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THOMAS STORER.

Thomas Storer was a great writer of Sonnets, Madrigals, and Pastoral Airs, in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth’s Reign, and no doubt was highly esteemed in those days, of which we have an account of some of them in an old Book, called England’s Hellicon.  This kind of writing was of great esteem in those days, and much imitated by Thomas Watson, Bartholomew Yong, Dr. Lodge, and several others.  What time he died is to me unknown.

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THOMAS LODGE.

Thomas Lodge, a Doctor of Physick, flourish’d also about the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; He was also an eminent Writer of Pastoral Songs, Odes, and Madrigals.  This following Sonnet is said to be of his composing.

  If I must die, O let me chuse my Death: 
  Suck out my Soul with Kisses, cruel Maid! 
  In thy Breasts Crystal Balls embalm my Breath,
  Dole it all out in sighs when I am laid;
  Thy Lips on mine like Cupping-glasses clasp;
  Let our Tongues meet, and strive as they would sting: 
  Crush out my Wind with one straight girting Grasp,
  Stabs on my Heart keep time whilst thou dost sing. 
  Thy Eyes like searing-Irons burn out mine;
  In thy fair Tresses stifle me outright: 
  Like Circes, change me to a loathsom Swine,
  So I may live for ever in thy sight. 
    Into Heavens Joys can none profoundly see,
    Except that first they meditate on thee.

Contemporary with Dr. Lodge, were several others, who all of them wrote in the same strain, as George Gascoigne, Tho.  Hudson, John Markham, Tho.  Achely, John Weever, Chr.  Midleton, George Turbervile, Henry Constable, Sir Edward Dyer, Charles Fitz Geoffry.  Of these George Gascoigne wrote not only Sonnets, Odes and Madrigals, but also something to the Stage:  as his Supposes, a Comedy; Glass of Government, a Tragi-Comedy; and Jocasta, a Tragedy.

But to return to Dr. Lodge; we shall only add one Sonnet more, taken out of his Euphues Golden Legacy, and so proceed to others.

  Of all chaste Birds, the Phoenix doth excel;
  Of all strong Beasts, the Lion bears the Bell: 
  Of all sweet Flowers, the Rose doth sweetest smell;
  Of all fair Maids, my Rosalind is fairest. 
  Of all pure Metals, Gold is only purest;
  Of all high Trees, the Pine hath highest Crest;
  Of all soft Sweets, I like my Mistress best: 
  Of all chaste Thoughts my Mistress Thoughts are rarest. 
  Of all proud Birds, the Eagle pleaseth Jove,
  Of pretty Fowls, kind Venus likes the Dove: 
  Of Trees, Minerva doth the Olive