Page images
PDF
EPUB

whet-stone to make thee sharp, and us blunt; or a sword to cut wounds in me, and cure them in Euphues? Why didst thou write that against them thou never thoughtest, or if thou didst it, why dost thou not follow it? But it is lawful for the physician to surfeit, for the shepherd to wander, for Euphues to prescribe what he will, and do what he list.

The sick patient must keep a straight diet, the silly sheep a narrow fold; poor Philautus must believe Euphues and all lovers (he only excepted) are cooled with a card of teen, or rather fooled with a vain toy. Is this thy professed purity, to cry peccavi? thinking it as great sin to be honest, as shame not to be amorous: thou that didst blaspheme the noble sex of women without cause, dost thou now commit idolatry with them without care, observing as little gravity then in thine unbridled fury, as thou dost now reason by thy disordinate fancy? I see now that there is nothing more smooth than glass, yet nothing more brittle: nothing more fair than snow, yet nothing less firm: nothing more fine than wit, yet nothing more fickle.

*

Thou art in love, Euphues, contrary to thine oath, thine honour, thine honesty; neither would any professing that thou doest live as thou doest, which is no less grief to me, than shame to thee; excuse thou mayst make to me, because I am credulous; but amends to the world thou canst not frame, because

thou art come out of Greece, to blaze thy vice in England, a place too honest for thee, and thou too dishonest for any place.

Lilly appears to have been an author much in fashion in his day. Edward Blount, the editor of six of his Comedies, speaks of those plays as "written by the only rare poet of that time, the witty, comical, facetiouslyquick, and unparalleled John Lilly, master of arts." In his epistle also to the reader, after observing that the poet, "was heard, graced, and rewarded by queen Elizabeth," he says, that those plays were published "to prevent oblivion from trampling upon such a son of the Muses, as they called their darling." And then proceeds to assert that the nation was indebted to our author for a new English, which he taught them in his Euphues; that all the ladies of that time were his scholars; she who spoke not Euphueism being as little regarded at court, as if she could not speak French. It is remarkable, that this assertion is confirmed in Ben Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour;" in which, Fallace,

upon

[ocr errors]

wife of Deliro, a proud mincing lady, dotes Fastidius Brisk, a spruce affected courtier. The gallant being thrown into the counter, is there visited by Fallace; who concludes. the expressions of her fondness in these words: “O master Brisk (as it is in Euphues) hard is the choice when one is compelled, either by silence to die with grief, or by speaking, to live with shame." Upon this passage, we have the following note by Mr. Whalley. Euphues is the title of a Romance, wrote by one Lilly, that was in the highest vogue at this time, The court ladies had all the phrases by heart. The language is extremely affected, and like the specimen here quoted, consists chiefly of antitheses in the thought and expression,"

66

[ocr errors]

CECIL (WILLIAM),

BARON of Burghley, Burleigh, or Burly, was born at Bourn in Lincolnshire, in 1520. After being initiated in grammar learning at the grammar schools of Grantham and Stamford, he was removed, in 1535, to St. John's College, Cambridge; and in 1541, entered at Gray's Inn as student of the law. There he distinguished himself by his application; the fruit of which was an intimate acquaintance with the constitution of his country.

On his introduction at court, his first promotion was to the office of Custos Brevium, in the beginning of the reign of Edward VI, In 1547, he was appointed master of requests; and the year after, obtained the post of secretary, which he enjoyed twice in Edward's reign. He was knighted and sworn of the privy council in 1551. In the reign of Mary he lost his

office, for refusing to change his religion; but on the accession of Elizabeth, was again sworn privy counsellor and secretary of state, which offices he retained till his death.

He obtained also in 1561 the office of master of the wards. In 1571 the queen created him baron of Burleigh; the year following, knight of the garter; and about three months after, raised him to the office of lord high treasurer. He had the additional honour of being chancellor of the university of Cambridge. He died in 1598, at the age of 77.

Lord Burleigh, as Mr. Walpole has observed, " is one of those great names, better known in the annals of his country, than those in the republic of letters."

His works consist chiefly of letters and state papers.

1. When (as sir William Cecil) he accompanied the duke of Somerset on his expedition into Scotland, he kept a " Diary," which was afterwards published by William Patten, under the title of "Diarium Expeditionis Scotica, Lond. 1541, 12 mo." and which furnished materials for an account of that war. This is probably the reason why he is classed by Holinshed among the English historians.

[merged small][ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »