[148] In this engraving, which is our frontispiece, the Greek inscription runs thus: τοις σε πεμψασιυ και προστατασιυ ειχαριστω, and means, "_I thank those who sent you and gave the order_." These words are, of course, addressed to the messenger who has been commissioned by the Muses to convey the wreath to Sir Thomas. Above the wreath itself is an obscure phrase--Mουσαρυ[μ] στόλοϛ--which is evidently a mixture of Latin and Greek, musarum στολοϛ (=ἀπόστολοϛ?), "_messenger of the muses_." It may, however, be that στολος is to be taken as "_equipment_" or "_decoration_," as referring to the wreath. The courage with which Greek and Latin forms are mixed up, and an old word despatched on its way with a new meaning, of which this brief phrase gives evidence, is highly characteristic of Cromartian Greek. For further illustration of the peculiarities of this local variety or Hellenic speech, see p. 149. [149] Sir Thomas, therefore, claims by anticipation the titles of Baron and Sheriff, which were afterwards to be his. [150] This use of the quills is referred to in the following passage in Sir Thomas Urquhart's _Epigrams_ (MS.):-- "The Invocation to Clio. Book 2. Wench wholly martial, to whose inspiration The Colophonian Pöet ow'd his skill: Let my verse merit no Lesse estimation, Then [than] if the point of a Pegasid quill, Dip'd in the sacred fontain Caballine, Character'd the Impression of each Line." The "Colophonian Poet" is--"not to put too fine a point upon it"--Homer, who, according to some, was born at Colophos, in Asia Minor. The phrase "Pegasid quill" in this passage strengthens our opinion that this second portrait of Sir Thomas, which we give here, was intended to be a frontispiece to a second volume of poems. The similarity of diction between this "Invocation" and the speeches of Ancient Pistol is very great. CHAPTER IV EPIGRAMS: DIVINE AND MORAL, AND THE TRISSOTETRAS In 1641, Sir Thomas Urquhart published his first work--a volume of poems, entitled "EPIGRAMS: DIVINE AND MORAL,"[151] and dedicated to the Marquis of Hamilton. The poems are divided into three books, two of which contain forty-five epigrams, while the third contains forty-four. Most of them are in iambic pentameters, and are for the greater part sextets in form; but though the versification is occasionally smooth, these compositions do little credit to the Muse who inspired them. They are, without an exception, pointless; and an epigram without a point is about as useless and exasperating as a needle without one.[152] It is somewhat remarkable that in his prose compositions the imagination of Sir Thomas seems quite unfettered, while in his poems it is under some such restraining influence as a strait-waistcoat is said to exercise upon a certain class of patients.