Volume III Part 36 (1/2)

FOOTNOTES:

[516] John Heywood, the well-known epigrammatist and interlude-writer.

His Proverbs were edited in 1874, with a pleasantly-written Introduction and useful notes, by Mr. Julian Sharman.

[517] Dyce refers to a pa.s.sage of Sir John Harington's _Metamorphosis of Ajax_, 1596:--”This Haywood for his proverbs and epigrams is not yet put down by any of our country, though one [marginal note, M. Davies] doth indeed come near him, that graces him the more in saying he puts him down.” He quotes also from b.a.s.t.a.r.d's _Chrestoleros_, 1598 (Lib. ii. Ep.

15); Lib. iii. Ep. 3, and Freeman's _Rubbe and a Great Cast_ ( Pt. ii., Ep. 100), allusions to the present epigram.

IN DAc.u.m.[518] x.x.x.

Amongst the poets Dacus number'd is, Yet could he never make an English rhyme: But some prose speeches I have heard of his, Which have been spoken many a hundred time; The man that keeps the elephant hath one, Wherein he tells the wonders of the beast; Another Banks p.r.o.nounced long agone, When he his curtal's[519] qualities express'd: He first taught him that keeps the monuments At Westminster, his formal tale to say, 10 And also him which puppets represents, And also him which with the ape doth play.

Though all his poetry be like to this, Amongst the poets Dacus number'd is.

FOOTNOTES:

[518] Samuel Daniel. See Ep. xlv.

[519] All the information about Banks' wonderful horse Moroccus (”the little horse that ambled on the top of Paul's”) is collected in Mr.

Halliwell-Phillips' _Memoranda on Love's Labour Lost_.

IN PRISc.u.m. x.x.xI.

When Priscus, rais'd from low to high estate, Rode through the street in pompous jollity, Caius, his poor familiar friend of late, Bespake him thus, ”Sir, now you know not me,”

”'Tis likely, friend,” quoth Priscus, ”to be so, For at this time myself I do not know.”

IN BRUNUM. x.x.xII.

Brunus, which deems[520] himself a fair sweet youth, Is nine and thirty[521] year of age at least; Yet was he never, to confess the truth, But a dry starveling when he was at best.

This gull was sick to show his nightcap fine, And his wrought pillow overspread with lawn; But hath been well since his grief's cause hath line[522]

At Trollop's by Saint Clement's Church in p.a.w.n.

FOOTNOTES:

[520] So eds. B, C.--Isham copy and ed. A ”thinks.”

[521] Old eds. ”thirtie nine.” MS. ”nine and thirt.i.th.”