JOHN DONNE. XL. THE BAIT. An imitation of Marlowe's poem (No. xxxv). It appeared in the first edition of Donne's poems, published in 1633, after his death, but like most of Donne's lyrical pieces, it was probably written in his youth, and may be conjecturally dated 1593-1600. COME, live with me, and be my love, And we will some new pleasures prove There will the river whispering run, When thou wilt swim in that live bath, If thou to be so seen be'st loth Let others freeze with angling reeds, Let coarse bold hands from slimy nest Or curious traitors, sleave-silk flies, For thee, thou need'st no such deceit, SIR WALTER RALEIGH. (1552-1618.) XLI. A REPLY TO MARLOWE. The first verse was printed, together with Marlowe's poem (No. xxxv), in The Passionate Pilgrim (1599); the whole appeared in England's Helicon (1600). Here it was originally signed S. W. R., but a slip of paper was pasted over these initials, bearing the word Ignoto. It is quoted and ascribed to Raleigh in Walton's Compleat Angler. Raleigh also wrote a long pastoral poem in honour of Elizabeth, under the title of Cynthia. This is alluded to in Spenser's Colin Clout's Come Home Again, where Raleigh is the 'Shepherd of the Ocean'. Only a fragment of Cynthia has survived; it may be seen with the rest of Raleigh's verse in Archdeacon Hannah's Courtly Poets. IF all the world and love were young, Time drives the flocks from field to fold, The flowers do fade, and wanton fields A honey tongue, a heart of gall, Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses, Thy belt of straw and ivy buds, All these in me no means can move But could youth last, and love still breed; XLII. THE SHEPHERD'S DESCRIPTION OF LOVE This is not certainly Raleigh's. It is anonymous in The Phoenix Nest (1593). In England's Helicon it originally had his initials, but these were cancelled as in the case of the last poem. It is anonymous also in Davison's Poetical Rhapsody (1602), but in Harl. MS. 280, f. 99, a manuscript catalogue by Francis Davison of the poems in the Rhapsody, it is ascribed to Raleigh. Meliboeus. SHEPHERD, what's love, I pray thee tell? Faustus. It is that fountain and that well That tolls all into heaven or hell; And this is love as I heard tell. 1 Sauncing-bell, the Sanctus or Sacring-bell, rung at mass when the Host is elevated. Meliboeus. Yet what is love, I prithee say? Faustus. It is a work on holiday; It is December match'd with May, Meliboeus. Yet what is love, good shepherd, sain? Faustus. It is a sunshine mix'd with rain; It is a tooth-ache, or like pain; It is a game where none doth gain; The lass saith no, and would full fain; Meliboeus. Yet, shepherd, what is love, I pray? Faustus. It is a yea, it is a nay, A pretty kind of sporting fray; It is a thing will soon away; Then, nymphs, take 'vantage while ye may; And this is love, as I hear say. Meliboeus. Yet what is love, good shepherd, show? Faustus. A thing that creeps; it cannot go; A thing for one, a thing for moe; ANTHONY MUNDAY. (1554-1633.) XLIII. TO COLIN CLOUT. This is one of seven poems to which the name of 'Shepherd Tony' is attached in England's Helicon (1600). The authorship was long a matter of dispute, but as the present one has been found by Mr. Bullen in Munday's Primaleon (1619), and another in his Two Italian Gentlemen (1584), there no longer can be any doubt that they are his. BEAUTY sat bathing in a spring, Where fairest shades did hide her, But better memory said, fie, So vain desire was chidden. Into a slumber then I fell, But even as babes in dreams do smile So I awaked, as wise this while, Hey nonny, nonny, &c. |