LYCIDAS. In this Monody, the author bewails a learned friend, unfortunately drowned in his passage from Chester on the Irish seas, 1637; and by occasion foretells the ruin of our corrupted clergy, then in their height. YET once more, O ye laurels, and once more 10 2 myrtles brown] Hor. Od. i. 25. 17. 'Pulla magis atque myrto.' Warton. 8 dead] 'Phillisides is dead.' Past. Ægl. on Sir P. Sidney's death, by L. B. v. 8 (Todd's Spenser, viii. 76), and v. 71. Sweet bowres of myrtel twigs, and lawrel faire.' 10 Who] Neget quis carmina Gallo.' Virg. Ecl. x. 3. Peck. 12 watery] See Theod. Prodrom. Dos. et Rhod. Am. p. 254, ed. Gaulm. Unwept, and welter to the parching wind, Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well, 15 So may some gentle Muse With lucky words favour my destin'd urn, 20 And as he passes turn, 25 And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud. 14 melodious] Cleveland's Obsequy on Mr. King, 'I like not tears in tune.' Todd. 17 sweep] Purg. i. 9. E qui Calliopea alquanto surga, Dante 19 Muse] Gentle Muse he passes." See Jortin's Tracts, i. p. 341. 23 nurs'd] Compare Past. Ægl. on Sir P. Sidney's death, by L. B. ver. 85. 'Through many a hill and dale, &c.' 26 opening] Middleton's Game at Chess. Like a pearl, Dropp'd from the opening eyelids of the morn.' And Crashaw's Translation of Marino, 'The lids of day.' 29 Batt'ning] Drayton's Ecl. ix. Warton, Todd. 'Their battening flocks on grassie leas to hold.' Warton. 33 Temper'd] On this word see P. Fletcher's Purple Isl. 30 Oft till the star that rose, at evening, bright, Toward heav'n's descent had slop'd his west'ring Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute, [wheel. Temper'd to th' oaten flute, Rough Satyrs danc'd, and Fauns with cloven heel From the glad sound would not be absent long, And old Damætas lov'd to hear our song. But, O the heavy change, now thou art gone, 36 Now thou art gone, and never must return! And all their echoes mourn. 41 The willows, and the hazel copses green, Shall now no more be seen, Fanning their joyous leaves to thy soft lays. 45 Or taint-worm to the weanling herds that graze, Or frost to flow'rs, that their gay wardrobe wear, When first the white-thorn blows; Such, Lycidas, thy loss to shepherd's ear. [deep Where were ye, Nymphs, when the remorseless Clos'd o'er the head of your lov'd Lycidas? 51 For neither were ye playing on the steep, c. ix. st. 3. Par. Lost, vii. 598. Warton. 37 thou art gone] Browne's Sheph. Pipe (ecl. 4). But he is gone. 50 Where] Spenser's Astrophel, st. 22, Ah, where were ye the while his shepheard peares, &c. Warton. Where your old Bards, the famous Druids, lie, Nor on the shaggy top of Mona high, Nor yet where Deva spreads her wisard stream: Ay me! I fondly dream! 60 Had ye been there, for what could that have done? 71 55 wisard] on the wisard stream of Deva, consult Warton's note. 63 swift] Vir. Æn. 1. 321. 'Volucremque fuga prævertitur Hebrum.' Warton. 69 tangles] Benlowes's Theophila, p. 2. 'Entangled thoughts in the trammels of their ambush hair.' Greene's never too late, Entangle men in their tresses.' p. 58. Shirley's Doubtful Heir. p. 36. G. Peele's Works, ed. Dyce, 1829, i. p. 17. ii. p. 11. 70 Fame] "Quasi hic subesset ingens Cupido gloriæ quæ etiam sapientibus novissima exuitur." Stradæ Prelu. p. 161. ed. Ox. 74 To scorn delights, and live laborious days; Nor in the glist'ring foil Set off to th' world, nor in broad rumour lies; 80 O fountain Arethuse, and thou honour'd flood, And listens to the herald of the sea 74 blaze] So P. Reg. iii. 47. For what is glory but the blaze of fame.' Warton. 75 blind] Spenser's R. of Rome. st. xxiv. If the blind Furie which warres breedeth oft.' 77 touched] Virg. Ecl. vi. 3. Warton. -Cynthius aurem Vellit, et admonuit. Peck. 79 foil] See Shakes. Henry IV. act. i. s. 2. Warton. 85 fountain] Hom. Od. xiii. 408. Κρήνη ̓ Αρεθούση. Virg, Ecl. x. 4. Æn. iii. 694. Warton. $7 higher'] 'I'll tune my reed unto a higher key.' Browne's Brit. Past. iv. 41. |