The Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Volume 2 of 2.Davies, John, Sir
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The Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Volume 2 of 2.
Davies, John, Sir
Davies, John, Sir, 1569-1626; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
[Footnote 138: This and the three following, are from the celebrated
collection of early English poetry called the 'Poetical Rhapsody' by
Davison. Our text is from the third edition (1621) which in our case is
preferable, as having presumably been revised (in his contributions) by
Sir John: It is to be noted that in this edition the original simple I.
D. is in the second poem changed to Sir I. D., and that to the third
his name is given in full. I have included the Hymn on Music, though
the initials I. D. have been assigned to Dr. John Donne by Sir Egerton
Brydges and others. It seems to me that as (1) I. D. is our Poet's
designation in the 'Rhapsody' throughout, and as (2) the Lines were
not claimed for Donne by himself, or by his son when he collected his
father's Poems--we are warranted in assigning them to Sir John Davies.
Sir Egerton favours their Donne authorship simply because "they seem
rather to partake of the conceits of Donne than of the simple vigour
of Davies" but he forgot the 'Hymnes to Astræa' and 'Orchestra'; which
are in the same vein. It is to be regretted that Sir Nicholas Harris
Nicolas _modernized_ the text in his reprint of the 'Rhapsody': (2
vols. crown 8vo. 1826, Pickering): and perhaps equally so, that Mr.
Collier in his careful and beautiful private one, has selected the
first incomplete edition. The following is the title-page of the
edition of the 'Rhapsody' used by us:
DAVISONS
POEMS,
OR
_A POETICALL RAPSODIE_.
Deuided into sixe Bookes.
The first, _contayning Poems and Deuises_.
The second, _Sonets and Canzonets_.
The third, _Pastoralls and Elegies_.
The fourth, _Madrigalls and Odes_.
The fift, _Epigrams and Epitaphs_.
The sixt, _Epistles and Epithalamions_.
* * * * *
For variety and pleasure, the like neuer
published.
_The Bee and Spider by a diuers power,
Sucke hony and poyson from the selfe same flower._
The fourth Impression,
Newly corrected and augmented, and put into
a forme more pleasing to the Reader.
London.
Printed by B. A. for _Roger Iackson_, 1621 (small 12^{o}.) See our
Preface for account of an autograph MS. of "Yet other Twelve Wonders of
the World." G.]
I. _The Courtier._
Long haue I liu'd in Court, yet learn'd not all this while,
To sel poore sutors, smoke: nor where I hate, to smile:
Superiors to adore, Inferiors to despise,
To flye from such as fall, to follow such as rise;
To cloake a poore desire vnder a rich array,
Not to aspire by vice, though twere the quicker way.
II. _The Divine._
My calling is Diuine, and I from God am sent,
I will no chop-Church be, nor pay my patron rent,
Nor yeeld to sacriledge; but like the kind true mother,
Rather will loose all the child, then part it with another;
Much wealth, I will not seeke, nor worldly masters serue,
So to grow rich and fat, while my poore flock doth sterue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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