The Shakespeare Society has recently republished a curious Poem, entitled, "The Ghost of Richard the Third," 1614, which has his initials at the end of the Dedication. Mr. Collier was at one time inclined to ascribe it to Charles Best; but he has since altered his opinion, at the suggestion of Mr. Rodd, and, like Mr. Dyce, appears to believe that its real author was Christopher Brooke.* The piece now before us was inserted among the Poems of Pembroke and Rudyard, 1660, with the title, " Benj. Rudier of Tears" (p. 46); but the authority of the MS. copy, and of the initials in Rel. Wotton. is sufficient to set his claim aside. The variations marked C. are from Mr. Collier's MS. and those marked R. from Rudyard's Poems. It will be seen that they supply one line which is required by the form of the stanza, but which is omitted in every edition of Rel. Wotton.] [5] 1. HO would have thought there could have bin Mine Eyes have seen, my heart hath The most and best of earthly joys; The sweets of love, and being loved; Masks, Feasts, and Plays, and such like Toys: Collier's Life of Shakespeare, p. ccxlvi. Preface to reprint of "The Ghost of Rich. III." p. xiv. and Dyce's Remarks on Gifford's Jonson, p. 297.-The Bodleian copy of this volume is said to be unique; and even Park, who was intimately acquainted with these old books, had never seen it. (Note on Warton's H. E. P. iii. 235, ed. 1840.) Dr. Donne has addressed more than one poem to Christopher Brooke. See his Poems, pp. 56, 97 ed. 1633. F 2. Indeed mine Eyes at first let in [10] Those Guests that did these woes begin; [15] [20] Therefore mine Eyes in Tears and Grief Thou that mak'st light from darkness spring, 3. Oh where am I! what may I think! Thus laden with my sin, And threat my overthrow. What Heart opprest with such a weight [25] 4. Yet, as at Sea in Storms, Men use, [30] [35] The Ship to save, the[ir] Goods to lose; I'll chuse the lesser harm: My Tears to seas I will convert, 5. Oh God, my God! what shall I give In thee, and thou didst safe preserve Thou makest me eat while others sterve; [And sing, whilst others do lament.] Such unto me thy Blessings are, [40] As if I were thy only Care. 6. But, oh my God! thou art more kind, When I look inward on my mind: [45] Thou fillest my Heart with humble joy, This is my State,―thy Grace is this. [VARIATIONS. (As those of C. were marked some time since, a few may have been overlooked). 3. Mine eye hath seen'both C. and R.-5. 'The sweet'-both.-12. 'these'-R.-13. "'tis'-both.-16. sadness sing'-both.-It is sorrows' in Rel. Wotton. eds. 1651-4. In ed. 1672, sorrow'-.19. 'tost'—R. which appears preferable to the other reading.-22. 'mine'-R. —24. ‘Can chuse but sink, and perish streight'—R. ‘straight' also in C.-25. 'men choose'-both.-26. 'the'-Rel. Wotton. I follow the copy in R.-29. ' hopes'-R.-32. 'mine eyes'—both. -After the fourth stanza a fresh commencement is made in R. the letter "R." being interposed.-35. 'dost safe'-R.-37. 'whilst'-both.-38. This line occurs in both C. (where 'other doth') and R. but not in Rel. Wotton. The structure of this stanza is the same as that of the first, second, and sixth.-40. 'As though-thine'-both.-44. 'meek and fervent'-both.-45. 'All other loves which doth destroy'-both.] (BEING YOUNG AND THEN IN THE TOWER) THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS EXECUTION. [CHIDIOCK TYCHBOURNE, of Southampton, was executed with Ballard and Babington in 1586.* Mr. Collier's MS. contains a copy of these verses, with a reply to them, of which the commencement may be cited here: "AN ANSWERE TO MR TICHBORNE WHO WAS EXECUTED WTH BABINGTON. "Thy flower of youth is with a north wind blasted; Thy Corne is shed; thy vntimely haruest wasted; * Mr. D'Israeli, who has devoted to him an Article in his Curiosities of Literature, gives these verses from one of the Harl. MSS. and remarks, in the note, that they have, at one time, been assigned to Raleigh. Of course he is quite correct in treating this as a mere blunder. (p. 236, ed. 1839.) + MS. as wasted'-the writer's eye having caught the line above. Darke was thy daye, & shadow was thy Sun; Thy fruite is rotten, & thy leaues are gone; The world accoumpts thee not worth thinking on;" &c. Copies of Tychbourne's lines are found in numerous MSS.; but some of them agree very nearly with the text here printed (e. g. Mr. Collier's, and one in MS. Ashm. 781, p. 138). I have given the variations from Mr. D'Israeli's copy, (=A.) and from one in MS. Malone 19, p. 44. (=B.) Their titles correspond (except in mere verbal differences) with that printed above. It seems that the first and second stanzas were printed, with considerable alterations, in Este's Madrigals, 1604. See Cens. Lit. ii. 101, 2nd edit.] 1. Y prime of Youth is but a Frost of Cares; M [5] My Crop of Corn is but a Field of Tares; And all my good is but vain hope of gain: The day is [fled], and yet I saw no Sun; And now I live, and now my life is done! and yet 2. The Spring is past, and yet it hath not sprung; The Fruit is dead, and yet the leaves are green; My youth is gone, I am but young; [10] I saw the World, and yet I was not seen: My Thread is cut, and yet it is not spun; And now I live, and now my life is done! 3. I sought my Death, and found it in my Womb; I looked for Life, and saw it was a shade; |