if anything be already said in the defence of sweet poetry, all concurreth to the maintaining the Heroical, which is not only a kind, but the best and most accomplished kind of poetry. For, as the image of each action stirreth and instructeth the mind, so the lofty image of such worthies most inflameth the mind with desire to be worthy, and informs with counsel how to be worthy. Only let Æneas be worn in the tablet of your memory, how he governeth himself in the ruin of his country, in the preserving his old father, and carrying away his religious ceremonies; in obeying God's commandments, to leave Dido, though not only all passionate kindness, but even the human consideration of virtuous gratefulness, would have craved other of him: how in storms, how in sports, how in war, how in peace, how a fugitive, how victorious, how besieged, how besieging, how to strangers, how to allies, how to enemies, how to his own; lastly, how in his inward self, and how in his outward government; and I think, in a mind most prejudiced with a prejudicating humour, he will be found in excellency fruitful.

In Praise of Poetry.

Since, then, poetry is of all human learning the most ancient, and of most fatherly antiquity, as from whence other learnings have taken their beginnings;—Since it is so universal that no learned nation doth despise it, no barbarous nation is without it; -Since both Roman and Greek gave such divine names unto it, the one of prophesying, the other of making; and that, indeed, that name of making is fit for it, considering that whereas all other arts retain themselves within their subject, and receive, as it were, their being from it-the poet only bringeth his own stuff, and doth not learn a conceit out of the matter, but maketh matter for a conceit ;-Since, neither his description nor end containing any evil, the thing described cannot be evil;-Since his effects be so good as to teach goodness and delight the learners of it ;-Since therein (namely in moral doctrine, the chief of all knowledge) he doth not only far pass the historian, but, for instructing, is well nigh comparable to the philosopher, and for moving, leaveth him behind;-Since the Holy Scripture (wherein there is no uncleanness) hath whole parts in it poetical, and that even our Saviour Christ vouchsafed to use the flowers of it;Since all its kinds are not only in their united forms, but in their

severed dissections fully commendable :-I think-(and I think I think rightly)—the laurel crown appointed for triumphant captains, doth worthily, of all other learnings, honour the poet's triumph.

Defence of Poesy.

62. Lancelot Andrewes, 1555-1626. (Handbook, par. 370.)

Bishop of Winchester, called by his contemporaries the star of preachers.' After his death, his sermons were published by direction of Charles 1. The style is a specimen of the taste which then prevailed: though the thoughts are often striking.

Of the Nativity.

God with us, Immanuel-why? to what end? To save us from our sins, and from perishing by them. And now look at the name. It is compounded, and to be taken in pieces. First, into Immanu and el: of which el (the latter)-the more principal by far: for el is God. Now for anything yet said in concipiet and pariet, all is but man with us: not God with us till now. By the name we take our first notice that this child is God and this is a great addition; and here (lo !) is the wonder! For, as for any child of a woman to eat butter and honey (the words that next follow) where is the ecce? But for El for God to do it; that is worth an ecce indeed! El is God; and not God every way; but (as the force of the word is) God in his fuli strength and virtue: God cum plenitudine potestatis (as we say) with all that ever he can do; and that is enough I am sure.

For the other Immanu: though El be the principal part, yet 1 cannot tell whether it or Immanu do more concern us: for as ir El is might, so in Immanu is our right to his might, and to all he hath or is worth: by that word we hold; therefore we lay hold of it. The very standing of if thus before, thus in the first place, toucheth us somewhat. The first thing ever that we look after is nos, nobis, and noster, the possessives: for they do mittere in possessionem, put us in possession. We look for it first, and lo! it stands here first: nobiscum first and then Deus after. I shall not need to tell you that in nobiscum is mecum; in nobiscum for us all, a mecum for every one of us. This Immanu is a compound again: we may take it in sunder, into nobis and cum, and so then we have three pieces, El, the mighty God, and anu, we,

poor we (poor indeed if we have all the world beside, if we have not him to be with us): and im, which is cum, and that cum in the midst between nobis and Deus, God and us: and couple God and us thereby to convey the things of the one to the other. Ours to God (alas they be not worth the speaking of): chiefly then to convey to us the things of God.

This cum we shall never conceive to purpose but carendo: the value of with no way so well, as by without: by stripping of cum from nobis. And so let nobis (us) stand by ourselves without him, to see what our case is, but for this Immanuel.

Sermons

63. George Chapman, 1557-1634. (Handbook, pars. 67,

254, 267).

Is known by his dramas, and especially by his translation of Homer. This last is often very spirited, and is warmly praised by Waller, Pope, and, in our own day, by Professor Wilson. It is written in the fourteen syllable rhyme already adopted by Phaer in his Virgil (1562), and by Golding in his Ovid (1567).

Hector and his Son.

This sayd, he reacht to take his sonne: who (of his armes affraide ;
And then, the horse haire plume, with which he was so ouerlaide,
Nodded so horrible) he clingd back to his nurse and cryed:
Laughter affected his great syre, who doft and laid aside
His fearfull helme, that on the earth cast round about it light;
Then tooke and kist his loued sonne, and (ballancing his weight
In dancing him) these louing vowes, to living Jove he usde,
And all the other bench of Gods: O you that have infusde
Soule to this infant, now set downe this blessing on his starre,
Let his renoune be clear as mine: equall his strength in warre.
Sixth book of HOMER'S Iliades.

64. Robert Southwell, 1560-1595. (Handbook, par. 157.)

His poetry is generally gentle and contemplative; showing great facility in some of his pieces, in others great compression and vigour. His prose writings, Mary Magdalene's Tears and the Triumph over Death, display the same qualities, though not in an equal degree.

Look Home, or Self-contemplation.
Retired thoughts enjoy their own delights,
As beauty doth in self-beholding eye:
Man's mind a mirror is of heavenly sights,
A brief wherein all miracles summéd lie,—

Of fairest forms and sweetest shapes the store,

Most graceful all, yet thought may grace them more.

I

The mind a creature is, yet can create,
To nature's patterns adding higher skill
Of finest works; wit better could the state,
If force of wit had equal power of will.
Devise of man in working hath no end;

What thought can think another thought can mend.

Man's soul of endless beauties image is,
Drawn by the work of endless skill and might.
This skilful might gave many sparks of bliss,
And, to discern this bliss, a native light;

To frame God's image as his worth required,
His might, his skill, his word, and will conspired.
Three stanzas out of four

Times go by Turns.

The loppéd tree in time may grow again,
Most naked plants renew both fruit and flower,
The sorriest wight may find release of pain,
The driest soil suck in some moistening shower;
Time goes by turns, and chances change by course,
From foul to fair, from better hap to worse.

Not always fall of leaf nor ever spring,
No endless night yet not eternal day;

The saddest birds a season find to sing,
The roughest storm a calm may soon allay;
Thus with succeeding turns God tempereth all,
That man may hope to rise, yet fear to fall.

Two stanzas out of four.

65. Sir John Harrington, 1561-1612. (Landbook, par. 67.) Courtier, translator of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. The following is a good specimen of shrewdness, and of manners that have now happily passed away.

The Court of James I.

In compliance with your asking, now shall you accept my poor account of rich doings: I came here a day or two before the Danish King came, and from the day he did come, until this hour, I have been well-nigh overwhelmed with carousals and sports of all kinds. The sports began each day in such manner