Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/198

178 Complaint of Rosamond, and the Tragedie of Cleopatra, 1594; Barnefield’s Sonnets, with the Legend of Cassandra, 1595; Fidessa, Sonnets by B. Griffin, 1596; Diella, Sonnets by R. L., with the Poem of Dom. Diego and Genevra, 1596; The Poem of Poems, or Sion’s Mase, by J. M. (Jarvais Markham) 1596; The Tragedie of Sir Richard Grinville, Kt. by the same, 1595.”

Here were treasures for a poetical antiquary! Poetry of vigour, elegance and originality thrown off in the age of Elizabeth, with a power which may cause the uninitiated an occasional stop in perusal to consider how in those days they could write so well! The volume is very small, just fit for the waistcoat pocket—four and a half inches long by three broad, pretty thick, well printed, in good condition, the date 1592. The story told of it is no less interesting than the little work itself, and deserves here the record he desires to preserve, as verifying its origin and career—

“The history of this book is curious. It was sold at the sale of Dr. Bernard’s books in 1698 for one shilling and threepence. Afterwards probably passing through many hands, it came into the possession of a broker at Salisbury, where about thirty years ago, Mr. Warton found it among a parcel of old iron and other lumber, and I think purchased it for sixpence. Since his death, his brother, Dr. Joseph Warton, very kindly presented it to me; and I have honoured it with a new cover, and have preserved above the name of my poor friend Mr. Thomas Warton which was written at the inside of the old cover, as a memorial of that very elegant and ingenious writer.