Obseruations in the art of English poesie. By Thomas Campion. Wherein it is demonstratiuely prooued, and by example confirmed, that the English toong will receiue eight seuerall kinds of numbers, proper to it selfe, which are all in this booke set forth, and were neuer before this time by any man attempted

The seauenth Chapter, of the English Elegeick verse.

THe Elegeick verses challenge the next place, as being of all compound verses the simplest. They are deriu'd out of our owne naturall num∣bers as neere the imitation of the Greekes and La∣tines, as our heauy sillables will permit. The first verse is a meere licentiate Iambick; the second is fram'd of two vnited Dimeters. In the first Di∣meter we are tyed to make the first foote either a Trochy or a Spondee, the second a Trochy, and the odde sillable of it alwaies long. The second Dime∣ter consists of two Trochyes (because it requires more swiftnes then the first) and an odde sillable, which being last, is euer common. I will giue you example both of Elegye and Epigramme, in this kinde.

An Elegye.

Constant to none, but euer false to me, Traiter still to loue through thy faint desires,

Not hope of pittie now nor vaine redresse Turns my griefs to steares, and renu'd laments Too well thy empty vowes, and hollow thoughts Witnes both thy wrongs, and remorseles hart. Rue not my sorrow, but blush at my name, Let thy bloudy cheeks guilty thoughts betray. My flames did truly burne, thine made a shew, As fires painted are which no heate retayne, Or as the glossy Pirop faines to blaze, But toucht cold appeares, and an earthy stone, True cullours deck thy cheeks, false foiles thy brest, Frailer then thy light beawty is thy minde. None canst thou long refuse, nor long affect, But turn'st feare with hopes, sorrow with delight, Delaying, and deluding eu'ry way Those whose eyes are once with thy beawty chain'd. Thrice happy man that entring first thy loue, Can so guide the straight raynes of his desires, That both he can regard thee, and refraine: If grac't, firme he stands, if not, easely falls.

Example of Epigrams, in Elegeick verse. The first Epigramme.

Arthure brooks only those that brooke not him, Those he most regards, and deuoutly serues:

But them that grace him his great brau'ry skornes, Counting kindnesse all duty, not desert: Arthure wants forty pounds, tyres eu'ry friend, But finds none that holds twenty due for him.

The second Epigramme.

If fancy can not erre which vertue guides, In thee Laura then fancy can not erre.

The third Epigramme.

Drue feasts no Puritans, the churles he saith Thanke no men, but eate, praise God, and depart.

The fourth Epigramme.

A wiseman wary liues, yet most secure, Sorrowes moue not him greatly, nor delights. Fortune and death he skorning, only makes Th'earth his sober Inne, but still heau'n his home.

The fift Epigramme.

Thou telst me Barnzy Dawson hath a wife, Thine he hath I graunt, Dawson hath a wife.

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The English Sapphick.

Faiths pure shield the Christian Diana Englands glory crownd with all deuinenesse, Liue long with triumphs to blesse thy people At thy sight triumphing. Loe they sound, the Knights in order armed Entring threat the list, adrest to combat For their courtly loues; he, hees the wonder Whome Eliza graceth. Their plum'd pomp the vulgar heaps detaineth, And rough steeds, let vs the still deuices Close obserue, the speeches and the musicks Peacefull arms adorning. But whence showres so fast this angry tempest, Clowding dimme the place? behold Eliza This day shines not here, this heard, the launces And thick heads do vanish.

The second kinde consists of Dimeter, whose first foote may either be a Sponde or a Trochy: The two verses following are both of them Trochaical, and consist of foure feete, the first of either of them being a Spondee or Trochy, the other three

only Trochyes. The fourth and last verse is made of two Trochyes. The number is voluble and fit to expresse any amorous conceit.

The Example.

Rose-cheekt Lawra come Sing thou smoothly with thy beawties Silent musick, either other Sweetely gracing. Louely formes do flowe From concent deuinely framed, Heau'n is musick, and thy beawties Birth is heauenly. These dullnotes we sing Discords neede for helps to grace them, Only beawty purely louing Knowes no discord: But still mooues delight Like cleare springs renu'd by flowing, Euer perfet, euer in them∣selues eternall.

The third kind begins as the second kind en∣ded, with a verse consisting of two Trochy feete,

and then as the second kind had in the middle two Trochaick verses offoure feete, so this hath three of the same nature, and ends in a Dimeter as the se∣cond began. The Dimeter may allow in the first place a Trochy or a Spondee, but no Iambick.

The Example.

Iust beguiler, Kindest loue, yet only chastest, Royall in thy smooth denyals, Frowning or demurely smiling Still my pure delight.

Let me view thee With thoughts and with eyes affected, And if then the flames do murmur, Quench them with thy vertue, charme them With thy stormy browes.

Heau'n so cheerefull Laughs not euer, hory winter Knowes his season, euen the freshest Sommer mornes from angry thunder Iet not still secure.