ERRATA. Page 10, 2nd col. line 10, for "Thus" read " Then." 12, 1st col. last line but four, for "others" read "of hers." 14, 1st col. last two lines, for "stately-sighted" read "stately-sited," and for "wall" read "Wall." 14, 2nd col. twelve lines from bottom, for "climes" read "climbs." 28, 1st col. line 3, for "my" read "thy." 15, 1st col. six lines from bottom, for" of treasures" read" of all treasures." 30, 1st col. line 13, for "renew" read "renown." 36, 1st col. line 4, for "then that" read "then grant that." 51, 1st col. line 14, for "have" read "hate." ,, 170, 2nd col. (about midway) for "entry's" read “entries.” ,, 171, 1st col. line 14, for "bare" read "bear." ,, 171, 2nd col. line 14, for "makes" read "mates." ,, 172, 2nd col. line 9, for "him at " read "at him," and line 15, for "or" read "o" ,, 174, 2nd col. line 11, for "mown read mourn." "" " 185, 1st col. (midway) for "bands" read "hands. " "Ekia VUKTOS. The Shadow of Night: Containing Two Poeticall Hymnes, Deuised by G. C. Gent. Versus mei habebunt aliquantum Noctis.-Antilo. At London, Printed by R. F for William Ponsonby. 1594." It is an exceeding rapture of delight in the deep search of knowledge (none knoweth better than thyself, sweet Matthew) that maketh men manfully indure the extremes incident to that Herculean labour: from flints must the Gorgonean fount be smitten. Men must be shod by Mercury, girt with Saturn's adamantine sword, take the shield from Pallas, the helm from Pluto, and have the eyes of Græa (as Hesiodus arms Perseus against Medusa) before they can cut off the viperous head of benumbing ignorance, or subdue their monstrous affections to most beautiful judgment. How then may a man stay his marvailing to see passion-driven men, reading but to curtail a tedious hour, and altogether hidebound with affection to great men's fancies, take upon them as killing censures as if they were judgment's butchers, or as if the life of truth lay tottering in their verdicts. Now what a supererogation in wit this is, to think Skill so mightily pierced with their loves, that she should prostitutely shew them her secrets, when she will scarcely be looked upon by others but with invocation, fasting, watching; yea, not without having drops of their souls like an heavenly familiar. Why then should our Intonsi Catones with their profit-ravished gravity esteem her true favours such questionless vanities, as with what part soever thereof they seem to be something delighted, they queamishly commend it for a pretty toy. Good Lord how serious and eternal are their idolatrous platts for riches! No marvel sure they here do so much good with them. And heaven no doubt will grovel on the earth (as they do) to imbrace them. But I stay this spleen when I remember, my good Matthew, how joyfully oftentimes you reported unto me, that most ingenious Darby, deep-searching Northumberland, and skillembracing heir of Hunsdon had most profitably entertained learning in themselves, to the vital warmth of freezing science, and to the admirable lustre of their true nobility, whose high-deserving virtues may cause me hereafter strike that fire out of darkness, which the brightest Day shall envy for beauty. I should write more but my hasting out of town taketh me from the paper, so preferring thy_allowance in this poor and strange trifle, to the passport of a whole City of others, I rest as resolute as Seneca, satisfying myself if but a few, if one, or if none like it. By the true admirer of thy virtues and perfectly vowed friend, G. CHAPMAN. GREAT goddess, to whose throne in Cynthian fires, This earthly altar endless fumes expires; Therefore, in fumes of sighs and fires of grief, To fearful chances thou send'st bold relief, Happy, thrice happy type, and2 nurse of death, Who, breathless, feeds on nothing but our breath, In whom must virtue and her issue live, (Binding my senses) loose my working soul, That in her highest pitch she may control The court of skill, compact of mystery Wanting but franchisement3 and memory To reach all secrets: then in blissful trance, Raise her, dear night, to that perseverance, That in my torture, she all Earth's may sing, And force to tremble in her trumpeting Heaven's crystal temples; in her powers implant Skill of my griefs, and she can nothing Distinguish'd intercession to thy throne, That long before, all matchless ruled alone? Why lett'st thou Order, orderless disperse The fighting parents of this universe? When earth, the air, and sea, in fire remain'd; When fire, the sea, and earth, the air contain'd; When air, the earth, and fire, the sea enclosed; When, sea, fire, air, in earth were indisposed; Nothing, as now, remain'd so out of kind, All things in gross, were finer than refined, Substance was sound within, and had no being; Now form gives being, all our essence seeming, Chaos had soul without a body then. And as a wealthy fount that hills did hide, Let forth by labour of industrious hands, Pours out her treasure through the fruitful strands, Seemly divided to a hundred streams, Whose beauties shed such profitable beams, And make such Orphean music in their courses, That cities follow their enchanting forces; Who running far, at length each pours her heart Into the bosom of the gulfy desart, A step-dame Night of mind about us clings, Who broods beneath her hell-obscuring wings, Worlds of confusion, where the soul defamed, The body had been better never framed, Beneath thy soft and peaceful covert then (Most sacred mother both of gods and men), * See Bussy D'Ambois, (page 166) and Cæsar Treasures unknown, and more unprized and Pompey, act ii. did dwell; |