renowned heroes of antiquity, whose lives and misfortunes he relates at large, and often in the most glowing colours of poetry. Alexander's murther of Clitus is thus described in stanzas, pronounced by the poet and not by Buckingham. And deeply grave

within

your

ftonie harts
The dreerie dole, that mightie Macedo
With teares unfolded, wrapt in deadlie smarts,
When he the death of Clitus sorrowed so,
Whom erst he murdred with the deadlie blow;
Raught in his rage upon his friend so deare,
For which, behold loe how his panges appeare !

The launced speare he writhes out of the wound,
From which the purple blood spins in his face :
His heinous guilt when he returned found,
He throwes himself
And in his armes howe oft doth he imbrace
His murdred friend! And kissing him in vaine,
Forth flowe the floudes of salt repentant raine.

uppon the

corps, alas!

His friendes amazde at such a murther done,
In fearfull flockes begin to shrinke away ;
And he thereat, with heapes of grief fordone,
Hateth himselfe, wishing his latter day:-

He calls for death, and loathing longer life,
Bent to his bane refuseth kindlie foode,
And plungde in depth of death and dolours strife
Had queld himselfe, had not his friendes with toode.
Loe he that thus has shed the guiltlefie bloode,
Though he were king and keper over all,
Yet chose he death, to guerdon death withall.

This prince, whoie peere was never under sunne,
Whose glistening fame the earth did overglide,
Which with his power the worlde welnigh had wonne,
His bloudy handes himselfe could not abide,

But folly bent with famine to have dide;
: The worthie prince deemed in his regard

That death for death could be but just reward. Our MirroUR, having had three new editions in 1563", 1571, and 1574 ", was reprinted in quarto in the year 1587", with the addition of many new lives, under the conduct of John Higgins.

Higgins lived at Winsham in Somersetshire. He was educated at Oxford, was a clergyman, and engaged in the instruction of youth. As a preceptor of boys, on the plan of a former collection by Nicholas Udal, a celebrated master of Eton school, he compiled the FLOSCULI OF TERENCE, a manual famous in its time, and applauded in a Latin epigram by the elegant Latin encomiast Thomas Newton of Cheshire'. In the pedagogie character he also published " Holcot's DICTIONARIE, newlie

corrected, amended, set in order, and enlarged, with many names of men, townes, beastes, fowles, etc. By which you

may finde the Latine or Frenche of anie Englishe worde you is will. By John Higgins,

By John Higgins, late student in Oxeforde 8.” engraved title-page are a few English verses. It is in folio, and printed for Thomas Marihe at London, 1572. The dedication to fir George Peckham knight, is written by Higgins, and is a

In an

• This edition, printed by Thomas Marshe, has clx leaves, with a table of contents at the end.

This edition, printed also for T. Marthe, is improperly enough entitled “ The Last Parte of the MIRROUR FOR “ MAGISTRATES, &c.” But it contains all that is in the foregoing editions, and ends with JANE Shore, or Shore's WIFE.

It has 163 leaves. In the title page the work is said to be “

Newly corEi rected and amended.” They are all in quarto, and in black letter.

1. But in the Preface Higgins says he began to prepare it twelve years before. In imitation of the title, a story-book was published called the MIRROUR OF MIRTH, by R. D. 1583. bl, lett. 4to. Also The MIRROUR OF THE MATHEMATIKES, A MIRROUR OF MONSTERS, &c.

• DedicATION, ut infr.

f In Terentii FLOSCULOS N. Udalli et 9. Higgini opera decerptos. Encom, fol. 128. It also prefixed to the book, with others.

8 Perhaps at Trinity college, where one of both his names occurs in 1566.

good

good specimen of his classical accomplishments. He calls Peckham his principal friend, and the most eminent patron of letters. A recommendatory copy of verses by Churchyard the poet is prefixed, with four Latin epigrams by others. Another of his works in the same profession is the NoMENCLATOR of Adrian Junius, translated into English, in conjunction with Abraham Flemming, and printed at London, for Newberie and Durham, in 1585. It is dedicated in Latin to his most bountiful patron Doctor Valentine, master of Requests, and dean of Wells, from Winsham', 1584. From this dedication, Higgins seems to have been connected with the school of Ilminster, a neighbouring town in Somersetshirek. He appears to have been living so late as the year 1602. For in that year he published an Answer to William Perkins, a forgotten controversialist, concerning Christ's descent into hell, dedicated from Winfham.

To the MIRROUR OF MAGISTRATĘS Higgins wrote a new INDUCTION in the octave stanza ; and without affistance of friends, began a new series from Albanact the youngest son of Brutus, and the first king of Albanie or Scotland, continued to the emperor Caracalla'. In this edition by Higgins, among the pieces after the conquest, first appeared the Life of CARDINAL Wolsey, by Churchyard"; of Sir NICHOLAS BURDET, by Baldwine"; and of ELEANOR COBHAM, and of HUMFREY DUKE OF GLOUCESTER , by Ferrers. Also the Legend of KING JAMES THE FOURTH OF SCOTLAND”,

h O&avo.

i The Dedication of his MIRROUR TO MAGISTRATEs is from the same place.

* He says, that he translated it in London. “ Quo facto, novus interpres Waldenus, “ Ilmestriæ gymnasiarcha, moriens, priur. quam manum operi summam admoviffet,

amicum veterem fuum omnibus libris “ fuis et hoc imprimis Nomenclatore [his " tranflation] donavit.” But Higgins found his own version better, which he therefore pablished, yet with a part of his friend's.

I At fol. 108, a. The two last lives in the latter, or what may be called Bald.

win's

part of this edition, are JANE SHORE and CARDINAL WOLSEY by Churchyard. Colophon, “ Imprinted at London by

Henry Marshe, being the assigne of " Thomas Marshe neare to faint Dun“ ftanes churche in Fleetestrecte, 1587." It has 272 leaves. The last fignature is

me

M m 4.

m Fol. 265. b. a Fol. 244. a. • Fol. 140. b. p Fol. 146. a. 4 Fol. 253. b.

faid

faid to have been penned fiftie yeares ago', and of FLODDEN PIRLD, said to be of equal antiquity, and subscribed FRANCIS Dingley', the name of a poet who has not otherwise occurred. Prefixed is a recommendatory poem in stanzas by he abovementioned Thomas Newton of Cheshire', who underRood much more of Latin than of English poetry.

The most poetical passage of Higgins's performance in this ollection is in his Legend of QUEENE CORDILA, or Cordelia, ing Lear's youngest daughter“. Being imprisoned in a dungeon, nd coucht on frawe, she sees amid the darkness of the night & riesly ghost approach,

Eke nearer still with stealing steps fhee drewe:.in
Shee was of colour pale and deadly hewes '. o.

er garment was figured with various sorts of imprisonment, d pictures of violent and premature death.

Her clothes resembled thousand kindes of thrall,
And pictures plaine of baftened deathes withall.

delia, in extreme terror, afks,

What wight art thou, a foe or fawning frend'?*
If Death thou art, I pray theç make an end tomato
But th' art not Death !-Art thou some Fury sent
My woefull

corps
with

paynes more to torment?

With that she spake, “ I am thy frend DESPAYRE.

« Now if thou art to dye no whit afrayde
• Here shalt thou choose of Instruments, beholde,
“ Shall rid thy restlesse life.'

1. 255. b. 1. 258, b.

Liar Subscribed THOMAS NEWTONUS Ceyftrelyrius, 1587.

. Fol. 36. B.

DESPAIR

.

DESPAIR then, throwing her robe afide, Thews Cordelia a thousand instruments of death, knives, sharpe (wordes, and ponyards, all bedyde with bloode and poyfons. She presents the sword with which queen Dido flew herself.

Lo! here the blade that Dido' of Carthage hight, &c. Cordelia takes this sword, but doubtfull yet to dye.' DESPAIR then represents to her the state and power which she enjoyed in France, her troops of attendants, and the pleasures of the court she had left. She then points out her present melancholy condition and dreary situation.

She shewde me all the dongeon where Illate, -". 1:
The dankish walles, the darkes, and bade me smell
And byde the favour if I like it well,

vii, din
Cordelia gropes

for the sword, or fatall knife, in the dark, which DESPAIR places in her hand.

DESPAYRE to ayde my senceless limmes was glad,
And gave the blade: to end my woes the bad.

At length Cordelia's fight fails her so that she can see only
DESPAIR who exhorts her to strike.

And-by her elbowe DEATH for me did watch.

DESPAIR at last gives the blow. The temptation of the Red-
crosse knight by Despair in Spenser's FAERIE QUEENE, seems
to have been copied, yet with high improvements, from this
scene, These itanzas of Spenser bear a strong resemblance to
what I have cited from CORDELIA's Legend.

Then gan the villaine - him to oueraw,
And brought unto him (words, ropes, poysons, fire,
And all that might him to perdition draw;