The time of his birth is not mentioned by Wood, who calls him a forward and busy Calvinist. He has been already noticed in the account of the preceding reign (to which, perhaps, he more properly belongs) as a translator of the Psalms, and as a supposed assistant to Sackville in com. pleting the tragedy of Gorboduc. His title to the following short piece, rests on the authority of a MS. in the Cotton library, entitled “ Verses on several subjects, about Queen “ Marys time.". . . sii

4 11.15

A man may live thrice Nestor's life,

Thrice wander out Ulysses' race,
Yet never find Ulysses' wife ;. .. .

Such change hath chanc'd in this case !
Less age will serve than Paris had,

Small pain (if none be small enow) To find good store of Helen's trade ;

Such sap the root doth yield the bough! . For one good wife, Ulysses slew

A worthy knot of gentle blood :
For one ill wife, Greece overthrew

The town of Troy. Sith bad and good
Bring mischief, Lord let be thy will
To keep me free from either ill!

RICHARD EDWARDS

Was born in 1523, educated at Oxford, and, in the beginning

of Queen Elizabeth's reign, was appointed one of the gentlemen of her chapel. He died in 1566, much esteemed by his contemporaries for the variety of his talents, being at once the best fidler, mimick, and sonneteer of the court. He composed three theatrical pieces, viz. Damon and Pya thias (printed in Dodsley's Old Plays), and Palamon and Arcite, in two parts; and wrote, almost in his last moments, bis “ Soul knil,” souls knell, once very generally admired.

From “ Verses on several subjects, about Queen

“ Mary's time.” Cotton MSS. Brit. Mus.

When women first dame Nature wrought,
All good, quoth she, nune shall be naught.
All wise shall be, none shall be fools,
For wit shall spring from women's schools.
In all good gifts they shall excell,
Their nature all no tongue can tell.
Thus Nature said – I heard it, I,
I pray you ask them if I do lie? .

By Nature's grant this must ensue,
No woman false, but all most true:
None sow debate but love maintain,
None wish to see their lover's pain.
As turtles true, their chosen one S ,
They love, and pine when he is gone. ipsi;
This is most true, none can deny ; *!
I pray you ask them if I do lie?..

E

.19 malo ¡No lamb so meek as women be, want dit is

Their humble hearts from pride are free;
Rich things they wear, and wot you why?
Only to please their husband's eye!
They never strive their wills to have,
Their husband's love, nought else they crave,
Vain tattle in them none can espy,
I pray you ask them if I do lie ?

The eagle, with his piercing eye,
Shall burn and waste the mountains high :
Huge rocks shall fleet as ship with sail ;
The crab shall run, swim shall the snail ;
Springs shall return from whence they came;
Sheep shall be wild, and tygers tame:
Ere these my words false you shall try
Ha, ha! methinks I make a lie!

(From the Paradise of Dainty Devices.] WHEN May is in his prime,

Then may each heart rejoice: ' When May bedecks each tree with green,

Each bird strains forth his voice.

The lively sap creeps up

Into the blooming thorn;
The flow'rs, which cold in prison kept,

Now laugh the frost to scorn.

All Nature's imps' triumph

Whilst joyful May doth last, When May is gone, of all the year

The pleasant time is past.

May makes the cheerful hue,

May breeds and brings new blood, May marcheth throughout every limb,

May makes the merry mood.

May pricketh tender hearts

Their warbling notes to tune, Full strange it is, yet some, we see Do make their May in June.

Thus, things are strangely wrought,

Whilst joyfull May doth last,
Take May in time: when May is gonc,

The pleasant time is past. stili

All ye that live on earthote invid boxi

And have your May at will; Rejoice in May, as I do now, theil at

And use your May with skill. i stol

Use May, while that you may,

For May hath but his time, When all the fruit is gone, it is

Too late the tree to climb.

Your liking and your lust.

Is fresh whilst May doth last; When May is gone, of all the year

The pleasant time is past.