"To the most famous and heroike Lady Mary, L. Wroth.* "Thy worthy, Husband ladifies thee Wroth, Pray be not so with my poore pen to place 'Fore R the O; then justly Lady Worth I might thee stile-worth what? hie honours Grace." "To the ingenious Epigrammatists Jo Owen and Jo. Heath, both brought up in New College Oxon. Though you were both not of one mother bore, Yet nursed were you at the self-same brest, For fluent genius, and ingenious lore, And the same dugges successively have prest: "Tis true ye are but fosterers by birth, Yet brothers right in rime's conceiptfull mirth." T. P. ART. CLVI. A Wife: now the Widdow of Sir THIS, which professes to be the fourth, is the earliest impression I have seen of this once popular production, and the preface bears date May 16, 1614. * This lady was niece to the illustrious Sir Philip Sidney, and wrote a romance called Urania. See Restituta. She married Sir Thomas Wroth, himself a writer of epigrams, and in good esteem (says Wood) for his poetry and for his encouragement of poets. Athenæ, II. 257. + For some account of Heath and his epigrains, see postea. Owen is pretty generally known, by the numerous editions of his Latin epigrams, or by his translators, Pecke and Harvey. Mr. Neve, in his notices of the author,* says, that 1614 was the first year of its publication; but I am not without suspicion that it appeared in print before the death of Overbury, which took place in October 1613. Successive editions were published in many succeeding years: that in 1615, had the following title New and choice Characters of severall Authors: together with that exquisite and unmatcht poeme The Wife; written by Syr Thomas Overburie. With the former Characters, and conceited Newes, all in one volume; with many other things added to this sixt impression. London: Printed by Tho. Crede for Laurence Lisle, &c. 1615. Small Svo.` To the early edition of Overbury's Wife, cited above, the verses of Sir Henry Wotton "on a happy life," were appended. In this sixth impression appeared the characters of " a Tinker, an Apparatour, and an Almanac-maker," which were claimed by J. Cocke, as his literary property, in a prefix to the Essaies of Stephens, 2d edit. 1615. "Newes from the Country," was printed as Dr. Donne's in 1669; and several stray effusions by other writers were probably engrafted on the publisher's original stock, and employed to enlarge this oft-reprinted book, of which the title was thus altered in a copy now before me. Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife. With additions of new Characters; and many other Wittie Conceits never before printed. The fifteenth impression. London: Printed by R. B. for Robt. Allot. 1632. 12mo. *See Cursory Remarks on Ancient English Poets, 1789, p. 27. Twenty-five copies of commendatory verses are prefixed; with an elegy on Wm. Lord Effingham, a complimentary poem ad Comitissam Rutlandiæ, and an elegy on the death of that Lady. Mr. Granger says, that the book had gone through sixteen editions in 1638, and that the last was published in 1753: sed quære? The fate of Overbury is sufficiently known: the merits of his principal production have been thus stated by the accomplished Mr. Neve. "In Overbury's poem of The Wife, the sentiments, maxims, and observations with which it abounds, are such as a considerable experience and a correct judgment on mankind alone could furnish. The topics of jealousy, and of the credit and behaviour of women, are treated with great truth, delicacy and perspicuity. The nice distinctions of moral character, and the pattern of female excellence here drawn, contrasted as they were with the heinous and flagrant enormities of the Countess of Essex, rendered this poem extremely popular, when its ingenious author was no more." As some edition of the poem may at all times be obtained by every poetical reader, a single stanza may be sufficient to introduce here, as a specimen of it. "Woman's behaviour is a surer bar Than is their no; that fairly doth deny Safe ev'n from hope :-in part to blame is she, The popularity of Overbury's poem gave rise per haps to most of those which are here noticed in succession. T. P. ART. CLVII. The Husband. A poeme expressed in a compleat man. London: Printed for Lawrence Lisle, dwelling at the Tygres Head in Paul's Church-yard. 1614. Small 8vo. THIS production is believed to be just as rare as the former is common: it being doubted whether any other copy exists than that now resorted to, which passed through the libraries of Major Pearson, Mr. Steevens, and Mr. Woodhouse, into the liberal hands of Mr. Hill. The anonymous writer inscribes his imitative poem "to his truly honored friend M. Anth. Croftes," and dates his offering dedicatory June 29, 1614. A short "epistle to the reader" follows, in which the poet desires not to be condemned as an imitator, "though the work precedent and workmaster, were both alike excellent." Verses of commendation then succeed, by Ben Jonson, I. C. Ra. Wym: Jo. Calve: A. H. Philomus: R. V. M. FreeThe former of these encomiums I transcribe, as it does not appear to be collected among the works of learned Ben. man. "To the worthy author, on the Husband. "It fits not onely him that makes a booke To see his worke be good; but that he looke Who are his test, and what their judgment is, Least a false praise do make theyr dotage his. I do not feele that ever yet I had The art of utt'ring wares, if they were bad; Or skill of making matches in my life: Though the name of the author is not unveiled, it is likely the law was his profession, as three of his friendly encomiasts sign their verses from the Inner and Middle Temple, and Gray's Inn. There is much quibble also in his composition, and a sententious quaintness in his style that renders his meaning very dark indeed. This will be sufficiently shewn by taking two stanzas in immediate succession. "Fame is our hackney, not the journey's end, And with incessant speedines he delves Take therefore such a man, that hath bestridde The lacke* of fame, where he is best beknowne: The common rumor, which report is growne T. P.. *This should probably be back: but the printer afforded no table of errata. Stipendious seems to be used in the sense of stipendiary. |