But the fmall birds in their wide boughs embowring, Probably in the Epithalamion, where Spenfer is fpeaking of many birds finging together, So goodly all agree with fweet confent, Instead of confent, we fhould read cONCENT†. Milton uses the word in his poem, at a Solemn Mufic, That undisturbed fong of pure CONCENT Aye fung before the fapphire-colourd throne. As it has been reftored inftead of content, upon the best authority, in the late very ufeful edition of Milton's poetical works. Our author has concent in the Hymne in Honour of Beautie. For love is a celeftial harmonie Of likewise harts compofd of starres CONCENT. Almost in the fame fenfe, confent should be read cONCENT in this paffage of Jonfon. *The verfes in the original are, At volucres patulis refidentes dulcia ramis v. 144. Which I produce, to fhew, that the word was dictated to Spenfer by CANTUS in the latin. VOL. II. † Ver. 497. When When lookd the yeare at best So like a feaft? Or were affaires in tune, By all the fphears confent, fo in the heat of June *? B. iv. c. ii. f. xlv. As fhe fate careleffe by a cryftall flood, Combing her golden locks, as feemd her good: Thus Dulcippa is forcibly carried away by the knight of the two heads. "So fitting down upon a "green banke under the fhaddow of a myrtle tree, "The pulled a golden cawl from her head, wherein "her hair was wrapped, and taking out from her "cryftalline breaft an ivory comb, fhe began to "combe her hair, &c +." Milton's image of Ligea, in Comus, was drawn, and improved, from fome romantic description of this kind. By faire Ligea's golden combe, Wherewith fhe fits on diamond rocks B. iv. c. vii. f. vii. Is this the faith? Epithalamien on Mr. Wefton, &c. † Seven Champ. b. 2. c. 16. The The fecret hiftory of this allegory, is evidently the difgrace of Sir Walter Raleigh, for a criminal amour with one of queen Elizabeth's maids of honour. The lady was brought to bed in the court, and Sir Walter was difmiffed. The queen's anger on this occafion was extremely natural. Nothing more ftrongly characterises the predominant tendency of the queen's mind than the account given by Sir Robert Naunton, of the first appearance and reception of the young lord Mountjoy at court. "He was then much about twenty yeares of age, brown haired, of a sweet face, and of a most neate composure, tall in his person. The queene was then at White-hall, and at dinner, whither he came to see the fashion of the court; and the queene had foone found him out, and with a kind of affected favour, asked her carver what he was: He answered he knew him not; infomuch that an enquiry was made from one to another, who he might be; 'till at length it was told the queene, he was brother to the lord William Mountjoy. This enquirie, with the eye of her majestie fixed upon him, as she was wont to doe, and to daunt men fhe knew not, ftirred the blood of the young gentleman, infomuch as his colour went and came, which the queene obferving, called unto him, and gave him her hand to kiffe, encouraging him with gracious words and new lookes: and A a 2 fo diverting her speech to the lords and ladyes, the faid that the no fooner obferved him, but he knew there was in him fome noble blood, with fome other expreffions of pitty towards his house; and then againe demanding his name, fhe faid, faile you not to come to the court, &c *.” Was it the Queen or the Woman who thus offered her hand to be kiffed, and who thus excited and enjoyed the ftruggles of bashfulnefs, in this beautiful and unexperienced youth? I might add, that this triumph over modefty does not difcover much delicacy or fenfibility. B. iv. c. iii. f. i. Speaking of mankind, That every howre they knocke at deathes gate. This recalls to my memory a beautiful image of Sackvill, in his Induction to the Mirror of Magiftrates, concerning the figure of OLD AGE. His withred fift still knocking at death's dore. Which perhaps is not more expreffive than Chaucer's representation of ELDE, or old age. After telling us that Diftrefs, Sicknefs, &c. always abide in her court, and are her fenators, he adds, * Fragmenta Regalia. Quo. 1641. pag. 36. MOUNTJOY. The The day and night her to torment That Deth ftondeth armed at her gate. Death's door was a common phrafe in approved authors, and occurs in our tranflation of the pfalms. "They were even hard at death's door*." curs again, 1. 8. 27. I. 10. 27. B. iv. c. iii. f. iii. It oc These warlike champions all in armour-sHINE. SHINE is likewise used as a substantive in Harrington's Ariofto, The SHINE of armour bright †. And in the pfalms. "His lightenings gave SHINE "unto the world ." In Milton's Comus we read SHEEN as a fubftantive, which, as I remember, was generally used as an adjective in our antient poets. But far above, in fpangled SHEEN. And in the Ode on Chrift's Nativity, Thron'd in cæleftial SHEEN. #Pf. 108. v. 18, † 37. 15. + Pf. 97. 4. Alfo |