MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

TO THE MOST NOBLE AND ABOVE HIS TITLES

ROBERT, EARL OF SOMERSET. 1 They are not those are present with their face, And clothes, and gifts, that only do thee grace At these thy nuptials; but whose heart and

thought Do wait upon thee; and their love not bought. Such wear true wedding robes, and are true

friends, That bid, God give thee joy and have no ends ! Which I do, early, virtuous Somerset, And pray, thy loves as lasting be, as great;

1 These lines were discovered in 1852, in the handwriting of the poet, signed “Ben Jonson," on a leaf of paper pasted upon the inner cover of a copy of his works, eil. 1640, with the following memorandum by another hand: “These verses were made by the author of this book, and were delivered to the Earl of Somerset on his wedding day.” The volume bears on the outside covers the arms of the Earl of Somerset, to whom it eviilently belonged. The book afterwards came into the possession of the Hon. Archibald Fraser, of Lovat, and upon the sale of his library, in February, 1852, it was purchased by the British Museum for £14. The occasion to which the verses refer determines the time when they were written, - 1613. — B.

Not only this, but every day of thine
With the same look, or with a better shine;
May she, whom thou for spouse to-day dost take,
Out-be that wife, in worth, thy friend did make;
And thou to her, that husband, may exalt
Hymen's amends, to make it worth his fault.
So be there never discontent, or sorrow
To rise with either of you on the morrow;
So be your concord still as deep as mute,
And every joy in marriage turn a fruit;
So may thy marriage pledges comforts prove,
And every birth increase the heat of love;
So in their number may you never see
Mortality, till you a mortal be ;
And when your years rise more than would be told,
Yet neither of you seem to the other old,
That all that view you then and late may say,
Sure this glad pair were married but this day.

2

4. NEC LECTÆ FEMINÆ REPUDIANTOR. 5. IN APPARATU QUOD CONVIVIS CORRUGET NARES

NIL ESTO. 6. EPULÆ DELECTU POTIUS QUAM SUMPTU PARAN

chimney, in the Apollo of the Old Devil Tavern, at Temple Bar; that being his Club-room.

Non verbum reddere verbo.

1.
1. As the fund of our pleasure, let each pay his shot,

Except some chance friend, whom a member brings in.
2 Far hence be the sad, the lewd for, and the sot;
For such have the plagues of good company been.

II.
3. Let the learned and witty, the jovial and gay,

The generous and honest, compose our free state ;
4. And the more to exalt our delight while we stay,
Let none be debarred from his choice female mate.

III.
5. Let no scent offensive the chamber infest.
6. Let fancy, not cost, prepare all our dishes.
7. Let the caterer mind the taste of each guest,

And the cook, in his dressing, comply with their wishes.

IV.

8. Let's have no disturbance about taking places,

To show your nice breeding, or out of vain pride.
9. Let the drawers be ready with wine and fresh glasses,
Let the waiters have eyes, though their tongues must be tied.

V.
10. Let our wines without inixture or stum, be all fine,

Or call up the master, and break his dull nodule.
11. Let no sober bigot here think it a sin

To push on the chirping and moderate bottle.

4 Strong, new wine, from Latin mustum ; used to give strength and spirit to what is vapid.

8. DE DISCUBITU NON CONTENDITOR.
9. MINISTRI A DAPIBUS, OCCULATI ET MUTI,

A POCULIS, AURITI ET CELERES SUNTO. 10. VIXA PURIS FONTIBUS MINISTREXTOR AUT VAPU

LET HOSPES.

11. MODERATIS POCULIS

PROVOCARE SODALES FAS

ESTO,

12. AT FABULIS MAGIS QUAM VINO VELITATIO FIAT.

VI. 12. Let the contests be rather of books than of wine. 13. Let the company be neither noisy nor mute. 14. Let none of things serious, much less of divine, When belly and heart's full, profanely dispute.

VII. 15. Let no sancy fiddler presume to intrude,

Unless he is sent for to vary our bliss. 16. With mirth, wit, and dancing, and singing conclude, To regale every sense, with delight in excess.

VIII. 17. Let raillery be without malice or heat. 18. Dull poems to read let none privilege take, 19. Let no poetaster command or entreat

Another extempore verses to make.

IX.

20. Let argument bear no unmusical sound,

Nor jars interpose, sacred friendship to grieve. 21. For generous lovers let a corner be found,

Where they in soft siglis may their passions relieve.

X.

22. Like the old Lapithites, with the goblets to fight,

Our own 'mongst offences unpardoned will rank,
Or breaking of windows, or glasses, for spite,
And spoiling the goods for a rakehelly prank.

XI.
23. Whoever shall publish what's said, or what's done,

Re he hanished for ever our assembly divine. 24. Let the freedom we take be perverted by none,

To make any guilty by drinking good wine. The Old Devil Tavern, so called to distinguish it from a

13. CONVIVÆ NEC MUTIS NEC LOQUACES SUNTO. 14. DE SERIIS AC SACRIS POTI ET SATURI NE DIS

SERUYTO. 15. FIDICEN, NISI ACCERSITUS, NON VENITO. 16. ADMISSO RISU, TRIPUDIIS, CHOREIS, CANTU, CELE

BRANTOB. 17. JOCI SINE FELLE SUNTO. 18. IXSIPIDA POEMATA NULLA RECITANTOR, 19. VERSUS SCRIBERE NULLUS COGITOR. 20. ARGUMENTATIONIS TOTIUS STREPITUS ABESTO. 21. AMATORIIS QUERELIS, AC SCSPIRIIS LIBER ANGU

LUS ESTO. 22. LAPITHARUM MORE SCYPHIS PUGNARE, VITREA