pone felicitati tuæ frænos; facilius illam reges. Curt.

But as princes are to observe the bounds of modesty, so may they not forget the majesty appertaining to their supreme honour, being a certain reverend greatness due to princely virtue and royal state; a grace and gravity no less beseeming a prince, than virtue itself: for neither over-much familiarity, nor too great austerity, ought to be used by princes. Facilitas auctoritatem, severitas amorem minuit. Tac.

To these virtues we may apply liberality, which doth not only adorn, but highly advance, the honour due to princes. Thereby, also, the good will of men is gained: for nothing is more fitting a prince's nature than bounty, the same being accompanied with judgement, and performed according to the laws of liberality. Perdere multi sciunt, donare nesciunt. Tac.

It seemeth also that prudence is not only fit, but also, among other virtues, necessary in a prince: for the daily use thereof is in all human actions required, and chiefly in matters of state and government. Prudentia imperantis propria et unica virtus. Arist.

The success of all worldly proceedings doth show, that prudence hath compassed the prosperous event of human actions, more than force of arms or other power. Mens una sapiens plurium vincit manus. Eurip.

• Prudence is either natural, or received from others for whoso can counsel himself what is fit to be done, needeth not the advice of others; but they that want such perfection, and are nevertheless capable, and are willing to know what others inform, ought to be accounted wise enough. Laudatissimus

est, qui cuncta videbit; sed laudandus est is, qui paret rectè monenti.

Hesiod.'

On Paradise.

- It appeareth to me by the testimony of the Scriptures, that Paradise was a place created by God, and a part of this our earth and habitable world, seated in the lower part of the region of Eden, afterward called Aram fluviorum or Mesopotamia, which taketh into it also a portion of Shinar and Armenia. This region standing in the most excellent temper of all others (to wit) 35 degrees from the equinoctial, and 55 from the north-pole: in which climate the most excellent wines, fruits, oil, grain of all sorts are to this day found in abundance. And there is nothing, that better proveth the excellency of this said soil and temper, than the abundant growing of the palmtrees without the care and labour of man. For wherein soever the earth, nature, and the sun can most vaunt that they have excelled, yet shall this plant be the greatest wonder of all their works: this tree alone giveth unto man whatsoever his life beggeth at nature's hand. And though it may be said, that these trees are found both in the East and WestIndies, which countries are also blessed with a perpetual spring and summer; yet lay down by those pleasures and benefits the fearful and dangerous thunders and lightnings, the horrible and frequent earthquakes, the dangerous diseases, the multitude of venomous beasts and worms with other inconveniences, and then there will be found no comparison be tween the one and the other.

'What other excellences this garden of Paradise had, before God (for man's ingratitude and cruelty) cursed the earth, we cannot judge: but I may safely think that, by how much Adam exceeded all living men in perfection, by being the immediate workmanship of God, by so much did that chosen and particular garden exceed all parts of the universal world, in which God had planted, (that is) made to grow, the trees of Life and of Knowledge; plants only proper, and becoming the Paradise and garden of so great a Lord.

The sum of all this is, that whereas the eyes of men in this Scripture have been dim-sighted (some of them finding Paradise beyond our known world; some, above the middle region of the air; some, elevated near the moon; others, as far south as the line, or as far north as the pole, &c.) I hope that the reader will be sufficiently satisfied, that these were but like castles in the air, and in men's fancies vainly imagined. For it was eastward in Eden (saith Moses) eastward in respect of Judæa, that God planted this garden, which Eden we find in the prophets where it was, and whereof the name in some part remaineth to this day. A river went out of Eden to water this garden, and from thence divided itself into four branches; and we find that both Tigris and Euphrates swimming through Eden do join in one, and afterward taking ways apart, do water Chus and Havilah, according to Moses: the true seats of Chus and his sons then being in the valley of Shinar, in which Nimrod built Babel. That Pison was Ganges, the Scripture, reason, and experience teach the contrary: for that, which was never joined, cannot be divided. Ganges, which inhabiteth

India, cannot be a branch of the rivers of Eden. That Gehon was Nilus, the same distance maketh the same impossibility; and this river is a greater stranger to Tigris and Euphrates, than Ganges is. For although there are between Tigris and Ganges above four thousand miles, yet they both rise in the same quarter of the world: but Nilus is begotten in the mountains of the Moon, almost as far off as the Cape of Good Hope, and falleth into the Mediterranean sea; and Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia, and falleth into the gulf of Persia: the one riseth in the south, and travelleth north; the other riseth in the north, and runneth south, threescore and three degrees the one from the other.'

THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD.

If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee, and be thy love.

Time drives the flocks from field to fold,
When rivers rage, and rocks grow oold,
And Philomel becometh dumb;

The rest complain of cares to come.

* Isaac Walton informs us, that this Reply to Marlowe's Passionate Shepherd' was made by Sir Walter Ralegh in his younger days; and Mr. Wharton observes, that in England's Helicon it is subscribed Ignoto, Ralegh's constant signature. Another very able critic however contends, that this signature was affixed by the publisher, who meant to express by it his own ignorance of the author's name: but it is to be observed, that in Mr. Steevens' copy of the first edition of the Helicon, the original signature was W. R.; the second subscription of

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
To wayward winter reckoning yields;
A honey tongue-a heart of gall,
Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall.

Ignoto (which has been followed in the subsequent editions) being, rather awkwardly, pasted over it. (See Ellis' Specimens of the Early English Poets.') To enable the reader to judge better of the merit of the Reply and imitation, I here subjoin Marlowe's original :—

THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE.

'Come live with me, and be my love;
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, and hills, and fields
Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses,
And a thousand fragrant posies;
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle,
Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool,
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair-lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,

With coral clasps and amber studs;
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be
my love.

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight, each May morning :
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me, and be my love.