Ver. 893.—­Had-ywist.  That is, had I wist! had I known that it would end so! a proverbial expression for late repentance consequent on disappointment.  C.

Ver. 901.—­To have thy Princes grace, yet want her Peeres. Elizabeth was said to have granted Spenser a pension which Burghley intercepted, and to have ordered him a gratuity which her minister neglected to pay.  C.

Ver. 913.—­Himselfe will a daw trie. So the old copy:  the reading should probably be himselfe a daw will trie, prove or find himself by experience to be a daw or fool.  C.

Ver. 1189.—­Of men of armes, &c.  This passage certainly provokes an application to Lord Burghley, and was probably intended for him.  C.

* * * * *

RUINES OF ROME: 

BY BELLAY*

[* Joachim du Bellay, a French poet of considerable reputation in his day, died in 1560.  These sonnets are translated from Le Premier Livre des Antiquez de Rome.  Further on we have the Visions of Bellay, translated from the Songes of the same author.  The best that can be said of these sonnets seems to be, that they are not inferior to the original.  C.]

I.

Ye heavenly spirites, whose ashie cinders lie
Under deep ruines, with huge walls opprest,
But not your praise, the which shall never die
Through your faire verses, ne in ashes rest;
If so be shrilling voyce of wight alive
May reach from hence to depth of darkest hell,
Then let those deep abysses open rive,
That ye may understand my shreiking yell! 
Thrice having seene under the heavens veale
Your toombs devoted compasse over all,
Thrice unto you with lowd voyce I appeale,
And for your antique furie here doo call,
  The whiles that I with sacred horror sing
  Your glorie, fairest of all earthly thing!

II.

Great Babylon her haughtie walls will praise,
And sharped steeples high shot up in ayre;
Greece will the olde Ephesian buildings blaze,
And Nylus nurslings their Pyramidcs faire;
The same yet vaunting Greece will tell the storie
Of Ioves great image in Olympus placed;
Mausolus worke will be the Carians glorie,
And Crete will boast the Labyrinth, now raced;
The antique Rhodian will likewise set forth
The great Colosse, erect to Memorie;
And what els in the world is of like worth,
Some greater learned wit will magnifie. 
  But I will sing above all moniments
  Seven Romane Hils, the worlds seven wonderments.

III.