Th’otherforthegentlemenoth’pit,Liketothemselves,allspirit,fancy,wit,Inwhichplotsshouldbesubtileasaflame,DisguiseswouldmakePROTEUSstilthesame:
Humourssorarelyhumour’dandexprest,Thatev’ntheyshouldthinke’emso,notdrest;
Vicesactedandapplaudedtoo,timesTickled,andth’actorsacted,nottheircrimes,Sohemightequallyapplausehavegain’dOfth’hardned,sooty,andthesnowyhand。
WherenowoneSOSOspatters,t’other:no!
Tishisfirstplay;tweresolecisme’tshouldgoe;
Thenext’tshow’dpritily,butsearchtwithinItappearesbareandbald,asishischin;
Thetowne—witsentences:ASCHOLARSPLAY!
PishIknownotwhy,butth’avenottheway。
We,whosegaineisallourpleasure,ev’ntheseAreboundbyjusticeandreligiontoplease;
Whichhe,whosepleasure’sallhisgaine,goesbyAsslightly,astheydoehiscomaedy。
Cullsoutthefew,theworthy,atwhosefeetHesacrificesbothhimselfeandit,Hisfanciesfirstfruits:profitheknowesnone,Unlesthatofyourapprobation,Whichifyourthoughtsatgoingoutwillpay,Hee’lnotlookefartherforasecondday。
PerhapsTRIFLINGwasthewordwrittenbyLovelace。
AVENIALOFFENCEismeant。
ItwouldbedifficulttopointoutawritersounpardonablyslovenlyinhisstyleorphraseologyasLovelace。By"Presumptuousitlik’thim,"wemustofcourseunderstand"Presumptuousthathelikedithimself,"orpresumptuouslyself—satisfied。
i。e。theroughanddirtyoccupantsofthegalleryandthefairspectatorsintheboxes。
Anexclamationofapproval,whenanactormadeahit。
ThephraseseemstobesomewhatakintotheItalian"SI,SI,"
acorruptionof"SIA,SIA。"
i。e。theydonotknowhowtoactaplay。
Thisprologueandepiloguewereclearlynotattachedtotheplaywhenitwasfirstperformedbythefellow—collegiansofthepoetatGloucesterHall,asanamateurattemptinthedramaticline,butwerefirstaddedwhen"TheScholars"wasreproducedinLondon,andthepartssustainedbyordinaryactors。
AGAINSTTHELOVEOFGREATONES。
Vnhappyyouth,betraydbyFateTosuchalovehathsaintedhate,Anddamnedthosecelestiallbands
Areonelyknitwithequalhands;
Theloveofgreatonesisalove,
Godsareincapabletoprove:
Forwherethereisajoyuneven,Therenever,nevercanbeHeav’n:
’TissuchaloveasisnotsentTofiendsasyetforpunishment;
IXIONwillinglydothfeeleThegyreofhiseternalwheele,NorwouldhenowexchangehispaineForcloudesandgoddessesagaine。
Wouldstthouwithtempestslye?ThenbowToth’rougherfurrowsofherbrow,Ormakeathunder—boltthychoyce?
Thencatchathermorefatalvoyce;
Or’genderwiththelightning?tryeThesubtlerflashesofhereye:
PooreSEMELEwelknewthesame,Whobothimbrac’therGodandflame;
Andnotaloneinsouledidburne,Butinthislovedidashesturne。
HowildothmajestyinjoyThebowandgaityoth’boy,Asifthepurple—roabeshouldsit,Andsentencegiveith’chayrofwit。
Say,ever—dyingwretch,towhomEachanswerisacertainedoom,
Whatisitthatyouwouldpossesse,TheCountes,orthenakedBesse?
Wouldyouhergowneortitledo?
Herboxorgem,thethingorshow?
IfyoumeaneHER,theveryHER,Abstractedfromhercaracter,UnhappyboyyoumayassooneWithfawningwantonwiththeMoone,OrwithanamorouscomplaintGetprostituteyourverysaint;
Notthatwearenotmortal,orFlyVENUSaltars,andabhorTheselfesameknack,forwhichyoupine;
Butwe(defendus!)aredivine,[Not]female,butmadamborn,andcomeFromaright—honourablewombe。
Shalwethenminglewiththebase,Andbringasilver—tinsellrace?
Whilstth’issuenoblewilnotpasseThegoldalloyd(almosthalfebrasse),Andth’bloodineachveinedothappeare,PartthickBooreinn,partLadyCleare;
LiketothesordidinsectssprungFromFatherSunandMotherDung:
Yetlosewenottheholdwehave,Butfastergraspethetremblingslave;
Playatbaloonwith’sheart,andwindeThestringslikescaines,stealeintohismindeTenthousandfalseandfeignedjoyesFarworsethenthey;whilst,likewhiptboys,Afterthisscourgehee’shushwithtoys。
Thisheard,Sir,playstilinhereyes,Andbeadying,livelikeflyesCaughtbytheirangle—legs,andwhomThetorchlaughspeece—mealetoconsume。
i。e。THAThathsainted,&c。
SotheEditor’sMS。copyalreadydescribed;theprintedcopyhasBONDS。
SoEditor’sMS。Printedcopyhas——
"TheLoveofGreatOnes?’TisaLove。"
Subtle——Editor’sMS。
Semeleshe——Editor’sMS。
She——Ibid。
Dombe——LUCASTA。
BESSisusedinthefollowingpassageasaphraseforasortoffemaleTOM—O—BEDLAM——
"Wetreatmad—Bedlams,TOMSandBESSES,Withceremoniesandcaresses!"
Dixon’sCANIDIA,1683,parti。canto2。
Andthewordseemsalsotohavebeenemployedtosignifytheloosewomenwho,inearlytimes,madeCoventGardenanditsneighbourhoodtheirspecialhaunt。SeeCotgrave’sWITSINTERPRETER,1662,p。236。Buthere"nakedBesse,"
meansonlyawomanwho,incontradistinctiontoaladyofrank,hasnoadventitiousqualitiestorecommendher。
OriginalreadsHER。
Altars,or——LUCASTA。
Borne——LUCASTA。
Allay’d——LUCASTA。
SoEditor’sMS。LUCASTAhasHELLS。
FromthisworddowntoLIVESisomittedintheMS。copy。
OriginalhasLIVES。
TOALTHEA。
FROMPRISON。
SONG。
SETBYDR。JOHNWILSON。
I。
WhenlovewithunconfinedwingsHoverswithinmygates;
AndmydivineALTHEAbringsTowhisperatthegrates;
WhenIlyetangledinherhaire,
Andfetterdtohereye,
Thebirds,thatwantonintheaire,Knownosuchliberty。
II。
WhenflowingcupsrunswiftlyroundWithnoallayingTHAMES,Ourcarelesseheadswithrosesbound,Ourheartswithloyalflames;
Whenthirstygriefeinwinewesteepe,Whenhealthsanddraughtsgofree,Fishes,thattippleinthedeepe,Knownosuchlibertie。
III。
When(likecommittedlinnets)I
WithshrillerthroatshallsingThesweetnes,mercy,majesty,AndgloriesofmyKing。
WhenIshallvoycealoud,howgoodHeis,howgreatshouldbe,Inlargedwinds,thatcurletheflood,Knownosuchliberty。
IV。
Stonewallsdoenotaprisonmake,Norironbarsacage;
MindesinnocentandquiettakeThatforanhermitage;
IfIhavefreedomeinmylove,Andinmysouleamfree,AngelsalonethatsoreaboveEnjoysuchliberty。
ThefirststanzaofthisfamoussongisharmonizedinCHEERFULLAYRESORBALLADS:FIRSTCOMPOSEDFORONESINGLEVOICE,ANDSINCESETFORTHREEVOICES。ByJohnWilson,Dr。inMusic,ProfessorofthesameintheUniversityofOxford。Oxford,1660
(Sept。20,1659),4to。p。10。Ihavesometimesthoughtthat,whenLovelacecomposedthisproduction,hehadinhisrecollectionsomeofthesentimentsinWither’sSHEPHERDSHUNTING,1615。See,moreparticularly,thesonnet(atp。248ofMr。Gutch’sBristoledition)commencing:——
"Ithater’stwhiletheworld’ssweetairdiddraw。"
Peele,inKINGDAVIDANDFAIRBETHSABE,1599,hasasimilarfigure,whereDavidsays:——
"Nowcomesmylovertrippingliketheroe,Andbringsmylongingstangledinherhair。"
The"lover"isofcourseBethsabe。
ThusMiddleton,inhisMOREDISSEMBLERSBESIDESWOMEN,printedin1657,butwrittenbefore1626,says:——
"Butformodesty,Ishouldfallfoulinwordsuponfondman,Thatcanforgethisexcellenceandhonour,Hisseriousmeditations,beingtheendOfhiscreation,tolearnwelltodie;
AndliveaPRISONERTOAWOMAN’SEYE。"
OriginalreadsGODS;thepresentwordissubstitutedinaccordancewithaMS。copyofthesongprintedbythelateDr。Bliss,inhiseditionofWoodsATHENAE。IfDr。BlisshadbeenawareoftheextraordinarycorruptionsunderwhichthetextofLUCASTAlaboured,hewouldhavehadlesshesitationinadoptingBIRDSasthetruereading。The"SongtoAlthea,"isafavourablespecimenoftheclassofcompositiontowhichitbelongs;butIfearthatithasbeenover—estimated。
PercyveryunnecessarilyalteredLIKECOMMITTEDLINNETS
toLINNET—LIKECONFINED(Percy’sRELIQUES,ii。247;Moxon’sed。)
Ellis(SPECIMENSOFEARLYENGLISHPOETS,ed。1801,iii。252)
saysthatthislatterreadingis"moreintelligible。"Itisnot,however,eitherwhatLovelacewrote,orwhat(itmaybepresumed)
heintendedtowrite,andnothing,itwouldseem,canbeclearerthanthepassageasitstands,COMMITTEDsignifying,infact,nothingmorethanCONFINED。ItisfortunatefortheloversofearlyEnglishliteraturethatBp。Percyhadcomparativelylittletodowithit。Emendationofatextiswellenough;
butthewholesaleandarbitraryslaughterofitisquiteanothermatter。
SONNET。
TOGENERALLGORING,AFTERTHEPACIFICATIONATBERWICKE。
ALACHABOT。
I。
Nowthepeaceismadeatthefoesrate,
Whilstmenofarmestokettlestheiroldhelmestranslate,Anddrinkeincaskesofhonourableplate。
Inev’ryhand[let]acupbefound,ThatfromallheartsahealthmaysoundToGORINGtoGORINGsee’tgoeround。
II。
Hewhosegloriesshinesobraveandhigh,Thatcaptivetheyintriumphleadeeachcareandeye,Claiminguncombatedthevictorie,Andfromtheearthtoheav’nrebound,Fixtthereeternallasthisround:
ToGORINGtoGORINGseehimcrown’d。
III。
Tohislovelybride,inlovewithscars,Whoseeyeswounddeepeinpeace,asdothhisswordinwars;
TheyshortlymustdeposetheQueenofStars:
Hercheekesthemorningblushesgive,Andthebenightedworldrepreeve;
ToLETTICEtoLETTICEletherlive。
IV。
Givemescorchingheat,thyheat,drySun,ThattothispayreImaydrinkeoffanocean:
Yetleavemygratefulthirstunquensht,undone;
Orafullbowleofheav’nlywine,Inwhichdissolvedstarsshouldshine,Tothecoupletothecoupleth’aredivine。
Particularsofthiscelebratedman,afterwardcreatedEarlofNorwich,maybefoundinEachard’sHISTORY,Rushworth’sCOLLECTIONS,Whitelocke’sMEMOIRS,Collins’PEERAGEbyBrydges,Pepys’DIARY(i。150,ed。1858),andPeck’sDESIDERATACURIOSA,(ed。1779,ii。479)。Whitelockespeaksveryhighlyofhismilitarycharacter。InapoemcalledTHEGALLANTSOFTHETIMES,printedin"WitRestored,"1658,thereisthefollowingpassage:——
"AgreatburgandineforWILLMURRAY’SsakeGEORGESYMONDS,hevowsthefirstcoursetotake:
WhenSTRADLINGaGraeciandogletfly,Whotookthebearbythenoseimmediately;
ToseethemsoforwardHughPollarddidsmile,WhohadanoldcurrofCanaryoyl,AndhelduphisheadthatGEORGEGORINGmightsee,Whothencryedaloud,TOMEE,BOYS,TOMEE!"
See,also,THEANSWER:——
"GEORGE,GenerallofGuenefrieds,Heisajovialllad,ThoughhisheartandfortunesdisagreeOfttimestomakehimsad。"
ConsultDavenant’sWorks,1673,p。247,andFRAGMENTAAULICA,1662,pp。47,54。LordGoringdiedJan。6,1663(Smyth’sOBITUARY,p。57;CamdenSoc。)。
ALACHABOTwasaFrenchdancetune,christenedaftertheadmiralofthatname,inthesamemannerasALABOURBON,mentionedelsewhereinLUCASTA,deriveditstitlefromanothercelebratedperson。ThosewhohaveanyacquaintancewiththehistoryofearlyEnglishmusicneednottobeinformedthatitwasformerlythepracticeofourowncomposerstoseekthepatronageofthegentlemenandladiesabouttheCourtfortheirworks,andtoidentifytheirnameswiththem。Thuswehave"MyLadyCarey’sDumpe,"&c。&c。
Expense。
SIRTHOMASWORTLEY’SSONNETANSWERED。
[THESONNET。
I。
NomoreThoulittlewingedarcher,nownomoreAsheretofore,Thoumaistpretendwithinmybreasttobide,Nomore,SincecruellDeathofdearestLYNDAMORE
Hathmedepriv’d,Ibidadieutolove,andalltheworldbeside。
II。
Go,go;
LaybythyquiverandunbendthybowPooresilliefoe,Thouspend’stthyshaftsbutatmybreastinvain,SinceDeathMyhearthathwithafatalliciedeartAlreadyslain,Thoucanstnoteverhopetowarmeherwound,Orwoundito’reagaine。]
THEANSWER。
I。
Againe,Thouwittycruellwanton,nowagaine,Throughev’ryveine,Hurleallyourlightning,andstrikeev’rydart,Againe,BeforeIfeelethispleasing,pleasingpaine。
Ihavenoheart,NorcanIlivebutsweetlymurder’dwithSodeare,sodeareasmart。
II。
Thenflye,Andkindleallyourtorchesathereye,TomakemedyeHermartyr,andputonmyroabeofflame:
SoI,Advancedonmyblazingwingsonhigh,IndeathbecameInthroan’dastarre,andornamentuntoHerglorious,gloriousname。
AGUILTLESSELADYIMPRISONED:AFTERPENANCED。
SONG。
SETBYMR。WILLIAMLAWES。
I。
Heark,faireone,howwhate’rehereisDothlaughandsingatthydistresse;
Notoutofhatetothyreliefe,Butjoyt’enjoythee,thoughingriefe。
II。
Seethatwhichchaynesyou,youchainehere;
Theprisonisthyprisoner;
Howmuchthyjaylor’skeeperart!
Hebindesyourhands,butyouhisheart。
III。
Thegyvestorasesosmoothaskin,Aresountothemselveswithin;
But,blesttokissesofayreanarme,Hastetobehappywiththatharme;
IV。
Andplayaboutthywantonwrist,Asifinthemthousowertdrest;
Butiftoorough,toohardtheypresse,Oh,theybutclosely,closelykisse。
V。
Andasthybarefeetblessetheway,Thepeopledoenotmock,butpray,Andcallthee,asamas’dtheyrunInsteadofprostitute,anun。
VI。
ThemerrytorchburneswithdesireTokindletheeternallfire,AndlightlydauncesinthineeyesTotunesofepithalamies。
VII。
Thesheet’sty’devertothywast,Howthankfulltobesoimbrac’t!
AndseethyveryverybondsAreboundtothee,tobindesuchhands。
TOHISDEAREBROTHERCOLONELF。L。
IMMODERATELYMOURNINGMYBROTHERSUNTIMELYDEATH
ATCARMARTHEN。
I。
Iftearescouldwashtheillaway,ApearleforeachwetbeadI’dpay;
Butasdew’dcornethefullergrowes,Sowater’deyesbutswellourwoes。
II。
Onedropanothercals,whichstill(Griefeaddingfuell)dothdistill;
Toofruitfullofherselfeisanguish,Weneednocherishingtolanguish。
III。
Cowardfatedegen’ratemanLikelittlechildrenuses,whenHewhipsusfirst,untillweweepe,Then,’causewestillaweepingkeepe。
IV。
Thenfromthyfirmeselfeneverswerve;
Tearesfatthegriefethattheyshouldsterve;
IrondecreesofdestinieArener’ewipe’toutwithaweteye。
V。
Butthiswayyoumaygainethefield,Opposebutsorrow,and’twillyield;
Onegallantthorough—maderesolveDothstarryinfluencedissolve。
ThomasLovelace。SeeMEMOIR。
TOALADYTHATDESIREDMEIWOULDBEAREMYPARTWITHHERINASONG。
MADAMA。L。
Thisistheprittiestmotion:
Madam,th’alarumsofadrummeThatcalsyourlord,settoyourcries,Tominearesacredsymphonies。
What,though’tissaidIhaveavoice;
Iknow’tisbutthathollownoiseWhich(asitthroughmypipedothspeed)
Bitternsdocarolthroughareed;
Inthesamekeywithmonkeysjiggs,Ordirgesofproscribedpiggs,OrthesoftSerenadesaboveIncalmeofnight,whencatsmakelove。
Waseversuchaconsortseen!
Fourscoreandfourteenwithforteen?
Yetsoonerthey’lagree,onepaire,Thenweinourspring—winteraire;
Theymayimbrace,sigh,kiss,therest:
Ourbreathknowsnoughtbuteastandwest。
ThushaveIheardtochildrenscriesThefairenursestillsuchlullabies,That,wellallsayd(forwhattherelay),Thepleasuredidthesorrowpay。
Surether’sanotherwaytosaveYourphansie,madam;that’stohave(’Tisbutapetitioningkindefate)
TheorganssenttoBilingsgate,Wheretheytothatsoftmurm’ringquireShallteachyouallyoucanadmire!
Ordobutheare,howlove—bangKateInpantrydarkeforfreageofmate,Withedgeofsteelethesquarewoodshapes,AndDIDOtoitchauntsorscrapes。
ThemerryPhaetonoth’carreYou’lvowmakesamelodiousjarre;
SweeterandsweeterwhislethHeToun—anointedaxel—tree;
Suchswiftnotesheand’swheelsdorun;
Forme,IyeeldhimPhaebusson。
Say,faireComandres,canitbeYoushouldordaineamutinie?
ForwhereIhowle,allaccentsfall,Askingsharangues,tooneandall。
Ulissesartisnowwithstood:
Youravishbothwithsweetandgood;
SaintSyren,sing,forIdareheare,ButwhenIope’,oh,stopyoureare。
Farlessebe’taemulationTopasseme,orintrillortone,LikethethinthroatofPhilomel,Andthesmartlutewhoshouldexcell,Asifhersoftcordsshouldbegin,Andstriveforsweetneswiththepin。
YetcanImusicktoo;butsuchAsisbeyondallvoiceortouch;
Mymindecaninfaireorderchime,Whilstmytrueheartstillbeatsthetime;
Mysoule[’s]sofullofharmonie,Thatitwithallpartscanagree;
Ifyouwindeuptothehighestfret,
Itshalldescendaneightfromit,Andwhenyoushallvouchsafetofall,Sixteeneaboveyouitshallcall,Andyet,sodis—assentingone,Theybothshallmeetinunison。
Comethen,brightcherubin,begin!
Myloudestmusickiswithin。
Takeallnoteswithyourskillfulleyes;
Hearke,ifminedonotsympathise!
Soundallmythoughts,andseeexprestThetablatureofmylargebrest;
Thenyou’ladmit,thatItoocanMusickabovedeadsoundsofman;
Suchasalonedothblessethespheres,Nottobereachtwithhumaneeares。
"MadamA。L。"isnotinMS。copy。"TheLadyA。L。"and"MadamA。L。"mayveryprobablybetwodifferentpersons:forCarewinhisPoems(edit。1651,8vo。p。2)hasapiece"ToA。L。;
PersuasionstoLove,"anditispossiblethattheA。L。ofCarew,andtheA。L。mentionedabove,areidentical。ThefollowingpoemisprintedinDurfey’sPILLSTOPURGEMELANCHOLY,v。120,butwhetheritwaswrittenbyLovelace,andaddressedtothesamelady,whomherepresentsaboveasrequestinghimtojoinherinasong,orwhetheritwastheproductionofanotherpen,Icannotatalldecide。ItisnotparticularlyunlikethestyleoftheauthorofLUCASTA。Atallevents,Iamnotawarethatithasbeenappropriatedbyanybodyelse,andasIamreluctanttoomitanypiecewhichLovelaceisatalllikelytohavecomposed,IgivetheselinesjustasIfindtheminDurfey,wheretheyaresettomusic:——
"TOHISFAIRESTVALENTINEMRS。A。L。
"Come,prettybirds,presentyourlays,Andlearntochauntagoddesspraise;
Yewood—nymphs,letyourvoicesbeEmploy’dtoserveherdeity:
Andwarbleforth,yevirginsnine,SomemusictomyValentine。
"Herbosomislove’sparadise,Thereisnoheav’nbutinhereyes;
She’schasterthantheturtle—dove,Andfairerthanthequeenoflove:
YetallperfectionsdocombineTobeautifiemyValentine。
"She’sNature’schoicestcabinet,Wherehonour,beauty,worthandwitAreallunitedinherbreast。
Thegracesclaimaninterest:
AllvirtuesthataremostdivineShineclearestinmyValentine。"
Nights——Editor’sMS。
Where——Ibid。
Do——Ibid。
Thereishereeitheraninterpolationintheprintedcopy,oranHIATUSintheMS。Thelatterreads:——
"YetmayI’mbrace,sigh,kisse,therest,"&c。,thusleavingoutalineandahalforupwardofthepoem,asitisprintedinLUCASTA。
MS。reads:——"Yourephansie,madam,"omitting"that’stohave。"
OriginalandMS。haveREACH。
Thismustrefer,Isuppose,totheballadofQueenDido,whichthewomansingsassheworks。ThesignificationofLOVE—BANG
isnoteasilydetermined。BANG,inSuffolk,isatermappliedtoaparticularkindofcheese;butIsuspectthat"love—bangKate"
merelysignifies"noisyKate"here。AstotheoldballadofDido,seeStaffordSmith’sMUSICAANTIQUA,i。10,ii。158;andCollier’sEXTRACTSFROMTHEREGISTERSOFTHESTATIONERS’COMPANY,i。98。
Isubjointhefirststanzaof"Dido"asprintedintheMUSICA
ANTIQUA:——
"DidowastheCarthageQueene,Andlov’dtheTroianknight,Thatwandringmanycoastshadseene,Andmanyadreadfullfight。
Astheya—huntingroad,ashow’rDrovetheminalovingbower,Downtoadarksomecave:
WhereAenaeaswithhischarmesLock’tQueeneDidoinhisarmesAndhadwhathewouldhave。"
AsomewhatdifferentversionisgiveninDurfey’sPILLSTOPURGE
MELANCHOLY,vi。192—3。
ANUNANOYNTED——MS。
ThisandthethreeprecedinglinesarenotinMS。
AlludingofcoursetotheveryfamiliarlegendofUlyssesandtheSyrens。
Aquaver(awell—knownmusicalexpression)。
A——MS。
Amusicalpeg。
AND——MS。
Apieceofwireattachedtothefinger—boardofaguitar。
OriginalandMS。readAN。
ThetablatureofLovelace’stimewastheapplicationofletters,ofthealphabetorotherwise,tothepurposeofexpressingthesoundsornotesofacomposition。
VALIANTLOVE。
I。
NowfieuponthateverlastinglifeIdye!
ShehatesAhmeItmakesmemad;
Asiflovefir’dhistorchatamoisteye,Orwithhisjoyese’recrown’dthesad。
Oh,letmeliveandshout,whenIfallon;
Letmeev’ntriumphinthefirstattempt!
Lovesduellistfromconquest’snotexempt,Whenhisfairmurdresseshallnotgainonegroan,Andheexpireev’ninovation。
II。
Letmemakemyapproach,whenIlyedowneWithcounter—wroughtandtraverseyes;
Withpealsofconfidencebatterthetowne;
Hadeverbeggaryetthekeyes?
No,Iwillvarystormeswithsunandwinde;
Berough,andoffercalmecondition;
Marchinandpread,orstarvethegarrison。
Lethermakesallieshourely:yetI’lefind(Thoughallbeatof)shee’stobeundermin’d。
III。
ThenmayitpleaseyourlittleexcellenceOfheartst’ordaine,bysoundoflips,Thathenceforthnoneintearsdarelovecomence(Herthoughtsith’full,his,inth’eclipse);
Onpaineofhaving’slauncebrokeonherbed,Thathebebrandedallfreebeauties’slave,Andhisownholloweyesbedomb’dhisgrave:
Sinceinyourhoastthatcowardnerewasfed,Whotohisprostrateerewasprostrated。
Thisseemstobeitphraseborrowedbythepoetfromhismilitaryvocabulary。Hewishestoexpressthathehadfortifiedhiseyestoresisttheglancesofhisfairopponent。
OriginalreadsmostunintelligiblyandabsurdlyMARCH
IN(ANDPRAY’D)OR,&c。TOPREADisTOPILLAGE。
LABELLABONAROBA。
TOMYLADYH。
ODE。
I。
Tellme,yesubtilljudgesinlovestreasury,Informme,whichhathmostinrichtmineeye,Thisdiamondsgreatnes,oritsclarity?
II。
Yecloudysparklights,whosevastmultitudeOffiresarehardertobefoundthenview’d,Waiteonthisstarinherfirstmagnitude。
III。
CalmelyorroughlyAh,sheshinestoomuch;
ThatnowIlye(herinfluenceissuch),Chrushtwithtoostrongahand,orsoftatouch。
IV。
Lovers,bewareacertaine,doubleharmeWaitsyourproudhopes,herlooksal—killingcharmGuardedbyherastruevictoriousarme。
V。
ThuswithhereyesbraveTamyrisspakedread,Whichwhenthekingsdullbreastnotentered,Findingshecouldnotlooke,shestrookhimdead。
Thisword,thoughgenerallyusedinabadsensebyearlywriters,doesnotseemtobearinthepresentcaseanyoffensivemeaning。ThelateeditorsofNaresquoteapassagefromoneofCowley’sESSAYS,inwhichthatwriterseemstoimplybythetermmerelyafinewoman。
Sincethenoteatp。133waswritten,thefollowingdescriptionbyAubrey(LIVES,&c。,ii。332),ofapictureoftheLadyVenetiaDigbyhasfallenundermynotice。
"Also,atMr。Rose’s,ajewellerinHenriettaStreet,inCoventGarden,isanexcellentpieceofhers,drawneaftershewasnewlydead。Shehadamostlovelysweet—turnedface,delicatedarkebrownehaire。Shehadaperfecthealthyconstitution;strong;
goodskin;well—proportioned;incliningtoaBONA—ROBA。"
I。
Icannottell,wholovestheskeletonOfapoormarmoset;noughtbutboan,boan;
Givemeanakednesse,withhercloath’son。
II。
Such,whosewhite—sattinuppercoatofskin,Cutuponvelvetrichincarnadin,
Hasyetabody(andofflesh)within。
III。
Sure,itismeantgoodhusbandryinmen,Whodoincorporatewithaeryleane,T’repairtheirsides,andgettheirribbagen。
IV。
Hardhapuntothathuntsman,thatdecreesFatjoysforallhisswet,whenashesees,Afterhis’say,noughtbuthiskeepersfees。
V。
Then,Love,Ibeg,whennextthoutak’stthybow,Thyangryshafts,anddostheart—chasinggo,PasseRASCALLDEARE,strikemethelargestdoe。
i。e。Carnationhue,aspeciesofred。Asanadjective,thewordispeculiarlyrare。
Managementoreconomy。
i。e。Essay。
ARASCALDEERwasformerlyawell—knowntermamongsportsmen,signifyingaleanbeast,notworthpursuit。ThusinAC。MERYTALYS(1525),No。29,wefind:——"[they]apoyntedthysWelchmantostandstill,andforbadehiminanywysetoshoteatnorascaldere,buttomakesureofthegreatemale,andsparenot。"IntheneweditionofNares,otherandmorerecentexamplesoftheemploymentofthetermaregiven。ButintheBOOKOFSAINTALBANS,1486,RASCALisusedinthesignificationmerelyofabeastotherthanoneof"enchace。"
"Andwherethatyecomeinplayneorinplace,Ishallyoutellwhychebenbestysofenchace。
Oneofthemisthebucke:anotheristhedoo:
Thefoxeandthemarteron:andthewylderoo。
Andyeshall,myderechylde,otherbestysall,Wheresoyetheymfinde,Rascallyeshallthemcall。"
ALABOURBON。
DONEMOYPLUSDEPITIEOUPLUSDECREAULTE,CARSANSCIIENEPUISPASVIURE,NEMORIR。
I。
DivineDestroyer,pittymenomore,Orelsemorepittyme;
Givememorelove,ah,quicklygivememore,Orelsemorecruelty!
ForleftthusasIam,Myheartisiceandflame;
Andlanguishingthus,I
Canneitherlivenordye!
II。
Yourgloriesareeclipst,andhiddeninthegraveOfthisindifferency;
And,Caelia,youcanneitheraltarshave,NorI,aDiety:
Theyareaspectsdivine,Thatstillorsmile,orshine,Or,liketh’offendedsky,Frownedeathimmediately。
OriginalreadsAU。
Inhispoementitled"MediocrityinLoverejected,"
Carewhasasimilarsentiment:——
"GivememoreLove,ormoreDisdain,TheTorrid,ortheFrozenZone,Bringequalleaseuntomypaine;
TheTemperateaffordsmenone:
Eitherextreme,ofLove,orHate,Issweeterthanacalmeestate。"
Carew’sPOEMS,ed。1651,p。14。
AndsoalsoStanley(AYRESANDDIALOGUES,setbyJ。Gamble,1656,p。20):——
"Somuchofabsenceanddelay,Thatthusafflictsmymemorie。
Whydostthoukillmeeveryday,Yetwillnotgivemeleavetodie?"
THEFAIREBEGGER。
I。
Comandingasker,ifitbePitythatyoufainewouldhave,ThenIturnebeggeruntothee,Andaskethethingthatthoudostcrave。
Iwillsufficethyhungryneed,Sothouwiltbutmyfancyfeed。
II。
Inallillyeares,waseverknowneOnsomuchbeautysuchadearth?
Which,inthatthrice—bequeathedgowne,LookesliketheSuneclipstwithEarth,Likegoldincanvas,orwithdirtUnsoyledErminsclosebegirt。
III。
Yethappyhe,thatcanbuttastThiswhiterskin,whothirstyis!
Foolesdoteonsattinmotionslac’d:
Thegodsgonakedintheirblisse。
Atth’barrell’sheadthereshinesthevine,Thereonlyrelishesthewine。
IV。
Therequenchmyheat,andthoushaltsupWorthythelipsthatitmusttouch,Nectarfromoutthestarrycup:
Ibegthybreathnothalfesomuch。
Sobothourwantssuppliedshallbe,You’lgiveforlove,I,charity。
V。
Cheapethenarepearle—imbroderies,Thatnotadorne,butcloudthywast;
Thoushaltbecloath’daboveallprise,Ifthouwiltpromisemeimbrac’t。
Wee’lransackneitherchestnorshelfe:
Illcovertheewithmineowneselfe。
VI。
But,cruel,ifthoudostdenyThisnecessaryalmestome,Whatsoft—soul’dmanbutwithhiseyeAndhandwillhencebeshuttothee?
Sinceallmustjudgeyoumoreunkinde:
Istarveyourbody,you,myminde。
OriginalreadsWA’ST。
Satinseemstohavebeenmuchinvogueaboutthistimeasamaterialforfemaledress。
"Theirgloryspringsfromsattin,Theirvanityfromfeather。"
ADESCRIPTIONOFWOMANinWITSINTERPRETER,1662,p。115。
OriginalhasAND。
OriginalreadsCLOUDS。
i。e。TOBEembraced。
[ADIALOGUEBETWIXTCORDANUSANDAMORET,ONALOSTHEART。
Cord。Distressedpilgrim,whosedarkcloudedeyesSpeaktheeamartyrtolove’scruelties,Whitheraway?
Amor。WhatpityingvoiceIhear,Callsbackmyflyingsteps?
Cord。Pr’ythee,drawnear。
Amor。Ishallbutsay,kindswain,whatdothbecomeOfalostheart,eretoElysiumItwoundedwalks?
Cord。First,itdoesfreelyflyeIntothepleasuresofalover’seye;
But,oncecondemn’dtoscorn,itfetter’dlies,Anever—bowingslavetotyrannies。
Amor。Ipityitssadfate,sinceitsoffenceWasbutforlove。Cantearsrecallitthence?
Cord。Ono,suchtears,asdoforpitycall,Sheproudlyscorns,andgloriesattheirfall。
Amor。Sinceneithersighsnortears,kindshepherd,tell,Willnotakissprevail?
Cord。Thoumay’staswellCourtEcchowithakiss。
Amor。CannoartmoveAsacredviolencetomakeherlove?
Cord。Ono’tisonlyDestinyorFateFashionsourwillseithertoloveorhate。
Amor。Then,captiveheart,sincethatnohumanespellHathpowertograspetheehis,farewell。
Cord。Farewell。
Cho。Losthearts,likelambsdrovefromtheirfoldsbyfears,Maybackreturnbychance,butnotbytears。]
SoCotgrave。Lawes,andafterhimSinger,readCAN’T。
SoCotgrave。LawesandSingerreadAND。
OmittedbyLawesandSinger:IfollowCotgrave。
SoCotgrave。LawesprintedNE’ER。
ThisistakenfromAYRESANDDIALOGUESFORONE,TWO,ANDTHREEVOYCES,ByHenryLawes,1653—5—8,whereitissettomusicfortwotreblesbyH。L。ItwasnotincludedintheposthumouscollectionofLovelace’spoems。ThisdialogueisalsofoundinWITSINTERPRETER,byJ。Cotgrave,1662,8vo,page203(firstprintedin1655),andafewimprovedreadingshavebeenadoptedfromthattext。
COMMENDATORYANDOTHERVERSES,PREFIXEDTOVARIOUSPUBLICATIONSBETWEEN1638AND1647
ANELEGIE。
PRINCESSEKATHERINEBORNE,CHRISTENED,BURIED,INONEDAY。
You,thatcanhaplymixeyourjoyeswithcries,AndweavewhiteIoswithblackElegies,Cancarolloutadirge,andinonebreathSingtothetuneeitheroflife,ordeath;
You,thatcanweepethegladnesseofthespheres,Andpenahymne,insteadofinke,withteares;
Here,hereyourunproportion’dwitletfall,Tocelebratethisnew—bornefunerall,Andgreetethatlittlegreatnesse,whichfromth’wombeDroptbothaloadtoth’cradleandthetombe。
Brightsouleteachus,towarblewithwhatfeetThyswathinglinnenandthywindingsheet,Weepe,orshoutforththatfontssolemnitie,Whichatoncechristn’dandburiedthee,Andchangeourshrillerpassionswiththatsound,Firsttoldtheeintoth’ayre,thentotheground。
Ah,wertthouborneforthis?onlytocallTheKingandQueengueststoyourburiall!
Tobidgoodnight,yourdaynotyetbegun,Andshewasetting,erearisingsun!
Orwouldstthouhavethylifeamartyrdom?
Dyeintheactofthyreligion,Fit,excellently,innocentlygood,Firstsealingitwithwater,thenthyblood?
Aswhenonblazingwingsablestmansores,AndhavingpasttoGodthroughfierydores,Straight’sroab’dwithflames,whenthesameelement,Whichwashisshame,provesnowhisornament;
Oh,howhehast’neddeath,burn’ttobefryed,
Kill’dtwicewitheachdelay,tilldeified。
Soswifthathbeenthyrace,sofullofflight,Likehimcondemn’d,ev’nagedwithanight,Cuttingallletswithclouds,asifth’hadstbeenLikeangelsplum’d,andborneaCherubin。
Or,inyourjourneytowardsheav’n,say,Tookeyoutheworldalittleinyourway?
Saw’standdislik’stitsvainepompe,thendidstflyeUpforeternallgloriestotheskye?
Likeareligiousambitiousone,Aspiredstfortheeverlastingcrowne?
Ahholytraytourtoyourbrotherprince,Rob’dofhisbirth—rightandpreheminence!
Couldyouascendyon’chaireofstatee’rehim,Andsnatchfromth’heirethestarrydiadem?
Makingyourhonoursnowasmuchuneven,Asgodsoneartharelessethensaintsinheav’n。
Triumphsingtriumphs,thenOh,putonallYourrichestlookes,drestforthisfestivall!
Thoughtsfullofravishtreverence,witheyesSofixt,aswhenasaintwecanonize;
ClapwingswithSeraphinsbeforethethroneAtthiseternallcoronation,Andteachyoursoulesnewmirth,suchasmaybeWorthythisbirth—daytodivinity。
Butahtheseblastyourfeasts,thejubiliesWesendyouuparesad,aswereourcries,AndoftruejoywecanexpressenomoreThuscrown’d,thenwhenweburiedtheebefore。
Princesseinheav’n,forgiveneswhilstweResigneourofficetotheHIERARCHY。
AllhistoricalandgenealogicalworksaredeficientinminuteinformationrelativetothefamilyofCharlesI。
EveninAnderson’sROYALGENEALOGIES,1732,andinthefolioeditionsofRapinandTindal,thesedetailsareoverlooked。
Atpage36ofhisDESCENDANTSOFTHESTUARTS,1858,Mr。TownendobservesthattwoofthechildrenofCharlesI。diedininfancy,andofthesethePrincesseKatherine,commemoratedbyLovelace,wasperhapsone。ThepresentverseswereoriginallyprintedinMUSARUMOXONIENSIUMCHARISTERIA,Oxon。1638,4to,fromwhichafewbetterreadingshavebeenobtained。Withtheexceptionsmentionedinthenotes,thevariationsoftheearliertextfromthatfoundherearemerelyliteral。
P。140。PRINCESSEKATHERINE,BORNE,&C。,INONEDAY。
InEllis’sORIGINALLETTERS,SecondSeries,iii。265,isprintedascrapfromHarl。MS。6988,inthehandwritingofthePrincessElizabeth,daughterofCharlesI。,givingalistofthechildrenofthatprincebyHenriettaMaria,withthedatesoftheirbirth。
TherementionismadeofaPrincessKatherine,bornJan。29,1639。
1639is,Ibelieve,aslipofthepenfor1637;thatistosay,theprincesswasbornonthe29thofJanuary,1637—8。ThisdiscrepancybetweentheCHARISTERIAandthememoranduminHarl。MS。
escapedSirH。Ellis,whowaspossiblyunawareoftheexistenceoftheformer。For,unlessamistakeisassumedonthepartofthewriteroftheMS。,theexistenceofTWOPrincessesKatherinemustbegranted。
ThisreadingfromCHARISTERIA,1638,seemspreferabletoAPTLY,asitstandsintheLUCASTA。
SotheCHARISTERIA。ThereadinginLUCASTAisMOURNE。
InLUCASTAthereadingisBURIED,ANDCHRIST’NED。
ThiswordisomittedintheLUCASTA;itisheresuppliedfromtheCHARISTERIA。
LUCASTAreadsSHOWE’S。SHEW,asprintedinCHARISTERIA,isclearlythetrueword。
i。e。freed。FREEandFREEDweresometimesformerlypronouncedlikeFRYandFRYED:forLordNorth,inhisFORESTOFVARIETIES,1645,hastheselines——
"Birdsthatlonghavelivedfree,Caughtandcag’d,butpineanddie。"
HereevidentlyFREEisintendedtorhymewithDIE。
CLITOPHONANDLUCIPPETRANSLATED。
TOTHELADIES。
Pray,ladies,breath,awhilelaybyCaelestialSydney’sARCADY;
Heere’sastorythatdothclaimeAlittlerespitefromhisflame:
ThenwithaquickdissolvinglookeUnfoldthesmoothnesofthisbook,Towhichnoart(exceptyoursight)
Canreachaworthyepithite;
’Tisanabstractofallvolumes,ApillasterofallcolumnesFancye’rerear’dtowit,tobeThesmallestgodsepitome,AndsocompactedlyexpresseAllloverspleasingwretchednes。
GallantPamela’smajestyAndhersweetsistersmodestyArefixtineachofyou;youare,Distinct,whatthesetogetherwere;
Divinest,thatarereallyWhatCariclea’sfeign’dtobe;
Thatareev’ryonetheNine,AndbrighterhereAstreasshine;
ViewourLucippe,andremaineInher,thesebeautieso’reagaine。
AmazementNobleClitophonEv’nnowlooktsomewhatcolderonHiscoolermistresse,andshetooSmil’dnotassheus’dtodo。
SeetheindividuallpayreAreatsadoddes,andpartedare;
Theyquarrell,aemulate,andstandAtstrife,whofirstshalkisseyourhand。
AnewdisputetherelatelyroseBetwixttheGreekesandLatines,whoseTemplesshouldbeboundwithglory,Inbestlanguagingthisstory;
Yeeheyresoflove,thatwithoneSMILE
Aten—yeereswarcanreconcile;
PeacefullHellensVertuousSee:
Thejarringlanguagesagree!
Andhere,allarmeslaydby,theydoeInEnglishmeettowaytonyou。
AchillisTatiiAlexandriniDELUCIPPESETCLITOPHONTIS
AMORIBUSLIBRIOCTO。Thetranslationofthiscelebratedwork,towhichLovelacecontributedthecommendatoryverseshererepublished,wasexecutedbyhisfriendAnthonyHodges,A。M。,ofNewCollege,Oxford,andwasprintedatOxfordin1638,8vo。
TherehadbeenalreadyatranslationbyW。Burton,purportingtobedonefromtheGreek,in1597,4to。Thetextof1649andthatof1638exhibitsomanyvariations,thatthereadermaybegladtohavetheopportunityofcomparison:——
"TOTHELADIES。
"Fairones,breathe:awhilelaybyBlessedSidney’sARCADY:
Here’sastorythatwillmakeYounotrepentHIMtoforsake;
AndwithyourdissolvinglookeVntiethecontentsofthisbooke;
Towhichnought(exceptyoursight)
Cangiveaworthieepithite。
’Tisanabstractofallvolumes,ApillasterofallcolumnesFanciee’rerear’dtowit,tobeLittleLOVE’Sepitome,AndcompactedlyexpresseAlllovershappywretchednesse。
"BravePAMELA’SmajestieAndhersweetsister’smodestieArefixtineachofyou,youareAlone,whatthesetogetherwereDivinest,thatarereallyWhatCariclea’sfeign’dtobe;
Thatareeveryone,theNine;
AndonearthAstraeasshine;
BeourLEUCIPPE,andremaineInHER,alltheseo’reagaine。
"WonderNobleCLITOPHON
MethinkeslookessomewhatcolderonHisbeauteousmistresse,andshetooSmilesnotassheus’dtodoe。
SeetheindividuallpayreAreatoddesandpartedare;
Quarrel,emulate,andstandAtstrife,whofirstshallkisseyourhand。
"Anewwarree’rewhilearose’TwixttheGREEKESandLATINES,whoseTemplesshouldbeboundwithgloryInbestlanguagingthisstory:
You,thatwithonelovelysmileAten—yeareswarrecanreconcile;
PeacefullHellensawfullseeThejarringlanguagesagree,Andhereallarmeslaidby,theydoeMeetinEnglishtocourtyou。"
Rich。Lovelace,Ma:Ar:A:Glou:Eq:Aur:Fil:Nat:Max。
SeeHalliwell’sDICTIONARYOFOLDPLAYS,1860,art。CLYTOPHON。
TherecanbenodoubtthatSidney’sARCADIAwasformerlyaspopularinitswayamongthereadersofbothsexesasSirRichardBaker’sCHRONICLEappearstohavebeen。Theformerwasespeciallyrecommendedtothosewhosoughtoccasionalrelaxationfromsevererstudies。SeeHigford’sINSTITUTIONS,1658,8vo,p。46—7。InhispoemofTHESURPRIZE,CottondescribeshisnymphasreadingtheARCADIAonthebankofariver——
"ThehappyOBJECTofhereyeWasSIDNEY’SlivingARCADY:
Whoseamoroustalehadsobetrai’dDesireinthisall—lovelymaid;
That,whilsthercheckablushdidwarm,IreadLOVESstoryinherform。"
POEMSONSEVERALOCCASIONS。
ByCharlesCotton,Esq。Lond。1689,8vo,p。392。
ThePamelaofSydney’sARCADIA
TheallusionistothecelebratedstoryofTHEAGENESAND
CHARICLEA,whichwaspopularinthiscountryatanearlyperiod。
AdramaonthesubjectwasperformedbeforeCourtin1574。
Lovelacerefers,itmaybepresumed,toaneditionofACHILLESTATIUS,inwhichtheGreektextwasprintedwithaLatintranslation。
TOMYTRUELYVALIANT,LEARNEDFRIEND;WHOINHISBOOKE
RESOLV’DTHEARTGLADIATORYINTOTHEMATHEMATICKS。
I。
Hearke,readerwiltbelearn’dith’warres?
Agen’rallinagowne?
Strikealeaguewithartsandscarres,Andsnatchfromeachacrowne?
II。
Wouldstbeawonder?Suchaone,Asshouldwinwithalooke?
Abishopinagarison,Andconquerbythebooke?
III。
Takethenthismathematickshield,AndhenceforthbyitsrulesBeabletodisputeith’field,Andcombateintheschooles。
IV。
WhilstpeacefullearningonceagaineAndthesouldiersoconcord,Asthathefightsnowwithherpenne,Andshewriteswithhissword。
"PALLASARMATA。TheGentlemen’sArmorie。WhereintherightandgenuineuseoftheRapierandoftheSword,aswellagainsttherighthandedasagainstthelefthandedman’isdisplayed。’[ByG。A。]London,1639,8vo。Withseveralillustrativewoodcuts。"Thelines,asoriginallyprintedinPALLASARMATA,varyfromthosesubsequentlyadmittedintoLUCASTA。Theyareasfollow:——
TOTHEREADER。
Harke,reader,would’stbelearn’dith’warres,ACAPTAINEinagowne?
Strikealeaguewithbookesandstarres,Andweaveofboththecrowne?
Would’stbeawonder?SuchaoneAswouldwinnewithalooke?
Aschollarinagarrison?
Andconquerbythebooke?
Takethenthismathematickshield,Andhenceforthbyitsrules,Beabletodisputeith’field,Andcombateintheschooles。
Whil’stpeacefulllearningonceagenAndth’souldierdoconcorde,Asthathefightsnowwithherpenne,Andshewriteswithhissword。
Rich。Lovelace,A。Glouces。Oxon。
TOFLETCHERREVIV’D。
HowhaveIbinreligious?whatstrangegoodHasscap’tme,thatIneverunderstood?
HaveIhel—guardedHaeresieo’rthrowne?
Healdwoundedstates?madekingsandkingdomsone?
ThatFATEshouldbesomercifultome,Toletmelivet’havesaidIhavereadthee。
Fairestar,ascendthejoythelifethelightOfthistempestuousage,thisdarkeworldssight!
Oh,fromthycrowneofglorydartoneflameMaystrikeasacredreverence,whilestthyname(Likeholyflamenstotheirgodofday)
Webowing,sing;andwhilstwepraise,wepray。
BrightspiritwhoseaeternalmotionOfwit,likeTime,stilinitselfedidrun,Bindingallothersinit,anddidgiveCommission,howfarthisorthatshallive;
LikeDESTINYofpoemswho,assheSignesdeathtoall,herselfecamneverdye。
Andnowthypurple—robedTraegedy,
Inherimbroider’dbuskins,calsmineeye,WherethebraveAetiusweseebetray’d,T’obeyhisdeath,whomthousandlivesobey’d;
Whilstthatthemightyfoolehisscepterbreakes,Andthroughhisgen’ralswoundshisowndoomespeakes,WeavingthusrichlyVALENTINIAN,Thecostliestmonarchwiththecheapestman。
Souldiersmayheretotheiroldgloriesadde,TheLOVERlove,andbewithreasonMAD:
Not,asofold,Alcidesfurious,
Whowilderthenhisbulldidtearethehouse(Hurlinghislanguagewiththecanvasstone):
Twasthoughtthemonsterror’dthesob’rertone。
ButahwhenthouthysorrowdidstinspireWithpassions,blackeasisherdarkeattire,VirginsassufferershavewepttoseeSowhiteasoule,soredacrueltie;
Thatthouhastgriev’d,andwithunthoughtredresseDri’dtheirweteyeswhonowthymercyblesse;
Yet,lothtolosethywatryjewell,whenJoywip’titoff,laughterstraightsprung’tagen。
NowruddycheckedMirthwithrosiewings
Fansev’rybrowwithgladnesse,whilstshesingsDelighttoall,andthewholetheatreAfestivallinheavendothappeare:
Nothingbutpleasure,love;and(likethemorne)
Eachfaceagen’ralsmilingdothadorne。
Heareye,foulspeakers,thatpronouncetheaireOfstewesandshores,IwillinformeyouwhereAndhowtocloatharightyourwantonwit,Withouthernastybawdattendingit:
Viewherealoosethoughtsaydwithsuchagrace,MinervamighthavespokeinVenusface;
Sowelldisguis’d,that’twasconceiv’dbynoneButCupidhadDiana’slinnenon;
Andallhisnakedpartssovail’d,th’expresseTheshapewithclowdingtheuncomlinesse;
ThatifthisReformation,whichweReceiv’d,hadnotbeenburiedwiththee,Thestage(asthisworke)mighthaveliv’dandlov’dHerlines,theaustereSkarlethadapprov’d;
Andth’actorswiselybeenfromthatoffenceAscleare,astheyarenowfromaudience。
ThuswiththyGeniusdidthescaeneexpire,
Wantingthyactiveandcorrectingfire,Thatnow(tospreadadarknesseoverall)
NothingremainesbutPoesietofall:
AndthoughfromthesethyEmberswereceiveSomewarmth,somuchasmaybesaid,welive;
Thatwedarepraisetheeblushlesse,intheheadOfthebestpieceHermestoLovee’reread;
Thatwerejoyceandgloryinthywit,Andfeasteachotherwithremembringit;
Thatwedarespeakthythought,thyactsrecite:
Yetallmenhenceforthbeafraidtowrite。
Fletcherthedramatistfellavictimtotheplagueof1625。
SeeAubrey’sLIVES,vol。2,parti。p。352。TheverseshererepublishedwereoriginallyprefixedtothefirstcollectededitionofBeaumontandFletcher’sTRAGEDIESANDCOMEDIES,1647,folio。
ItisscarcelynecessarytoremindthereaderthatLovelacewasonlyachildwhenFletcherdied。
VALENTINIAN,ATRAGEDY。Firstprintedinthefolioof1647。
THEMADLOVER。Alsofirstprintedinthefolioof1647。
AnallusiontotheHERCULESFURENSofEuripides。Lovelacehad,nodoubt,sometinctureofGreekscholarship(SeeWood’sATH。
OX。ii。466);butastotheextentofhisacquirementsinthisdirection,itishardtospeakwithconfidence。AmongthebooksofMr。ThomasJolley,dispersedin1853,wasacopyofClenardusINSTITUTIONESGRAECAELINGUAE,Lugd。Batav。1626,8vo。,onthetitleofwhichwas"RichardLovelace,1630,March5,"supposedtobetheautographofthepoetwhenaschoolboy。
Inthemarginofthecopyof1647,againsttheselinesiswritten——"COMEDIES:THESPANISHCURATE,THEHUMOROUS
LIEUTENANT,THETAMERTAMED,THELITTLEFRENCHLAWYER。"
Sewers。
THECUSTOMEOFTHECOUNTREY——Marginalnoteinthecopyof1647。
Query,LAUD。
TheselinesrefertotheprohibitionpublishedbytheParliamentagainsttheperformanceofstage—playsandinterludes。
Thefirstordinanceappearedin1642,butthatnotbeingfoundeffectual,amorestringentmeasurewasenactedin1647,directing,undertheheaviestpenalties,thetotalandimmediateabolitionoftheatricals。
i。e。Thescenicdrama。TheoriginalmeaningofSCENE
wasawoodenstagefortherepresentationofplays,&c。,anditishereusedthereforeinitsprimitivesense。
IntheoldmythologyofGreece,CupidisthepupilofMercuryorHermes;or,inotherwords,LOVEisinstructedbyELOQUENCEandWIT。
LUCASTA。
PosthumePOEMS
0F
RICHARDLOVELACEESQ;
THOSEHONOURSCOMETOOLATE,THATONOURASHESWAITE。
Mart。lib。I。Epig。26。
LONDON。
PrintedbyWILLIAMGODBIDforCLEMENTDARBY。
1659。
THEDEDICATION。
TOTHERIGHTH0N0RABLEJOHNLOVELACE,ESQUIRE。
SIR,LUCASTA(fair,buthaplessmaid!)
OnceflourishtunderneaththeshadeOfyourillustriousMother;now,Anorphangrown,shebowstoyou!
Toyou,hervertues’nobleheir;
Ohmayshefindprotectionthere!
Norletherwelcomebetheless,’Causearoughhandmakesheraddress:
One(towhomfoestheMusesare)
Bornandbredupinruggedwar:
For,conscioushowunfitIam,Ionlyhavepronounc’dhernameTowakenpityinyourbrest,Andleavehertearstopleadtherest。
Sir,YourmostobedientServantandkinsmanDUDLEYPOSTHUMUS—LOVELACE。
ThisgentlemanwastheeldestsonofJohn,secondLordLovelaceofHurley,co。Berks,byAnne,daughterofThomas,EarlofCleveland。ThefirstpartofLUCASTAwasinscribedbythepoethimselftoLadyLovelace,hismother。
POEMS。
TOLVCASTA。
HERRESERVEDLOOKS。
LUCASTA,frown,andletmedie,Butsmile,andsee,Ilive;
ThesadindifferenceofyoureyeBothkillsanddothreprieve。
Youhideourfatewithinitsscreen;
Wefeelourjudgment,erewehear。
SoinonepictureIhaveseenAnangelhere,thedevilthere。
LUCASTALAUGHING。
Heark,howshelaughsaloud,Althoughtheworldputonitsshrowd:
Weptatbythefantasticcrowd,Whocry:onedrop,letfallFromher,mightsavetheuniversalball。
ShelaughsagainAtourridiculouspain;
AndatourmerrymiseryShelaughs,untilshecry。
Sages,forbearThatill—contrivedtear,AlthoughyourfearDothbarricadohopefromyoursoftear。
Thatwhichstillmakeshermirthtoflow,Isoursinister—handedwoe,Whichdownwardsonitsheaddothgo,And,erethatitissown,dothgrow。
Thismakesherspleencontract,Andherjustpleasurefeast:
FortheunjustestactIsstillthepleasant’stjest。
NIGHT。
TOLUCASTA。
Nightloathedjaylorofthelock’dupsun,Andtyrant—turnkeyoncommittedday,Brighteyeslyefetteredinthydungeon,AndHeavenitselfdoththydarkwardsobey。
Thoudostariseourlivinghell;
Withtheegrones,terrors,furiesdwell;
UntilLUCASTAdothawake,Andwithherbeamstheseheavychainesoffshake。
Beholdwithopeningheralmightylid,Brighteyesbreakrowling,andwithlustrespread,Andcaptivedayhischariotmountedis;
Nighttoherproperhellisbeat,Andscrewedtoherebonseat;
Tillth’Earthwithplayoppressedlies,Anddrawesagainthecurtainsofhereyes。
But,bondslave,Iknowneitherdaynornight;
Whethershemurth’ringsleep,orsavingwake;
Nowbroyl’dith’zoneofherreflectedlight,Thenfrose,myisicles,notsinewsshake。
Smilethen,newNature,yoursoftblastDothmeltourice,andfireswaste;
Whil’stthescorch’dshiv’ringworldnewbornNowfeelsitallthedayonerisingmorn。
LOVEINTHRON’D。
ODE。
I。
Introth,Idomyselfperswade,Thatthewildeboyisgrownaman,Andallhischildishnesseofflaid,E’resinceLUCASTAdidhisfiresfan;
H’haslefthisapishjigs,Andwhippingheartslikegigs:
Fort’otherdayIheardhimswear,Thatbeautyshouldbecrown’dinhonourschair。
II。
WithwhatatrueandheavenlystateHedothhisgloriousdartsdispence,Nowcleans’dfromfalsehood,bloodandhate,Andnewlytiptwithinnocence!
LoveJusticeisbecome,Anddoththecrueldoome;
Reversedistheolddecree;
Beholdhesitsinthron’dwithmajestie。
III。
InthronedinLUCASTA’Seye,Hedothourfaithandheartssurvey;
Thenmeasuresthembysympathy,Andeachtoth’othersbreastconvey;
WhilsttohisaltarsnowThefrozenvestalsbow,AndstricktDianatoodothgoA—huntingwithhisfear’d,exchangedbow。
IV。
Th’imbracingseasandambientairNowinhisholyfiresburn;
Fishcouple,birdsandbeastsinpairDotheirownsacrificesturn。
Thisisamiracle,Thatmightreligionswell;
Butshe,thattheseandtheirgodawes,Hercrownedselfsubmitstoherownlaws。
HERMUFFE。
I。
Twasnotforsomecalmblessingtodeceive,Thoudidstthypolish’dhandsinshagg’dfursweave;
Itwerenoblessingthusobtain’d;
Thouratherwould’stacursehavegain’d,Thenletthywarmdrivensnowbeeverstain’d。
II。
Notthatyoufearedthediscolo’ringcoldMightalchymizetheirsilverintogold;
Norcouldyourtenwhitenunssosin,Thatyoushouldthuspennancethemin,Eachinhercoarsehairsmockofdiscipline。
III。
Nor,Hero—likewho,ontheircreststillworeAlyon,panther,leopard,orabore,Tolooketheirenemiesintheirherse,Thouwould’stthyhandshoulddeeperpierce,And,initssoftnessrough,appearmorefierce。
IV。
No,no,LUCASTA,destinydecreed,Thatbeaststotheeasacrificeshouldbleed,Andstripthemselvestomakeyougay:
Forne’ryetheralddiddisplayAcoat,whereSABLESuponERMINlay。
V。
Thisforlay—lovers,thatmuststandatdore,Salutethethreshold,andadmirenomore;
ButI,inmyinventiontough,Ratenotthisoutwardblissenough,Butstillcontemplatemustthehiddenmuffe。
ABLACKPATCHONLUCASTA’SFACE。
DullasIwas,tothinkthatacourtflyPresum’dsoneerhereye;
When’twasth’industriousbeeMistookhergloriousfaceforparadise,Tosummeupallhischymistryofspice;
Withabraveprideandhonourled,Neerbothhersunshemakeshisbed,And,thoughaspark,strugglestoriseasred。
ThenaemulatesthegayDaughterofday;
Actstheromantickphoenix’fate,Whennow,withallhissweetslay’doutinstate,LUCASTAscattersbutoneheat,Andallthearomatickpillsdosweat,Andgumscalcin’dthemselvestopowderbeat,WhichafreshgaleofairConveysintoherhair;
Thenchaft,he’ssetonfire,Andintheseholyflamesdothgladexpire;
AndthatblackmarbletabletthereSoneerhereithersphereWasplac’d;norfoyl,norornament,Butthesweetlittlebee’slargemonument。
Thefollowingisapoet’slecturetotheladiesofhistimeonthelongprevailingpracticeofwearingpatches,inwhichitseemsthatLucastaacquiesced:——
BLACKPATCHES。
VANITASVANITATUM。
LADIESturnconjurers,andcanimpartThehiddenmysteryoftheblackart,Blackartificialpatchesdobetray;
Theymoreaffecttheworksofnightthanday。
ThecreaturestrivestheCreatortodisgrace,Bypatchingthatwhichisaperfectface:
AlittlestainuponthepurestdyeIsbothoffensivetotheheartandeye。
第4章