No. 53. GEORGE WITHER. From a scarce Print by Payne, prefixed to his "Emblems." WITHER has the crabbed cramped look of a puritan. His broad hat, and fierce, contracted, frowning brow savour but little of the profession of poetry. He would pass muster for a covenanter or round-head,-for one of old Noll's preaching and fighting followers, during the time when that " immortal rebel" played at bowls with crowns and sceptres, turned kingdoms into commonwealths, and rode like the sea-eagle over the sounding ocean, a victor whom few dared meet, and none could vanquish. Wither is a voluminous writer. Some of his pieces are interesting; and there is one passage in his " Shepherds' Hunting," which is surpassingly beautiful; but generally speaking, his poetry is indifferent enough. He wrote some of his verses while in durance; and he keeps, we think, in this portrait, his prison look,-stern and suffering. |