I must now take leave of my honoured wards, of whom I confess that my commendations are sincerer than my censures, which last were made the rather to forestall the nibblings of others, than to enforce objections of my own.-I would fain intreat still once again for a sober and candid examination of my favourites, and I cannot do this better than by calling to the "gentle reader's" memory the valuable sentiment of Horace, as expanded by the vigorous Dryden— "True judgment in poetry, like that in painting, takes a view of the whole together, whether it be good or not; and when the beauties are more than the faults, concludes for the poet against the little judge." Nov. 8. 1820. ***** *** This Preface has waited above a month, in expectation that the real Editor of the "Select Poets" would have made some apology to his accustomed readers for appointing a journeyman to that work, which would have been most becomingly performed by himself. But the same more important avocations, which, in the first instance, caused the substitution, have since operated to prevent the explanation; and the writer of the preceding desultory remarks, and of a few trifling notes on the text, is thus left to request for himself the poetical collector's indulgence towards the inevitable errors of an unpractised hand. For the possessors of this volume, however, the above mentioned delay was lucky as it has been the means of furnishing them with the following curious minim of information, which occurred the other day in a shrewd little periodical work, entitled, "The British Stage." The article is on Marlowe*, who is well defended by the ingenious writer from the charge of atheism; and, in its turn, the puzzling question of the poet's death and the name of his opponent * The critic says of the " Hero and Leander," that "It is scarcely hazarding too much to assert, that a more exquisite specimen of poetical ideas, clothed in elegant` and harmonious language, does not exist. His Lucan and Ovid have little less merit;—” come under his consideration. After quoting Vaughan's tale, he says, "The mention of Deptford, in the above passage, led me to imagine, that some record of Marlowe's burial might be still met with there; though, I confess, that my expectations were not very sanguine. The search, however, was attended with success; for, in the Register of Burials at the Church of St. Nicholas, Deptford, occurs the following—“ 1st June, 1593.-Christopher Marlowe, slain by Francis Archer."-See No. for Jan. 1821, p. 22. Much other interesting matter is contained in the same paper; and at p. 28, a supposed unique comedy is described, hight "Roister Doister!" The Editor likewise promises a reprint of a MS. masque, from the pen of the thrusting and foining Marston. LEANDER: Begunne by Christopher Marloe and finished by George Chapman. Ut nectar, Ingenium. At London Imprinted for John Flasket, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Blacke Beare. 1606. |