Ep. 145. Nil gratum, ratione carens. Paulus a pamphlet doth in prose present Unto his lord, (" the fruites of idle time,”) Who far more care'ess than therewith content; Which done, and brought him, at another season, On first meeting with this publication, in the shop of the late worthy Mr. Sael, I had conjectured H. P in the title, to stand for Henry Peacham; who put forth some epigrammatic trifles in 1620: but I have since ascertained that these initials belong to Henry Parrot, who printed, in 1613, a collection of epigrams in two parts; in which some of these coarse conceits make their re-appearance. Several of them may also be traced in the two previous collections, entitled: 1. The Mouse Trap. Consisting of 100 Epigrams. Printed at London for F.B. dwelling at the Flower du Luce and Crowne, in Pauls Church-yard. 1606. 4to. The author's dedication" to his no little respected friend, little John Buck," is signed H.P. An address "to the plain-dealing reader," follows in prose; and to this succeed verses "ad Curiosum.", A copy of this rare tract is in the British Museum. A copy of the following sold at Mr. Steevens' sale for 1l. 135. * Warton, I just observe, makes a query to the same effect, from having fourd one of the epigrams, with some little difference only, in Peacham's Minerva. Hist. of E. P. iv. 74. 2. The 2. The More the Merrier: containing three-score and odde headlesse epigrams, shot (like the Fooles bolt) amongst you, light where they will. By H.P. Gent. 1603. 4to. The following is the writer's apology for his indeli cacies. EP. 45. "Be not agreeved, my humorous lines afford, Of looser language, here and there a word: Who undertakes to sweepe a common sinke, I cannot blame him, though his besom stinke." A more general collection, and apparently, compi lation, was published under the title of Laquei Ridiculosi: or Springes for Woodcocks. In 2 books. Caveat emptor. London. Printed for J. Busbie. 1613. 12mo. In some title pages H.P. is added. Warton has printed a specimen in his 4th volume of Eng. Poetry, p. 73, and remarks that "many of them are worthy to be revived in modern collections." Some of them have been so. T. P. ART. XII. Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia, first pub lished 1590.* I have been favoured with the following among many other literary obligations in the progress of this The first edition was in 4to. for W. Ponsonby, 1590. work, by the Rev. James Stanier Clarke, whose very learned and laborious volume, "The Progress of Maritime Discovery," containing a vast fund of interesting information which was before almost inaccessible, must, in spite of the attacks of ill-directed talent, gradually win its way to its merited fame.* Perhaps there may be many, who will think, that the Arcadia is a book too common to justify its occupation of much room in these pages. But I do not profess totally to confine myself to rare books. There are many old volumes of frequent occurrence to which it may yet be desirable to call the public attention. And is this work at present much examined beyond its title? As the manners of chivalry have been forgotten, it would be vain to deny, that this romance is become unconquerably tedious. But for those, who study the progress of the English language, the Arcadia is a treasure, which ought to be frequently investigated. If, as a poet, Sydney does not exhibit that rare genius, which could rise above the faults of his age, he yet discovers most brilliant attainments, which, when we consider his active habits, his various other qualifications, and his very short life, entitle him to permanent celebrity among the most favoured in the Temple of Fame. I insert with pleasure therefore the following specimens, with the hope of recalling the public notice to a character, which I have always contemplated with admiration; though I cannot at present find room for all the extracts, which Mr. Clarke has, at the expense of It is no slight honour to have awakened all the fancy of Bowles, and to have given occasion to his very beautiful and touching poem on the same subject. much much pains, had the goodness to select for my use from the numerous pages of the Arcadia. Dec. 3, 1805. The Countesse of Pembroke's Arcadia, written by Sir Philip Sidney, Knight. Now the ninth time published, with a twofold supplement of a defect in the third book: the one by Sir W. A.* Knight; the other, by Mr. Ja. Johnstoun Scoto-Brit. Dedicated to K. James, and now annexed to this work, for the reader's benefit. Whereunto is also added a sixth booke, by R.B. of Lincolnes Inne, Esq. London. Printed for J. Waterson and R. Young 1538. Folio. Pages 624, with the short Supplement. The dedication to this interesting work has been deservedly much admired. "To my dear Lady and Sister, the Countesse of Pembroke. "Here now have you (most deare, and most worthy to bee most deare Ladie) this idle worke of mine; which I feare (like the spider's web) will be thought fitter to be swept away, than worn to any other purpose. For my part, in very truth (as the cruell fathers among the Greekes were wont to doe to the babes they would not foster) I could well finde in my heart to cast out in some desart of forgetfulness this childe, which I am loth to father. But you desired me to doe it, and your desire to my heart is an absolute commandement. Now, it is done only for you, onely to Sir William Alexander, afterwards Earl of Stirling, a poet. you: if you keepe it to your selfe, or to such friends, who will weigh errours in the ballance of good will, I hope, for the father's sake, it will be pardoned, perchance made much of, though in it selfe it have deformities. For indeed, for severer eyes it is not, being but a trifle, and that triflingly handled. Your deare selfe can best witnesse the manner, being done in loose sheets of paper, most of it in your presence, the rest by sheets sent unto you, as fast as they were done. In summe a young head, not so well staid as I would it were, (and shall bee when God will) having many many fancies begotten in it, if it had not beene in some way delivered, would have growne a monster, and more sorry might I be that they came in, than that they gat out. But his chiefe safety shall be, the not walking abroad; and his chiefe protection, the bearing the livery of your name; which (if much good will doe not deceive me) is worthy to be a sanctuary for a greater offender. This say I, because I know the vertue so; and this say I, because it may be ever so, or to say better, because it will be ever so. Read it then at your idle times, and the follies your good judgement will finde in it, blame not, but laugh at. And so, looking for no better stuffe, than as in a haberdasher's shop, glasses, or feathers, you will continue to love the writer, who doth exceedingly love you, and most most heartily prayes, you may long live to be a principall ornament to the family of the Sidneis. "Your loving brother, "PHILIP SIDNEY." Mr. |