The History of English Poetry, from the Eleventh to the Seventeenth Century

996 ON THE COMPARATIVE MERITS OF HALL AND MARSTON.

few more passages which may safely be quoted, but which I choca to reserve for future illustration.

There is a carelessness and laxity in Marston's versification, there is a freedom and facility, which Hall has too frequently max. by labouring to confine the sense to the couplet. Hall's measures an more musical, not because the music of verse consists in uniformiyo ! pause, and regularity of cadence. Hall had a correcter ear; and lines have a tuneful strength, in proportion as his language is polished, his phraseology more select, and his structure more stud Hall's meaning, among other reasons, is not always so soon app hended, on account of his compression both in sentiment and dicti Marston is more perspicuous, as he thinks less and writes hast Hall is superiour in penetration, accurate conception of charac acuteness of reflection, and the accumulation of thoughts and imag Hall has more humour, Marston more acrimony. Hall often dr his materials from books and the diligent perusal of other satins: Marston from real life. Yet Hall has a larger variety of characın He possessed the talent of borrowing with address, and of g originality to his copies. On the whole, Hall is more elegant, ex and elaborate.

It is Marston's misfortune, that he can never keep clear of their purities of the brothel. His stream of poetry, if sometimes br and unpolluted, almost always betrays a muddy bottom. The sati who too freely indulges himself in the display of that licentious which he means to proscribe, absolutely defeats his own design. inflames those passions which he professes to suppress, gr the depravations of a prurient curiosity, and seduces innoc minds to an acquaintance with ideas which they might never b known.

The satires of Hall and Marston were condemned to the s flame and by the same authority. But Hall certainly deserved milder sentence. Hall exposes vice, not in the wantonness of t cription, but with the reserve of a cautious yet lively morals Perhaps every censurer of obscenity does some harm, by turning t attention to an immodest object. But this effect is to be count acted by the force and propriety of his reproof, by shewing the p nicious consequences of voluptuous excesses, by suggesting motive to an opposite conduct, and by making the picture disgustful dashes of deformity. When Vice is led forth to be sacrificed at shrine of virtue, the victim should not be too richly dressed.

HE popularity of Hall's and Marston's Satires, notwithstanding their roscription or rather extermination by spiritual authority, produced n innumerable crop of SATIRISTS, and of a set of writers, differing but little more than in name, and now properly belonging to the same pecies, EPIGRAMMATISTS.

In 1598, printed at London, appeared 'SKIALETHEIA, or a Shadowe of Truth in certaine Epigrams and Satyres.' The same year, SEUEN SATIRES, applied to the week, including the world's ridiculous follies'. This form was an imitation of the SEMAINES of Du Bartas, just ranslated into English by Delisle. The same year, 'A SHADOWE of TRUTH in certaine Epigrams and Satires. This year also, as I conecture, were published Epigrams by sir John Davies, author of NOSCE TEIPSUM3. These must not be confounded with the SCOURGE OF FOLLY, by John Davies of Hereford, printed in 1611. In 1598 also, was published in quarto, 'Tyros roaring Megge, planted against the walls of Melancholy, London, 1598.' With two Decads of Epigrams1. The author appears to have been of Cambridge. Tyro is perhaps a real name. The dedication is to Master John Lucas.

In the year 1598, was also published, under the general title of CHRESTOLOROS, seven Books of Epigrams, by Thomas Bastards. Bastard, a native of Blandford in Dorsetshire, was removed from a fellowship of New-College Oxford, in 1591, being, as Wood says, 'much guilty of the vices belonging to the poets," and given to libel"ling". Harrington, the translator of Ariosto, has an Epigram addressed to 'Master Bastard, a minister, that made a pleasant Booke of English Epigrams. Wood, in his manuscript Collection of Oxford libels and lampoons, which perhaps he took as much pleasure in collecting as the authors in writing, now remaining in the Ashmolean

1 Entered to William Fyrebrand, May 3, 1508, REGISTR. STATION. C. f. 34. b. 2 Entered to N. Linge, Sept. 15, 1598. Ibid. f. 41. b.

3 Marlowe's OVID'S ELEGIES were accompanied with these Epigrams. The whole title is, Epigramms and Elegies, by J. D. and C. M. [Marlowe.] at Middleburgh.' No date. Davies's Epigrams are commended in Jonson's Epigrams, xviii. And in Fitzgeoffry's AFFANIE, Lib. ii. Signat. E. 4.

DAVISIOS lædat mihi, Jonsoniosque lacessat.

Compare Wood, ATH. OXON, F. i. 219.
Ibid. f. 38. b.

4 With sequitur Tyronis Epistola.
5 Entered to Joane Brome, Apr. 3, 1598.
6 ATH. OXON. i. 431.

7 HARRINGTON'S EPIGRAMS, B. ii. 64. with applause in Goddard's MASTIF, no WOODCOCKES, Lib. i. EPIGR. 118.

See also B. ii. 84. They are also mentioned date, SAT. 81. And in Parrot's SPRINGES FOR

998 'BASTARD'S SATIRES AND SERMONS.-MIDDLETON'S EPIGRAMS Museum, and ccmposed by various students of Oxford in the reign queen Elizabeth, has preserved two of Bastard's satyrical pieces. I the patronage or favour of lord treasurer Suffolk, he was made victi of Bere-regis, and rector of Hamer, in Dorsetshire; and from writing smart epigrams in his youth, became in his graver years a qui preacher. He died a prisoner for debt, in Dorchester-gaol, April -1618. He was an elegant classic scholar, and appears to have be better qualified for that species of the occasional pointed Latin epig established by his fellow-collegian John Owen, than for any s English versification.

In 1599, appeared ‘MICROCYNICON sixe snarling satyres by T. Gentleman,' perhaps Thomas Middleton. About the same time r peared, without date, in quarto, written by William Goddard, 'MASTIF WHELP, with other ruff-iland-like currs fetcht from anca 'the Antipedes, which bite and barke at the fantastical humours 'and abusers of the time. Imprinted at the Antipedes, and are to b 'bought where they are to be sold.' It contains eighty-five satis To these is added, 'Dogges from the Antipedes,' containing forty cz.

1 One of them is entitled, 'An admonition to the City of Oxford, or Mih "Bastardine.' In this piece, says Wood, he 'reflects upon all persons of note in 'who were guilty of amorous exploits, or that mixed themselves with other men's "with wanton houswives in Oxon. The other is a disavowal of this lampoon, write his expulsion, and beginning Jenkin why man, etc. See Meres, WITS TR. 1. 234.

2 There are two sets of his Sermons, Five, London, 1615, 4to. The three first of is are called the MARIGOLD OF THE SUN. Twelve, London, 1615, 4to.

3 The name of the author, who appears to have been a soldier, is added in the Dic tion, to some of his flatt-cappe friends at the Temple. The Satires were written át Bastard's EPIGRAMS, which are commended, SAT. 81. I will give a specimen fac second part, Sat. 5.

To see Morilla in her coach to ride,

With her long locke of haire vpon one side:

With hatt and feather worn in swaggering gvise,
With buttned boddice, skirted dubblett-wise,
Vnmaskt, and sit i' th' booth without a fanne:

Speake, could you iudge her lesse than be some manne, etc.

Here is the dress of a modern amazon, in what is called a Riding-habit. The sice Ind hair, which was common both to men and women, was called the French Lock. So fm man of a beau, in RUB AND A GREAT CAST, edit. 1614, EPIGR. 32.

And Hall, SAT. iii. 7.

Beside a long French locke.

His haire French-like stares on his frighted head.

One locke, amazon-like, disheveled.

Hence may be illustrated a passage in a Letting of Humours blood, &c. printed a .600. EPIGR. 27.

Aske Humors why a feather he doth weare,
Or what he doth with such a horsetail locke.

See also Perrott's Springes for Woodcockes, or Epigrams, 1613, Lib. i. EPIGR i Ofab And on his shoulder weares a dangling locke.

In B. Rich's OPINION DEIFIED, etc. 'Some by wearing a long locke that hangs de by his eare, do think by that louzie commoditie to be esteemed by the opinion of feder Lond. 1613. 4to. ch. xxix. p. 53. Again, in RETURN FROM PARNASSUS, 1606, A. ii. S.

Must take tobacco, and must weare a lock.

Compare Warburton's note on MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, A. v. S. i. "He wears a l'an in his car, and a long lock hanging by it, &c.' I add but one mere instance, from character of a RUFFIAN,or bully. When without money, his gingling spurre hath t voyce, his head his locke etc.' WHYMZIES, or a new Cast of CHARACTERS, Lond my 16mo. p. 136.

A satyrical piece in stanzas, which has considerable merit, called PASQUILL'S MAD-CAP, was printed at London in quarto, for V. S. in he year 16001. With Pasquill's MESSAGE. Also by the same author, erhaps Nicholas Breton, Pasquill's FOOLE-CAP, printed for T. Johnes n the same year, the dedication signed, N. B. At the end is 'Pasquill's passion for the world's waiwardnesse? In the year 1601, was published in duodecimo, 'The whipper of the Satyre, his pennance in a white sheete, Or the Beadles Confutation, Imprinted at London, by John Fasket, 1601.' And by way of reply, 'No whippinge nor trippinge, but a kind of snippinge, London, 1601.' Again, 'The whipping of the SATYRE, Imprinted at London for John Flasket, 16013? About the same time, as I conjecture, were published, 'Epigrams served out in fifty-two severall dishes, for every man to taste without surfeting. By I. C. gentleman.' At London, without date. In 1608, 'Epigrams, or Humour's Lottery.' The same year, ' A Century of Epigrams, by R. W. Bachelor of Arts, Oxon.' The same year, 'Satyres, by Richard Myddleton, gentleman, of Yorke.' In 1619, Newe Epigrams, 'having in their Companie a mad satyre, by Joseph Martin, London, 'for Elde. In 1613, were published two books of epigrams, written by Henry Perrot, entitled, 'LAQUEI RIDICULOSI, or Springes for Wood

1 He says, p. 36.

And tell prose writers, STORIES are so stale.

That penie ballads make a better sale.

He mentions country-players, p. 31. PASQUILL'S MAD-CAP is applauded in THE WHIPPINGE OF THE SATYRE, 1601. Signat. F. 3.

That MAD-CAP yet superior praise doth win, etc.

In Dekker's GuL'S HORNE BOOK, 1609, we have, I am the Pasquill's MAD-CAPPE that will doot. p. 8. PASQUILL'S IESTS, with the merriments of mother Bunch,' were pub lished, Lond. 1629. Bl. Let. 4to. But this I suppose not to have been the first edition. And in reference to Pasquill's MAD-CAP, there is, 'Old Mad-cappes new gallimaufry, made into a ⚫ merrie messe of mingle mangle, 1602.'

Under the title of PASQUIN, we have also the following coeval pieces. 'PASQUILL'S MISTRESSE, or the worthie and unworthie woman, 1600.-PASQUILL'S PASSE, and passeth not, set downe in three pees, 1600.-PASQUILL'S PALINODIA, and his Progresse to the 'taverne, where, after the survey of the Sellar, you are presented with a pleasant pynte of poeticall sherry, 1619.'

3 In duodecimo. It is dedicated to the Vayne glorious, the HUMOURIST, SATYRIST, and EPIGRAMMATIST.' The writer's initals are I. W. I believe this piece to be a Reply to Rowlands. But in one place he seems to attack Marston. Signat. D. 2.

But harke, I here the Cynicke Satyre crie,

A man, a man, a kingdom for a man!

He mentions the Fatness of Falstaff. Signat. D. 3.

That sir John Falstaffe was not any way
More grosse in body, than you are in brayne.

4 Entered, April 11, to Busbie and Holme. REGISTR. STATION. C. f. 165. b.

5 Entered, Apr. 21, to T. Thorpe, Ib. f. 166. a. I take R. W. to be Richard West, who is the author of Newes from Bartholemew fair,' entered to I. Wright, Jul. 16, 16c6. Ibid. f. 11. b. I find 'Merry Jests, concerning popes, monks, and fryers, from the French, by R. W. Bachelor of Arts, of H. H. [Hart-Hall] Oxon, assigned to John Barnes.' REGISTR STATION. D. f. 11. a.

6 Entered to Jos. Harrison, May 4. REGISTR. C. f. 167. a.

1 There is a second edition entered to Elde, May 1, 1621. REGISTR. D. f. 15. a. In 1617, A paraphrasticke transcript of Juvenal's tenth Satyre, with the tragicall narrative of Virginia's death is entered, Oct. 14, to N. Newbury.' REGISTR. C. f. 284. b.

1000

SPRINGES FOR WOODCOCKS.-WEAVER'S EPIGRAMS.

'cockes. Caveat emptor. Lond. for J. Busbie, 1613 Many of the are worthy to be revived in modern collections. I am tempted to tr scribe a specimen.

A Welshman and an Englishman disputed,
Which of their Lands2 maintain'd the greatest state:
The Englishman the Welshman quite confuted;
Yet would the Welshman nought his brags abate;
'Ten cookes in Wales, quoth he, one wedding sees;
'True, quoth the other,-Each man toasts his cheese?

John Weaver, I believe the antiquary who wrote ANCIENT FUNELI MONUMENTS, published a book of Epigrams, in 1599, or rather 16 which are ranked among the best, by Jonson1. Thomas Freeman'

student in Magdalen college Oxford, about the year 1607, who appez to have enjoyed the friendship and encouragement of Owen, Shak speare, Daniel, Donne, Chapman, and Heywood the dramatist, prin... in quarto, 'RUB AND A GREAT CAST. In one hundred Epigrama 'London, 16145. To these is annexed, 'RUB AND A GREAT CAS. "The second Bowl in an hundred Epigrams.' Both sets are dedicatel to Thomas Lord, Windsor. Thomas Wroth of Glocester-Hall, O ford, about 1603, published at London, in quarto, 1620, 'An Abortvi of an idle Hour, or a century of Epigrams®.'

To the opening of 1600, I would also assign 'young Whelpe of the old dogge. Epigrams and

1 In the Latin Dedication, it appears they were written in 1611. edition in 1606. Shakesp. Vol. viii. 409. 2 Countries.

3 Lib. i. EPIGR. 9.

The MASTIVE I
Satyres. Lordz.

Mr. Steevens quota 4

Taylor the water poet, has mentioned Parrot's Epigrams, in EPIGRAMS, p. 263. fol ti EPIGR. vii.

My Muse hath vow'd reuenge shall haue her swindge,
To catch a Parrot in the wookcockes springe.