Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/519

 vi. DEC. 1,1900.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 431 of a poem which has been so differently viewed in these pages. It is, however, safe to assert that many songs of the period might be named much more beautiful than the one quoted, each and all undisfigured by the hideous cacophony of such an expression as "spill me." Perhaps the poet wrote "thrill me," which would not be suggestive of the ridiculous. Mr. Swinburne justly complains that Jonson has never been edited with the care that such a great classic writer of our language deserves. The important collection of poems entitled ' Underwoods,' though it contains not a few that had undergone the author's careful revision, has also, as Bell says, "many pieces found among his papers which he either did not intend to include, or had not revised and completed for publication. This circumstance will explain the imperfect condition in which some of the pieces appear." The text of Bell's edition of ' Underwoods' is taken from the second folio, which " bears the date of 1640, without any publisher's name," and was consequently printed some three years after the poet's death. Unfortunately, perhaps, for his fame, Jon- son's personality is far better known to us than that of'any of his great contemporaries. They may be said to have faded away into mere shadows, but he stands forth as sub- stantial as ever he was. so graphically has he been portrayed by himself and others. Putting aside other considerations, I am inclined to believe that he never made use of so clumsy a phrase, and so ludicrous, when we think of his "rocky face," his huge bulk of body, bloated with sack—a liking for which he shared with Sir John Falstaff, of whom we are often reminded in a very curious way, though the "arch-poet" was certainly not a drunkard. Had he not been saved by his splendid intellect, and especially by his studious habits and love of literature, it is quite conceivable that Jonson might have been in reality what the burly knight is so truthfully represented to be in fiction. It cannot be said that our author shows much brilliancy in amatory poetry, if we may judge by the specimens that we possess. Perhaps he was more successful when he wrote for other people. It is on record that James I. availed himself of Jonson's talent on one very particular occasion. The French ambassador Tillieres, writing in 1621, says :— " When he [James I.] was full of sweet wine, he took the Prince of Wales by the hand, led him to the lords and ladies, and said there was a great con- tention between the prince and himself as to which of the two best loved the Marchioness of Bucking- ham. After having recounted all sorts of reasons for and against, he drew some verses from his pocket, which the poet Jonson had written in praise of the marchioness, then read some others of his own invention, and swore ho would stick them on all the doors of his house to show his good will." What follows does not admit of transcrip- tion. " Had I not received this report from trustworthy persons," says Tillieres, " I should have considered it impossible."* As he was at that time Poet Laureate, Jqnson was no doubt commanded by the monarch to join him in celebrating the fair lady's charms, and, for aught I know, these may be the very lines written for the festi- vities, which must have been of a private character, one would think, inasmuch as the French Ambassador had apparently received no invitation. We can fancy how angry James would have been with the delinquent, if one of the company, pointing him out, had whispered in the royal ear," A chiel 's amang ye, takin' notes," for well would he have known that they were meant for the infor- mation of his most Christian majesty over the water at Paris, who had so often been scandalized on reading the stories of his brother's strange doings, as related in the despatches of Tillieres. Though James may be a poet among kings, Jonson is a king among poets; nevertheless, we cannot be sorry that their verses, written for this occasion, have been lost, so far as we know. Our author was at his best when he was expressing his feelings of admiration and affection for his friends, both living and dead. One of these, especially dear to him, was Sir Henry Goodyer, to whom Epigrams Ixxxv. and Ixxxvi. refer. Sir Henry was fond of books, and liked the society of lite- rary men, whom he sometimes invited to his mansion in Warwickshire, and amused with country sports. It was there that Jonson saw some hawking, from which he draws a very good lesson in the first poem. The second, which is excellent, and very characteristic of the writer, is a tribute to his host's " well-made choice of friends and books." And when the worthy knight was gathered to his fathers, the same poet, who had loved him when living, dedicated the following lines to his memory. I quote from Camden's ' Kemaines,' 1614, p. 377 :— " To the honour of Sir Henry Goodyer of Poles- worth, a knight memorable for his vertues: an affectionate friend of his, framed this Tetrastich. An ill yeare of a Goodyer us bereft, Who gon to God, much lacko of him here left: Full of good gifts, of body and of minde, Wise, comely, learned, eloquent, and kinde.' Stuart,' by Robert Vaughan, p. 204 (London, 1840).
 * 'The History of England under the House of