalter) Fund, and encouraged the progress of discovery, 1559. and they supplied a continued growth of culti-1559. vated talent for the demands of successive gene-1561. rations. They treasured the materials of knowedge, saved from the wreck of that moral world which had been passed over by a desolating 1561. norance, and arranged them as the basis of Dew acquisitions." Such were the advantages sequent upon the foundation of universities, vivantages alone equalled by the benefits they 1561. have progressively conferred.

1591. A Greek and Russian Grammar was inted at Lemburg, in Poland. Backmeister forms us that typography was first practised in This city, five years earlier.

1591. In the accounts of the stationers' comany are the following entries:

"Item, a little box of plate, and other things ven by the masters and wardens, and divers <her persons.

"Item, paid for charges of search dinners, ten mes, at 3s. 4d., 33s. 4d.

1591. JOAN BROOME carried on printing after death of her husband, and had many works ited for her, among which are the following: Endimion the Man in the Moone. Played bere the Queenes Majestie at Greenewich, on dlemas Day at Night, by the Chyldren of ules. By John Lillie, Maister of Artes. At don, by J. Charlewood, for the Widdowe

Some. 1591.

[blocks in formation]

1559.
1559.

Payde for too doosin of morres belles|| 1
Payde for fower new saulter bookes 8
Payde to the clarkes for maynteyn-

0 8

[ocr errors]

0

0

6 8

∞00

4 0

ing and repeyring the song bokes in the quyre Payde for a table of the commandementes and cealender, or rewle to find out the lessons and spallmes, and for the frame 20 Payde to the peynter for wrigting the scripture, when roode lofte§ stoode and overthwarte the same isle

3 4

The months mind, the years and two years mind, and the obit of deceased persons, were masses performed at those seasons for the rest of their souls, the word mind, meaning the same as memorial or remembrance. And so

it is used in a sermon yet extant of bishop Fisher, entitled A mornynge remembrance had at the monteth minde of the most noble prynces Margarete, countesse of Richmonde and Darbye, &c. As to the term obits, services of that kind seem to have been annually performed. The office

of the mass for each of these solemnities may be seen in tis. The expenses were suited to persons of all ranks, that the Roman Missal, under the title of Missal pro defuncnone might be deprived of the benefit which was supposed to accrue from them. Masses for the dead continued to

this time, (1560,) but here, instead of a moneths mynde, the expression is a months monument.

+ This is a small vessel, in the form of a ship or boat, fume their churches and images. in which the Roman catholics burn frankincense to per

This book seems to be that which was printed and

sent over the kingdom by order of queen Mary, at the end

of the year 1554, containing instructions to the bishops for visiting the clergy.

These bells, mentioned under the year 1560, as pura diversion then practised at their festivals; in which the chased by the parish, were used in their morrice dances, populace might be indulged from a political view, to keep

them in good humour.

By rood was meant either a crucifix, or the image of

some saint in Roman catholic churches. These images

were set in shrines, or tabernacles, and the place where they stood was called the rood loft, which was commonly

over or near the passage out of the body of the church

into the chancel. In 1548, the first of king Edward VI., all images and their shrines were ordered to be taken down, as bishop Burnett informs us. But they were restored again on the accession of queen Mary.

3.

d.

06

1562. Payde for a bybill* for the church 10 0
1563. Payde for a boke of Wednesdayes
fasting, which contayns omellies
1564. Payde for a communion boke......
1565. Payde for too bokes of common
prayer agaynste invading of the
Turket....

1565. Payde for a repetition of the com-
munion boke

1566. Payde for setting up Robin Hoode's bowere

[ocr errors]

4

[ocr errors]

4

0

6

0 18

04

04

ante.) He was a native of Scotland, and educated at Antwerp; from whence he went to Paris, and afterwards to Leyden, where he learned the art of printing; and returned to Scotland in 1558, when he joined himself to the lords of the congregation, as the reformers were then called. Besides the edition of the scriptures, he printed several other works which are now become scarce. His dwelling was at the Nether Bow. The ear0liest edition of the rare Scotch poem, called Syr Gray-Steill, issued from the press of Bassendyne. An inventory of his goods, dated Oct. 18, 1577, contains an item of three hundred Gray-Stellis, valued at the " pece vid. summa viil. xs." On the 17th of April, 1497, when James IV. was at Stirling, there is an entry in the treasurer's accounts, "Item, that samyn day to twa sachelaris that sang Grey-Steill to the king, ixs." In manuscript collections made at Aberdeen, in 1627, called a Booke for the Lute, by Robert Gordon, is the air of Grey-Steill; and a satirical poem in Scottish rhyme on the marquis of Argyle, printed in 1686,is" appointed to be sung to the tune of old Gray-Steill." These evidences that the poem was sung, manifests its popularity. There are conjectures as to who the person denominated sir Gray Steel really was, but the point is undetermined. James Nicol, printer to the town and university of Aberdeen, 1591. Died, THOMAS BASSANDYNE, or BAS-printed an edition of this poem in 1711, which SENDEN, who had the honour of being the printer of the first edition of the scriptures known to have been printed in Scotland.—(see page 361

1573. Payde for a quire of paper to make
four bokes of Geneva salmes...
1573. Payde for 2 bookes of common
prayer, now sett forth
1577. Payde for a new byble............ 40 0
1577. Payde for a booke of common prayer 7 0
1577. Payde for wryting the commande-
ments in the quyre, and paynt-
ing the same

1578. Payde for a booke of the articles 1591. Payde for an houre glass for the pulpit §..........

19 O

0 10

04 1591. May 26. Queen Elizabeth grants a licence to Richard Wright, of Oxford, to print the History of Cornelius Tacitus. See Rymer, vol. xvi. p. 96.-This appears to be the first exclusive privilege for publishing.

This, it is supposed, was the Geneva Bible, in 4to.

both on account of its low price, and because that edition, having the division of verses, was best suited for public

use.

It was an English translation, which had been revised and corrected by the English exiles at Geneva, in queen Mary's reign, and printed there in 1560, with a dedication to queen Elizabeth. In the year 1576, another Bible was bought, which was called the New Bible, and is

said to have cost forty shillings; usually called archbishop Parker's Bible, printed at London, in 1568, by Richard Jugge, the queen's printer. They had prayer-books, psalters, and song-books, for the churches in the beginning of this reign, as the whole bible was not easily to be pro

cured.

+ In 1565, there is a charge of sixpence for two common It was then prayer books against invading the Turke.

thought the common cause of the Christian states in Europe to oppose the progress of the Turkish arms by all methods, both civil and religious. And this year the Turks made a descent upon the Isle of Malta, where they

besieged the town and castle of St. Michael four months, when, on the approach of the Christian fleet, they broke (Thuanus, lib. 38.) And as the war was afterwards carried on between them and the emperor Maximilian in Hungary, the like prayer-books were annually purchased for the parish till the year 1569 inclusive.-See Pref. ad Camdeni. "Eliz." p. xxix. 1. i. g.

up the siege, and suffered considerable loss in their flight.

In 1573 charge is made of paper for four books of Geneva psalms. It is well known, that the vocal music in parochial churches received a great alteration under the reign of queen Elizabeth, being changed from antiphonyes into metrical psalmody, which is here called the Geneva psalms.

|| These articles were agreed to and subscribed for by

both houses of convocation in 1562, and printed the year following. But in 1571, being again revised and

ratified by act of parliament, they seem to have been

[blocks in formation]

though of so recent a date, is at present unique.*

1591. The Shepheard's Calender. Containing twelve aeglogues proportionable to the twelve monthes. Entituled: To the noble and virtuous gentleman, most worty of all titles, both of learning and chivalry, maister Philip Sidney. By Edmund Spencer. London, imprinted by Joha Windet, 1591. 4to.t

In the argument to October of the above poem, Spencer speaking of "Poetrie," calls it “a divine gift, and heavenly instinct, not to be gotton by labour and learning, but adorned with both, and poured into the witte by a certaine enthusiasmos and celestiall inspiration."

Spencer wrote a treatise called the English Poet, which has unfortunately been lost, and must have contained specimens of the writings of his countrymen. See Mr. Todd's edition of Spencer, the Life, p. 7, and p. 158, where the author says, Spencer, in his book called the Eng lish Poet; which booke being lately come into my handes, I minde also by God's grace, upo further advisement to publish."

1591. Complaints; containing sundrie swall poems of the world's vanity. By Edmund Spencer London, imprinted by William Ponsonby, at the Bishop's Head, in Paul's church yard. 4to

1591. The Countess of Pembrokes Ivy Church. containing the affectionate Life, and unfortuna Death of Phillis and Amyntas, that in a Pastorai, this in a Funerall, both in English hexameter,

* Early Metrical Tales, including the History of Egeir, Sir Gryme, and Sir Gray Steil. Edinburgh: 16 175 copies printed, small 8vo.

† Sold at archdeacon Nare's sale, 1821, for £158 28. 1 + Sold at archdeacon Nare's sale, 1821, 4to, for £2 3*

Abraham Fraunce. London. Printed by as Orwyn, for William Ponsonby, dwelling aules Church Yard, at the signe of the p's Head. 1591. This truly whimsical inance consists of a translation of Tasso's ta, which is interwoven in the body of a ral, and can scarcely be called a play.* 2. Died, Sept. 2, Robert Green, an English He was a man of wit and talents, and one of ost facetious, profligate, and indefatigable e Scribleri family. He laid the foundation new dynasty of literary emperors. The act by which he proved his claim to the e of Grub-street,† has served as a model to numerous successors-it was, says Mr. aeli, an ambidexterous trick! Green sold Irlando Furioso to two different theatres, s among the first authors in English literary y, who wrote as a trader; or as crabbed ony Wood phrases it, in the language of ey and cynicism, "he wrote to maintain rife, and that high and loose course of which poets generally follow." The hermit eny seems to have had a mortal antipathy st the Eves of literary men.

mediately after his death, and whilst the e curiosity was alive concerning him, the ving tract was published:-The Repentance ubert Greene, Maister of Artes. Wherein, mselfe, is laid open his loose Life, with the er of his Death. At London, printed for bert Burbie. 1592.

e first part of this tract exhibits, in strong rs and the quaint language of the time, his gacy and subsequent contrition. It next us an interesting sketch of his life. From it appears he was born at Norwich, here Norwitch. His parents must have been etable, for he was educated at Cambridge, whence he tells us, "wags as lewd" as If "drew him to march into Italy and e." In which place he "saw and practised villanie as is abhominable to declare."

his return to England, “I ruffeled," says out in my silks, in the habit of Malconand no place would please me to abide in." he had taken his Masters degree at Came, he left the universitie, "and away to on, where he became an author of playes, a penner of love pamphlets, and who for

old at archbishop Nare's sale, 1821, 4to., for £4 48. Iention is often made of Grub-street writers and

street publications, but the terms are little under the following historical fact will explain them: the usurpation, a prodigious number of seditious ellous pamphlets and papers, tending to exasperate eople, and increase the confusion in which the i was involved, were from time to time published. uthors of these were, for the most part, men whose ent circumstances compelled them to live in the obscure parts of the town. Grub street then abounded

mean and old houses, which were let out in lodgings,

#rents, to persons of this description, whose occuwas the publishing anonymous treason and slanOne of the original inhabitants of this street was the martyrologist, who, during his abode there wrote Irts and Monuments. It was also rendered famous by Lg been the residence of Mr. Henry Welby, a gentleof whom it is related in a printed narrative, that he I there forty years without being seen of any one.

that trade growne so ordinary as Robin Greene." He then freely confesses that he led a life of unrestrained debauchery, once, and once only, feeling some compunction of the divine judgment. This inward compunction he felt "in Saint Andrews Church, in the cittie of Norwich, at a lecture or sermon then preached by a godly learned man." In the latter part of this tract, he breaks forth into a passionate apostrophe to his injured wife, from whose society he confesess he had estranged himself six years. He most pathetically implores her forgiveness. He concludes with warning young men against the example of his vicious life, assuring them, that God will visit sinfulness.

He appears to have been a thoughtless, goodnatured man, and susceptible of the better feelings of the heart, for many of his works contain noble and generous expressions. Neither was he, by any means, to be despised as a poet. The short compositions scattered through his works, to say nothing of his dramatical pieces, indicate much poetical taste and feeling. Subjoined is one of them.

BY A MOTHER TO HER INFANT.
Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee,
When thou art old theres griefe enough for thee.
Mothers wagge, prettie boy,
Fathers sorrow, fathers joy;
When thy father first did see
Such a boy by him and me,
He was glad, I was woe,
Fortune changd made him so,
When he had left his prettie boy,

Last his sorrow, first his joy.

Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old theres griefe enough for thee, Streaming teares that never stint,

Like pearle drops from a flint,

Fell by course from his eies,

That one anothers place supplies.

Thus he grieved in every part,

Teares of bloud fell from his heart,

When he left his prettie boy,

Fathers sorrow, fathers joy.

Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee,
When thou art old theres griefe enough for thee.
The wanton smiled, father wept,
Mother cried, babic lept,

Now he crow'd more he cride,
Nature could not sorrow hide;
He must goe, he must kisse,
Childe and mother, babic blisse,
For he left his prettic boy,
Fathers sorrow, fathers joy.
Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee,
When thou art old theres griefe enough for thee.

Green was exceedingly popular in his day, and his works are very voluminous; a beautiful edition of them has lately been published.* Mr. Beloe, in his Anecdotes of Scarce Books, emumerates, a great number of Green's productions, and at the conclusion, says, "I here take my leave of Robert Greene, and I confess, not without reluctance. I have been highly entertained with many of his performances, I feel a great respect for his talents, much disgust at his profligacy, but a sincere concern for his misfortunes."

* Green's Dramatic Works, to which is added his poems. with an account of his life. By the Rev. Alexander Dyce, London: William Pickering. 1834. 2 vols. crown 8vo.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »