Appendix XVII
These two poems are copied from a folio MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin (G, 2, 21), containing compositions of Donne and other poets of the seventeenth century. They are to be found on pages 554-559. The handwriting is that of the seventeenth century. I have reproduced the original punctuation and spelling. Mr. Grosart published the poems in Englische Studien, No. xxvi. He says that the librarian of Trinity, Dr. T. K. Abbot, had grounds for supposing that the MS. had been in the possession of Trinity College for a century; he does not, however, state what the grounds are. As far as the dates go which are indicated in the volume, it might have passed into the library with other books from Archbishop Ussher’s collection.
From the tone of line 16 of the first poem we may assume that it was addressed by Massinger when quite young to William, the third Earl of Pembroke.
I
The Copie of a Letter written upon occasion to the Earle of Pembrooke Lo: Chamberlaine
My Lord
p. 554
Soe subiect to the worser fame
Are even the best that clayme a Poets name:
Especially poore they that serve the stage
Though worthily in this Verse-halting Age.
And that dread curse soe heavie yet doth lie
W
ch
the wrong’d Fates falne out w
th
Mercurie
Pronounc’d for ever to attend upon
All such as onely dreame of Helicon.
That durst I sweare cheated by selfe opinion
I were Apolloes or the Muses Mynion 10
Reason would yet assure me, ’tis decreed
Such as are Poets borne, are borne to need.
If the most worthy then, whose pay’s but praise
Or a few spriggs from the now withering bayes
Grone underneath their wants what hope have I
Scarce yet allowed one of the Company— 16
p. 555
When584 thou sighst, thou sigh’st not wind, but sigh’st my soule away
When thou weep’st unkindly kind, my lifes blud doth decay
It cannot bee
That thou lov’est mee as thou sai’est, if in thine my life thou wast,
Thou art the best of mee.585
In some high mynded Ladies grace to stand
Ever provided that her liberall hand 30
Pay for the Vertues they bestow upon her
And soe long shees the miracle and the honor
Of her whole Sex, and has forsooth more worth
Then was in any Sparta e’re brought forth
But when the Bounty failes a change is neare
And shee’s not then what once shee did appeare
For the new Giver shee dead must inherit
What was by purchase gott and not by merit
Lett them write well that doo this and in grace
I would not for a pension or A place 40
Part soe w
th
myne owne Candor, lett me rather p. 556
Live poorely on those toyes I would not father
Not knowne beyond A Player or A Man
That does pursue the course that I have ran
Ere soe grow famous: yet w
th
any paine
Or honest industry could I obteyne
A noble Favorer, I might write and doo
Like others of more name and gett one too
Or els my Genius is false. I know
That Johnson much of what he has does owe
To you and to your familie, and is never
Slow to professe it, nor had Fletcher ever
Such Reputation, and credit nonne
But by his honord Patron, Huntington
Unimitable Spencer ne’re had been
Soe famous for his matchlesse Fairie Queene
Had he not found a Spencer Sydney to preferr [
sic
]
His plaine way in his Shepheards Calender
Nay Virgills selfe (or Martiall does lye)
Could hardly frame a poore Gnatts Elegie
Before Mecænas cherisht him; and then
He streight conceiv’d Æneas and the men
That found out Italic Those are Presidents586
I cite w
th
reverence: my lowe intents
Looke not soe high, yet some worke I might frame
That should nor wrong my duty nor your Name. p. 557
Were but your Lo
pp
pleas’d to cast an eye
Of favour on my trodd downe povertie
How ever I confesse myselfe to be
Ever most bound for your best charitie 70
To others that feed on it, and will pay
My prayers w
th
theirs that as y
u
doe y
u
may
Live long, belov’d and honor’d doubtles then
Soe cleere a life will find a worthier Penn.
For me I rest assur’d besides the glory
T’wold make a Poet but to write your story. 76
Phill: Messinger.
p. 557
II
A New yeares Guift presented to my
Lady and M:
rs
the then Lady
Katherine Stanhop now Countesse of Chesterfield.
By Phill: Messinger.
Madame
Before I ow’d to you the name
Of Servant, to your birth, your worth your fame
I was soe, and t’was fitt since all stand bound
To honour Vertue in meane persons found
Much more in you, that as borne great, are good
W
ch
is more then to come of noble blood
Or be A Hastings; it being too well knowne p. 558
An Empresse cannot challenge as her oune
Her Grandsires glories; And too many staine
W
th
their bad Actions the noble straine
From whence they come. But as in you to be
A branch to add fresh honor to the tree
By vertue planted, and adorne it new
Is graunted unto none or very few
To speake you further would appeare in me
Presumption or a servants flattery
But there may be a tyme when I shall dare
To tell the world and boldly what y
u
are
Nor sleight it Madame, since what some in me
Esteeme a blemish, is a guift as free
As their best fortunes, this tooke from the grave
Penelopies chastitie, and to it gave
Still living Honors; this made Aiax strong
Ulisses wise: such power lies in a Song
W
ch
Phaebus smiles on, w
ch
can find noe Urne
While the Sea his course, or starrs observe their turne
Yet ’tis not in the power of tinckling Rime
That587 takes rash iudgments and deceive the tyme
W
th
Mountebanke showes a worke that shold indure
Must have a genius in it, strong, as pure
But you beginne to smile, as wondring why
I should write thus much to y
u
now since I
Have heretofore been silent may y
u
please
To know
To know the course it is noe new disease p. 559
Groune in my iudgment, nor am I of those
That thinke good wishes cannot thrive in prose
As well as Verse: but that this New yeares day
All in their loves and duties, what they may
Present unto you; though perhaps some burne
W
th
expectation of a glad returne
Of what they venture for. But such I leave
To their deceiptfull guifts given to deceive
What I give I am rich in, and can spare
Nor part for hope w
th
ought deserves my care
He that hath little and gives nought at all
To them that have is truly liberall. 46