PHAER, THOMAS. The seven first bookes of the Eneidos of Virgill, converted in Englishe meter by Thomas Phaer Esquier, sollicitour to the king and quenes majesties, attending their honorable coūsaile in the Marchies of Wales. Anno 1558. xxviij Maij. B. L. 4to. 85 leaves. This first attempt at a translation of the Eneid, containing seven books, was printed, as we find from the colophon, "by Jhon Kyngston, for Richard Jugge, &c. Anno 1558.” It was dedicated by Phaer to Queen Mary, in the May previous to her death. On the title-page, dated the 28th of May, 1558, he calls himself "solicitor," but Anthony Wood (Ath. Oxon. by Bliss, I. 316) informs us that he took the degree of doctor in medicine at Oxford as early as March, 1558-9. At the conclusion of the seventh book, it is stated that it was translated in the forest of Kilgerran in Pembrokeshire, the 3rd of December, 1557, and, in a sort of apologetical postscript, Phaer mentions that he had not had time to correct his copy, particularly of the first book. Nevertheless, he was able to finish the eighth book in 1558, and the ninth in 1560, but he died before he could complete the tenth book in the same year. The nine books and the fragment of the tenth were printed together in 1562, under the care of William Wightman, who calls himself "Receptour of Wales," who states that Phaer died at his house in Kilgerran Forest (after the 12th of August, 1560, on which day his will bears date), of a hurt he received in the right hand, so that the last lines of his translation of the tenth book of the Eneid were subscribed thus with his left hand; —“Thomas Phaer, olim tuus, nunc dei." Anthony Wood states that an epitaph was made upon him by George Ferrers, adding "what the contents of it are I know not, nor of any other epitaph made for him." One of these is contained in Barnabe Googe's “Eglogs, Epytaphes and Sonettes," 8vo. 1563. Besides Phaer, it includes a notice of Lord Surrey, Grimoald, and Gawin Douglas, as translators of Virgil, which is worth quoting: "But wonder more may Bryttayne great, Wher Phayre dyd florysh late, And barreyne tong with swete accord Reduced to suche estate, That Virgils verse had greater grace In forrayne foote obtaynde Than in his own, who whilst he lyved Eche other Foet staynde. The noble H. Hawarde once, That raught eternall fame, With mighty style did bryng a pece Of Virgils worke in frame. And Grimaold gave the lyke attempt; And Douglas wan the ball For famouse wyt in Scottysh ryme Had made an ende of all. But all these same dyd Phayre excell," &c. There can be no doubt upon this evidence, (but there is no other authority for the fact), that Nicholas Grimoald translated some part of Virgil. He perhaps followed up Lord Surrey's design in blank verse; and in "Songes and Sonnettes," 8vo. 1557, (Ritson, Bibl. Poet. 228, mistakenly gives the date 1537), besides pieces in rhime, are several translations by Nicholas Grimoald in blank verse: one of them is "the Death of Zoroas," from the Latin of Philip Gaultier, and another is entitled "Marcus Tullius Cicero's death." These are all called " Songes, written by N. G." : PHAER AND TWYNE. -The Thirteene Bookes of Aeneidos. The first twelve beeing the worke of the divine Poet Virgil Maro, and the thirteenth the supplement of Maphoeus Vegius. Translated into English Verse, to the first third part of the tenth Booke, by Thomas Phaer Esquier and the residue finished, and now newly set forth for the delight of such as are studious in Poetrie, by Thomas Twyne Doctor in Phisicke. London Printed by Thomas Creede. 1607. B. L. 4to. 165 leaves. The twelve books of Virgil, commenced by Phaer and finished by Twyne, were first published in 4to. 1573. Ten years afterwards Twyne translated the supplement of Maphoeus, and they were all originally printed together in 4to. 1584: the present copy is at least the fourth edition which came from the press of Creede. It preserves the dedication of 1584 by Twyne to Robert Sackville, son to Lord Buckhurst; an address "to the gentle and courteous Readers;" Virgil's Life; the arguments of the thirteen books in as many lines; and a prose 66 sum of the twelve books of the Eneid. HH PHEANDER. The famous History of Pheander the Maiden Knight, how disguised under the habite and name of Armatius, a Marchant, he forsooke his Kingdome of Carmania for the Love of Amoretta, the most incomparable Princesse of Trebisond. Together with a true Narration of the rare fidelity of his Tutor Machaon &c. Intermixed with many pleasant Discourses &c. London, Printed by Thomas Fawcet, and are to bee sold by Fr. Coles &c. 1661. B. L. 4to. 93 leaves. No earlier edition of this romance has yet occurred, but there can be no doubt that it was printed prior to the year 1613, when it was referred to by Taylor the Water-poet in the dedication of his " Eighth Wonder of the World." Opposite the title is a coarse wood-cut of a knight on horseback without a helmet, and preceding that a bastard title, "Pheander the MaydenKnight, or Love's Heroick Champion," with a wood-cut below it of two armies meeting in conflict. After these titles follow "The Contents of this Booke," in twenty-nine chapters; and the body of the work, (which is entirely prose, with the exception of ten lines at the conclusion of one letter), begins upon Sign. A. 4. It does not profess to be a translation, but from the style there can be little doubt that it was taken from the French or Italian. In the first few chapters the hero is called Armatius, then Pheander, and subsequently "Love's heroic Champion." PIERCE PLOUGHMAN'S VISION.-The Vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted by Roberte Crowley, dwellynge in Elye rentes in Holburne. Whereunto are added certayne notes and cotations in the mergyne, gevynge light to the Reader &c. Imprinted at London by Roberte Crowley, dwellyng in Elye rentes in Holburne. The yere of our Lord M. D. L. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. B. L. 4to. 125 leaves. It is supposed that three editions of this poem were printed by Crowley in 1550. [Vide" Percy's Reliques," II. 300, Edit. 1812.] This is the second impression, and on the last leaf is the colophon, exactly similar to the imprint on the title-page. "The Printer to the Reader follows the title, and preceding the poem is "A briefe summe of the principall poyntes that be spoken of in thys boke," filling six leaves. It is acknowledged that Crowley printed from a MS. containing a very incorrect text, but he deserves great commendation for being the first to rescue from oblivion this very valuable poem, the authorship of which is generally attributed to Robert Langland. The versification is often harsh and uncouth, depending much upon the recurrence of the same letter commencing three words in each line, but the expressions are usually full of force and character, with great originality of thought and severity of satire. PIERCE PLOUGHMAN'S CREED. Pierce the Ploughmans Crede. 1553. B. L. 4to. 16 leaves. 1 "Imprinted at The colophon, which is on a separate leaf, D. iiii, is this: London By Reynold wolfe. Anno Domini M. D. L. III." It is the earliest edition of the "Creede," which was reprinted at the end of the "Vision of Pierce Ploughman," by Owen Rogers in 1561. The title of the first impression of this work, consisting merely of the words "Pierce the Ploughman's Crede," is upon a tablet in the midst of a landscape. The design is obviously foreign, and the wood-cut may also have been imported both are certainly unlike any thing of the kind executed in this country about that date. A fac-simile of the title-page, as far as regards the figures of the hero and heroine, is subjoined. On the reverse of Sign. D. iii. is a brief "interpretation of certayne hard wordes used in this booke, for the better understandyng of it," which is one of the earliest attempts at an English glossary. These words are only forty-eight in number, and after them we read as follows::-"The residue the diligent reader shall (I trust) well ynough perceive." These were repeated by Rogers when he reprinted the "Creed" in 1561. PLEASANT, PLAIN, AND PITHY PATHWAY.-The pleasaunt playne and pythye Pathewaye leadynge to a vertues and honest lyfe, no lesse profytable then delectable. U. L. Imprynted at London by Nicolas Hyll, for John Case, dwellynge at the sygne of the Baule, in Paules churche yarde. n. d. B. L. 4to. 23 leaves. No other copy of this valuable poetical relic is known. Nicholas Hyll printed between 1546 and 1553, but the architectural frame in which the title is set was used by James Nicolson for the New Testament he printed in Southwark in 1538. The two following lines, "It is good for such men to go over truelye As intende the kinges embassatours to be," show that the poem was written before the reign of Mary, and probably the king there spoken of was Edward VI. As to the author, he says himself on Sign. A. ii. "Nitnesaue truelye, most men call myne name," which may contain the letters of his name in some way transposed. One of the most celebrated poets of the reign of Edward VI. was Nicholas Udall, author of "Ralph Roister Doister," and it will be seen that the initials on the title-page, supposing them those of the author, are the first and last letters of his surname. Certainly the production would do him or any other writer of that period great credit. In the commencement of it he meets an old man journeying the same way, and, entering into conversation, the author gives the following account of himself, which may be merely fanciful : "A servaunt I have bene aboute yeares five, And truely have served to my power, Since into service I entered the fyrst hower: |