The Piscatory Eclogues and Poetical Miscellanies; re-printed with notes, critical and explanatory; Edinburgh, 8vo. 1772.

De Literatis Antique Britanniæ Regibus, prosertim qui doctrinâ claruerunt, quique Collegia Cantabrigiæ fundârunt: Camb. 12mo.› 1633.

$

The "Locusts" and "Sicelides" for reasons not given, (but which from the editor of a "complete edition," might of course be expected,) are neither of them reprinted by Dr. Anderson. We have been fortunate enough to procure a loan of the former, and will bestow upon it the notice it deserves.

The Sicelides, which has eluded our search, is noticed in Baker's "Biographia Dramatica ;" he calls it a "Piscatory Drama, or Pastoral, acted at King's College, Cambridge, and printed without the author's name. It was intended originally to be performed before King James the First, on the 15th of March, 1614; but his Majesty leaving the University sooner, it was not then represented. The serious parts of it are mostly written in rhyme, with chorusses between the acts. Some of the scenes and characters appear to be taken from Ovid and Ariosto. The scene lies in Sicily; the time six hours."

"

The two Theological works that follow, and the (probably) more learned and curious treatise,"De regibus literatis, &c." are also not within our reach.

2

Of the Purple Island, Eclogues, and Miscellanies, two editions of each are mentioned above, but that of the P. I. printed at London in 1783, is severely censured by Dr. Anderson, and not without reason.— Hervey, the ingenious and truly reverend author of the "Meditations," who could touch nothing without a

desire of turning it to a religious purpose, says, in a letter to a friend, dated Weston, October 19, 1758, "You some time ago sent me a Poem with which I was much delighted, notwithstanding the uncouth metre, and obsolete words; I mean Fletcher's " Purple Island," to which were subjoined several other of his poetical pieces; one particularly I remember, to his brother, G. Fletcher, on his Poem entitled "Christ's Victory in Heaven and on Earth," and his "Triumph on and after Death." I have lately had this very poem lent me, which I longed to see, as the title pleased me so much. I have folded down several passages for your inspection. and if they meet your approbation, I hope you will join your interest with mine in endeavouring to preserve the work from perishing. The "Purple Island," is, to be sure, a very superior poem, and abounds with picturesque passages, useful and striking sentiments. I wish any bookseller could be prevailed with to reprint these poems in one neat volume. I am now so very ill, that I scarce think I shall live to see the approaching Christmas. Had I been in perfect health, and disengaged from other employments, I question whether I should not have retouched the poetry, changed several of the obsolete words, illustrated the obscure passages by occasional notes, and run the risk of publishing the whole at my own expence. To this I should have been more particularly inclined, as there are few poems of the scriptural kind wrote by men of genius; though no subject can be equally sublime and instructive, or more entertaining; witness Milton's Paradise Lost, and Pope's Messiah."

But poor Hervey died on the Christmas day following, according to his own apprehension, and his

proposal was carried into effect by an anonymous editor, who in 1803 printed together the Purple Island and G. Fletcher's poem, in the same spirit that Hervey had suggested, but perhaps with less judgment than he would have brought to the work; and has excited the severe reprobation of Dr. Anderson, who says that "In almost every page injuries are done to the sense, where improvements were intended; and that whoever takes up this edition for the purpose of enjoying the poetry, or making an extract or a reference, can never be safe as to the authenticity of a single stanza."

The Eclogues and Miscellanies appear to have met with a better fate in the edition published at Edinburgh in 1772, with introduction and notes; which is esteemed a correct as well as an elegant edition.

Although it may happen that good poetry, on unexceptionable subjects, and inculcating the best principles, be sometimes written by men of unsettled opinions, or immoral habits, yet generally will the fruits of the muse, and of those genuinely inspired by the muse, faithfully denote the stock from whence they sprung. Attention to the poetical biography of all ages, will illustrate this position; but especially will the British reader who may make the enquiry, be gratified by the result with which it will furnish him, as far as his native bards are concerned.

The subjects which Fletcher chose for the most part; the way in which he treated those subjects; the sacredness of his station, and the commendations of his contemporaries, are the only guides left to us in forming an opinion of him as a man, a clergyman, and a member of society, and from these we may safely derive

our satisfaction and belief that he was amiable, exemplary, and respectable-as well as pious and learned.

Francis Quarles, who wrote the commendatory verses from which an extract is inserted at the commencement of this article, is said to have been, notwithstanding the censures of some modern writers, the most popular poet of his time, and a man of truly poetical genius; to whom justice has never yet been done. *

* Quarles was born at Rumford, in Essex, in 1592. As the "Emblems" are still much regarded by one class of readers, some farther notice of the author may be acceptable.

On the breaking ont of the rebellion in Ireland in 1641, he held the situation of Secretary to Archbishop Usher, and of course, from his attachment to the royal cause, suffered greatly in his fortune, both in that country, and in England, where he fled for safety. But what he took must to heart was being plundered of his books, and some manuscripts which he had prepared for the press; the loss of these is supposed to have hastened his death, which happened in 1644. Langbaine says "He was a poet that mixed religion and fancy together, and was very careful in all his writings not to entrench upon good manners by any scurrility in his works, or any ways offend against his duty to God, his neighbour, or himself." Thus, according to Langbaine, (and others have given him the same testimonial,) he was a very good man,-but in the judgment of some, he was also a very great man, and a most excellent Poet.Fuller says, "Had he been contemporary with Plato, he would not only have allowed him to live, but advanced him to office, in his commonwealth. Some Poets, if debarred profaneness, wantoness, and satiricalness, that they may neither abuse God nor their neighbours, have their tongues cut out in effect.Others only trade in wit at second hand, being all from translations, nothing from invention. Quarles was free from the faults of the first, and he was happy in his own inventions. His visible poetry, I mean his emblems, is excellent, catching therein the eye and fancy at one draught. His "Verses on Job" are done to the life, so that the reader may see his forces, and through them the anguish of his soul. According to the advice of St. Hierome, verba vertebat in opera, and practised the Job he had described."

Of Mr. William Benlowes whose address furnished

us with the second

motto, and of Mr. Edward BenPurple Island is dedicated, we

lowes to whom the

know of no account; but the dedication will give the reader a good opinion of the patron, as well as of the poet, and as it affords a specimen of the author's prose, and of the usual form of this kind of address in that period, we shall commence our extracts therewith.

To my most worthy and learned friend EDWARD BENLOWES, Esq.

"SIR,

"As some optic glasses, if we look one way increase the object; if the other, lessen the quantity: such is an eye that looks through affection: it doubles any good, and extenuates what is amiss. Pardon me, Sir, for speaking plain truth; such is that eye whereby you have viewed these raw essays of my very unripe years, and almost childhood. How unseasonable are blossoms in autumn! (unless perhaps in this age, where

And in our days, the very judicious editor of "Select Beauties of Ancient English Poetry," the lamented Charles Headly, says, "The memory of Quarles has been branded with more than common abuse, and he seems to have been censured merely for the want of being read. If his poetry failed to gain him friends and readers, his piety shonld at least have secured him peace and good-will. He too often, no doubt, mistook the enthusiasm of devotion for the inspiration of fancy; to mix the waters of Jordan and Helicon in the same cup, was reserved for the hand of Milton; and for him, and him only, to find the bays of Mount Olivet, equally verdant with those of Parnassus. Yet, as the effusions of a real poetical mind, however thwarted by untowardness of subject, will be seldom rendered totally abortive, we find in Quarles original imagéry, striking sentiment, fertility of expression, and happy combinations: together with a compression of style that merits the observation of writers in verse."