Can do the things that statues do deserve, Yet read him in these lines: He doth excel In honour, courtesy, and all the parts Court can call hers, or man could call his arts. He's prudent, valiant, just and temperate : In him all virtue is beheld in state; And he is built like some imperial room For that to dwell in, and be still at home. His breast is a brave palace, a broad street, Where all heroic ample thoughts do meet : Where nature such a large survey hath ta'en, As other souls, to his, dwelt in a lane : Witness his action done at Scanderoon, 6 Witness his action done at Scanderoon, Upon his birth-day, the eleventh of June.] This refers to an action in the bay of Scanderoon in 1628, wherein he beat certain vessels belonging to the states of Venice. "This onset was made,” says Antony Wood, "as 'tis reported on the eleventh of June, (his birth day as Ben Jonson will have it,) yet a pamphlet that was published the same year, giving an account of all the transactions of that fight, tells us, it was on the 16th of the same month; which, if true, then the fortune of that day is again marred." To all which we must answer, that this same pamphlet or letter, which gives the relation of this action, was dated indeed on the 16th of June, but it expressly says that the action happened on the 11th of the same month; and this is confirmed likewise by Mr. Ferrar's Epitaph on the death of sir Kenelm Digby, which makes the 11th of June memorable for his birth-day, the day of his victory, and the day of his death. The epitaph is as follows: "Under this stone the matchless Digby lies, Skill'd in six tongues, and learn'd in all the arts: It is remarkable that Antony Wood refers us to this epitaph, and quotes two verses from it, and yet disputes the authority of our poet for the time of his birth. WHAL. Wood was probably influenced by Aubrey, who observes on the couplet quoted by Whalley, "Mr. Elias Ashmole assures me from two or three nativities by Dr. Napier, that Ben Jonson was mistaken, and did it for the rhyme sake." We have here a couple of dreamers -but they are not worth an argument: it is more to the purpose to observe from the latter, that "sir Kenelm Digby was held to be the most accomplished cavalier of his time, the Mirandola of his age, that he understood ten or twelve languages, and was well versed in all kinds of learning, very generous and liberal to deserving persons, and a great patron to Ben Jonson, who has some excellent verses on him," &c. Letters by Eminent Persons, vol. ii. p. 326. Sir Kenelm Digby was one of our poet's adopted sons: he is now more remembered for his chemical reveries, his sympathetic powder, &c., than for his talents, and accomplishments. He was, however, an eminent man, and a benefactor to the literature of his country. He died in 1665. When the apostle Barnaby the bright When he shall read them at the Treasurer's board, XCVII. A NEW-YEAR'S GIFT, SUNG TO KING CHARLES, MDCXXXV. Prelude. EW years expect new gifts: sister, your harp, To shew the rites, and usher forth the way 1 For he doth love my verses, and will look Upon them, next to Spenser's noble book.] Sir Kenelm had a great affection for the Fairy Queen, and wrote a commentary on a single stanza of that poem. It is called, Observations on the 22d stanza in the 9th canto of the 2d book of Spenser's Fairy Queen, Lond. 1644. Octavo. WHAL. Of the new year, in a new silken warp, To fit the softness of your year's-gift; when We sing the best of monarchs, masters, men; For had we here said less, we had sung nothing then. Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds. Rector Cho. To-day old Janus opens the new year, 1 Shep. Pan is the great preserver of our bounds. 2 Shep. To him we owe all profits of our grounds. 3 Shep. Our milk. Our fells. 4 Shep. 5 Shep. Our fleeces. ·6 Shep. And first lambs. 7 Shep. Our teeming ewes. 8 Shep. And lusty mounting rams. 9 Shep. See where he walks, with Mira by his side. Cho. Sound, sound his praises loud, and with his hers divide. Of Pan we sing, the best of hunters, Pan, That drives the hart to seek unused ways Shep. And in the chase, more than Sylvanus can; Hear, O ye groves, and, hills, resound his praise. Cho. Of brightest Mira do we raise our song, Sister of Pan, and glory of the spring; Nym. Who walks on earth, as May still went along. Cho. Rivers and valleys, echo what we sing. Of Pan we sing, the chief of leaders, Pan, Cho. of Shep. That leads our flocks and us, and calls both forth To better pastures than great Pales can: worth. Of brightest Mira is our song; the grace Cho. of Nym. Of all that nature yet to life did bring; And were she lost, could best supply her place: Rivers and valleys, echo 'what we sing. 1 Shep. Where'er they tread the enamour'd ground, The fairest flowers are always found: 2 Shep. As if the beauties of the year Still waited on them where they were. 2 Shep. She to the crown hath brought increase. Cho. Our great, our good. Where one's so drest Rect. Cho. Haste, haste you hither, all you gentler swains, That have a flock or herd upon these plains: And hunting, Pan, exceedeth thee: Rect. Cho. Where-e'er he goes, upon the ground To sweeter pastures lead he can, |