180 



guages. Several interesting imitations followed, among 

 which was one by William Hesius or Esius, a Jesuit of 

 some poetical talent, who published, at Antwerp, in 1636, 

 his Emhlematay containing copious prolusions on tha three 

 great virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. The designs for 

 the cuts (which are indifferently executed on wood) have 

 not much resemblance to those of the Tia JDesideria. In 

 the verses however there is evidently an imitation; but one 

 third part of them, namely, that which treats Be Fide, is 

 made up in great measure by playing upon the word Fides, 

 which in the Latin tongue signifies either a Lute or the 

 Christian Virtue called Faith. In our own country there 

 arose an imitator of more note in the person of Francis 

 Quarles, a voluminous author of much celebrity in his time, 

 and whose volume of emblems has been many times reprinted 

 down to the present day."*^ 



Respecting the merit of these emblems much diversity of 

 opinion has been expressed. Pope in his Dunciad says of 

 them — 



" Id these the pictares for the page atone ; 

 And Quarles is saved by beauties not his own " 



Southe/s judgement on the other hand is, that very fine 

 poetry has been marred by being accompanied with engrav- 

 ings "the most ridiculous that ever excited merriment."t 

 Between these conflicting opinions the public have only 

 decided by calling for many editions of the poems accom- 

 panied always with the engravings. 



Although the two first books are in a great degree original, 

 the Author has taken his three last from the Fia Desideria of 

 Hugo, giving exact copies of the engravings and paraphrasing 

 the poetry. To a certain extent he has fallen into the errors 

 of his Prototype, by mixing the waters of Jordan with those 



Emblems uf Francis Quarles, first edition, London 1635, 8to. 

 ♦ Souths)' apud Critical Review, Sep. 1, 1801. 



