A select collection of poems: with notes, biographical and historical.: [pt.1]

VERSES

BY GEORGE CHAPMAN* 1.1,

ANNEXED TO HIS BATRACHOMYOMACHIA.

THE Worke that I was borne to doe, is done. Glory to him, that the conclusion Makes the beginning of my life: and never Let me be said to live; till I live ever.

Where's the outliving of my fortunes then, Ye errant vapors of Fames Lernean fenn?

That (like possest stormes) blast all; not in herde With your abhorr'd heads; who, because casher'de By men, for monsters; thinck men, monsters all, That are not of your pyed hood, and your hall. When you are nothing but the scumm of things, And must be cast off: drones, that have no stings, Nor any more soule then a stone hath wings.

Avant ye haggs; your hates, and scandalls are, The crownes and comforts of a good mans care; By whose impartial perpendiculare; All is extuberance, and excretion all, That you your ornaments and glories call. Your wrie mouthes censure right? your blister'd tongues, That licke but itches? and whose ulcerous lungs Come up at all things permanent and sound? O you (like flies in dreggs) in humors droun'd; Your loves, like atoms, lost in gloomie ayre; I would not retrive with a wither'd haire. Hate, and cast still your stings then; for your kisses Betray but truth; and your applauds are hisses.

To see our supercilious wizerds frowne; Their faces falne like foggs; and coming downe, Stincking the sunn out; make me shine the more: And like a checkt flood, beare above the shore, That their prophane opinions faine would set, To what they see not; know not; nor can let. Yet then, our learn'd men, with their torrents come Roring from their forc't hills, all crown'd with some. That one not taught like them, should learne to know Their Greeke rootes, and from thence the groves that grow,

Casting such rich shades, from great Homers wings: That first, and last, command the Muses springs. Though he 's best scholler, that through paines and vows, Made his own master onely, all things knows. Nor pleades my poore skill, forme, or learned place; But dantlesse labor, constant prayer, and grace. And what 's all their skill, but vast varied reading? As if brode-beaten high waies had the leading To truths abstract, and narrow path, and pit? Found in no walke of any worldly wit. And without truth, all 's onely sleight of hand, Or our law-learning, in a forraine land; Embroderie spent on cobwebs; braggart show Of men that all things learne, and nothing know. For Ostentation, humble Truth still flies, And all confederate fashionists defies. And as some sharpe-browd doctor (English-borne) In much learn'd Latine idioms can adorne A verse with rare attractions; yet become His English Muse, like an Arachnean loome, Wrought spight of Pallas; and therein bewraies More tongue then truth; beggs, and adopts his bayes; So Ostentation, bee hee never so Larded with labour, to suborne his showe; Shall soothe within him but a bastard soule, No more Heaven he••ring, then Earths sonne the moule. But as in dead calmes emptiest smokes arise Uncheckt and free, up strait into the skies; So drousie Peace, that in her humor steepes All she affects, lets such rise while she sleepes.

Many, and most men, have of wealth least store, But none the gracious shame that fits the pore; So most learn'd men, enough are ignorant; But few the grace have to confesse their want, Till lives and learnings come concomitant. For from mens knowledges their lives-acts flowe; Vaineglorious acts then, vaine prove all they know. As Night the life-enclining starrs best showes, So lives obscure, the starriest soules disclose.

For me, let just men judge by what I show In acts expos'd, how much I erre, or knowe; And let not Envie make all worse then nought With her meere headstrong and quite braineles thought: Others, for doing nothing, giving all, And bounding all worth in her bursten gall.

God and my deare Redeemer, rescue me From mens immane and mad impietie; And by my life and soule (sole knowne to them) Make me of palme, or yew, an anadem. And so, my sole God, the thrice sacred Trine, Beare all the ascription of all me and mine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This writer, who obtained much applause in his time, and was greatly praised by his contemporaries, was born at Hitching-hill, in the county of Hertford, some time in the year 1557. After being well grounded in school-learning, he was sent to the University, but whether to Oxford or Cam|bridge was unknown to Anthony Wood, who declares him|self certain he resided some time at the former, where he was observed to be most excellent in the Latin and Greek tongues, but not in Logic or Philosophy, which may be presumed to be the reason he took no degree there. He appears to have been a man of a very respectable character, being countenanced and patronized by several eminent persons, particularly Sir Thomas Walsyngham and his son, and by Prince Henry, son of James the First. Wood imagines that he was a sworn servant either to James the First or his Queen, and says he was highly valued, but not so much as Ben Jonson. The same writer adds, that

  "he was a person of most reverend aspect, religious and temperate qualities, rarely meeting in a poet."

  After living to the age of 77 years, he died on the 12th day of May, 1634, in the parish of St. Giles in the Fields, and was buried on the South-side of the Church-yard there. His friend Inigo Jones erected a monument to his memory near the place of his interment. His translation of Homer acquired him a considerable degree of reputation. Mr. Dryden tells us, that Waller used to say he never could read it without incredible transport. It is much censured by Mr. Pope, who, notwithstanding, acknowledges that there is a daring, fiery spirit, which animates it, something like what one might imagine Homer himself would have writ before he arrived at years of discretion. He translated also the Batrachomyomachia, and all the Hymns of Homer, to which he annexed the verses here printed; finished Marlow's Trans|lation of Musaeus; produced several original Poems, and some other Translations; was the author of seventeen dra|matick performances, and assisted Shirley in two others. For this note I am indebted to the new edition of Dodsley's Old Plays, vol. IV. p. 113. where the reader will find some other curious particulars of Chapman, and an exact list of his dra|matick writings.

  Of the Batrachomyomachia and Hymns, I have the copy presented to Lord Russel, with the following MS. dedi|cation:

  "For the many noble favors, receiv'd of the righte honorable the Lord RUSSELL; and desirouse by all best services, to crowne his Lordship's free graces with con|tin••wance; GEORGE CHAPMAN humblie inscribes this crowne of all the Homericall Graces and Muses to his Lordship's Honor: wishing the same, crownde above title, and establishte past marble."

  N.