University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Works in Verse and Prose

(including hitherto unpublished Mss.) of Sir John Davies: for the first time collected and edited: With memorial-introductions and notes: By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In three volumes
Davies, John (1569-1626)

collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I: VERSE.
collapse section 
Nosce Teipsum.
  
Dedication
  
Introduction.
  
OF THE SOULE OF MAN AND THE IMMORTALITIE THEREOF.
collapse section 
Orchestra.
collapse section 
[Dedications.]
 I. 
I. TO HIS VERY FRIEND, MA. RICH. MARTIN.
 II. 
II. TO THE PRINCE.
  
Orchestra,
collapse section 
Hymnes of Astrœa.
 I. 
HYMNE I. Of Astrœa.
 II. 
HYMNE II. To Astrœa.
 III. 
HYMNE III. To the Spring.
 IV. 
HYMNE IV. To the Moneth of May.
 V. 
HYMNE V. To the Larke.
 VI. 
HYMNE VI. To the Nightingale.
 VII. 
HYMN VII. To the Rose.
 VIII. 
HYMNE VIII. To all the Princes of Europe.
 IX. 
HYMNE IX. To Flora.
 X. 
HYMNE X. To the Moneth of September.
 XI. 
HYMNE XI. To the Sunne.
 XII. 
HYMNE XII. To her Picture.
 XIII. 
HYMNE XIII. Of her Minde.
 XIV. 
HYMNE XIV. Of the Sun-beames of her Mind.
 XV. 
HYMNE XV. Of her Wit.
 XVI. 
HYMNE XVI. Of her Will.
 XVII. 
HYMNE XVII. Of her Memorie.
 XVIII. 
HYMNE XVIII. Of Her Phantasie.
 XIX. 
HYMNE XIX. Of the Organs of her Minde.
 XX. 
HYMNE XX. Of the Passions of her Heart.
 XXI. 
HYMNE XXI. Of the innumerable vertues of her minde.
 XXII. 
HYMNE XXII. Of her Wisdome.
 XXIII. 
HYMNE XXIII. Of her Justice.
 XXIV. 
HYMNE XXIV. Of her Magnanimitie.
 XXV. 
HYMNE XXV. Of her Moderation.
 XXVI. 
HYMNE XXVI. To Enuy.
collapse section 
Minor Poems.
 I. 
I. Yet other Twelve Wonders of the World.
 II. 
II. A Contention
collapse sectionIII. 
III. A Lottery.
  
[section]
  
[section]
 IV. 
IV. Canzonet.
 V. 
V. Reason's Moane.
 VI. 
VI. On the Death of Lord Chancellor Ellesemere's Second Wife in 1599.
 VII. 
VII Tityrus to his Faire Phillis.
 VIII. 
VIII. A Riddle vpon a Coffin.
collapse section 
Epigrams, with Additions.
 1. 
Ad Musam. 1.
 2. 
Of a Gull. 2.
 3. 
In Ruffum. 3.
 4. 
In Quintam. 4.
 5. 
In Plurimos. 5.
 6. 
In Titam. 6.
 7. 
In Faustum. 7.
 8. 
In Katum. 8.
 9. 
In Librum. 9.
 10. 
In Medontem. 10.
 11. 
In Gellam. 11.
 12. 
In Quintam. 12.
 13. 
In Severum. 13.
 14. 
In Leucam. 14.
 15. 
In Macrum. 15.
 16. 
In Fastum. 16.
 17. 
In Cosmum. 17.
 18. 
In Flaccum. 18.
 19. 
In Cinean. 19.
 20. 
In Gerontem. 20.
 21. 
In Marcum. 21.
 22. 
In Ciprum. 22.
 23. 
In Cineam. 23.
 24. 
In Gallum. 24.
 25. 
In Decium. 25.
 26. 
In Gellam. 26.
 27. 
In Syllam. 27.
 28. 
In Sillam. 28.
 29. 
In Haywodum, 29.
 30. 
In Dacum. 30.
 31. 
In Priscum. 31.
 32. 
In Brunum. 32.
 33. 
In Francum. 33.
 34. 
In Castorem. 34.
 35. 
In Septimium. 35.
 36. 
Of Tobacco. 36.
 37. 
In Crassum. 37.
 38. 
In Philonem. 38.
 39. 
In Fuscum. 39.
 40. 
In Afram. 40.
 41. 
In Paulum. 41.
 42. 
In Licum. 42.
 43. 
In Publium. 43.
 44. 
In Sillam. 44.
 45. 
In Dacum. 45.
 46. 
In Marcum. 46.
 47. 
Meditations of a Gull. 47.
 48. 
Ad Musam. 48.
collapse section 
Appendix to Epigrams:
 1. 
1. In Superbiam. Epi. 4.
 2. 
2. Epi. 5.
NIX IX CORNIX
 3. 
3. Epi. 6.
 4. 
4. In Amorosum. Epi. 7.
 5. 
5. Epi. 9.
 6. 
6. Epi. 10.
collapse section 
Hitherto Unpublished Poems.
 I. 
PSALM I.
 II. 
PSALM II.
 III. 
PSALM III.
 IV. 
PSALM IV.
 V. 
PSALM V.
 VI. 
PSALM VI.
 VII. 
PSALM VII.
 VIII. 
PSALM VIII.
 IX. 
PSALM IX.
 X. 
PSALM X.
 XI. 
PSALM XI.
 XII. 
PSALM XII.
 XIII. 
PSALM XIII.
 XIV. 
PSALM XIV.
 XV. 
PSALM XV.
 XVI. 
PSALM XVI.
 XVII. 
PSALM XVII.
 XVIII. 
PSALM XVIII.
 XIX. 
PSALM XIX.
 XX. 
PSALM XX.
 XXI. 
PSALM XXI.
 XXII. 
PSALM XXII.
 XXIII. 
PSALM XXIII.
 XXIV. 
PSALM XXIV.
 XXV. 
PSALM XXV.
 XXVI. 
PSALM XXVI.
 XXVII. 
PSALM XXVII.
 XXVIII. 
PSALM XXVIII.
 XXIX. 
PSALM XXIX.
 XXX. 
PSALM XXX.
 XXXI. 
PSALM XXXI.
 XXXII. 
PSALM XXXII.
 XXXIII. 
PSALM XXXIII.
 XXXIV. 
PSALM XXXIV.
 XXXV. 
PSALM XXXV.
 XXXVI. 
PSALM XXXVI.
 XXXVII. 
PSALM XXXVII.
 XXXVIII. 
PSALM XXXVIII.
 XXXIX. 
PSALM XXXIX.
 XL. 
PSALM XL.
 XLI. 
PSALM XLI.
 XLII. 
PSALM XLII.
 XLIII. 
PSALM XLIII.
 XLIV. 
PSALM XLIV.
 XLV. 
PSALM XLV.
 XLVI. 
PSALM XLVI.
 XLVII. 
PSALM XLVII.
 XLVIII. 
PSALM XLVIII.
 XLIX. 
PSALM XLIX.
 L. 
PSALM L.
 LXVII. 
PSALM LXVII.
 XCV. 
PSALM XCV.
 C. 
PSALM C.
 CIII. 
PSALM CIII.
 XCI. 
PSALM XCI.
 CL. 
PSALM CL.
collapse section 
Miscellaneous Poems.
  
OF FAITH THE FIRST THEOLOGICALL VERTUE.
  
A SONGE OF CONTENTION
  
A MAID'S HYMNE IN PRAISE OF VIRGINITY.
  
PART OF AN ELEGIE IN PRAISE OF MARRIAGE.
  
[A FRAGMENT OF A LOVE ELEGIE.]
  
TO THE Q:[UEENE.]
  
[TO FAIRE LADYES.]
  
UPON A PAIRE OF GARTERS.
  
[TO HIS LADY-LOVE.]
  
[TOBACCO.]
  
ELEGIES OF LOUE.
  
TO THE KINGE
  
TO THE QUEENE AT THE SAME TIME.
  
MIRA LOQUOR SOL OCCUBUIT NOX NULLA SECUTA EST.
  
CHARLES HIS WAINE.
  
OF THE NAME OF CHAROLUS, BEING THE DIMINATIVE OF CHARUS.
  
VERSES SENT TO THE KINGE WITH FIGGES: BY Sr. JOHN DAVIS.
  
[LOVE-LINES.]
  
[LOVE-FLIGHT.]
  
AN ELEGIECALL EPISTLE ON SIR JOHN DAVIS DEATH.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Works in Verse and Prose
next section

III. A Lottery.

Presented before the late Queene's Maiesty at the Lord Chancelor's House, 1601.

A Marriner with a boxe under his arme, contayning all the seuerall things following, supposed to come
290

from the Carrick came into the Presence, singing this Song:
Cynthia Queene of Seas and Lands,
That Fortune euery where commands,
Sent forth Fortune to the Sea,
To try her fortune eury way.
There did I Fortune meet, which makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
All the Nymphs of Thetis' traine
Did Cynthia's Fortunes entertaine;
Many a iewell, many a iem,
Was to her fortune brought by them.
Her fortune sped so well, as makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
291

Fortune, that it might be seene
That she did serue a royall Queene
A franke and royall hand did beare,
And cast her fauors euery where.
Some toyes fell to my share, which makes me now to sing,
There is no fishing to the Sea, nor seruice to the King.
And the Song ended, he vttred this short Speech:
292

God saue you faire ladies all: and for my part, if euer I be brought to answere [for] my sinnes, God forgiue my sharking, and lay usury to my charge. I am a Marriner, and am now come from the sea, where I had the fortune to light upon these few trifles. I must confesse I came but lightly by them; but I no sooner had them, but I made a vow, that as they came to my hands by Fortune, so I would not part with them but by Fortune. To that end I have euer since carried these Lots about me, that if I met with fit company, I might deuide my booty among them. And now, (I thanke my good fortune)! I am lighted into the best company of the world, a company of the fairest ladyes that euer I saw. Come Ladies, try your fortunes; and if any light upon an unfortunate blanke, let her thinke that fortune doth but mock her in these trifles, and meanes to pleasure her in greater matters.

The Lots.

I. Fortune's Wheele.

Fortune must now no more on triumph ride;
The Wheeles are yours that did her Chariots guide.

II. A Purse.

You thriue, or would, or may; your Lot's a Purse
Fill it with gold, and you are nere the worse.

III. A Maske.

Want you a Maske? heere Fortune giues you one,
Yet Nature giues the Rose and Lilly none.

IV. A Looking-Glasse.

Blinde Fortune doth not see how faire you be,
But giues a glasse, that you your selfe may see.
293

V. A Hankerchiefe.

Whether you seeme to weepe, or weepe indeed,
This Handkerchiefe will stand you well in steed.

VI. A Plaine Ring.

Fortune doth lend you, hap it well or ill,
This plaine gold Ring, to wed you to your will.

VII. A Ring, with this Poesie:
As faithfull as I find

Your hand by Fortune on this Ring doth light,
And yet the words do hit your humour right.

VIII. A Pair of Gloues.

Fortune these Gloues to you in challenge sends,
For that you loue not Fooles, that are her friends.

IX. A Dozen of Points.

You are in euery point a louer true,
And therefore Fortune giues the Points to you.

X. A Lace.

Giue her the Lace, that loues to be straight lac'd:
So Fortune's little gift is aptly plac'd.
294

XI. A Paire of Kniues.

Fortune doth giue this paire of Kniues to you,
To cut the thred of Loue, if't be not true.

XII. A Girdle.

By Fortune's girdle you may happy be,
But they that are lesse happy, are more free.

XIII. A Payre of Writing-Tables.

These Tables may containe your thoughts in part,
But write not all that's written in your heart.

XIV. A Payre of Garters.

Though you haue Fortune's Garters, you mnst be
More staid and constant in your steps then she.

XV. A Coife and Crosse-Cloth.

Frowne in good earnest, or be sick in iest,
This Coife and Crosse-cloth will become you best.

XVI. A Scarfe.

Take you this Scarfe, bind Cupid hand and foote;
So Loue must aske you leaue, before he shoote.

XVII. A Falling Band.

Fortune would have you rise, yet guides your hand
From other Lots to take the Falling band.
295

XVIII. A Stomacher.

This Stomacher is full of windowes wrought,
Yet none through them can see into your thought.

XIX. A Pair of Sizzers.

These scissars do your huswifery bewray,
You loue to work though you were borne to play.

XX. A Chaine.

Because you scorne Loue's Captiue to remaine,
Fortune hath sworne to leade you in a chaine.

XXI. A Prayer-Booke.

Your Fortune may prooue good another day;
Till Fortune come, take you a Booke to pray.

XXII. A Snuftkin.

'Tis Summer yet, a Snuftkin is your Lot!
But 'twill be Winter one day, doubt you not.

XXIII. A Fanne.

You loue to see, and yet to be vnseen;
Take you this Fanne to be your beautie's skreene.
296

XXIV. A Pair of Bracelets.

Lady! your hands are fallen into a snare,
For Cupid's manicles these bracelets are.

XXV. A Bodkin.

Euen with this Bodkin you may liue unharmèd,—
Your beauty is with vertue so well armèd.

XXVI. A Necklace.

Fortune giues your faire neck this lace to weare;
God grant a heauier yoke it neuer beare!

XXVII. A Cushinet.

To her that little cares what Lot she wins,
Chance gives a little Cushinet to stick pinnes.

XXVIII. A Dyalle.

The Dyal's your's; watch Time, least it be lost;
Yet they most lose it that do watch it most.

XXIX. A Nutmeg with a Blanke Parchment in it.

This Nutmeg holds a blanke, but chance doth hide it;
Write your owne wish, and Fortune will prouide it.

XXX. Blanke.

Wot you not why Fortune giues you no prize?
Good faith! she saw you not—she wants her eyes.
297

XXXI. Blanke.

You are so dainty to be pleazd, God wot,
Chance knowes not what to giue you for a Lot.

XXXII. Blanke.

'Tis pitty such a hand should draw in vaine;
Though it gaine nought, yet shall it pitty gaine.

XXIII. Blanke.

Nothing's your Lot, that's more then can be told,
For nothing is more precious then gold.

XXXIV. Blanke.

You faine would haue, but what, you cannot tell.
In giuing nothing, Fortune serues you well.
Sir I. D.
previous section The Works in Verse and Prose
next section