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were not peaceable； and who were very earnest indeed； in love or
war。 But as soon as you get a Court； and Court life； in France；
even though the times were warlike； then ladies are lauded in artful
strains； and the lyre is struck leviore plectro。 Charles d'Orleans；
that captive and captivating prince； wrote thousands of rondeaux；
even before his time a gallant company of gentlemen composed the
Livre des Cent Ballades； one hundred ballades； practically
unreadable by modern men。 Then came Clement Marot； with his gay and
rather empty fluency； and Ronsard； with his mythological
compliments； his sonnets； decked with roses； and led like lambs to
the altar of Helen or Cassandra。 A few； here and there； of his
pieces are lighter； more pleasant； and； in a quiet way； immortal；
such as the verses to his 〃fair flower of Anjou；〃 a beauty of
fifteen。 So they ran on； in France； till Voiture's time； and
Sarrazin's with his merry ballade of an elopement； and Corneille's
proud and graceful stanzas to Marquise de Gorla。
But verses in the English tongue are more worthy of our attention。
Mr。 Locker begins his collection of them； Lyra Elegantiarum （no
longer a very rare book in England）； as far back as Skelton's age；
and as Thomas Wyat's； and Sidney's； but those things； the lighter
lyrics of that day； are rather songs than poems； and probably were
all meant to be sung to the virginals by our musical ancestors。
〃Drink to me only with thine eyes；〃 says the great Ben Jonson； or
sings it rather。 The words； that he versified out of the Greek
prose of Philostratus； cannot be thought of without the tune。 It is
the same with Carew's 〃He that loves a rosy cheek；〃 or with 〃Roses；
their sharp spines being gone。〃 The lighter poetry of Carew's day
is all powdered with gold dust； like the court ladies' hair； and is
crowned and diapered with roses； and heavy with fabulous scents from
the Arabian phoenix's nest。 Little Cupids flutter and twitter here
and there among the boughs； as in that feast of Adonis which
Ptolemy's sister gave in Alexandria； or as in Eisen's vignettes for
Dorat's Baisers：
〃Ask me no more whither do stray
The golden atoms of the day；
For in pure love did Heaven prepare
These powders to enrich your hair。〃
It would be affectation； Gifted； if you rhymed in that fashion for
the lady of your love； and presented her； as it were； with cosmical
cosmetics； and compliments drawn from the starry spaces and deserts；
from skies； phoenixes； and angels。 But it was a natural and pretty
way of writing when Thomas Carew was young。 I prefer Herrick the
inexhaustible in dainties； Herrick； that parson…pagan； with the soul
of a Greek of the Anthology； and a cure of souls （Heaven help them！）
in Devonshire。 His Julia is the least mortal of these 〃daughters of
dreams and of stories；〃 whom poets celebrate； she has a certain
opulence of flesh and blood； a cheek like a damask rose； and 〃rich
eyes；〃 like Keats's lady； no vaporous Beatrice； she； but a handsome
English wench； with
〃A cuff neglectful and thereby
Ribbons to flow confusedly；
A winning wave； deserving note
In the tempestuous petticoat。〃
Then Suckling strikes up a reckless military air； a warrior he is
who has seen many a siege of heartshearts that capitulated； or
held out like Troy…town； and the impatient assailant whistles：
〃Quit； quit； for shame： this will not move；
This cannot take her。
If of herself she will not love；
Nothing can make her …
The devil take her。〃
So he rides away； curling his moustache； hiding his defeat in a big
inimitable swagger。 It is a pleasanter piece in which Suckling；
after a long leaguer of a lady's heart； finds that Captain honour is
governor of the place； and surrender hopeless。 So he departs with a
salute：
〃March； march （quoth I）； the word straight give；
Let's lose no time but leave her：
That giant upon air will live；
And hold it out for ever。〃
Lovelace is even a better type in his rare good things of the
military amorist and poet。 What apology of Lauzun's； or Bussy
Rabutin's for faithlessness could equal this？ …
〃Why dost thou say I am forsworn；
Since thine I vowed to be？
Lady； it is already morn；
It was last night I swore to thee
That fond impossibility。〃
Has 〃In Memoriam〃 nobler numbers than the poem； from exile； to
Lucasta？ …
〃Our Faith and troth
All time and space controls；
Above the highest sphere we meet；
Unseen； unknown； and greet as angels greet。〃
How comes it that in the fierce fighting days the soldiers were so
tuneful； and such scholars？ In the first edition of Lovelace's
〃Lucasta〃 there is a flock of recommendatory verses； English； Latin；
even Greek； by the gallant Colonel's mess…mates and comrades。 What
guardsman now writes like Lovelace； and how many of his friends
could applaud him in Greek？ You； my Gifted； are happily of a
pacific disposition； and tune a gentle lyre。 Is it not lucky for
swains like you that the soldiers have quite forsworn sonneting？
When a man was a rake； a poet； a warrior； all in one； what chance
had a peaceful minor poet like you or me； Gifted； against his
charms？ Sedley； when sober； must have been an invincible rival
invincible； above all； when he pretended constancy：
〃Why then should I seek further store；
And still make love anew？
When change itself can give no more
'Tis easy to be true。〃
How infinitely more delightful； musical； and captivating are those
Cavalier singerstheir numbers flowing fair； like their scented
lovelocksthan the prudish society poets of Pope's day。 〃The Rape
of the Lock〃 is very witty； but through it all don't you mark the
sneer of the contemptuous； unmanly little wit； the crooked dandy？
He jibes among his compliments； and I do not wonder that Mistress
Arabella Fermor was not conciliated by his long…drawn cleverness and
polished lines。 I prefer Sackville's verses 〃written at sea the
night before an engagement〃：
〃To all you ladies now on land
We men at sea indite。〃
They are all alike； the wits of Queen Anne； and even Matt Prior；
when he writes of ladies occasionally； writes down to them； or at
least glances up very saucily from his position on his knees。 But
Prior is the best of them； and the most candid：
〃I court others in versebut I love thee in prose；
And they have my whimsies； but thou hast my heart。〃
Yes； Prior is probably the greatest of all who dally with the light
lyre which thrills to the wings of fleeting Lovesthe greatest
English writer of vers de societe； the most gay； frank； good…
humoured； tuneful and engaging。
Landor is great； too； but in another kind； the bees that hummed over
Plato's cradle have left their honey on his lips； none but Landor；
or a Greek； could have written this on Catullus：
〃Tell me not what too well I know
About the Bard of Sirmio …
Yes