AN ANSWER TO THE FIRST STAFF:

THAT LOVE IS UNLIKE IN BEGGARS AND IN KINGS."

COMPARE the bramble with the cedar tree;
The pismire's anger with the lion's rage:
What is the buzzing fly where eagles be?
A drop the spark, no seas can Ætna swage.

Small is the heat in Beggars' breasts that springs,
But flaming fire consumes the hearts of Kings.

Who shrouds himself where slender hairs cast shade?
But mighty oaks may scorn the summer sun:
Small cure will serve, where bees the wound have made;
But dragons' poison through each part doth run.

Light is the love that Beggars' bosom stings,
Deep is the wound that Cupid makes in Kings.

Small channels serve, where shallow springs do slide;
And little help will turn or stay their course:
The highest banks scarce hold the swelling tide,
Which overthrows all stops with raging force:

The baser sort scarce wet them in the springs,
Which overwhelm the heads of mighty Kings.

What though in both the heart be set of love?
The self-same ground both corn and cockle breed:"
Fast by the brier the pine-tree mounts above;
One kind of grass the jade and jennet feeds.

m This title is omitted in the first edition.

n breeds.edit. 1602.

So from the heart, by secret virtue springs,
Unlike desire in Beggars and in Kings.

0

A SONG IN PRAISE OF A BEGGAR'S LIFE.P

BRIGHT shines the sun; play, Beggars, play;
Here's scraps enough to serve to-day.

Signed "Anomos," in the first edition.

P This song is printed in Walton's Complete Angler, where it is thus introduced. It is proposed in a party of Gipsies that they should draw lots "what song should be next sung, and who should sing it. They all agreed to the motion, and the lot fell to her that was the youngest and veriest virgin of the company; and she sung Frank Davison's Song, which he made forty years ago, and all the others of the company joined to sing the burthen with her."-The Complete Angler was published in 1653, about forty-two years after the Poetical Rhapsody had attained a third impression; but as this song appeared in the first edition, 1602, more than fifty years had elapsed since it was composed, an error which may be attributed either to the Complete Angler having been written some years before it was printed, or, more probably, to Walton's having only seen the edition of 1611. It is to be observed, that although he calls it "Frank Davison's song, which he made forty years ago," an expression which perhaps arose from Davison being the editor of the Miscellany which contained the song, it is far from certain that he was the author.

Some observations on the subject will be found in p. cxxvii.; where it is stated, upon the authority of Francis Davison himself, that this song was written by a person whose initials were A. W.; but, as it is there remarked, some grounds exist for identifying Davison with that signature.

What noise of viols is so sweet,

As when our merry clappers ring?

What mirth doth want where Beggars meet?
A Beggar's life is for a King.

Eat, drink, and play; sleep when we list,
Go where we will, so stocks be mist.

Bright shines, &c.

The world is ours, and ours alone;
For we alone have worlds at will;
We purchase not; all is our own;
Both fields and streets we Beggars fill.
Nor care to get, nor fear to keep,
Did ever break a Beggar's sleep.
Bright shines, &c.

A hundred head of black and white,
Upon our gowns securely feed;
If any dare his master bite,

He dies therefore, as sure as creed.
Thus Beggars lord it as they please;
And none but Beggars live at ease.
Bright shines, &c.

UPON BEGINNING WITHOUT MAKING AN END.

BEGIN, and half is done, yet half undone remains ; Begin that half, and all is done, and thou art eas'd of pains :

4 gown. edit. 1608.

The second half is all again, new work must be begun. Thus he that still begins, doth nothing but by halves, And things half done, as good undone: half oxen are but calves.

AN EPIGRAM TO SIR PHILIP SIDNEY,

IN ELEGIACAL VERSE.

TRANSLATED OUT OF JODELLE, THE FRENCH POET.

CAMBRIDGE, worthy Philip, by this verse builds thee an altar,

'Gainst time and tempest, strong to abide for ever;
That praise of verses no length of time can abolish;
With Greece and Italy purchased endless honour.
I then pursuing their steps, like glory to purchase,
Will make thy memory famous in after-ages;
And in these measured verses thy glory be sounded,
So be thy holy favour, help to my holy fury.

HEXAMETERS,' UPON THE NEVER-ENOUGH PRAISED SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

WHAT Can I now suspect, or what can I fear any longer? Oft did I fear, oft hope, whilst life in SIDNEY remained: Of nothing can I now despair, for nought can I hope for: This good is in misery, when great extremity grieves us, That neither hope of good, nor fear of worse can affright

us.

rother. edit. 1608.

s Which. edit. 1602.

An Epigram in Hexameters, &c.-edit. 1621.

And can I then complain, when no complaint can avail

me?

How can I seem to be discontent, or what can I weep for? He lives eternal, with endless glory bedecked:

Yea, still on earth he lives, and still shall live by the Muses. "

ANOTHER UPON THE SAME.

WHAT strange adventure, what now unlook'd-for arrival,

Hath drawn the Muses from sweet Boeotia's mountains,
To choose our country, to seek in London abiding?
Are fair Castalian streams dried? stands Cyrrha no
longer?

Or love the Muses, like wantons, oft to be changing?
Scarce can I that suppose, scarce think I those to be
Muses:

No sound of melody, no voice but dreary lamenting. Yet well I wot too well, Muses most dolefully weeping. See where Melpomene sits hid for shame in a corner: Hear ye the careful sighs, fetch'd from the depth of her entrails?

There weeps Calliope, there sometimes lusty Thalia. Ah me! alas, now know I the cause, now seek I no further;

" Yea, still on earth he lives, and still live by the Muses. edit. 1621.

* Another Epigram, &c.-edit. 1621.

y for a shame.-edit. 1602.