The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
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 | The poems of George Daniel |  |
79
An Essay;
Endeavouring to ennoble our English Poesie by evidence of latter Qvills; and reiecting the former.
Shall I be onlye Hereticke in Witt?
Forbid Appolloe, rather let me Splitt
My lab'ring Qvill to Death. Noe, when I first
Enterd a Poet, Modestie (the worst
Companion of Sedition), brought me on
In tremblings and faint Sweats. I did not run
To Snatch the Laurel and vsurpe the wreath
To my owne Browes; but dasht with everie Breath
Of a supposéd Censure, happilye, lost
The Glorie of my Youth. Then be it most
Abhorring to my Thoughts, to lay a New
Foundation, or varie from the true
Vndoubted Rites of Poesie; or bring
But Cleare and pregnant Reasons, any Thing.
This Ingenuitie and Candor must
Allow of fforce; and if a Schisme thrust
In all my verse, a monstrous Horne, or foot
Cloven, to light of Iudgment, blot me out
Of fair opinion; and my Name Ile give
Vp, Witt's Apostate, ever more to live.
Forbid Appolloe, rather let me Splitt
My lab'ring Qvill to Death. Noe, when I first
Enterd a Poet, Modestie (the worst
Companion of Sedition), brought me on
In tremblings and faint Sweats. I did not run
To Snatch the Laurel and vsurpe the wreath
To my owne Browes; but dasht with everie Breath
Of a supposéd Censure, happilye, lost
The Glorie of my Youth. Then be it most
Abhorring to my Thoughts, to lay a New
Foundation, or varie from the true
Vndoubted Rites of Poesie; or bring
But Cleare and pregnant Reasons, any Thing.
This Ingenuitie and Candor must
Allow of fforce; and if a Schisme thrust
In all my verse, a monstrous Horne, or foot
Cloven, to light of Iudgment, blot me out
80
Vp, Witt's Apostate, ever more to live.
Nor would I yet be bitter, or engage
My selfe in Controversie to the Age,
With Sword and Buckler Langvage; but, withall
The Modestie of Truth and Reason, call
A long-spread Error backe; and ratifie
Some proofes to free me from this Heresie.
My selfe in Controversie to the Age,
With Sword and Buckler Langvage; but, withall
The Modestie of Truth and Reason, call
A long-spread Error backe; and ratifie
Some proofes to free me from this Heresie.
Shall wee, who are made Iudges then, and keepe
Minervae's holie Balance, fall asleepe?
And let the giddie Rout give weight and poise
To Indesert? For Shame; let vs arise
And yet informe the Age. Shall wee derive
Our English fflame, our Glories Primitive
From antique Chaucer? Blesse me witt, if right
Were onlie right, I feare a present night
Would cover all his Credit. This I wage
Onlye for Truth; in reverence to the Age
Wherein he writt. But to the proof, and see
Her firme Records, kept by Mnemosyne.
Minervae's holie Balance, fall asleepe?
And let the giddie Rout give weight and poise
To Indesert? For Shame; let vs arise
And yet informe the Age. Shall wee derive
Our English fflame, our Glories Primitive
From antique Chaucer? Blesse me witt, if right
Were onlie right, I feare a present night
Would cover all his Credit. This I wage
Onlye for Truth; in reverence to the Age
Wherein he writt. But to the proof, and see
Her firme Records, kept by Mnemosyne.
See, antique Greece, and see her in her Spring,
Verdant and glorious; not lesse flourishing
At her first rise then after. Heare the String
Of sacred Orpheus, or hear Linus Sing;
Or to the Prince of All, Mæonides,
Attend with reverence. Tell me, were not these
When (Learning hardly Crept) bright Suns? and Shine
Even to these Times of ours, with Light Devine?
ffull in exalted Rapture, Poesie
Appeares in them almost a Prodigie.
Verdant and glorious; not lesse flourishing
At her first rise then after. Heare the String
Of sacred Orpheus, or hear Linus Sing;
Or to the Prince of All, Mæonides,
Attend with reverence. Tell me, were not these
When (Learning hardly Crept) bright Suns? and Shine
Even to these Times of ours, with Light Devine?
81
Appeares in them almost a Prodigie.
Survay the Catalogue of Splendent Rome;
Cæsar-supported Maro; yet by whom
Has he bene Equall'd for a Steddie verse?
Wonder at Ovid, when Hee doth reherse
The Change of Things. What mightie flame doth fill
His varied ffancie, to enrich his Qvill?
Cæsar-supported Maro; yet by whom
Has he bene Equall'd for a Steddie verse?
Wonder at Ovid, when Hee doth reherse
The Change of Things. What mightie flame doth fill
His varied ffancie, to enrich his Qvill?
A Thousand moe, in her bright Roll appeared
Of everie Nation; Poets who have rear'd
The Laurel famous; whom we iustlie Call
The learned Fathers of Apolloe's Hall.
Of everie Nation; Poets who have rear'd
The Laurel famous; whom we iustlie Call
The learned Fathers of Apolloe's Hall.
And shall the seelie Age? (with noise, and Stuffe
Like his owne writings) blow at Chaucer's Snuffe?
To light our English fflame? Where doth he rouse
The fresh prun'd ffeathers of an Active Muse?
Where doth he stretch a Wing? or kicke his Clod?
But still his Fancie is his greatest Load.
How liveles his Conceipts? He doth not rise
Like ancient Poets, in huge Extasies
Of vncontrolléd ffancie, to Survay
Inestimable Nature. I might say
Much more to vindicate this Argument;
That in-authenticke Chaucer's furnishment,
Adds nothing to our Poesie, in his Store;
Nor let vs call him Father anie more.
Like his owne writings) blow at Chaucer's Snuffe?
To light our English fflame? Where doth he rouse
The fresh prun'd ffeathers of an Active Muse?
Where doth he stretch a Wing? or kicke his Clod?
But still his Fancie is his greatest Load.
How liveles his Conceipts? He doth not rise
Like ancient Poets, in huge Extasies
Of vncontrolléd ffancie, to Survay
Inestimable Nature. I might say
Much more to vindicate this Argument;
That in-authenticke Chaucer's furnishment,
Adds nothing to our Poesie, in his Store;
Nor let vs call him Father anie more.
And you (who hardly out of Iudgment) would
Seeme to defend him; cause you have bene told
Your Grandsires Laugh'd once at his Baud'rie
Laid out in Rime; (forsooth rare Poetrie!)
But where he comes the nearest what you meane,
You'r wearie, there your selv's, and leave him Cleane.
Perhaps you'le say, (as you have heard some say)
He was a glorious Poet at that day.
And why that Day? was ffancie in a Cage?
Rapture impounded? 'twas in the Darke Age;
(As you would call it) when the former Sung;
Scarce then had witt more then her mother tongve.
And yet they gain'd the Sphere, from whence wee bring
Our Cheifest Flowers, our best Embellishing.
Seeme to defend him; cause you have bene told
82
Laid out in Rime; (forsooth rare Poetrie!)
But where he comes the nearest what you meane,
You'r wearie, there your selv's, and leave him Cleane.
Perhaps you'le say, (as you have heard some say)
He was a glorious Poet at that day.
And why that Day? was ffancie in a Cage?
Rapture impounded? 'twas in the Darke Age;
(As you would call it) when the former Sung;
Scarce then had witt more then her mother tongve.
And yet they gain'd the Sphere, from whence wee bring
Our Cheifest Flowers, our best Embellishing.
Forget Third Edward's raigne; They did not write
In that Age with the Spirrit they could fight.
For then I'de yeild; (and in my Conscience wee
Vse Pens, as well as Swords;) Suffice it, Hee
Was disadvantagéd of naught in Time
But Langvage; which wee never made a Crime.
Why may not wee better exempt his Name
Then vse it? adding nothing to our ffame;
And take the Radix of our Poesie
To honour more in this last Centurie,
The noble Sidney; Spencer liveing Still,
In an abundant fancie; Ionson's Qvill
Ever admir'd; these iustly wee may call
Fathers; high-placed in Apolloe's Hall.
But then wee want Antiquitie, as well
Dan Geoffrie wants his Age; for wee might tell
Of antique Brittish Druids, and bring in
A hundred Rhiming Fellowes, that have bin
Tall Men at Meeter. One there was that Sung
I know not in what Number, nor what tongve;
A gallant Storie of Giganticke ffeats,
Inchanted Castles, onsetts, and retreats
Innumerable; of a flying Bull
And six blue dragons. Oh most worshipfull!
Bring in these ffopperies, because they Smell
Mustie and antiquated, therefore well.
In that Age with the Spirrit they could fight.
For then I'de yeild; (and in my Conscience wee
Vse Pens, as well as Swords;) Suffice it, Hee
Was disadvantagéd of naught in Time
But Langvage; which wee never made a Crime.
Why may not wee better exempt his Name
Then vse it? adding nothing to our ffame;
And take the Radix of our Poesie
To honour more in this last Centurie,
The noble Sidney; Spencer liveing Still,
In an abundant fancie; Ionson's Qvill
Ever admir'd; these iustly wee may call
Fathers; high-placed in Apolloe's Hall.
But then wee want Antiquitie, as well
Dan Geoffrie wants his Age; for wee might tell
83
A hundred Rhiming Fellowes, that have bin
Tall Men at Meeter. One there was that Sung
I know not in what Number, nor what tongve;
A gallant Storie of Giganticke ffeats,
Inchanted Castles, onsetts, and retreats
Innumerable; of a flying Bull
And six blue dragons. Oh most worshipfull!
Bring in these ffopperies, because they Smell
Mustie and antiquated, therefore well.
Come to a Clearer Light: doe not delude
Your selves (heroicke English) to intrude
His name, the Cheif, in your faire pedigree:
Worthe is still worthy in it selfe; were Hee
(Good Man) alive to heare it, sure as ought
Hee'd thinke you lost more then he ever taught;
To heare the Crue come in with open Mouth
And Crye, oh Chaucer! Chaucer has a Tooth;
Oh perilous! and soe he had a Tongve:
Read him againe, heele shew you how it hung.
Your selves (heroicke English) to intrude
His name, the Cheif, in your faire pedigree:
Worthe is still worthy in it selfe; were Hee
(Good Man) alive to heare it, sure as ought
Hee'd thinke you lost more then he ever taught;
To heare the Crue come in with open Mouth
And Crye, oh Chaucer! Chaucer has a Tooth;
Oh perilous! and soe he had a Tongve:
Read him againe, heele shew you how it hung.
But let not me, my first Designe out goe;
(Which was vpon Sound Arguments) to Shew
A Spring more worthy; whence wee may derive
With greater Honour, the Prerogative
Of English Poesie; and Clearlie evince
Noe Age can be call'd Darke to a Cleare Sence,
As in the Ancients. This I doe, and must
ffreely averre, which, if the Age will thrust
Vpon me, as an Heresie, how Cleare
Stand I to Iudgment? I can never feare
Such Censure from the wise; and I contemne
Loud ffollie in a Thousand: fitteth them,
And Mee with them, better to let it fall,
And please them in a Canterburye Tale.
(Which was vpon Sound Arguments) to Shew
A Spring more worthy; whence wee may derive
With greater Honour, the Prerogative
Of English Poesie; and Clearlie evince
Noe Age can be call'd Darke to a Cleare Sence,
As in the Ancients. This I doe, and must
ffreely averre, which, if the Age will thrust
84
Stand I to Iudgment? I can never feare
Such Censure from the wise; and I contemne
Loud ffollie in a Thousand: fitteth them,
And Mee with them, better to let it fall,
And please them in a Canterburye Tale.
| The poems of George Daniel | |