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Philip Massinger by Alfred Hamilton Cruickshank
Chapter 1 No.1
The Copie of a Letter written upon occasion to the Earle of Pembrooke Lo: Chamberlaine
My Lord
p. 554
Soe subiect to the worser fame
Are even the best that clayme a Poets name:
Especially poore they that serve the stage
Though worthily in this Verse-halting Age.
[pg 209] And that dread curse soe heavie yet doth lie
Wch the wrong'd Fates falne out wth Mercurie
Pronounc'd for ever to attend upon
All such as onely dreame of Helicon.
That durst I sweare cheated by selfe opinion
I were Apolloes or the Muses Mynion 10
Reason would yet assure me, 'tis decreed
Such as are Poets borne, are borne to need.
If the most worthy then, whose pay's but praise
Or a few spriggs from the now withering bayes
Grone underneath their wants what hope have I
Scarce yet allowed one of the Company- 16
p. 555
When584 thou sighst, thou sigh'st not wind, but sigh'st my soule away
When thou weep'st unkindly kind, my lifes blud doth decay
It cannot bee
That thou lov'est mee as thou sai'est, if in thine my life thou wast,
Thou art the best of mee.585
[pg 210] In some high mynded Ladies grace to stand
Ever provided that her liberall hand 30
Pay for the Vertues they bestow upon her
And soe long shees the miracle and the honor
Of her whole Sex, and has forsooth more worth
Then was in any Sparta e're brought forth
But when the Bounty failes a change is neare
And shee's not then what once shee did appeare
For the new Giver shee dead must inherit
What was by purchase gott and not by merit
Lett them write well that doo this and in grace
I would not for a pension or A place 40
Part soe wth myne owne Candor, lett me rather p. 556
Live poorely on those toyes I would not father
Not knowne beyond A Player or A Man
That does pursue the course that I have ran
Ere soe grow famous: yet wth any paine
Or honest industry could I obteyne
A noble Favorer, I might write and doo
Like others of more name and gett one too
Or els my Genius is false. I know
That Johnson much of what he has does owe 50
To you and to your familie, and is never
Slow to professe it, nor had Fletcher ever
Such Reputation, and credit nonne
But by his honord Patron, Huntington
Unimitable Spencer ne're had been
Soe famous for his matchlesse Fairie Queene
Had he not found a Spencer Sydney to preferr [sic]
His plaine way in his Shepheards Calender
Nay Virgills selfe (or Martiall does lye)
Could hardly frame a poore Gnatts Elegie 60
Before Mec?nas cherisht him; and then
He streight conceiv'd ?neas and the men
That found out Italic Those are Presidents586
I cite wth reverence: my lowe intents
Looke not soe high, yet some worke I might frame
[pg 211] That should nor wrong my duty nor your Name. p. 557
Were but your Lopp pleas'd to cast an eye
Of favour on my trodd downe povertie
How ever I confesse myselfe to be
Ever most bound for your best charitie 70
To others that feed on it, and will pay
My prayers wth theirs that as yu doe yu may
Live long, belov'd and honor'd doubtles then
Soe cleere a life will find a worthier Penn.
For me I rest assur'd besides the glory
T'wold make a Poet but to write your story. 76
Phill: Messinger.
p. 557
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Chapter 1 No.1
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Chapter 2 No.2
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Chapter 3 Lamb Specimens of English Dramatic Poets.590
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Chapter 4 Stephen Hours in a Library, vol. ii.
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Chapter 5 Wann Shakespeare Studies (University of Wisconsin), vii. "The Collaboration of Beaumont, Fletcher, and Massinger."
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Chapter 6 No.6
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Chapter 7 No.7
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Chapter 8 No.8
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Chapter 9 Lamb.
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