He was an Author highly esteemed by his contemporaries, by several of whom as Nash, Lodge".

strengthened with condicions, that I should ayme all my courses at the reuells (I dare not saye with a promise, but a hopefull Item to the reuercion) for which these ten yeres I have attended with an unwearyed patience, and nowe I knowe not what Crabb tooke me for an Oyster, that in the midest of your sun-shine of your most gratious aspect, hath thrust a stone betweene the shells to rate me aliue that onely liue on dead hopes. If your sacred majestie thinke me unworthy, and that, after x yeares tempest, I must att the court suffer shipwrack of my tyme, my wittes, my hopes, vouch safe in your neuer-erring judgment, some plank or refter to wafte me into a country, where in my sadd and settled devocion I may, in euery corner of a thatcht cottage, write prayers instead of plaies; prayer for your longe and prosperous life, and a repentaunce that I haue played the foole so longe, and yett like

Quod petimus pœna est, nec etiam miser esse recuso,

Sed precor ut possem mitius esse miser.

JOHN LILLIES SECOND PETICION TO THE QUEENE. Most gratious and dread soueraigne, tyme cannot worke my peticions, nor my peticions the tyme. After many yeares seruice yt pleased your majestie to except against tents and toils: I wish that for tennts I might putt in tenements, so should I be eased of some toyles, some lands, some good fines or forfeitures, that should fall by the just fall of these most false traiters; that seeing nothing will come by the revells, I may play upon the rebells. Thirteene yeres your highnes seruant, but yet nothing; twenty freinds, that though they saye theye will be sure, I finde them sure to be slowe; a thowsand hopes, but all nothing; a hundred promises but yet nothing. Thus casting upp the inven-tary of my freinds, hopes, promises, and ty mes, the summa totalis amounteth to just nothing. My last will is shorter than myne invencion, but three legacies, patience to my creditors, melancholie without measure to my freinds, and beggerie without shame to my familie.

Si placet hoc merui quod ó tua fulmina cessent
Virgo parens princeps.

In all humilitie I entreate that I may dedicate to your sacred majestie, Lillie de tristibus, wherein shal be sene patience, labours, and misfortunes.

Quorum si singula nostrum

Frangere non poterant, poterant tamen omnia mentem.

The last and the least, that if I bee borne to haue nothing, I may haue a proteccion to pay nothinge which suite is like his that haveing followed the court tenn yeares for recompence of his service, comitted a robberie, and tooke it out in a pardon.

5

Apology of Pierce Penniless, 4to. 1593.

Have with you to Saffron Walden, 4to. 1596.

Wits Misery and Words Madness, 4to. 1596, p. 57.

Webbe', and others, he was much complimented. Drayton, however, seems to have given his true character, when he says:

"The noble Sidney with this last arose,

"That heroe for numbers, and for prose; +
"That thoroughly pac'd our language as to show,
"The plenteous English hand in hand might go
"With Greek and Latin, and did first reduce
"Our tongue from Lily's writing then in use;
"Talking of stones, stars, plants, of fishes, flies,
Playing with words, and idle similies,

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"As th' English apes, and very zanies be

"Of every thing that they do hear and see, "So imitating his ridiculous tricks,

They speak and write all like meer lunaticks."

Blount, who republished six of his Plays, speaks of him in a different manner, he says, "Our nation are "in his debt for a new English which he taught them. "Euphues and his England began first that language. "All our ladies were then his scollers: and that beau"tie in court, who could not parley Euphuesme, was as little regarded as shee which now there speakes "not French."

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"

The principal work for which he was distinguished is, entitled Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit, verie pleasant for all Gentlemen to read, and most necessary to remember; wherein are contained the delyghts that Wit followeth in his youth by the plea"santnesse of Love, and the happinesse he reapeth in age by the perfectnesse of Wisedome. 4to. 1580." And this was followed by " Euphues and his England, containing his voyage and adventures mixed with "sundrie pretie discourses of honest Love, the descrip"tion of the Countrie, the Court, and the manners of "that Isle. Delightful to be read, and nothing hurt"full to be regarded; wherein there is small offence

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7 Discourse of English Poetry, 4to. 1586.

That heroe for numbers and for prose ;] A word seems to be lost out of this line. For the sake of metre, read

That heroe both for numbers and for prose. S.

"by lightnesse given to the wise, and lesse occasion of "loosenesse proffered to the wanton. 4to. 1582.” He was also the Author of the following Plays: 1. Alexander and Campaspe, 1584, 4to. 1591, 4to. 2. Endimion, 4to. 1591.

3. Sappho and Phaon, 4to. 1591.

4. Galatea, 4to. 1592.

5. Mydas, 4to. 1592.

6. Mother Bombie, 4to. 1594, 4to. 1597.

7. The Woman in the Moon, 4to. 1597.

8. The Maid her Metamorphosis, 4to. 1600.

9. Love his Metamorphosis, 4to. 1601.

The first six of these Plays were re-published by Edward Blount, in 12mo. 1632, under the title of Sixe Court Comedies."

Besides these, he was the Author of a piece, published in 1593, called “ Pap with a Hatchet, alias, a "fig for my Godson, or crack me this nut, or a Coun

try Cuff, that is, a sound box on the ear for the "Ideot, Martin to hold his peace. Written by one "that dares call a Dog a Dog." Imprinted for John Oke.

THE

PROLOGUE AT THE BLACK FRIERS.

THEY that fear the stinging of wasps, make fans of peacocks tails, whose spots are like eyes: And Lepidus, which could not sleep for the chattering of birds, set up a beast, whose head was like a dragon: and we which stand in awe of report, are compelled to set before our owl, Pallas' shield, thinking by her virtue to cover the other's deformity. It was a sign of famine to Egypt, when Nylus flowed less than twelve cubits, or more than eighteen and it may threaten despair unto us, if we be less curious than you look for, or more cumbersome. But as Theseus being promised to be brought to an eagle's nest, and travelling all the day, found but a wren in a hedge, yet said this is a bird: so we hope, if the shower of our swelling mountain seeming to bring forth some elephant, perform but a mouse, you will gently say, this is a beast. Basil softly touched, yieldeth a sweet scent; but chafed in in the hand, a rank savour. We fear even so that our labours slily glanced on, will breed some content; but examined to the proof, small commendation. haste in performing shall be our excuse. There went two nights to the begetting of Hercules. Feathers appear not on the phoenix under seven months, and the mulberry is twelve in budding: but our travails are like the hare's, who at one time bringeth forth, nourisheth, and engendreth again; or like the brood of Trochilus, whose eggs in the same moment that they are laid, become birds. But howsoever we finish our work, we

The

crave pardon, if we offend in matter; and patience if we transgress in manners. We have mixed mirth with counsel, and discipline with delight; thinking it not amiss in the same garden to sow pot-herbs, that we set flowers. But we hope, as harts that cast their horns, snakes their skins, eagles their bills, become more fresh for any other labour: so our charge being shaken off, we shall be fit for greater matters. But lest like the Myndians, we make our gates greater than our town, and that our play runs out at the preface, we here conclude: wishing, that although there be in your precise judgments an universal mislike, yet we may enjoy by your wonted courtesies a general silence.

*

* Curtesies O. G.