The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 193 pages of information about The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687).

The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 193 pages of information about The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687).

  I am a poor Tyler, in simple array,
  And get a poor living, but eight pence a day,
  My Wife as I get it doth spend it away;
    And I cannot help it, she saith; wot ye why? 
    For wedding and hanging comes by destiny. 
  I thought when I wed her, she had been a Sheep,
  At board to be friendly, to sleep when I sleep: 
  She loves so unkindly, she makes me to weep. 
    But I dare say nothing, god wot; wot ye why? 
    For wedding and hanging comes by destiny. 
  Besides this unkindness whereof my grief grows,
  I think few Tylers are matcht to such shrows,
  Before she leaves brawling, she falls to deal blows. 
    Which early and late doth cause me to cry,
    That wedding and hanging is destiny. 
  The more that I please her, the worse she doth like me,
  The more I forbear her, the more she doth strike me,
  The more that I get her, the more she doth glike me. 
    Wo worth this ill fortune that maketh me cry,
    That wedding and hanging is deny. 
  If I had been hanged when I had been married,
  My torments had ended, though I had miscarried,
  If I had been warned, then would I have tarried;
    But now all too lately I feel and cry,
    That wedding and hanging is destiny.

He wrote also two Comedies, The Tryal of Chivalry, and The longer thou livest, the more Fool thou art.

* * * * *

NICHOLAS BRETON.

Nicholas Breton, a writer of Pastoral Sonnets, Canzons, and Madrigals, in which kind of writing he keeps company with several other contemporary Emulators of Spencer and Sir Philip Sidney, in a publish’d Collection of several Odes of the chief Sonneters of that Age.  He wrote also several other Books, whereof two I have by me, Wits Private Wealth, and another called The Courtier and the Country-man, in which last, speaking of Vertue, he hath these Verses: 

  There is a Secret few do know,
  And doth in special places grow,
  A rich mans praise, a poor mans wealth,
  A weak mans strength, a sick mans health,
  A Ladies beauty, a Lords bliss,
  A matchless Jewel where it is;
  And makes, where it is truly seen,
  A gracious King, and glorious Queen.

* * * * *

THOMAS KID, THOMAS WATSON, &c.

Thomas Kid, a writer that seems to have been of pretty good esteem for versifying in former times, being quoted among some of the more fam’d Poets, as Spencer, Drayton, Daniel, Lodge &C. with whom he was either contemporary, or not much later:  There is particularly remembred his Tragedy, Cornelia.

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The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.