period, Tom Nash, invented a fabulous narrative of Surrey having travelled in Italy, proclaiming the beauty of his Geraldine, and defending her charms in tilt and tournament, against Turk, Saracen, and Cannibal. The whole was a fabrication, but it was believed even down to the days of Sir Walter Scott, who introduces the chivalrous fiction into his Lay of the Last Minstrel. Surrey served with the army in Scotland and France. But the whole family of Howard fell under Henry's hatred, after the execution of Queen Catherine, Surrey's sister. He and his father were thrown into the Tower, and condemned on frivolous accusations. Surrey was executed in 1547; the Duke of Norfolk narrowly escaped the same fate by the death of the tyrant. Surrey and Sir Thomas Wyatt,' with whom his name is often associated, are sometimes ranked as the first who polished the English poetical diction and versification. The taste of Surrey, as Hallam observes, was even more striking than his genius. He was deeply imbued with the manner of Petrarch, and wrote the earliest of our English sonnets. His pieces are full of natural and beautiful feeling, without any of the affectation of his age. He was the first writer of blank verse in English, in the translation of a portion of the Æneid. SURREY'S REFLECTIONS ON HIS IMPRISONMENT IN WINDSOR CASTLE.2 So cruel prison how could betide,3 alas, 5 As proud Windsor! where I in lust and joy, Where each sweet place returns a taste full sour, The stately seats; the ladies bright of hue, 1 The son of the Sir Thomas Wyatt executed in the beginning of the reign of Mary. Warton calls him "the first polished English satirist." 2 He had been condemned to this imprisonment for eating flesh in Lent. Henry VIII.'s theology often reduced his subjects to worse straits. 3 Be my lot. Innate delight. The word has been noticed above. It runs through many applications in many languages, from the Greek lao downwards. 6 The Earl of Richmond. A passage in the Iliad, xxiv. 260, seems to imply the gormandizing propensities of Priam's sons. 7 Hover. 8 "Maiden, a corruption of the old French magne or mayne, great. Thus Maiden head (properly Maiden hythe) in Berkshire, is the great port on the river Thames."Warton. "Mai dun are two ancient British words, signifying great hill. Thus the Maiden Castle (Edinburgh), is not castra puellarum, but a castle on a high hill."— Ritson. This is in the style of the exaggerated gallantry of the period; rue, pity; hence ruth, ruthless. NO AGE CONTENT WITH HIS OWN ESTATE. 49 The palm play,' where despoiléd for the game, The gravel ground, with sleeves tied on the helm,7 The wild forest, the clothéd holts with green, NO AGE CONTENT WITH HIS OWN ESTATE. Laid in my quiet bed, in study as I were, I saw, within my troubled head a heap of thoughts appear. And every thought did show so lively in mine eyes, That now I sighed, and then I smiled, as cause of thoughts did rise. I saw the little boy, and thought how oft that he Did wish of God, to 'scape the rod, a tall young man to be. The young man eke, that feels his bones with pains oppressed, How he would be a rich old man, to live and lie at rest; The rich old man, that sees his end draw on so sore, And, musing thus, I think the case is very strange, That man from wealth to live in woe, doth ever seek to change. Thus thoughtful as I lay, I saw my withered skin; How it doth show my dented chewes;10 the flesh was worn so thin. 1 At ball with the palm of the hand. 2 Rendered unfit. 3 Dazzled. 4 To catch. 5 "The ladies were ranged on the leads or battlements of the castle to see the play."-Warton. 6 The area of the training lists was strewed with gravel. 7 The sleeves or gloves of their mistresses were tied on the helmets of the champions. "And in my helmet wear her glove. When gallants ride the ring."-Poems by a Family Circle. See Shakesp. Henry V. Act. iv. Sc. i. vii. viii. Holt-a grove or forest. Loosened: from avaller, to cast; to fell down: Barb. Lat. avallare; which, according to Menage, is formed from ad, to, and vallis, a valley, as monter is formed from mons, a mountain-Richardson. 10 Or chaws, now written jaws; dented, indented. And eke my toothless chaps, the gates of my right way,' "Bids thee lay hand and feel them hanging on thy chin. Whereat I sighed, and said, “Farewell, my wonted Toy, SPRING. The sweet season, that bud and bloom forth brings, LORD SACKVILLE. (1536-1608.) THOMAS SACKVILLE, the first Lord Buckhurst and Earl of Dorset, was the son of Sir Richard Sackville, of Buckhurst, in Sussex. He is almost the only light in poetry that illuminates the gloomy reign of Mary. From his early years he manifested great vivacity of talent, He enjoyed the advantage of the education of both universities. While a student in the Inner Temple he composed his tragedy of "Gorboduc," or, as it was afterwards entitled, "Ferrex and Porrex." This is the first specimen in 5 Mingles; see note 3, p. 40; and note 8, p. 12. 2 Draw to a close. The first edition is dated 1565, and the title-page states that the three first acts of the play are by Thomas Norton. The internal evidence, however, does not support the assertion. INDUCTION TO MIRROR FOR MAGISTRATES. 51 English literature of the tragic drama. "This tragedy, and his contribution of the Induction' and 'Legend of the Duke of Buckingham' to the 'Mirror for Magistrates,' compose the poetical history of Lord Sackville's life."-(Campbell). The statesman soon superseded the poet in Sackville's career. He filled various important and conspicuous situations during the reign of Elizabeth; and, on the accession of James, was confirmed for life, in his office of Lord High Treasurer of England. His career as a minister reflects great honour on the integrity and vigour of his character. He died suddenly in his vocation at the council board, of disease in the brain, in 1608. "As to 'Gorboduc,' it is a piece of monotonous recitals, and cold and heavy accumulation of incidents."- (Campbell). It is, however, justly praised for the purity of its language, and the dignity and correctness of its sentiments. "The Mirror for Magistrates" is a collection of narratives by several poets of the misfortunes of the great in English history. It was planned by Sackville on the scheme of Dante's "Inferno." His contributions to it, however, as above noticed, were slight. Sorrow conducts the poet through the infernal regions: the "Induction" is filled with scenic allegory, little inferior in vigour of execution to that of Spenser. This collection of tragical histories is said to have furnished hints to Shakespeare, and may have suggested the historical plays. The first edition appeared in 1559, the second, containing Sackville's portion, in 1563. FROM THE "INDUCTION" TO THE "MIRROR FOR MAGISTRATES." ALLEGORICAL PERSONAGES IN HELL DESCRIBED. And first within the porch and jaws of hell Her eyes unstedfast rolling here and there, Tossed and tormented with the tedious thought * * * And next, within the entry of this lake, * Sat fell Revenge gnashing her teeth for ire, 1 Stinted, ceased. "And stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse!" Romeo and Juliet, Act i. Sc. 3. * Revenge is masculine in Collins's Ode on the Passions. Never to rest till she have her desire: When fell Revenge with bloody foul pretence Of Misery, that next appeared in sight. His face was lean, and some deal pined" away, His food for most, was wild fruits of the tree, By him lay heavy Sleep, the cousin of Death, So dead alive, of life he drew the breath. And next in order sad old Age we found, "Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine."-Macbeth, Act i. Sc. 4. The Fates.-See Keightley's Mythology. |