Under a colour'd trick, and wisely draw

That honour to yourselves which follows them. &c.

A very short extract from a prose Character shall

conclude.

"An honest Lawyer

Is a precious diamond set in pure gold: the one gives glory to the other; and, being divided, they be lesse valuable. He knows Law to be the mistris of man, and yet he makes Honesty the mistris of the Law. He hath as much leasure to dispute with Conscience in the most busie Terme, as in the deadest Vacation. He railes not against the vices of his profession, but makes his profession commendable by his owne practise of vertue. He may well be a president to the best physicians, for he undertakes no cure when he perceives it inclining to be desperate. He makes the cause, and not his client, the object of his labour. He hath no leasure to protract time, or save his client's opinion with jests premeditated, or windy inferences. He owes so much worship to desert and innocence, that he can as faithfully applaud sufficient worth, as not insult over, or exclaime against, dull ignorance. He dares know and professe, in spight of potency: hee dares be rich and honest, in despight of custome."

"Cynthia's Revenge, or Mænander's Extasy," a tragedy, by this author, was published in 1613; and is spoken of in Biogr. Dram. as distinguished for being one of the longest and most tedious dramatic pieces ever written. Three copies of commendatory verses, signed Jo. Stephens, were printed with Fitzgeoffrey's Satyricall Epigrams in 1620.

Parnassus Biceps: or severall choice pieces of Poetry, composed by the best Wits that were in both Uniuersities, before their Dissolution. With an Epistle in the behalfe of those now doubly secluded and sequestered Members, by one who himselfe is none.

London, printed for George Eversden, at the signe of the Maiden-head in St. Pauls church-yard. 1656.

THESE leaves are said to present the reader with some few drops from that ocean of wit which flowed from the two Universities: they flowed however in such channels as are best calculated for silent return to any attributed source.

ORIGINAL VERSES

BY SIR ARTHUR GORGES, KNIGHT.

"Sir Arthur Gorges, says Mr. Todd,* has hitherto been recorded as a man of genius, without a proof of

In his account of the Life of Spenser, p. lxxxviii.

the assertion. I am happy to add his name to the list of English poets." A sonnet by him, taken from a MS. in the Marquis of Stafford's collection, is printed by Mr. Todd as a specimen of the Knight's talents and modesty. Spenser spoke of him as a lover of learning and virtue; and Churchyard registers him with Sir Walter Raleigh and others of his honourable friends. appears from Dr. Birch's Life of Prince Henry, that he married Lady Elizabeth Clinton, daughter of Henry Earl of Lincoln. Two of his letters are printed in that Life.

It

The following verses by Sir Arthur occur in the presentation-copy of a highly decorated MS. on five folios, addressed to James the First, his Queen, &c. and preserved in Bibl. Reg. 18 A. xlvii.

To the Kinges Majestie.

When Time our styled yeare did end,
And chaunge beganne your raigne;
Then Time reft us a Soueraigne blisse,
Which chaunge repayde with gaine.
Time now, by shortninge his oune time,
Hath chaung'd the aged yeare;
Yet in my long borne-zeale, Time's chaunge
Can make no chaunge appeare.
But many a blessed chaunge of Times
Heavens graunt your Time may see,
That Time chaunge not your royall race

Till Time no more shalbe.

Most humble and loyall,

A. GORGES.

[Arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland united, in the Rose, Thistle, and Harp.]

Regum est parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos.

Divinely did your royall mott presage

The union of these plants so sweete and sharpe,
Whereby you temper this our looser age

With Justice lore, and thereto tune your harpe.
So Fates ordaine to figure, by your Crest,

The golden sentence fostred in your brest.

[Royal arms of England, emblazoned—with hearts.]

Perfection's Queene! these Lions three

Do blaze your royall stem;
And you, by match with Majestie,

Ally three realms to them:
Thus, grac'd by the High Trinitie,

You have enricht the earth
With heav'n-blest triple progenie,

Of hope as greate as byrth.
More fruitfull yeares may you befall,

To plant Greate-Brytain's fields withall.

[Beneath the P. of Wales's crest of feathers, with motto Ich Dien.

Bellona vaunts that this brave Prince to her belong'd,
Because he bare these lofty plumes, the badge of mart;
But mild Minerva plain'd, her right was therein wrong'd;
For that the learned quills are instruments of arte.

Hay then, quoth Juno, stay; this crown hee holds of mee: Therefore shall Arts and Armes but his attendants bee."

Whilome this subject crown a sovraigne crown pursude,
When that heroick Prince a mighty Kinge subdude:
Then did these plumes so well the brawle of Poytiers daunce,
As that the wronge was quaild that brav'd his right in France,
Thus thundred that greate Mars of Britaine, tearmed black;
Yet of Greate Brytaine's force did half Great Brytaine's lack.

[No arms nor ornament.]

Of many now that sounde with hope's consort
Your wisdome, bountie, and peace-blessed raygne,
My skyll is least; but of the most import,

Because not school'd by favours, gyfts, or gaine:

And that which more approves my

truthfull layes,

To sweete my tunes I straine not Flattrye's stringe;

But holde that temper in your royall prayse

That longe I did, before you weare my Kinge,

As one that vertue for itselfe regards,

And loves his Kinge more then his King's rewards.

1° Janua:

1609.

The concluding verses bespeak a very honourable and independent mind, nor does the poetry degrade the