Suborn'd cursed Avarice to lie in wait Having gone thus far, it would be unfair to omit the praise of Browne himself, by one or two of his cotemporaries. To his Friend, the Author of the Pastorals. By Mi chael Drayton. Drive forth thy flock, young pastor, to that plain, Where our old shepherds wont their flocks to feed; To’ards the calm evening tun'd his pleasant reed. As no rude foot might there presume to stand ; of the unworthiest clowns, Where, by the brim of many a silver spring, Often have sat to hear our shepherd's sing; Now utterly neglected in these days, The monuments of our deserved praise. And froin the wolf feed ever safe and free! As thou, young shepherd, art beloy'd of me! < Ta To the same. So much a stranger, my severer muse Is not to love-strains, or a shepherd's reed, His readers be with rose and myrtle crown'd! N° LXVIII. An Account of Quarles's Emblems, with Specimens. There is one poet of the reign of Charles the First, whose memory there were several attempts, about twenty years ago, to revive, particularly by Jackson, of Exeter, in his Thirty Letters; but whose poetry has sunk again from the public notice. The person I mean is FRANCIS QUARLES. His EMBLEMS were once a very popular work, and went through numerous editions. The first edition, as far as I have yet discovered, appeared in 1635. There was an edition in 1643; and probably more * Headley has given a well discriminated, but, perhaps, too severe character of Browne. Browne was born at Tavistock, in Devonshire, in 1590; and is supposed to have died in 1645. See Wood's Ath. I. 491, &c. P 4 than than one, even in the latter half of the following century. These poems cannot boast originality; for in the plan, and frequently, I doubt not, in the very subjects, and even sentiments and expressions, they are imitated from Herman Hugo,* from whom the prints are borrowedit with an execution, at least, strikingly inferior. A specimen, amongst the numerous extracts which the various parts of my work exhibit, is due to the ingenious author, and may not be unacceptable to my readers from whose recollection the poet has faded. What I tąke shall be a fair example; neither his best, nor his worst. Emblem XII. of Book 2. Galat. vi. 14. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross, I. And fix ny rambling love? But still and still remove ? • I have a copy of Hugo's book now lying before me, with the following title : Pia Desideria Emblematis Elegiis & Affectibus SS. Patruon illustrata, Authore Hermanno Hugone, Societatis Jesu ad Urbanum VIII. Pont. Max. Vulgavit Boetius a Bolswert typis Henrici Aertesenii Antwerpia M DCXXIII. cum gratia et privilegia. Sm, Syo. A translation appeared at London, 1686, by Ejm. Arwaker, M.A. Several emblem-writers had previously appeared : as Alciatus, whose emblems were translated by Dr. Andrew Willet. See Cens, Lit. I. 312. We had also, in England, Geoffrey Whitney; and about the same time with Quarles appeared the Embiems of George Wither, 1635, fol. + The prints of Books III. IV. and V. are copied in regular succession from Hugo ; but in a vile manner. Now and then a very minute variation occurs; and they are all reversed. The verses seem to be sometimes translations; sometimes imitations; and sometimes original. But I have not time, while preparing this paper, to read them through, and compare them regularly, Has Has earth no mercy? Will no ark of rest Receive my restless dove? To bless my full desire II. and at my dear request I wanted wealth, Earth lent a quick supply; And who more brisk than I? My fame flew eagle-bigh : Wealth vanish'd like a shade; III. The world's an ocean, hurried to and fro With every blast of passion; Are tides of man's vexation : The worse by alteration; Her precious wine is pleasure, IV. My trust is in the Cross: let beauty flag Her loose, her wanton sail; In courtly terms and veil; False False beauty's conquest is but real loss, And wealth but golden dross ; My trust is in the Cross; there lies my rest; My fast, ny sole delight : Blow till they burst with spite; And join their twisted might; And troops of fiends surround me; may well confront; all this shall ne'er confound me. I shall now proceed to give the first emblem of the first book of Herman Hugo. “ Anima mea desideravit te in nocte. ISAIÆ 26. “ Hei mihi quam densis nox incubat atra tenebris ? quæ agros. Nocturno in censu perdere digna locum, Tardat ubi lentas Parrhasis Ursa rotas : Unde suos Phæbus vertere jussus equos : Fertur ubi parva nox habitare casa. Non tamen est omni mens viduata die: Arctica |