"Pikes pikes encounter, shot at shot let flye, Nor is the following account of the arrival of Mor pheus, at the conclusion of Andrea's tale, much preferable; but it may serve for a dull poem to give a drowsy end. "Scarce had he ended, when we saw from farre, Which coming neere us, presently I knew, "Twas Morpheus' coach that foure night ravens drew; The wheeles did make no noise, yet so fast ran, As could beguile the very sight of man. With soft Arabian silke 'twas over-cover'd, About the which, light dreames and visions hover'd: To flie as harbengers before the night, When to th' inferiour spheare the sun gives light, His team being come" -enough! J. H. ART. CXXVII. Eliosto Libidinoso: described in two Bookes: wherein their imminent dangers arė declared, who guiding the course of their life by the compasse of Affection, either dash their ship against most dangerous shelves, or else attaine the haven with extreame preiudice. Written by John Hynd. Hor. Art. Poet. "Aut prodesse volunt, aut delectare Poëtæ, At London, printed by Valentine Simmes, and are to be sold by Nathaniel Butter. 1606. 8vo. pp. 95. DEDICATED "to the Right Honourable and truly innobled Lord, Philip Herbert, Earle of Mountgomery, and Baron of Shurland, &c. John Hind wisheth all happinesse that either this world affoords, or the heavens conteine"-one page ;-and concludes "I desire but your favourable acceptance, and good opinion; wherewith protected, let the envious pursue me with never so virulent and austere constructions, I shal both contemne their persons, and disdeigne their judgements. I know my owne worth, and am privie to their ignorance: where the wise and discreet sit as censors, there do I presume of favour: but where fooles give in their suppositions, there Jove's propitiation must be implored, unto whose benediction I commend you ever more. Your Honour's in all dutie, John Hind.” "Ad Lectorem," seven lines, sig. "Johannes Hind." "Verses in praise of the booke," thirteen lines, blank verse, sig. "Alexander Burlacy, Esquire." The following is a brief sketch of the author's tale. Amasius, king of the isle of Cyprus, had by his wife Philoclea, the hero Eliosto, during whose infancy Philoclea dies, and Amasius afterwards marries Cleodora. Amasius becoming the slave of his passions, seeks in the society of various women for the enjoyment of them, while his wife, being neglected, fixes most unnaturally on her son in law Eliosto to fall in love with; who becoming equally enamoured, a guilty intercourse ensues; and being finally discovered, they are condemned and executed on a scaffold. Amasius is left to quietly enjoy his throne, and erect "a stately mausoleum to bee the common bedde of those bodies, whose hearts (when they were alive) were so firmely conioyned together." There is a short but equally tragical episode, also depicting illicit love, at the beginning of the second book. Six pieces of poetry are interspersed in the volume, of which four appear to be written by the author. As a specimen of the powers of his Muse, take "this passionate dittie." "I rashly vow'd (fond wretch why did I so?) When I was free, that Love should not inthrall me: Ah foolish boast, the cause of all my woe, And this misfortune that doth now befall me. Love's God incens'd, did sweare that I should smart; That done, he shot, and strooke me to the heart. Sweet was the wound, but bitter was the paine, By Love to finde, what I by Love have lost. Heav'n's pride, Earth's wonder, Nature's peerlesse choice, Fair harbour of my soule's decaying gladnesse, Yield him some ease, whose faint and trembling voice, Doth sue for pittie overwhelm'd with sadnesse. In thee it rests, faire saint, to save or spill Of the other two pieces, the first is inserted as “a fancie which that learned author N. B. hath dignified with respect." And the last as a "Roundelay, which seems borrowed of a worthy writer." The initials of the learned author there is little difficulty in assigning to Nicholas Breton; and I shall conclude with his performance. "Among the groves, the woods and thickes, The bushes, brambles, and the briers, The shrubbes, the stubbes, the thornes, and prickes, Where fish nor fowle, nor bird nor beast, Within the cave of care unknowne, In dolefull thoughts to end my dayes. And when I heare the stormes arise, That troubled ghosts doe leave the grave; And when I feele what paines they bide, That doe the greatest torments prove, Then let not me the sorrow hide, That I have suffer'd by my love. Where losses, crosses, care and griefe, Doe tugge and teare the heart to naught, But sigh, and say, and sing, and sweare, J. H. ART. CXXVIII. The Mindes Melodic. Contayning certayne Psalmes of the kinglie prophete David, applyed to a new pleasant tune, verie comfortable to everie one that is rightlie acquainted therewith. Edinburgh, Printed be Robert Charteris, Printer to the King's most excellent Majestie, 1605. Cum privilegio regali. Small 8vo. 16 leaves. WHAT the "new pleasant tune" might be, to which these psalmodies were composed, doth not appear; but the following is the metre chosen by the laborious penman, and his selection consists of the 1. 4. 6. 8. 15. 19. 23. 43. 57. 91. 101. 117. 121. 125. and 128th psalms, with the Song of Simeon. PSALM I. Blest is the man, Yea, happie than, By grace that can Eschew ill counsell and the godles gates; And walkes not in The way of sin, Nor doth begin To sit with mockers in the scornfull sates; But in Jehovah's law Delites aright, And studies it to know * See Excerpta Tudoriana, 1814, |