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by Abraham Fraunee. London. Printed by Thomas Orun/n,for William Pontonby, du-elling in Paulet Church Yard, at the rigne of the Bishop's Head. 1591. This truly whimsical performance consists of a translation of Tasso's Aminta, which is interwoven in the body of a pastoral, and can scarcely be called a play.*

1592. Died, Sept. 2, Robert Green, an English poet Hewasamanofwitand talents, and one of the most facetious, profli)!:ate, and indefatigable of the Scribleri family. He laid the foundation of a new dynasty of literary emperors. The iiist act by which he prored his claim to the throne of Grub-street,f nas served as a model to his numerous successors — it was, says Mr. D'Israeli, an ambidexterous trick ! Green sold his Orlando Furioso to two different theatres, and is among the first authors in English literary history, who wrote as a trader; or as crabbed Anthony Wood phrases it, in the language of celibacy and cynicism, " he wrote to maintain his wife, and that high and loose course of MvingVihich poets generally follow." The hermit Anthony seems to have had a mortal antipathy against the Eves of literary men.

Immediately after his death, and whilst the public curiosity was alive concerning him, the following tract was published : — The Repentance of Robert Greene, Maisler of Aries. Wherein, by himselfe, is laid open hi* loose Life, with the Manner of his Death. At London, printed for Cuthbert Burbie. 1592.

The first part of this tract exhibits, in strong colours and the quaint language of the time, his profligacy and subsequent contrition. It next gives us an interesting sketch of his life. From this it appears he was born at Norwich, here spelt Nnnvitch. His parents must have been respectable, for he was educated at Cambridge, from whence he t«lls us, " wags as lewd" as himself "drew him to march into Italy and Spaine." In which place he "saw and practised such villanie as is abhominable to declare."

On his return to England, " I ruffeled," says he, " out in my silks, ig the habit of Malcon- tent, and no place would please me to abide in." After he had taken his Masters degree at Cam- bridge, he left the universitie, "and away to London, where he became an author of playes, and a penner of love pamphlets, and wno for


 * Sold at archbishop Nare*s sale, 1831. 4to., for j£4 4c.

t Mention Is often made of Orub-gtreet writers and Oru6.^treet publications, but the terms ai'e little under, stood; the foUowinff hUtorical fact will explain them : durini; the usurpation, a prodieriotis number of seditious mnd libellous pamphlets and papers, tending to exasperate the people, and increase the confuKion in which the nation was involved, were from time to time published. The authors of these were, for the most part, men whose Indigent circumstances compelled them to live in the most obsctu-e jiarts of Ihetown. Grub street then abounded with mean and old houses, which were let out in lodgings. At low rents, to persons of this description, whose occu- pation was the publishing anonymous treason and slan- der. One of the ori^nal inhabitants of this street was Fox the martyrologlst, who, durini? his abode there wrote his Actn and Monumenta. It was also rendered famous by bavins been the residence of Mr. Henry Welby, a gentle- man of whom it is related in a printed narrative, that be lived there forty years without being seen of any one.

that trade growne so ordinary aa Robin Greene." He then freely confesses that he led a life of unrestrained debauchery, once, and once only, feeling some compunction of the divine judg- ment. This inward compunction he felt "in Saint Andrews Church, in the cittie of Nor- wich, at a lecture or sermon then preached by a godly learned man." In the latter part of this tract, he breaks forth into a passionate apostrophe to his injured wife, from whose society he con- fesess he had estranged himself six years. He most pathetically implores her forgiveness. He concludes with warning young men against the example of his vicious life, assuring them, that God will visit sinfulness.

He appears to have been a thoughtless, good- natured man, and susceptible of the better feel- ings of the heart, for many of his works con- tain noble and generous expressions. Neither was he, by any means, to be despised as a; poet. The short compositions scattered through his works, to say nothing of his dmmatical pieces, indicate much poetical taste and feeling. Sub- joined is one of them.

BY A MOTHER TO HER INFANT.

Weepe not, my Wanton, smfle upon my Icnee, When thou art old there* griefe enough for thee.

Mothers wagge, pretUe boy,

Fathers sorrow, fathers joy ;

When thy father first did see

8ucb a boy by him and me,

He was glad, I was woe.

Fortune cbangd made bim so.

When he bad left his prettie boy.

Last his sorrow, first his Joy.

Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee. When thou art old theres fcricfe enough for thee.

Streaming tcares that never stint,

Lilte pcarle drops from a flint.

Fell by course from his eies.

That one anothers place supplies.

"hius he grieved In every part,

Tiares of bloud fell from bis heart.

When he left his prettie boy.

Fathers sorrow, fathers Joy.

Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee. When thou art old theres griefe enough for thee.

The wanton smiled, father wept.

Mother cried, babie lept.

Now he crow*d more he cride.

Nature could not sorrow hide}

He must goe, he must klase,

Childe and mother, babie bllsse.

For he left his pretUe boy.

Fathers sorrow, fathers Joy. Weepe not, my Wanton, smile upon my knee. When thou art old theres griefe enoogb for thee.

Green was exceedingly popularin his day, and his works are very voluminous ; a beautiful edition of them has lately been publish i.* Mr. Beloe, in his Anecdotes of Scarce P .<, emume- rates, a great number of Greens productions, and at the conclusion, says, "I here take my leave of Robert Greene, and I confess, not with- out reluctance. I have been highly entertained with many of his performances, I feel a great respect for his talents, much disgust at his profli- gacy, but a sincere concern for his misfortunes."

with an account of hit life. By the Rev. Alexander Dyce, London : William Pickering. 1834. 2 vols, crown Svo.
 * Green's Dratnalie Works, to which is added his poems,

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