Calls for his stool, adorns the stage: god pays. Not his poor cockatrice but he betrays XIII. TO DOCTOR EMPIRIC. HEN men a dangerous disease did 'scape, Of old, they gave a cock to Esculape: Let me give two, that doubly am got free; From my disease's danger, and from thee. XIV. To WILLIAM CAMDEN. AMDEN! most reverend head, to whom I owe (How nothing's that?) to whom my country Owes The great renown, and name wherewith she goes! Than thee the age sees not that thing more grave, More high, more holy, that she more would crave. 7 They gave a cock to Esculape.] The last request which Socrates made to his friends was, that they would offer this popular sacrifice for him. This has led some to imagine that the poison had begun to take effect, and that he was become light-headed. He was quite as rational as his critics; and, in perfect consistency with his creed, viewed his death as a recovery to life. 8 Camden, most reverend head, to whom I owe All that I am in arts, all that I know.] Camden was our poet's master at Westminster-school; and gratitude has led him What name, what skill, what faith hast thou in things! What sight in searching the most antique springs! What weight, and what authority in thy speech! Men scarce can make that doubt, but thou canst teach. Pardon free truth, and let thy modesty, Which conquers all, be once o'ercome by thee. XV. ON COURT-WORM. LL men are worms; but this no man. In silk 'Twas brought to court first wrapt, and white Where, afterwards, it grew a butterfly, to make a proper acknowledgment for his care and pains in teaching him, both by this epigram, and the dedication of Every Man in his Humour to him. WHAL. These are not the only places in which Camden is mentioned with respect. In the King's Entertainment, Jonson terms him "the glory and light of the kingdom," and in the Masque of Queens, he introduces him with similar commendation. No man ever possessed a more warm and affectionate heart than this great poet, whose name is made synonymous with envy and ingratitude, by every desperate blockhead who reprints an old play or a poem. in silk 9 'Twas brought to court, &c.] Pope had this epigram in his thoughts when he wrote his Epistle to Arbuthnot: "Let Sporus tremble. What, that thing of silk! But he has confounded the metaphor, which is preserved by Jonson with equal accuracy and beauty. XVI. TO BRAINHARDY. ARDY, thy brain is valiant, 'tis confest, Thou more; that with it every day dar'st jest Thy self into fresh brawls: when, call'd upon, Scarce thy week's swearing brings thee off, of one. So in short time, thou art in arrearage grown Some hundred quarrels, yet dost thou fight none; Nor need'st thou for those few, by oath releast, Make good what thou dar'st do in all the rest. Keep thy self there, and think thy valour right; He that dares damn himself, dares more than fight. XVII. TO THE LEARNED CRITIC. AY others fear, fly, and traduce thy name, As guilty men do magistrates; glad I, That wish my poems a legitimate fame, Charge them, for crown, to thy sole censure hie. And but a sprig of bays, given by thee, Shall outlive garlands, stol'n from the chaste tree.' XVIII. TO MY MERE ENGLISH CENSURER. O thee, my way in Epigrams seems new, seen 1 Shall outlive garlands stolen from the chaste tree,] i. e. the laurel; Daphne, rather than consent to the desires of Apollo, being changed into that tree. WHAL. Davis, and Weever,2 and the best have been, 2 XIX. ON SIR COD THE PERFUMED. HAT Cod can get no widow, yet a knight, For thou hast seen Davis, and Weever.] Davis was the author of a collection of epigrams called the Scourge of Folly: he was by profession a writingmaster, and chiefly taught in the university of Oxford. He was a contemporary of Jonson, and has an epigram addressed to him. Weever was the author of a work in folio, which is called Funeral Monuments, and is a miscellany of epitaphs, and inscriptions, collected from ancient monuments in various parts of the kingdom. WHAL. 66 3 He wooes with an ill sprite.] A play on the double meaning of the last word, an evil genius or spirit, and a stinking breath. To this last sense of sprite, young Knowell alludes in the inflated panegyric with which he puzzles and plays upon master Stephen : A wight that hitherto, his every step hath left the stamp of a great foot behind him, as every word the savour of a strong spirit." The name of the person to whom this epigram is addressed is borrowed from the cod or little purse in which civet and other perfumes were kept in the poet's days. In the Woman's Prize, Livia says to her lover, "Hold this certain Selling, which is a sin unpardonable, Of counterfeit cods, or musty English crocus, Switches, or stones for the tooth-ach, sooner finds me A. i. S. 2. Upon which Mr. Weber observes: "In some MS. notes which have been procured for me, cod is explained, a pillow, a belly. I XX. TO THE SAME. HE expense in odours is a most vain sin, Except thou could'st, sir Cod, wear them within. XXI. ON REFORMED GAMESTER. ORD, how is Gamester chang'd! his hair close cut,1 His neck fenced round with ruff, his eyes half His clothes two fashions off, and poor! his sword What several ways men to their calling have! XXII. ON MY FIRST DAUGHTER. ERE lies, to each her parent's ruth, MARY, the daughter MARY, the daughter of their youth; Yet all heaven's gifts being heaven's due, It makes the father less to rue. am afraid the allusion is not so delicate." The writer's fears are about as ideal as those of Mr. Steevens, from whom this miserable cant is adopted; his ignorance, however, here, as well as every where else, is sufficiently real: what did he suppose Livia to mean? Counterfeit cods are spurious or adulterate civet-bags, and nothing more. 4 his hair close cut, &c.] These are the characteristic |