Still Ajax fights, still Hector's dragg'd along: Duke, in lines addressed "To Mr. Dryden, on his 'Troilus and Cressida,' 1679," says: Boast then, O Troy! and triumph in thy flames, That make thee sung by three such mighty names. ON A SAILOR RIDING (Book V. 38). While he, no rider, a wild horse bestrides. Butler, in "Hudibras" (Part III. canto iii. 59), describes a sailor's manner of riding: As seamen ride with all their force, And tug as if they row'd the horse, RAPH. MACENTINUS. Of this author no account has been found. ON LYCUS ("Delitiæ Delitiarum," 101). Translated in the "Quarterly Review," No. 233. Lycus was ask'd the reason, it is said, His beard was so much whiter than his head. The reason," he replied, "my friend, is plain: Traces of the medieval epigrams are sometimes found in works where they are least expected. In The Spirit of the Public Journals" for 1806, X. 239, the following appears. It is only styled "Epigram," with no hint of being a translation, or of its origin, but undoubtedly it is a version of Macentinus' epigram: Black locks hath Gabriel, beard that's white; The reason, sir, is plain; Gabriel works hard, from morn to night, More with his jaw than brain. An epigram, "To Marcus," though very inferior, may be compared with the above. It is a distich by Owen (Book I. 95) translated by Hayman, with an addition of two lines by the translator (Hayman's “Quodlibets, &c." 1628): Thy beard grows fair and large; thy head grows thin; Hence 'tis those light conceits thy head doth breed, The older English epigrammatists were fond of this subject. Sir John * But we think most of these have missed the mark. TAREUS HEBUS. Of this author no account has been found. ON THE DEATH OF CATO ("Delitiæ Delitiarum," 158). Many lived proudly, Cato died: now say Martial answers the question (Book I. 9, " To Decianus." Translated by Hay): That you, like Thrasea, or like Cato, great, MODERN EPIGRAMMATISTS. A.D. 1480-A.D. 18—. PIERRE GRINGORE. A French poet, born between 1475 and 1480; whether in Lorraine or Normandy is doubtful. He died about 1544. THE DRESS MAKES NOT THE MAN. Translated from the French by Cary in " The Early French Poets." The lepers by the warning clack are known, So, Hamlet says (Act I. sc. 2): "Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief, BEHAVIOUR IN CHURCH. Translated from the French by Cary in " The Early French Poets." Unwise the man who heareth Mass, I wist, The custom complained of at this early period extended into mode... times. Within the memory of the present generation, it was very common for country farmers to take their dogs to church-an irreverent practice, which occasionally resulted in a rat-hunt in the middle of service. It is well known that old S. Paul's was a fashionable promenade, the general rendezvous of the busy and the idle of all classes, who disgraced the sacred building by jests and quarrels. The number was increased by those who, having no means of procuring a dinner, affected to loiter there. From this the phrase, "dining with Duke Humphrey" originated; for in this "Powles Walke" was a huge monument of Sir John Beauchamp, buried in 1358, which, by a vulgar mistake, was called the tomb of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who was buried at S. Alban's. The duke had kept an open table, where any gentleman was welcome to dine; and after his death, to dine with Duke Humphrey-i.e., to loiter about his supposed tomb in S. Paul's -meant to go dinnerless. Bishop Hall, in his satires, touches upon this use to which the cathedral was put (Book III. sat. 7): "Tis Ruffio. Trow'st thou where he din'd to-day? In a humorous poem, published in 1674, by Samuel Speed, entitled, "The Legend of his Grace, Humphrey, Duke of S. Paul's Cathedral Walk, &c.," is the following passage: Some with their beads unto a pillar crowd; Bishop Corbet, in his "Elegy on the Death of Dr. Ravis, Bishop of London," gives a still worse view of the use to which the cathedral was put: When I past Pauls, and travell'd in that walk And youth, whose cozenage is as old as theirs. At a later period we find a complaint with regard to new S. Paul's, which is applicable to the present as well as a past day (“Epigrams in Distich," 1740): This is God's House; but 'tis to be deplor'd, More come to see the house than serve its Lord. SIR THOMAS WYAT, Usually styled "the elder" to distinguish him from his son, who was executed for high treason in Mary's reign, was born in 1503. He was a man of many accomplishments, and was a great favourite of Henry VIII., who employed him in several embassies. He is said to have combined the wit of Sir Thomas More with the wisdom of Sir Thomas Cromwell. He died in 1541. TO HIS LOVE, WHOM HE HAD KISSED AGAINST HER WILL. Alas, madam, for stealing of a kiss, Have I so much your mind therein offended? That by no means it may not be amended? : For to my mouth the first my heart did suck, Plato, in a Greek distich, thus freely rendered by Moore, expresses the effect produced by a kiss (Jacobs I. 102, ii.): Whene'er thy nectar'd kiss I sip, And drink thy breath in trance divine, My soul then flutters to my lip, Ready to fly and mix with thine. Robert Greene, born about 1550, has a similar passage ("Lady Fitzwater's Nightingale."-Philomela's Ode): With arms folded, and lips meeting, So, Massinger in "The Fatal Dowry" (Act II. sc. 2): Breath marry breath, and kisses mingle souls, William Habington has a pretty epigram, "Upon a Trembling Kiss at Departure," too long for insertion, but the last few lines are worth comparing with Wyat's epigram, and close with a curious conceit : Or else you fear, lest you, should my heart skip |