1808 J Extracts from the Port-folio of a Man of Leiters. 33% 
at the same time not to awaken him, 
When brought into a proper apartment 
he gave directions for his being stript of 
his dirty cloaths; and then to be richly 
habited and laid upon a bed of state. 
When the fellow was fully awake and 
sober, he found himself he knew not 
where, in a dress he could not account 
how he obtained, and surrounded by a 
pumerous train of servants in rich liveries, 
who anticipatud all his wants with the 
most ofcious and obsequious alacrity. 
At supper-time he was plied with the 
richest wines, of which he took off solarge 
a dose,that he wassoon brought to thesame 
state of stupid intoxication, from which 
he had been taken the preceding eve- 
ning when conveyed to the palace. Now it 
was that they put on his former_proper 
dress, and carried him to the same place, 
as hehad been found in. ‘Tlic fellow had 
not made them so much sport the day 
before as he: did when he returned to 
himself. All the jest was to see how he 
looked upon it. In conclusion, the poor 
man told his friends he had seen a vision, ” 
and could not be persuaded to the con- 
trary: and thus ended the duke’s frolick. 
SPENSER, 
Queen Elizabeth having directed her 
treasurer to give him 100/. for his poems 
which he had presented to her, Cecil 
thought this was paying two much for a 
song. “ Givehim then” replied the Queen, 
** what you think meet in reason ;” and 
she was punctually obeyed, for the Poet 
received nothing. . He took care however 
in the course of one of her progresses to 
present to her this petition, 
I was promised on a time, 
To have reason for my rhyme 3 
From that time unto this season, 
I received nor rhyme nor reason. 
This seasonable remonstrance succeeded 
and Spenser received his origiualiy in- 
tended reward. 
SHAKSPEARE. 
“ He was never any scholar as he would 
Wf alive confess,” says an old author. 
“ But by keeping company with learned 
persons, and conversing with jocular wits, 
he became so famously witty, or wittily 
famous, that by his own industry without 
the help of learning, he attained to an 
éxtraordimary height in all strains of dra- 
matic poetry; so that Heraclitus himself 
might afferd to smile at his comedies 
they were so merry, and Democritus 
scarce forbear to sigh at his tragedies they 
were so mournful.” 
“« Many were the wit-combats between 
him and Ben Jonson, which two we may 
4 
compare to a Spanish great galleon, and 
an English man-of-war. Jonson, like the 
former, was built far higher in learning, 
solid but slow in his performances. Shak- 
speare with the English man-of-war, lesser 
in bulk but lighter in sailing, could turn 
with all tides, tack about, and take ad- 
vantage of all winds, by the quickness of 
his wit and invention.” : 
An epitaph written for him at the time 
of his decease, thus commences 
Renowned Spenser, move a bit more nigh 
To learned Chaucer, and rare Beaumont lie 
A little nearer Spenser, to make room 
For Shakspeare, in your threefold, fourfold, 
tomb ; 
To lodge all four in one bed make a shift 
Until doomsday ; for hardly will a fifth 
Betwixt this day and that by fate be slain, 
For whom your curtains may be drawn again. 
SIR JOHN HARRINGTON 
Was of St. John’s College, Cambridge. 
He was the author ofa volume of epigrams, 
and I believe was the first translator of 
Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso. His father 
was imprisoned in the Tower, and put to 
an enormous expence before he could 
obtain his release, for carrying a letter te 
the Princess, (afterwards Queen) Eliza- 
beth. His mother was an attendant 
about the person of the Princess, and 
Sir John himself was her godsun. 
BEN JONSON 
Was compelled by poverty to leave Cam- 
bridge after having entered at St. John’s, 
and was obliged, for subsistence, to have 
recoure to manual labour, His mother 
had married a bricklayer, and with him 
he assisted in buildmg Lincoln’s Ina, 
where, tho’ he had a trowel in his hand,he 
had always a book in his pocket. 
DR. DONNE 
Attained such an early proficiency in 
scholastic knowledge, that he is said to 
have to have entered at Hart-hall,Oxford, 
at nine years old. The death of his 
father put him in possession of a fortune 
of 8000/.after which he visited many parts 
of Kurope. At length, by King James’s 
desire, he took orders, and was appointed 
preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, and afterwards 
advanced to the deanery of St Paul’s. 
He was eminent as a poet, but still more 
so as a preacher ; and tho’ the productions 
of his early years were chiefly ef a face- 
tious and satirical cast, yet those of the 
latter period of his life were more suitable 
to the sacred character which he had 
assumed. Take the following hymn, writ- 
ten in sickness, as a specimen :—- 
Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun, 
Which was my sin, tho’ it were done before? 
Wijt 
