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Pour on the Saracens, and doth perform Deeds past an angel, armed with wrath and fire,

Ploughing whole armies up with zealous ire,

And walled cities, while he doth defend That cause that should all wars begin and end:

Yet when with pride and for humane respect

The Austrian colours he doth here deject With too much scorn, behold at length how fate

Makes him a wretched prisoner to that state;

And leaves him as a mark of fortune's spight,

When princes tempt their stars beyond their light:

Whilst upright Edward shines no less than

he

Under the wings of golden victory,

1 [The folio reads, "all the nations high," which is probably correct.-F.C.)

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1 Harry the Fifth, to whom in face you are So like, as fate would have you so in worth.] I do not remember this particular taken notice of by historians, in their description of Prince Henry's person: the poet, however, would hardly have stretched the compliment so far, had it not been so in fact.-WHAL.

It is noticed, though it escaped Whalley. The courtiers are said to have made the observation with a view to please the Queen. This is mere ill nature. At any rate, as far as personal beauty was concerned, Henry the Fifth might have taken the compliment without offence.

pro

Jonson has omitted the machinery, which must have been very magnificent; but it is bable that Merlin pointed with his wand to some moving scenery, on which the events detailed by him were depicted.

As if whole islands had broke loose and swam,] Pelago credas innare revulsas

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The winds were called to fight, and storms to serve.] Historians have not omitted to take notice of the violent storm which the Spanish Armada met with as it drew near the English coast, which dispersed the fleet and destroyed many of its best vessels. This was at that time apprehended as a providential interposal of heaven, nor were the queen or nation wanting in their just acknowledgments: for a medal was struck which had on the reverse of it a navy in a storm with this inscription, Flavit ventis, et dissipati sunt. Our poet has expressed this circumstance from Claudian :

O nimium dilecte Deo, cui fundit ab antro olus armatas hyemes, cui militat æther, Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti. WHAL

The fish were never better fed than then, Although at first they feared the blood of

men

Had changed their element, and Neptune shook,

As if the Thunderer had his palace took. So here in Wales, Low Countries, France, and Spain,

You may behold, both on the land and main,

The conquest got, the spoils, the trophies reared

By British kings, and such as noblest heard

Of all the nation, which may make to invite

Your valour upon need, but not to incite Your neighbour princes, give them all their due,

And be prepared if they will trouble you. He doth but scourge himself, his sword

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What can be done by power, and what by love,

What should to mercy, what to justice

move.

All arts he can, and from the hand of Fate

Hath he enforced the making his own date.

Within his proper virtue hath he placed His guards 'gainst Fortune, and there fixed fast

The wheel of chance, about which kings are hurled,

And whose outrageous raptures fill the world.

Lady. Ay, this is he, Meliadus, whom

you

Must only serve, and give yourself unto;
And by your diligent practice to obey
So wise a master, learn the art of sway.

Merlin, advance the shield upon his tent.

And now prepare, fair knight, to prove the

event

Of your bold Challenge. Be your virtue steeled,

And let your drum give note you keep the field. [Drum beats. -Is this the land of Britain so renowned For deeds of arms, or are their hearings drowned,

That none do answer?

Mer. Stay, methinks I see

A person in yon cave. Who should that
be?
I know her ensigns now; 'tis CHIVALRY
Possessed with sleep, dead as a lethargy:
If any charm will wake her, 'tis the name
Of our Meliadus. I'll use his fame.

Lady, Meliadus, lord of the isles, Princely Meliadus, and whom fate now styles

The fair Meliadus, hath hung his shield Upon his tent, and here doth keep the field,

According to his bold and princely word; And wants employment for his pike and sword.

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CHIVALRY, coming forward.

Chi. Were it from death, that name would wake me. Say

Which is the knight? O, I could gaze a day

Upon his armour that hath so revived My spirits, and tells me that I am longlived

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1 This part of the solemnity is silently passed over by Jonson; and indeed he seldom enters at any length into the accompaniments of his Masques and Entertainments, unless for the sake of bearing witness to the merits of Inigo Jones, Ferrabosco, Giles, and others associated in the embellishment of his labours. "Yet," says Warton, "while Milton gives only the soliloquy of the Genius, and the three songs of his Arcades, in many of Jonson's Masques the poet rarely appears amidst a cumbersome_exhibition of heathen gods and mythology!" Todd's Milton, vol. v. p. 146. No sighs but of Jonson's raising! Whoever is right, he is sure to be found in the wrong. No absurdity is so gross, no violation of truth so glaring, as not to be gladly received when the object of it is to decry his talents and injure his reputation. The falsehood once hazarded, is repeated by every mouth; and the cause of literature is stupidly supposed to be promoted by combining for the degradation of one of its brightest ornaments.

To return to the BARRIERS. "The prince (says Arthur Wilson) now growing manly, being in his sixteenth year, put forth himself in a more heroic manner than was usual with princes of his time, by Tiltings, Barriers, and other exercises on horseback, the martial discipline of gentle peace."Life of James, p. 52. And it appears from a very curious passage in the prince's life, written by Sir Charles Cornwallis, that a grand rehearsal of the present Tilt had taken place some time before.

Doth often tempt his destiny beyond good.

Look on this throne, and in his temper view

The light of all that must have grace in
you:

His equal justice, upright fortitude,
And settled prudence, with that peace
endued

Of face as mind, always himself and

even.

So Hercules and good men bear up heaven.

I dare not speak his virtues, for the fear Of flattering him, they come so high and

near

To wonders; yet thus much I prophesy Of him and his. All ears yourselves apply.

You and your other you, great king and queen,

Have yet the least of your bright fortune seen,

Court of Parliament: the fourth of June following, being appointed for that solemne action, the Christmas before which, his Highnesse, not onely for his owne recreation, but also that the world might know what a brave Prince they were likely to enjoy, under the name of Meliades, Lord of the Isles (an ancient title due to the first borne of Scotland), did in his name, by some appointed for the same of purpose, strangely attired, accompanied with drummes and trumpets in the chamber of presence, before the King and Queene, and in the presence of the whole court, delivered a challenge to all Knights of Great Britaine in two Speeches.

"Now began every where preparations to be made for this great fight, and happy did he thinke himselfe who should be admitted for a defendant, much more assailant. At last, to encounter his Highnesse, with his six assailants, 58 defendants, consisting of Earles, Barons, Knights, and Esquires, were appointed and chosen, eight defendants to one assailant, every assailant being to fight by turns, eight several times fighting, two every time with push of pike and sword, twelve stroakes at a time; after which, the BARRE for separation was to bee let downe untill a fresh onset.

"This solemnity now approaching, his Highnesse did feast the Earles, Barons, and Knights assailants and defendants, until the twelfth ap pointed night, on which this great fight was to be performed; which being come, his Highnesse, to the great wonder of the beholders, did admirably fight his part, giving and receiving that night 32 pushes of pikes and about 360 stroakes of swords, which is scarce credible in so young yeares, enough to assure the world that Great Britaines brave Henry aspired to immortality."

"The 16 yeare of his age, being to come to the time of his investment in the Principalitie of Wales and Cornewall; he did advance his own title and right so farre, as with modestie he might: which presently was gently and lovingly entertained, and granted of his Majestie, with-8vo. 1641, p. 12 et seq. the consent of the Right Honourable the High

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