JOHN COLLOP. His productions were printed by himself, with the arrogant title of "Poesis Redeviva: or POESIE REVIV'D," 1656, 12mo. How far this rhyming physician promoted the revival of the Muses, will best appear by the following specimen. On a retired Lady. SPRING of beauty, mine of pleasure, Or a richer jewel set In a viler cabinet? Virtue and vice Know but one price; Seem both allied; Ne'er distinguish'd if ne'er tried. The Sun's as fair, as bright as you, The Wind and Rain In sighs and tears Woo, till smiling he appears. Ceruse or Stibium can prevail, No art repairs where age makes fail. A prisoner to a fonder will; Thus Nature blame, 'Cause she confines To barren grounds the richer mines. SIR JOHN MENNIS, AND JAMES SMITH. THESE gentlemen were joint authors of a 12mo volume, twice published, in 1655 and 1656, under the title of "Musarum Delicia," from whence the subsequent fanciful little poem is extracted. The former was born in 1598, and died in 1670. Having studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, for some years, he became equally remarkable for the versatility of his talents, and the variety of his occupations. We find him successively a militia officer, commander of a troop of horse, captain of a ship, vice admiral, governor of Dover castle, and chief comptroller of the navy. Besides being a great traveller, and singularly well-versed in marine affairs and ship-building, Wood tells us he was an honest and stout man, generous and religious, and well skilled in physic and chemistry." To complete all, he was "poetically given," and is said not only to have assisted Suckling in his compositions, but to have ridiculed him and his runaway troop in a well-known ballad. (Vide Percy, vol. ii. p. 327, 4th edit.) 66 Smith was born about 1604, educated at Christ Church and Lincoln Colleges, in Oxford; afterwards naval and military chaplain to H. Earl of Holland, and domestic chaplain to Tho. Earl of Cleveland; and amongst other preferments, on his majesty's return, became canon and chauntor in Exeter cathedral. In 1661 he was created D.D. and died in 1667. Wood informs us he was much in esteem "with the poetical wits of that time, particularly with Philip Massinger, who call'd him his son." In "Wit restored," a miscellany already quoted, many of his pieces are to be met with. King Oberon's Apparel. [From 78 lines.] WHEN the monthly-horned queen Grew jealous that the stars had seen In rage she throws her misty charms Into the bosom of the night, Then did the dwarfish fairy elves A rich waistcoat they did bring * * The outside of his doublet was * Made of the four-leav'd true-love grass * * On every seam there was a lace * Drawn by the unctuous snail's slow trace; To it the purest silver thread Compar'd did look like dull pale lead. Each button was a sparkling eye Ta'en from the speckled adder's fry, Which in a gloomy night and dark Twinkled like a fiery spark: And, for coolness, next his skin, 'Twas with white poppy lin'd within. * A rich mantle he did wear His cap was all of ladies'-love: So passing light, that it did move, If any humming gnat or fly But buzz'd the air in passing by. About it was a wreath of pearl, Dropp'd from the eyes of some poor girl Pinch'd because she had forgot To leave fair water in the pot. And, for feather, he did wear Old Nisus' fatal purple hair. The sword they girded on his thigh. Was smallest blade of finest rye. |