or war, have not devoured more great ones then flattery and envie." The following character of the Earl of Essex which occurs at p. 76, exhibits the concise and nervous style of the author in a favourable point of view. "In England not long agoe there was a man supereminent in honours, desertfull in many services, indeared to a vertuous and a wise Queene, Elizabeth of glorious memorie, and eternall happinesse: a man too publikely beloved, and too confident of the love he held; Robert Earle of Essex, and Earle Marshall of the Kingdome; he, even he that was thought too high to fall, and too fixed to be removed, in a verie handfull of time, felt the misery of greatnesse, by relying on such as flattered and envyed his greatnesse. His end was their end, and the execution of law is a witnesse in him to posteritie, how a publike person is not at any time longer happie, then hee preserves his happinesse with a resolution that depends upon the guard of innoce cie and goodnes." J. H. M. ART. III. ROBERT SOUTHWELL. Mr. Ellis, speaking of this writer, observes, "that his poems, all of which are on moral or religious subjects, are far from deserving the neglect which they have experienced." In addition to the Specimens brought forwards by that gentleman, I have been induced to select extracts from the following poem, which from its intrinsic merit, and the scarcity of the work in which it is con tained, tained, appears to be well worthy of preservation. It is entitled, "Losse in delayes. "Shun delayes, they breed remorse, Take thy time while time doth serve thee, Flie their fault, lest thou repent thee. Hoist up saile while gale doth last, Sober speed is wisdome's leisure; After-wits are dearely bought, Time weares all his lockes before, And behinde his scalpe is naked. Seeke thy salve while sore is greene, Often sought, scarce ever chancing. Tender twigs are bent with ease, Aged trees doe breake with bending, Young desires make little prease, Growth doth make them past amending: Happie man that soone doth knocke Babel's babes against the rocke." ART. IV. Occasion's Off-spring; or, Poems upon severall occasions. By Mathew Stevenson. London: Printed for Henry Twyford in the Middle Temple. 1654. 8vo. pp. 125. The versification of this poet (whom Walpole styles "an humble author,") is in general inharmonious and irregular, and his chief merit arises solely from that variety of measure which it appears he could readily adopt. The following poem lays some claim to our approbation. "The Choice. 'Tis not thy rubie lips, nor rosie cheeks, J. H. M. ART. V. Sheppard's Epigrams, &c. London: Printed 1651. 12mo. The following humourous piece forms Epig. 23, P. 14. «Pedro, "Pedro, and Roderigo-the one Franciscan, the other "Pedro, and Roderigo traveling, Came to the brink of a religious spring; ART. VI. Zepheria. Ogni di viene la sera, &c. This curious amatory poem is divided into forty "When last mine eyes dislodged from thy beautic, A supersedeas countermanding dutie, Even then I saw upon thy smiles to sit, Thine eyes edict the statute of repeale, Doth other duties wholly abrogate, Save such as thee endure in heartie zeale: Then be it farre from me that I should derogate. So might my love encur a premunire." J. H.M. ART. VII. The Bow-man's Glory; or, Archery re- The author dedicates this curious treatise" to the "And methinks that the many victories which our both |