While in the later editions of 1602 and 1623 they read: My humble accents beare the Oliue bough, Of intercession but to moue her will. Sonnet XVI. Edition 1592. Happie in sleepe, waking content to languish. Nought doe I craue, but loue, death, or my Lady, Waile all my life, my griefes do touch so neerely, And still expecting when she will relent Growne hoarce with crying mercy, mercy giue; So many vowes and prayers hauing spent, And yet the Hydra of my cares renewes, Still new-borne sorrowes of her fresh disdaine : Sonnet XX. Edition 1592. Come death the Anchor-holde of all my thoughtes, My last Resort whereto my soule appealeth ;* For all too long on earth my fancy dotes, Whilst my best blood my younge desires sealeth.† "appeales; "- MS. and edition 1594. "Whilst age upon my wasted body steales." - Ibid. That hart is now the prospectiue of horror, That honored hath the cruelst faire that lyueth : The cruelst faire, that sees I languish for her, Yet neuer mercy to my merit giueth. This is her Lawrell and her triumphes prize, That rest I lost, my loue, my life, and all, Sonnet XXII. Editions 1602 and 1623. Powre from those eyes, which pittie cannot spare; Sonnet XXXI. Edition 1592. Looke Delia how wee steeme the half-blowne Rose, The image of thy blush and Summers honor: Whilst in her tender greene she doth inclose O let not then such riches waste in vaine; Sonnet XXXVI. Edition 1602 and 1623. Looke Delia how w'esteeme the halfe blowne Rose, The image of thy blush and Summers honor: Whilst yet her tender bud doth vndisclose That full of beautie, time bestowes vpon her. No sooner spreads her glory in the aire, But straight her wide flowne pomp comes to decline: She then is scorn'd that late adorn'd the Faire So fade the Roses on those cheeks of thine. No Aprill can reuiue thy withered flowres, Whose springing grace adorns thy glory now: Then do not thou such treasure waste in vaine, Sonnet L. and last. Edition 1592. Loe heere the impost of a faith vnfaining, That shewes the world how much my griefe imported, These tributary plaintes fraught with desire, I sende those eyes the cabinets of loue: The Paradice whereto my hopes aspire, From out this hell, which mine afflictions proue. My carres long liu'de, and will not dye without mee. Sonnet LVII. Edition 1602 and 1623. Lo here the impost of a faith entire Which loue doth pay, and her disdaine extorts: Behold the message of a chast desire Which tells the world how much my griefe imports. These tributary passions, beauties due, I send those eyes the cabinets of loue: Pensiue alone, onely but with despaire; My ioyes abortiue, perish in their byrth, My griefes long liu'd, and care succeeding care. This is my state, and Delias heart is such. I say no more, I feare I said too much. These Sonnets by Daniel are thus elegantly mentioned by Spenser in his Colin Clouts come home againe, 4to, 1595; but in his last supposition, that Daniel's bent was more suited to Tragedy, he did not prove himself correct; his Tragedies being destitute of the passionate force and spirit which are requisite in works of that character: And there is a new shepheard late vp sprong, And to that course thou please thy selfe advance. But most me seemes, thy accent will excell In Tragick plaints and passionate mischance. In the following lines before Zepheria, a collection of Sonnets printed in 1594, 4to, Daniel's Delia is obviously alluded to: Ye moderne Laureats famousd for your wit On your sweete lines eternitie doth sit Their browes enobling with applause and lawrell. And Meres in his Palladis Tamia, or Wits Treasury, 8vo, 1598, says: "As Parthenius Nicæas excellently sung the praises of his Arete, so Daniel hath diuinely sonetted the matchlesse beauty of his Delia." He is frequently coupled with Spenser and Drayton. Lodge speaks of him as "Daniel choice in word and Invention: Camden styles him the English Lucan." Fitzgeffrey praises him as Daniel who well may Maros text controule And besides the eulogy of Spenser we have already given, and the numerous It is not known who was meant by "Delia," but there appears good reason to believe that she was not a mere imaginary person. In the "Complaynt of Rosamond," when speaking of the Metropolis as the great resort of beauty from all parts, "the wondrous concourse of the glittering faire," Daniel says: Heere is the center of all beauties best, And in one of his Sonnets, XLVIII, he observes: Avon rich in fame though poore in waters Shall haue my song, where Delia hath her seate From these passages we may justly conclude that she was a resident in the West of England, and on the banks of the Avon; not the Warwickshire Avon, as Mr. Collier unwittingly supposes, but the river of that name in Somersetshire and Wiltshire. This first edition of Daniel's Delia is exceedingly rare, and we cannot trace it in any of our great public libraries. There is, however, a fine and beautiful copy of it in the Collection of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth. The present copy, which was the one from the Bibl. Ang. Poet., No. 189, and is there priced at 67. 68., is unfortunately imperfect, having the title and dedication in manuscript. It formerly belonged to Dr. Farmer, and to Mr. T. Park, and is enriched with some notes by them. Collation: Sig. A, two leaves; B to H 2, in fours. Bound in Calf, neat. DANIEL, (SAMUEL.) - Delia. Containing certaine Sonnets: with the complaynt of Rosamond. Ætas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus. |