And if they do reply, Spare not to give the lie. 13 And when thou hast, as I Commanded thee, done blabbing, Although to give the lie Deserves no less than stabbing; Yet stab at thee who will, No stab the Soul can kill. SECOND PERIOD. FROM SPENSER TO DRYDEN. FRANCIS BEAUMONT. THIS remarkable man, from his intimate connexion with Fletcher, is better known as a dramatist than as a poet. He was the son of Judge Beaumont, and descended from an ancient family, which was settled at Grace Dieu in Leicestershire. He was born in 1585-86, and educated at Cambridge. Thence he passed to study in the Inner Temple, but seems to have preferred poetry and the drama to law. He was married to the daughter of Sir Henry Isley of Kent, who bore him two daughters. He died in his 30th year, and was buried March 9, 1615-16, in St Benedict's Chapel, Westminster Abbey. More of his connexion with Fletcher afterwards. After his death, his brother published a collection of his miscellaneous pieces. We extract a few, of no little merit. His verses to Ben Jonson, written before their author came to London, and first appended to a play entitled 'Nice Valour,' are picturesque and interesting, as illustrating the period. TO BEN JONSON. The sun (which doth the greatest comfort bring It is our country's style) in this warm shine Than beer, good only for the sonnet's strain, Lie where he will, and make him write worse yet; By special Providence, keeps us from fights, A medicine to obey our magistrates: For we do live more free than you; no hate, And gravest men will with his main house-jest At selling of a horse, and that's the most. Held up at tennis, which men do the best, With the best gamesters: what things have we seen As if that every one from whence they came And had resolved to live a fool the rest Of his dull life: then when there had been thrown Wit able enough to justify the town For three days past; wit that might warrant be For the whole city to talk foolishly Till that were cancell'd; and when that was gone, We left an air behind us, which alone Was able to make the two next companies Right witty; though but downright fools were wise. When I remember this, * * I needs must cry I see my days of ballading grow nigh; I can already riddle, and can sing Catches, sell bargains, and I fear shall bring I hope hath left a better fate in store For me, thy friend, than to live ever poor. Bring me to thee, who canst make smooth and plain Protest it will my greatest comfort be, To acknowledge all I have to flow from thee, ON THE TOMBS IN WESTMINSTER. Mortality, behold and fear, What a charge of flesh is here! Sleep within these heap of stones:` Here they lie, had realms and lands, Who now want strength to stir their hands; With the richest, royal'st seed, That the earth did e'er suck in Since the first man died for sin : Here the bones of birth have cried, Here are wands, ignoble things, Dropp'd from the ruin'd sides of kings. Here's a world of pomp and state Buried in dust, once dead by fate. AN EPITAPH. Here she lies, whose spotless fame The rigid Spartan that denied |