'Would, I had known no more! but she must die, (19) To th' ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou'ft made me now a man; never, before That when I am in heav'n, I fhall defire To fee what this child does, and praise my maker. (19) Would I bad known no more; but he must die, She muft, the Saints must have ber yet a Virgin, [Exeunt. A moft unspotted Lily, &c.] Thus the Editors hitherto, in their Sagacity, have pointed this paffage, and deftroy'd the true Senfe of it. The firft part of this Sentence is a Wish: The other should be a forrowful Continuation of the Bishop's Prophecy. But, fure, Cranmer was too wife and pious a Man, too well acquainted with the State of Mortality, to make it a part of his Lamentation that this good Princess must one time or other go to Heaven. As I point it, the Poet makes a fine Compliment to his Royal Miftrefs's Memory, to lament that she must dié without leaving an Heir of her Body behind her. (20) And you good Brethren,] But the Aldermen never were call'd Brethren to the King. The Top of the Nobility are but Coufins and Counsellors. Dr. Thirlby, therefore, rightly advis'd; And your good Brethren i. e. the Lord Mayor's Brethren; which is properly their Style. EPILOGUE. 'T IS ten to one, this Play can never please All that are here: fome come to take their ease, The End of the Fifth Volume. |