Chapter 25 of 399 · 1206 words · ~6 min read

part iii

. sec. 2._

Amantium iræ amoris integratiost (The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love).--TERENCE: _Andria, act iii. sc. 5._

EDWARD DYER. _Circa_ 1540-1607.

My mind to me a kingdom is; Such present joys therein I find, That it excels all other bliss That earth affords or grows by kind: Though much I want which most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

_MS. Rawl. 85, p. 17._[22-1]

Some have too much, yet still do crave; I little have, and seek no more: They are but poor, though much they have, And I am rich with little store: They poor, I rich; they beg, I give; They lack, I have; they pine, I live.

_MS. Rawl. 85, p. 17._

FOOTNOTES:

[22-1] There is a very similar but anonymous copy in the British Museum. Additional MS. 15225, p. 85. And there is an imitation in J. Sylvester's Works, p. 651.--HANNAH: _Courtly Poets._

My mind to me a kingdom is; Such perfect joy therein I find, As far exceeds all earthly bliss That God and Nature hath assigned. Though much I want that most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

BYRD: _Psalmes, Sonnets, etc. 1588._

My mind to me an empire is, While grace affordeth health.

ROBERT SOUTHWELL (1560-1595): _Loo Home._

Mens regnum bona possidet (A good mind possesses a kingdom).--SENECA: _Thyestes, ii. 380._

BISHOP STILL (JOHN). 1543-1607.

I cannot eat but little meat, My stomach is not good; But sure I think that I can drink With him that wears a hood.

_Gammer Gurton's Needle._[22-2] _Act ii._

Back and side go bare, go bare, Both foot and hand go cold; But, belly, God send thee good ale enough, Whether it be new or old.

_Gammer Gurton's Needle. Act ii._

FOOTNOTES:

[22-2] Stated by Dyce to be from a MS. of older date than _Gammer Gurton's Needle_. See Skelton's Works (Dyce's ed.), vol. i. pp. vii-x, _note_.

THOMAS STERNHOLD. _Circa_ 1549.

The Lord descended from above And bow'd the heavens high; And underneath his feet he cast The darkness of the sky.

On cherubs and on cherubims Full royally he rode; And on the wings of all the winds Came flying all abroad.

_A Metrical Version of Psalm civ._

MATHEW ROYDON. _Circa_ 1586.

A sweet attractive kinde of grace, A full assurance given by lookes, Continuall comfort in a face The lineaments of Gospell bookes.

_An Elegie; or Friend's Passion for his Astrophill._[23-1]

Was never eie did see that face, Was never eare did heare that tong, Was never minde did minde his grace, That ever thought the travell long; But eies and eares and ev'ry thought Were with his sweete perfections caught.

_An Elegie; or Friend's Passion for his Astrophill._

FOOTNOTES:

[23-1] This piece (ascribed to Spenser) was printed in _The Phoenix' Nest, 4to, 1593_, where it is anonymous. Todd has shown that it was written by Mathew Roydon.

SIR EDWARD COKE. 1549-1634.

The gladsome light of jurisprudence.

_First Institute._

Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason. . . . The law, which is perfection of reason.[24-1]

_First Institute._

For a man's house is his castle, _et domus sua cuique tutissimum refugium_.[24-2]

_Third Institute. Page 162._

The house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose.

_Semayne's Case, 5 Rep. 91._

They (corporations) cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed nor excommunicate, for they have no souls.

_Case of Sutton's Hospital, 10 Rep. 32._

Magna Charta is such a fellow that he will have no sovereign.

_Debate in the Commons, May 17, 1628._

Six hours in sleep, in law's grave study six, Four spend in prayer, the rest on Nature fix.[24-3]

Translation of lines quoted by Coke.

FOOTNOTES:

[24-1] Let us consider the reason of the case. For nothing is law that is not reason.--SIR JOHN POWELL: _Coggs_ vs. _Bernard, 2 Ld. Raym. Rep. p. 911._

[24-2] _Pandects, lib. ii. tit. iv. De in Jus vocando._

[24-3] Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven; Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven.

Sir WILLIAM JONES.

GEORGE PEELE. 1552-1598.

His golden locks time hath to silver turned; O time too swift! Oh swiftness never ceasing! His youth 'gainst time and age hath ever spurned, But spurned in vain; youth waneth by encreasing.

_Sonnet. Polyhymnia._

His helmet now shall make a hive for bees, And lovers' songs be turned to holy psalms; A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees, And feed on prayers, which are old age's alms.

_Sonnet. Polyhymnia._

My merry, merry, merry roundelay Concludes with Cupid's curse: They that do change old love for new, Pray gods, they change for worse!

_Cupid's Curse._

SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 1552-1618.

If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd's tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee, and be thy love.

_The Nymph's Reply to the Passionate Shepherd._

Fain would I, but I dare not; I dare, and yet I may not; I may, although I care not, for pleasure when I play not.

_Fain Would I._

Passions are likened best to floods and streams: The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb.[25-1]

_The Silent Lover._

Silence in love bewrays more woe Than words, though ne'er so witty: A beggar that is dumb, you know, May challenge double pity.

_The Silent Lover._

Go, Soul, the body's guest, Upon a thankless arrant: Fear not to touch the best, The truth shall be thy warrant: Go, since I needs must die, And give the world the lie.

_The Lie._

Methought I saw the grave where Laura lay.[26-1]

_Verses to Edmund Spenser._

Cowards [may] fear to die; but courage stout, Rather than live in snuff, will be put out.

_On the snuff of a candle the night before he died._--Raleigh's _Remains, p. 258, ed. 1661._

Even such is time, that takes in trust Our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with age and dust; Who in the dark and silent grave, When we have wandered all our ways, Shuts up the story of our days. But from this earth, this grave, this dust, My God shall raise me up, I trust!

_Written the night before his death.--Found in his Bible in the Gate-house at Westminster._

Shall I, like an hermit, dwell On a rock or in a cell?

_Poem._

If she undervalue me, What care I how fair she be?[26-2]

_Poem._

If she seem not chaste to me, What care I how chaste she be?

_Poem._

Fain would I climb, yet fear I to fall.[26-3]

[History] hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over.

_Historie of the World. Preface._

O eloquent, just, and mightie Death! whom none could advise, thou hast perswaded; what none hath dared, thou hast done; and whom all the world hath flattered, thou only hast cast out of the world and despised. Thou hast drawne together all the farre stretchèd greatnesse, all the pride, crueltie, and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words, _Hic jacet!_

_Historie of the World. Book v .