24 



" Translation of the same in Old English manuscript not 

 published — 



" ' O Saturn's birde ! what cause doth thee incyte 



Upon Aristom's tombe so highe to sitt? 

 ' As I all other birds excell in mighte — 



' So doth Aristom, Lords, in strength and witt. 

 ' Let fearful Doves on cowards' tombs take rest — 

 ' We Eagles stoute to stoute men give a crest." * 



p. 33. 



("A man sitting on a casJc, gazing at the stars, while the bottom of the cask is on fire. J 



" ' In idle musings wrapt, with folded hands, 

 While urgent danger all his care demands, 

 Essaeus sits and gazes on the skies, 

 Nor marks the gathering flames around him rise. 

 Thus — while his life to monkish sloth he gives — 

 Hurtful to all, but most himself, he lives.'* 



" During the first half of the sixteenth century, and indeed 

 until the day of his death, Alciato reigned without a rival in 

 these classical, and, at the same time, pleasing productions ; 

 for it has been premised that the elegant treatises upon Im- 

 prese by the Bishop of Nocera and others, do not properly 

 enter into the category of Booh of Emblems. Two works 

 however made their appearance towards the close of that 

 period, which, though of a bght and facetious character, can- 



• The following, which is taken from the same MS., gives a pleasing specimen of 

 a metre much in use at the time : — 



(Picture of a number of Crows, with an erect Sceptre in the midst. 



" The concord is both rare and strange which Crows have in their life, 

 Whose mutual faith is incorrupt, whose love is voyde of strife. 

 Hence do these Birdes this scepter beare — for by the people's voyce, 

 The King doth fall from regal seate, or in his throne rejoyce, 

 Which voyce if frustrate it be made, then Discord comes apace, 

 And brings with hir a dismall fate, to work the King disgrace." 



p. 38. 

 + " Desidet in modio Essaeus speculator et astra, 

 Subtus et accensam contigit igne facem. 

 Segnities specie recti, velata cucullo, 

 Non se, non alios utilitate juvat." 



p. 88. 



