(b) 2nd edition : CHRISTS VICTORIE AND TRIUMPH IN HEAVEN AND EARTH, OVER AND AFTER DEATH. A te principium, tibi desinet: accipe jussis The second Edition. [Wood-cut. Hinc. Lvcem. et. Pocvla. Sacra. Alma Mater.] CAMBRIDGE: Printed for Francis Green. 1632. [Small 4to.] Collation: Title-page-Epistle Dedicatory pp. 3-Nethersole's 'Verses' I page-to the Reader pp. 4—Phin. Fletcher's and Nethersole's 'Verses' pp. 4-[unpaged]-Poem pp. 83 and Latin 'Lines' on page 84. Opposite page 42 is the separate title as supra Christ's Triumph ouer and after Death. Vincenti dabitur. Printed by the Printers to the Universitie of Cambridge. Ann. Dom. 1632.' Printed by Roger Daniel, for Richard Royston. 1640. [Small 4to.] Collation: same as 2nd edition and seven engravings as described in our Appendix to the Poem. The above separate EPISTLE DEDICATORY. To the Right Worshipvll, and Reverend Mr. Doctour Nevile, Deane of Canterbvrie, and the Master of Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge.1 Right worthie, and reverend Syr: As I haue alwaies thought the place wherein I liue, after heauen, principally to be desired, both because I most want and it most abounds with wisdome, which is fled by some with as much delight, as it is obtained by others, and ought to be followed by all: so I cannot but next unto God, for euer acknowledge myselfe most bound vnto the hand of God, (I meane yourselfe) that reacht downe, as it were out of heauen, vnto me, a benefit of that nature, and price, then which, I could wish none, (onely heauen itselfe excepted) either more fruitfull, and contenting for the time that is now present, or more comfortable, and encouraging for the time that is alreadie past, or more hopefull, and promising for the time that is yet to come. For as in all mens iudgements (that haue any iudgement) Europe is worthily deem'd the Queene of the 1 For notice of Dean NEVILLE see TODD'S 'Account of the Deans of Canterbury.' He died May 2, 1615. G. world, that Garland both of Learning, and pure Religion beeing now become her crowne, and blossoming vpon her head, that hath long since laine withered in Greece and Palestine; so my opinion of this Island hath alwaies beene, that it is the very face, and beautie of all Europe, in which both true Religion is faithfully professed without superstition, and (if on earth) true Learning sweetly flourishes without ostentation: and what are the two eyes of this Land, but the two Vniversities; which cannot but prosper in the time of such a Prince, that is a Prince of Learning as well as of People:1 and truly I should forget myselfe, if I should not call Cambridge the right eye and I thinke (King Henrie the 8. beeing the vniter, Edward the 3. the Founder, and your selfe the Repairer of this Colledge, wherein I liue) none will blame me, if I esteeme the same, since your polishing of it, the fairest sight in Cambridge: in which beeing placed by your onely fauour, most freely, without either any meanes from other, or any desert in my selfe, beeing not able to doe more, I could doe no lesse, then acknowledge that debt, which I shall neuer be able to pay, and with old Silenus, in the Poet (vpon whome the boyes—injiciunt ipsis ex vincula sertis2 making his garland, his fetters) finding my selfe bound vnto you by so many benefits, that were giuen by your selfe for ornaments, but are to me as so many golden cheines, to hold me fast in a kind of desired bondage, seeke (as he doth) my freedome with 1 James I. G. 2 Virgil Ecl. vI. 19. G. a song, the matter whereof is as worthie the sweetest Singer, as my selfe, the miserable Singer, vnworthie so diuine a subiect: but the same fauour, that before rewarded no desert, knowes now as well how to pardon all faults then which indulgence, when I regard my selfe, I can wish no more; when I remember you, I can hope no lesse. So commending these few broken lines vnto your's, and your selfe into the hands of the best Physitian, IESVS CHRIST, with Whome, the most ill affected man in the midst of his sicknes, is in good health, and without Whome, the most lustie bodie, in his greatest iollitie, is but a languishing karcase, I humbly take my leaue, ending with the same wish, that your deuoted Observer, and my approoued Friend doth, in his verses presently sequent, that your passage to heauen may be slow to vs, that shall want you here, but to your selfe, that cannot want vs there, most secure and certeyne. Your Worship's, in all dutie, and seruice G. FLETCHER. |