I leave thee there, and giving way, intend
An epic poem; thou hast the same end.
I modestly quit that, and think to write,
Next morn, an ode; thou mak'st a song ere night.
I pass to elegies; thou meet'st me there :
To satires; and thou dost pursue me.
Where,
Where shall I scape thee? in an epigram?
O, thou cry'st out, that is my proper game.
Troth, if it be, I pity thy ill luck;

That both for wit and sense so oft dost pluck,
And never art encounter'd, I confess ;

Nor scarce dost colour for it, which is less.
Prithee, yet save thy rest; give o'er in time :
There's no vexation that can make thee prime."

O Phœbus make me worthy of his bays,
As but to speak thee, Overbury, 's praise:
So where thou liv'st, thou mak'st life under-

stood,

Where, what makes other great, doth keep thee good!

2 There's no vexation that can make thee prime.] This is an excellent little poem; the allusion to a set at primero, which pervades the whole of it, is supported with equal spirit and ingenuity.

One of sir John Harington's "epigrams," or, as Jonson called them, "narrations," contains" the story of Marcus' life at primero." In this the various accidents of the game are detailed with great dulness and prolixity. A short specimen taken at random, will shew how closely our author has kept to the terms of the game.

"But Marcus never can encounter right,

Yet drew two aces, and for further spight
Had colour for it, with a hopeful draught,
But not encountered, it avail'd him naught."

3 Sir Thomas Overbury.] This epigram was probably written about 1610, when sir Thomas returned from his travels, and fol

I think, the fate of court thy coming crav'd,
That the wit there and manners might be sav'd :
For since, what ignorance, what pride is fled!
And letters, and humanity in the stead!
Repent thee not of thy fair precedent,

Could make such men, and such a place repent :
Nor may any fear to lose of their degree,
Who' in such ambition can but follow thee.

CXIV.

TO MISTRESS PHILIP SIDNEY.*

MUST believe some miracles still be,
When Sidney's name I hear, or face I see:
For Cupid, who at first took vain delight

In mere out-forms, until he lost his sight,

lowed the fortunes of Carr with a zeal and integrity worthy of a better fate. That sir Thomas was poisoned in the Tower by the infamous countess of Essex is well known; but it has been, and indeed still may be made a question, whether Carr himself was privy to this atrocious fact. It is said that his opposition to the marriage between his friend and the divorced countess made it expedient to remove him from court, and that while Rochester (Carr) intreated the king to bestow an embassy upon him, he secretly instigated Overbury to refuse the charge. It would seem, however, from Winwood's State Papers (vol. iii. pp. 447, 453, 475,) that the refusal originated with sir Thomas himself, who was of a lofty and unmanageable spirit. However it might be, James was justly irritated; the destined victim was committed to the Tower, and the catastrophe followed with fatal speed.

Overbury was of an ancient family in Warwickshire. He was born in 1581, came to court to push his fortune in 1604, was knighted in 1608, and died in 1613. He was highly accomplished, and, as Granger truly remarks, was "possessed of parts, learning, and judgment, beyond his years."

4 Daughter of that great statesman, sir Francis Walsingham, many years principal secretary to queen Elizabeth, and widow of sir Philip Sidney. Walsingham died poor, so that his daughter, who was also his heiress, brought little to her husband besides her beauty and her virtues.

Hath changed his soul, and made his object you:
Where finding so much beauty met with virtùe,
He hath not only gain'd himself his eyes,
But, in your love, made all his servants wise.

CXV.

ON THE TOWN'S HONEST MAN.

COU wonder who this is, and why I name
Him not aloud, that boasts so good a fame :
Naming so many too! but this is one,

Suffers no name, but a description;

Being no vicious person, but the Vice
About the town; and known too, at that price.
A subtle thing that doth affections win
By speaking well o' the company it's in.
Talks loud and bawdy, has a gather'd deal
Of news and noise, to sow out a long meal.
Can come from Tripoly," leap stools, and wink,
Do all that longs to the anarchy of drink,
Except the duel can sing songs and catches;
Give every one his dose of mirth and watches
Whose name's unwelcome to the present ear,
And him it lays on ;-if he be not there.
Tells of him all the tales itself then makes;
But if it shall be question'd, undertakes,
It will deny all; and forswear it too;
Not that it fears, but will not have to do
With such a one: and therein keeps its word.
'Twill see its sister naked, ere a sword.
At every meal, where it doth dine or sup,
The cloth's no sooner gone, but it gets up,
And shifting of its faces, doth play more

Can come from Tripoly,]i. e. can jump, and do feats of activity: see the Silent Woman. WHAL.

Parts than the Italian could do, with his door.
Acts Old Iniquity, and in the fit

Of miming, gets the opinion of a wit.
Executes men in picture; by defect,
From friendship, is its own fame's architect:
An inginer in slanders of all fashion,

That, seeming praises, are yet accusations.

Described it's thus: defined would you it have? Then, the town's Honest Man's her errant'st knave.

CXVI.

TO SIR WILLIAM JEPHSON.

EPHSON, thou man of men, to whose lov'd

All

name,

gentry yet owe part of their best flame : So did thy virtue inform, thy wit sustain

That age, when thou stood'st up the master-brain :
Thou wert the first mad'st merit know her strength,
And those that lack'd it, to suspect at length,
'Twas not entail'd on title: that some word
Might be found out as good, and not " my lord :"
That nature no such difference had imprest

In men, but every bravest was the best;

6

Doth play more

Parts than the Italian could do, with his door.] An allusion to an Italian, then well known for his performances and tricks of art: the person meant, I believe, is taken notice of in king James's Dæmonology, and is there called Scoto: "The devil will learn them many juglary tricks at cards, dice, and such like, to deceive mens senses thereby, and such innumerable false practics, which are proved by over many in this age; as they who are acquainted with that Italian called Scoto, yet living, can report." Lib. i. p. 105. Old Iniquity, means the character called the Vice, in our ancient Moralities: it has a place in our author's comedy, The Devil is an Ass. WHAL.

This is an excellent piece, full of strong sense, and just satire. It will serve for all times.

That blood not minds, but minds did blood adorn;
And to live great was better than great born.
These were thy knowing arts: which who doth now
Virtuously practise, must at least allow

Them in, if not from thee, or must commit
A desperate solocism in truth and wit.

CXVII.

ON GROINE.

GROINE, come of age, his state sold out of hand

For's whore: Groine doth still occupy his land.

CXVIII.

ON GUT.

UT eats all day and letchers all the night,
So all his meat he tasteth over twice;
And striving so to double his delight,
He makes himself a thorough-fare of vice.
Thus, in his belly, can he change a sin,
Lust it comes out, that gluttony went in.

CXIX.

TO SIR RALPH SHELTON."

OT he that flies the court for want of clothes, At hunting rails, having no gift in oaths, Cries out 'gainst cocking, since he cannot bet, Shuns press-for two main causes, pox and debt,

7 This is the person who engaged with Mr. Hayden, in the mad