JOHN HEYWOOD, Was born at North Mims, near S. Alban's, but at what date is uncertain. He was a great favourite of Henry VIIL, and of his daughter Mary, on account of his happy talent for telling diverting stories. Upon the accession of Elizabeth, being a strict Roman Catholic, he retired to Mechlin, where he died in 1565. His epigrams on proverbs and general subjects amount to about six hundred, and were several times reprinted before the end of the 16th century. The edition from which the following are taken is that of 1576. JACK AND HIS FATHER (1st Hundred, 25). TWO WISHERS FOR TWO MANNER OF MOUTHS "I wish thou hadst a little narrow mouth, wife, The life of this wishing couple seems to have been much like that which was led by the husband and wife whom Martial celebrates (Book VIII. 35). The translation is by Relph: Alike in temper and in life, The crossest husband, crossest wife: It looks exceeding odd to me, This well-match'd pair can disagree. A thought which has been humorously expanded by Ben Jonson (Ep. 42): Who says that Giles and Joan at discord be? Th' observing neighbours no such mood can see. But that his Joan doth too. And Giles would never By his free will be in Joan's company; No more would Joan he should. Giles riseth early And having got him out of doors is glad; * If now, with man and wife, to will and nill * OF PRIDE (5th Hundred, 42). If thou wilt needs be proud, mark this, friend mine; A Latin distich by Nicholas Baxius is similar to the first part of this epigram, though its teaching differs from the latter part. The translation is by James Wright ("Delitiæ Delitiarum," 225): Boast not thy actions; for if bad they be, No praise is due; if good, none's due to thee. OF TONGUE AND WIT (6th Hundred, 33). Prior has an epigram of similar character, on one whose pen ran faster than his wit: While faster than his costive brain indites, JOHN HOPKINS, Who after Sternhold's death finished the metrical version of the Psalms, which that lugubrious poet had left incomplete, was born about 1525, and is supposed to have been a clergyman of Suffolk, but nothing is known of his life. TO MR. THOMAS STERNHOLD, ON THE KING'S OFFERING ("The Honeysuckle," 1734, 88). From ancient custom 'tis (they say) Gold, myrrh, and frankincense, I ween Unto the royal chapel's dean A certain perquisite; Now, what I'd know is this,-pray tell Which to the dean does sweetest smell, LADY CATHERINE KILLIGREW. Sir Anthony Coke, who had been tutor to Edward VI., was especially happy in his daughters, who were distinguished for their amiable qualities and unusual learning. Sir Henry Killigrew, who had married the third daughter, Lady Catherine (born about 1530), was to be despatched as ambassador to Paris by Queen Elizabeth, an office at that time of difficulty and some danger. His wife sent the following lines to her eldest sister, Lady Mildred, who had married the Lord Chancellor Burleigh, begging her interest to cause the appointment to be cancelled. The original is in Latin. The translation, which singularly well preserves the epigrammatic point, is by Fuller, the author of the "British Worthies " (Fuller's "Worthies "): If, Mildred, by thy care, he be sent back, whom I request, Then unto me a sister ill, yea worse, yea none thou art. If he to Cornwall thou shalt please, I peace to thee foretell, But, Cecil, if he cross the sea, I war denounce!-Farewell. The intercession appears to have been successful, for Camden in his "History of Queen Elizabeth" mentions that Sir Thomas Hobey died ambassador at Paris in 1576; yet if so, the husband of one sister was endangered to preserve the husband of the other, for Sir Thomas Hobey married Sir Anthony Coke's fourth daughter. Richard Edwards, the compiler of "The Paradise of Dainty Devises," thus celebrates one of the daughters of Sir Anthony Coke in "The Praise of Eight Ladies of Queen Elizabeth's Court" ("Nugæ Antiquæ," ed. 1804, II. 394): Coke is comely, and thereto In books sets all her care; In learning with the Roman dames Of right she may compare. JOHN LYLLY, A dramatic writer of no great merit, upon whom Queen Elizabeth bestowed some notice, was born about 1553. He was chiefly celebrated for two books, entitled, "Euphues and his England,” and “ Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit," in which he taught an affected style of language, which was for a time very popular. The character of the Euphuist, Sir Piercie Shafton, in Sir Walter Scott's "Monastery," will be remembered, who talked to Mary Avenel and the miller's daughter with the fashionable affectation of the day. CUPID AND CAMPASPE. Cupid and my Campaspe play'd He stakes his quiver, bow, and arrows, Growing on's cheek (but none knows how); O Love! has she done this to thee? Campaspe, or Pancaste, was a beautiful woman, whom Alexander the Great gave in marriage to Apelles, the painter, who had fallen in love with her when he drew her portrait. On this picture Elsum has the following in his "Epigrains on Paintings," 1700, Ep. 6: An object this, so wonderfully bright, Does almost dazzle and confound the sight. Apelles found each of them pierc'd his heart. ROBERT SOUTHWELL, Born in 1560, was sent abroad for education, and became a Jesuit at Rome, whence he returned as a missionary to England. In 1592 he was apprehended, and imprisoned for three years, and in 1595 was tried for teaching Roman Catholic doctrines, and executed the next day. His poetry has fallen into unmerited neglect; many of his pieces are singularly beautiful, and full of striking thoughts. S. Peter's Complaint and other Poems" (from which the following epigrammatic stanzas are taken) has passed through several editions. LOSS IN DELAYS. Time wears all his locks before, Take thou hold upon his forehead; Long demurs breed new delays. Posidippus, who flourished B.C. 280, has a fine Greek epigram on a Statue of Time (Jacobs II. 49, xiii.); thus translated by C.: "Statue! your sculptor whence?" "From Sicyon's clime.' |