_“Let me not live,”—_ _Thus his good melancholy oft began, ..._ _“After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff_ _Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses_ _All but new things disdain; whose judgments are_ _Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies_ _Expire before their fashions:”—this he wished._ Fletcher survived nine years, and battled on with somewhat of spasmodic action; at once widowed and orphaned by the death of his close friend and work-fellow; winning fresh triumphs, it is true, and leaving many a trace of his bright genius like a gleam of heaven’s own light across the sadness and corruption of an imaginary world, that was not at all unreal in heroism or in wickedness. He also passed away while young; a few months later than the time when Charles the First came to the throne, suddenly elevated by the death of his father James, bringing abruptly to a consummation that marriage with the French Princess which did so much to lead him and his country into ruin. The year 1625 was the separating date between the autumnal ripeness and the chill of fruitless winter. A sunny glow remains on Fletcher to the last. With him it fades, and the world that he had known is changed. [End of Notes to _Choyce Drollery_.] APPENDIX. PART 2. ANTIDOTE AGAINST MELANCHOLY. 1661. _Gratiano._—“Why should a man, whose blood is warm within, Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio,— I love thee, and it is my love that speaks;— There are a sort of men, whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing pond, And do a wilful stillness entertain, With purpose to be dress’d in an opinion Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit; As who should say, ‘I am Sir Oracle, And, when I ope my lips, let no dog bark!’” (_Merchant of Venice_, Act i. sc. 1.) We have already, in a brief Introduction, (pp. 105-110), explained our reason for adding all that was necessary to complete this work; a large portion having been anticipated in _Merry Drollery_ of the same year, 1661. In the Postscript (pp. 161-165), we endeavoured to trace the authorship of the entire collection; leaving to these following notes, and those attached to _M. Drollery, Compleat_, the search for separate poems or songs. Also, on pp. 166-175, we traced the history of “Arthur o’ Bradley,” delaying the important song of his Wedding (from an original of the date 1656), unto Part IV. of our _Appendix_.