96

Then I thinke, sayd our king, that it is veni

son.

And now, my lords, quoth the king, I am determined

Against St. Georges next sumptuous feast,

roof,

Very well fleshed, and excellent fat: 100 But, prythee, say nothing wherever thou goe; We would not, for two pence, the king should it knowe.

Doubt not, then sayd the king, my promist

secresye;

guest:

For, in this merryment, 'tis my desire

10

To talke with the jolly knight, and the young squire.

When as the noble lords saw the kinges pleasantness,

They were right joyfull and glad in their hearts:

The king and his courtiers laugh at this heartily,

While the king taketh them both by the hand;

you frett, or frowne?

49

Ver. 57, for good hap: i. e. for good luck; they were go

Morris dance, was represented by a man in woman's clothes, who was to take short steps in order to sustain the female character.

rilye;

In faith, I take it now very unkind:

make,

sides ake.

Many thankes for their paines did the king give them,

Asking young Richard then, if he would wed;

110 Among these ladyes free, tell me which liketh thee?

Quoth he Jugg Grumball, Sir, with the red head:

She's my love, she's my life, her will I wed; She hath sworn I shall have her maidenhead.

him,

115 And of merry Sherwood made him o'er

seer;

And gave him out of hand three hundred pound yearlye:

Take heed now you steale no more of my

deer:

And once a quarter let's here have your view; And now, Sir John Cockle, I bid you adieu.

THIS beautiful old song was written by a poet, whose name would have been utterly forgotten, if it had not been preserved by Swift, as a term of contempt. "Dryden and Wither" are coupled by him like the "Bavius and Mævius" of Virgil. Dryden however has had justice done him by posterity: and as for Wither, though of subordinate merit, that he was not altogether devoid of genius, will be judged from the following stanzas. The truth is, Wither was a very voluminous party-writer: and as his political and satirical strokes rendered him extremely popular in his lifetime: so afterwards, when these were no longer relished, they totally consigned his writings to oblivion,

George Wither was born June 11, 1588, and in his younger years distinguished himself by some pastoral pieces, that were not

inelegant; but growing afterwards involved in the political and religious disputes in the times of James I. and Charles I., he employed his poetical vein in severe pasquils on the court and clergy, and was occasionally a sufferer for the freedom of his pen. In the civil war that ensued, he exerted himself in the service of the Parliament, and became a considerable sharer in the spoils. He was even one of those provincial tyrants, whom Oliver distributed over the kingdom, under the name of Major Generals; and had the fleecing of the county of Surrey: but, surviving the Restoration, he outlived both his power, and his affluence; and giving vent to his chagrin in libels on the court, was long a prisoner in Newgate and the Tower. He died at length on the 2d of May, 1667.

During the whole course of his life, Wither

The

was a continual publisher; having generally for opponent, Taylor the Water-poet. long list of his productions may be seen in Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. II. His most popular satire is entitled "Abuses whipt and stript," 1613. His most poetical pieces were eclogues, entitled, "The Shepherd's Hunting," 1615, 8vo., and others printed at the end of Browne's "Shepherd's Pipe," 1614, 8vo. The following sonnet is extracted from a long pastoral piece of his, entitled “The Mistresse of Philarete," 1622, 8vo., which is said in the preface to be one of the Author's first poems; and may therefore be dated as early as any of the foregoing.

SUCH is the title given in the Editor's folio MS. to this excellent old ballad, which, in the common printed copies, is inscribed,

Eneas wandering Prince of Troy." It is here given from that MS. collated with two different printed copies, both in black letter, in the Pepys Collection.

The reader will smile to observe with what natural and affecting simplicity, our ancient ballad-maker has engrafted a Gothic conclusion on the classic story of Virgil, from whom, however, it is probable he had it not. Nor can it be denied, but he has dealt out his

poetical justice with a more impartial hand than that celebrated poet.

WHEN Troy towne had, for ten yeeres 'past,'

Withstood the Greekes in manfull wise, Then did their foes encrease soe fast,

That to resist none could suffice: Wast lye those walls, that were soe good, 5 And corne now growes where Troy towne stoode.

Eneas, wandering prince of Troy,

When he for land long time had sought, At length arriving with great joy,

To mighty Carthage walls was brought; Where Dido queene, with sumptuous feast, 11 Did entertaine that wandering guest.

Ver. 1, 21, war, MS. and PP.