And ye, the breathing roses of the wood, When Evening grey doth rise, I fetch my round But else in deep of night, when drowsiness That sit upon the nine infolded spheres, ANDREW MARVELL. [Born, 1620. Died, 1678.] A BETTER edition of Marvell's works than any that has been given, is due to his literary and patriotic character. He was the champion of Milton's living reputation, and the victorious supporter of free principles against Bishop Parker, when that venal apostate to bigotry promulgated, in his Ecclesiastical Polity, "that it was more necessary to set a severe government over men's consciences and religious persuasions, than over their vices and immoralities." The humour and eloquence of Marvell's prose tracts were admired and probably imitated by Swift*. In playful exuberance of figure he sometimes resembles Burke. For consistency of principles, it is not so easy to find his parallel. His few poetical pieces betray some adherence to the school of conceit, but there is much in it that comes from the heart warm, pure, and affectionate. He was a native of Hull. At the age of fifteen he was seduced from Cambridge by the proselytising Jesuits, but was brought back from London by his father, returned to the university, and continued for ever after an enemy to superstition and intrigue. In 1640 his father, who was a clergyman of Hull, embarked on the Humber in company with a youthful pair whom he was to marry at Barrow, in Lincolnshire. Though the weather was calm when they entered the boat, the old gentleman expressed a whimsical presenti [* We still read Marvell's answer to Parker with pleasure, though the book it answers be sunk long ago. Swift's Apology for A Tale of a Tub.] ment of danger, by throwing his cane ashore, and crying out, "Ho for heaven +!" A storm came on, and the whole company perished. In consequence of this catastrophe the gentleman whose daughter was to have been married, adopted young Marvell as his son, conceiving his father to have sacrificed his life in performing an act of friendship. Marvell's education was thus enlarged: he travelled for his improvement over a considerable part of Europe, and was for some time at Constantinople as secretary to the English embassy at that court. Of his residence and employments for several years there is no account, till in 1653 he was engaged by the Protector to superintend the education of a Mr. Dutton, at Eton; and for a year and a half before Milton's death, he was assistant to Milton in the office of Latin Secretary to the Protector. He sat in the Parliament of 1660 as one of the representatives of the city of Hull, and was re-elected as long as he lived. At the beginning of the reign, indeed, we find him absent for two years in Germany and Holland, and on his return, having sought leave from his constituents, he accompanied Lord Carlisle as ambassador's secretary to the Northern Courts; but from the year 1665 till his death, his attendance in the House of Commons was un The story is told differently in the Biographia Britannica; but the circumstance related there, of a beautiful boy appearing to the mother of the drowned lady, and disappearing with the mystery of a supernatural being, gives an air of incredibility to the other account. interrupted, and exhibits a zeal in parliamentary duty that was never surpassed. Constantly corresponding with his constituents, he was at once earnest for their public rights and for their local interests. After the most fatiguing attendances, it was his practice to send them a minute statement of public proceedings, before he took either sleep or refreshment. Though he rarely spoke, his influence in both houses was so considerable, that when Prince Rupert (who often consulted him) voted on the popular side, it used to be said that the prince had been with his tutor. He was one of the last members who received the legitimate stipend for attendance, and his grateful constituents would often send him a barrel of ale as a token of their regard. The traits that are recorded of his public spirit and simple manners give an air of probability to the popular story of his refusal of a court-bribe. Charles the Second having met with Marvell in a private company, found his manners so agreeable, that he could not imagine a man of such complacency to possess inflexible honesty; he accordingly, as it is said, sent his lord-treasurer, Danby, to him next day, who, after mounting several dark staircases, found the author in a very mean lodging, and proffered him a mark of his majesty's consideration. Marvell assured the lord-treasurer that he was not in want of the king's assistance, and humorously illustrated his independence by calling his servant to witness that he had dined for three days successively on a shoulder of mutton; and having given a dignified and rational explanation of his motives to the minister, went to a friend and borrowed a guinea. The story of his death having been occasioned by poisoning, it is to be hoped, was but a party fable. It is certain, however, that he had been threatened with assassination. The corporation of Hull voted a sum for his funeral expenses, and for an appropriate monument. THE NYMPH COMPLAINING FOR THE DEATH OF HER FAWN. THE wanton troopers riding by Keeps register of every thing, And nothing may we use in vain : Inconstant Sylvio, when yet I had not found him counterfeit, Me to its game; it seem'd to bless How could I less Oh, I cannot be Itself in me. It wax'd more white and sweet than they : And oft I blush'd to see its foot more soft It is a wondrous thing how fleet guess To be a little wilderness, Have sought it oft where it should lie, And its pure virgin limbs to fold Had it lived long, it would have been YOUNG LOVE. COME, little infant, love me now, Pretty, surely, 'twere to see By young Love old Time beguiled; While our sportings are as free As the nurse's with the child. Common beauties stay fifteen; Such as yours should swifter move, Whose fair blossoms are too green Yet for lust, but not for love. Love as much the snowy lamb, Or the wanton kid, does prize, For his morning sacrifice. So we win of doubtful fate; So to make all rivals vain, Now I crown thee with my love; Crown me with thy love again, And we both shall monarchs prove. THOMAS STANLEY. [Born, 1625. Died, 1678.] THOMAS STANLEY, the learned editor of Eschy- | from Anacreon, Bion and Moschus, and the lus, and author of the History of Philosophy. He "Kisses" of Secundus. He also translated from made poetical versions of considerable neatness Tristan, Marino, Boscan, and Gongora. CELIA SINGING. ROSES in breathing forth their scent, Or the slow silent wheels of night; Or souls that their eternal rest do keep, [To tell all the stories that are told of this dissolute but witty nobleman, would be to collect what few would believe, what the good would refrain from reading, and "to fabricate furniture for the brothel." Pepys calls him an idle rogue; the excellent Evelyn, a very profane wit. He was both, and something more. Of his sayings many are still on the tongue top, and told, When the wine-cup shines in light; while his poems are oftener read for the sake of their indecency than for their wit, though his satire was at all times lively, felicitous, and searching. His 'Nothing' is, as Addison says, an admirable poem on a barren subject." (Spec. No. 305.) 66 "The very name of Rochester," says Hume, "is offensive to modest ears; yet does his poetry discover such energy of style and such poignancy, as give ground to imagine what so fine a genius, had he fallen in a more happy age and had followed better models, was capable of producing. The ancient satirists often used great liberties in their expressions; but their freedom no more resembles the licentiousness of Rochester, than the nakedness of an Indian does that of a common prostitute." (Hist. of Eng. ch. lxxi.) His poems were castrated by Steevens for Johnson's Collection; but this had been done before by Tonson, who while he did much, left very much to do. Could his satire be cleansed from its coarseness, a selection of his best pieces, many of which are still in manuscript, would be a desideratum, and the name of Wilmot would then stand high in the list of British satirists. But indecency is in the very nature of many of his subjects: there is more obscenity than wit in his verse, as was well observed by Walpole, more wit than poetry, more poetry than politeness. Unwilling to tell one story of diverting or revolting profligacy upon another, Johnson has written the life of Lord Rochester in a few pages, said enough and has indicated more than he has said. His Death has been given us by Bishop Burnet in one of the most readable books in the English language.] Too late, alas! I must confess, You need not arts to move me; Such charms by nature you possess, "Twere madness not to love ye. SONG. Then spare a heart you may surprise, THE merit of Hudibras, excellent as it is, certainly lies in its style and execution, and by no means in the structure of the story. The action of the poem as it stands, and interrupted as it is, occupies but three days; and it is clear from the opening line, "When civil dudgeon first grew high," that it was meant to bear date with the civil wars. Yet after two days and nights are completed, the poet skips at once, in the third part, to Oliver Cromwell's death, and then returns to retrieve his hero, and conduct him Died, 1680.] through the last canto. Before the third part of Hudibras appeared, a great space of time had elapsed since the publication of the first. Charles II. had been fifteen years asleep on the throne, and Butler seems to have felt that the ridicule of the sectaries had grown a stale subject. The final interest of the piece, therefore, dwindles into the widow's repulse of Sir Hudibras, a topic which has been suspected to allude, not so much to the Presbyterians, as to the reigning monarch's dotage upon his mistresses. HUDIBRAS, PART I. CANTO I. WHEN civil dudgeon first grew high, And made them fight, like mad or drunk, Whose honesty they all durst swear for, Was beat with fist instead of a stick; A wight he was, whose very sight would But here our authors make a doubt As being loath to wear it out, As men their best apparel do. Beside, 'tis known he could speak Greek His bounty unto such as wanted; |