That both for wit and sense so oft dost pluck, 91 CXIII. TO SIR THOMAS OVERBURY.92 So Phoebus make me worthy of his bays, stood! Where, what makes others great, doth keep thee good! I think, the fate of court thy coming craved, That the wit there and manners might be saved. For since, what ignorance, what pride is fled, And letters and humanity in the stead ! Repent thee not of thy fair precedent, Could make such men and such a place repent; Nor may' any fear to lose of their degree, Who 'n such ambition can but follow thee. 91 This word "prime” is a key to the figure that runs through the whole piece. Jonson compares the driveller who hunts and imitates him at every turn to a shallow player at primero, who closely follows the shifts of his antagonist, without possessing either the advantage in his cards, or a sufficient knowledge of the game, to enable hinı to secure the victory. - B. 92 The date of this epigram may be referred, as Gifford suggests, to the return of Sir Thomas Overbury from his travels. – B. CXIV. 98 TO MISTRESS PHILIP SIDNEY." I must believe some miracles still be, , But, in your love, made all his servants wise. CXV. ON THE TOWN'S HONEST MAN. You wonder who this is, and why I name 95 98 Daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, and wife of Sir Philip Sidney. -- B. 94 A character in Moralities. 95 “ To come from Tripoli” was a current phrase, signifying that the person to whom it was applied could perform feats of strength and agility in the manner of the Moors. Jonson uses it elsewhere : “I protest, Sir John, you came on high from Tripoli, as I Do all that 'longs to th' anarchy of drink, Except the duel; can sing songs and catches; Give every one his dose of mirth; and watches Whose name's unwelcome to the present ear, And him it lays on if he be not there; Tells of him all the tales itself then makes ; But if it shall be questioned, undertakes * It will deny all, and forswear it too; Not that it fears, but will not have to do With such a one, and therein keeps its word; 'Twill see its sister naked, ere a sword; At every meal, where it doth dine or sup, The cloth's no sooner gone, but it gets up And, shifting of its faces, doth play more Parts than th’ Italian could do with his door; 98 Acts old Iniquity” and, in the fit Of miming, gets th' opinion of a wit; Executes men in picture; by defect, From friendship, is its own fame's architect; An engineer in slanders of all fashions, That, seeming praises, are yet accusations. 97 do every whit; and lift as many joined stools, and leap over 'em, if you would use it." --- The Silent Woman, V. i. Thus also Fletcher :"Get up to the window there, and presently, Like a most complete gentleman, come from Tripoli." Monsieur Thomas, IV. 2. - B. 96 An Italian well known for his skill in such feats; possibly, as suggested by Whalley, the person alluded to under the name of Scoto in King James's Demonology.---B. 97 The Vice of old Moralities. – B. : Described, it's thus : defined would you it have? Then, "the town's honest man's" her arrant'st knave. 98 CXVI. TO SIR WILLIAM JEPHSON. Jephson, thou man of men, to whose loved name All gentry yet owe part of their best flame ! 99 So did thy virtue' inform, thy wit sustain That age, when thou stood'st up the master brain : Thou wert the first mad'st merit know her strength, And those that lacked it, to suspect, at length, 'Twas not entailed on title; that some word Might be found out as good, and not “my Lord"; That nature no such difference had impressed In men, but every bravest was the best; That blood not minds, but minds did blood adorn; And to live great was better than great born. These were thy knowing arts; which who doth now Virtuously practise, must at least allow 98 The name of this gentleman, who seems to have achiered distinction in his own day by the force of his merits, does not appear elsewhere among the contemporaries of Jonson. - B. It was probably the same as Sir William Jepson, who is mentioned in Nichols's Progress of James I., I. 92, as one of the entertainers of the King at Belvoir Castle. 99 Bell corrects to “fame." ON GROINE. CXVII. Groine, come of age, his 'state sold out-of hand For 's whore; Groine doth still occupy his land. ON GUT. CXVIII. CXIX. TO SIR RALPH SHELTON. 100 Not he that flies the court for want of clothes 100 This is the person who engaged with Mr. Hayden, in the much frolic of rowing up Fleet Ditch to Holborn, celebrated in the epigram ; but I know nothing more of him. - G. 101 Press -- crowd. “The king is at hand, stand close in the presse." Damon and Pythias. -- B. |