Then in mine arms will I inclose Thus, as we pass the welcome night If these may serve for to entice THE SHEPHERD TO THE FLOWERS. Sweet violets, Love's Paradise, that spread Upon the gentle wing of some calm-breathing wind, If, by the favour of propitious stars, you gain Such grace, as in my lady's bosom place you find, Be proud to touch those places. And when her warmth your moisture forth doth wear, You, honours of the flowery meads, I pray, THE SHEPHERD'S DESCRIPTION OF LOVE. Melibeus. Shepherd, what's love? I pray thee, tell! Where pleasure and repentance dwell; That tolls all in to heaven or hell ; And this is love, as I heard tell. Mel. Yet, what is love? I prithee say! Mel. Yet, what is love? good shepherd, saine! Faust. It is a sunshine mix'd with rain; It is a tooth-ach, or like pain; It is a game where none doth gain. The lass saith, No, and would full fain! And this is love, as I hear saine. Mel. Yet, shepherd, what is love, I pray? A pretty kind of sporting fray; Then, nymphs, take 'vantage while ye may !- Mel. Yet, what is love? good shepherd, show! A prize that passeth to and fro, A thing for one, a thing for moe; We now come to Ralegh's second military enterprise, the scene of which was laid in the Nether a lands. Don John of Austria, natural son of the emperor Charles, was appointed governor of the Low countries in the year 1577, by his brother the 1577. king of Spain. His tyranny drew upon him the odium of the states, while his treachery incurred the jealousy of England. Ralegh says of him,-his haughty conceit of himself overcame the greatest difficulties, though his judgment were over-weak to manage the least. He had formed the project of rescuing the queen of Scots from prison, and, by marriage with her, or the force of arms, of dethroning Elizabeth, and making himself master of her crown. That queen not only receded from the peace and neutrality then in agitation with the Spaniards, but furnished the states men and money, as they had requested, to enable them to carry on the war more powerfully against them. It was here that Ralegh, under Sir John Norris, and in company with Sir Robert Stewart, Colonels North, Cavendish, Morgan, and others, (whose veteran troops were the first perfect harquebusiers we had, and first taught us to esteem the musket,) probably shared in the a See Naunton's Frag. Regal. b Pref. to Hist. World. c Camden's Elizab. An. 1578. d See Sir Roger Williams' Brief discourse of the Spanish discipline in war, 4, 1590; also his Actions of the Low countries, 4, 1618, p. 126. 5 honours and dangers of the memorable Lammas-day 1578. in 1578, when his rashness at the battle of Rimenant proved the grave of Don John's renown; a loss which himself only two months survived. The English and Scots, oppressed with a long and wearisome march, arrived on the field only a day, some say only an hour, before the battle commenced. Owing to the heat of the weather, or, in Lord Bacon's words, being more sensible of a little heat of the sun than any cold fears of death, they threw off their armour and clothes, and in their shirts assisted to chastise Don John for the faithless treaties of peace with which he had abused the states. f On his return home, Ralegh found an opportunity, in the year 1579, of making a first essay on the other element, which, although it proved an unsuccessful one, is material, as it probably contributed to kindle in his mind those sparks of maritime enterprise which afterward blazed forth with such peculiar splendour. The gallant spirit which actuated the English gentry in the reign of Elizabeth, is not perhaps more signally manifested, in any circumstance, than in the naval and colonial enterprises, which, during that brilliant period of our history, were planned and conducted by private individuals. Sir Humphrey Gilbert (his maternal half-brother, e Fam. Strada de Bel. Belg. Ann, 1578, f Discourse of war. as 'we have seen) had recently obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth, for planting and inhabiting certain northern parts of America, unpossessed by any of her allies. Ralegh, ever rejoicing in an opportunity of advancing his knowledge and fortune, was readily engaged, on his return to England, to embark in the adventure. The coasts from cape Florida to Newfoundland had been discovered by the Cabots, in the time of Henry VII; yet more inland researches, and the establishment of christianity, were still wanting; and the Newfoundland fishery had been greatly neglected since the reign of Edward VI. Sir Humphrey having procured an ample commission for restoring and improving these possessions, by piercing farther into those tracts which extend northward from the 25th degree, many gentlemen entered into the cause, and it was expected that a strong fleet would have been raised. When the shipping was prepared, however, unanimity was wanting; some hesitated at subjection; others proved unequal to their engagements; and the majority dispersed, leaving Sir Humphrey to prosecute the adventure with only a few of his most faithful adherents, among whom was Ralegh. With these few, he ventured to sea, and, after a smart action with the Spaniards, was compelled to return home with the loss of a large ship, and a gallant gentle Appendix, N°. I. g I |