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.}

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.

Jonson has omitted the machinery, which must have been very magnificent; but it is probable 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

I could report more actions yet of weight

Out of this orb, as here of eighty-eight, Against the proud Armada, styled by Spain

The INVINCIBLE; that covered all the main,

As if whole islands had broke loose, and swam, 2

Or half of Norway with her fir trees came
To join the continents, it was so great;
Yet by the auspice of Eliza beat:
That dear-beloved of heaven, 3 whom to
preserve

The winds were called to fight, and storms to serve.

One tumour drowned another, billows

serve

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 Eolus armatas hyemes, cui militat æther, Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti. WHAL

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 Fames, 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.

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.