At peep of day, when, in her crimson pride, The morn bespreads with roses all the way, Where Phoebus' coach, with radiant course, must glide, The hermit bends his humble knees to pray : Blessing that God, whose bounty did bestow Such beauties on the earthly things below. Whether, with solace tripping on the trees, Taste he the fruits that spring from Tellus' womb, Father of Light! thou Maker of the Heav'n! From whom my being-well, and being, springs, Bring to effect this, my desired steaven, That I may leave the thought of worldly things! Then, in my troubles, will I bless the time My Muse vouchsaf'd me such a lucky rhyme. THE earth, late choak'd with showers, Is now array'd in green; Her bosom springs with flowers, The air dissolves her teen, The heavens laugh at her glory; The woods are deck'd with leaves, With oaken boughs doth play; Where I am clad in black, The birds upon the trees Do sing with pleasant voices; And chant, in their degrees, Their loves and lucky choices; When I, whilst they are singing, With sighs mine arms am wringing. The thrushes seek the shade, And I my fatal grave; Their flight to heaven is made, My walk on earth I have: They free, I thrall: they jolly, [From "the Phoenix Nest."] Now I find thy looks were feigned, Quickly lost, and quickly gained; Soft thy skin, like wool of wethers, Heart unstable, light as feathers; Tongue untrusty, subtle-sighted, Wanton will, with change delighted; Siren pleasant, foe to reason, Cupid plague thee for this treason! Of thine eyes I made my mirror; First of all my heart deceived; Siren pleasant, foe to reason, Feign'd acceptance, when I asked, Lovely words, with cunning masked, Holy vows, but heart unholy; Wretched man! my trust was folly! Siren pleasant, foe to reason, Prime youth lasts not, age will follow, GEORGE CHAPMAN Was born in 1557, and died in 1634; but of this long life few anecdotes are preserved, nor is it certain whether Oxford or Cambridge had the honour of completing his studies. That he was a man of uncommon learning and considerable genius, appears from his translation of the whole works of Homer, and some parts of Hesiod and Musæus. Oldys remarks in his MS. notes on Langbaine, that the head of Chapman was a treasury or chronicle of whatever was memorable among the poets of his time, and that he preserved in his own conduct the true dignity of poetry, which he compared to the sun-flower that disdains to open íts leaves to a smoking taper. Of seventeen pieces, which he composed for the theatre, three are allowed to possess a great degree of merit; viz. "Bussy d'Amboise," a tragedy; the "Widow's Tears," a comedy; and his "Masque for the Inns of Court." The specimen here given from his continuation of Marlowe's "Hero and Leander, 1606," may give a faint idea of his style, which is generally spirited but often irregular and obscure. EPITHALAMION. COME, come, dear Night! Love's mart of kisses, |