The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
In 1619 came out his first folio-volume of poems. In 1622 the second
part of his Poly-olbion was published, making in all thirty books or
songs. In 1622 we find him stiled Poet Laureat: It is probable this
appellation of Poet Laureat was not confined and restricted as it is
now to his Majesty's Servant known by that title, who at that time it
is presumed was Ben Johnson, because it was bestowed promiscuously as
a mark of any poet's excellency in his profession.
In 1627 was published the second volume of his poems, containing the
battle of Agencourt, in stanzas of eight lines. The mysteries of Queen
Margaret in the like stanzas. Nymphidia, or the Court of Faeries. The
Quest of Cynthia, another beautiful piece, both reprinted in Dryden's
Miscellanies. The Shepherd's Sirena; also the Moon Calf; Satire on the
Masculine Affectations of Women, and the the effeminate disguises of
the Men, in those times. Elegies upon several occasions. These are
introduced by the vision of Ben Johnson on the Muse of his friend
Michael Drayton, wherein he very particularly enumerates and praises
his several compositions. In 1630 he published another volume of poems
in 4to, intitled the Muses Elizium, in ten sundry Nymphals, with three
different poems on Noah's flood; Moses his birth and miracles,
and David and Goliath. The pastoral poems are addressed to Edward
Sackville Earl of Dorset, and Lord Chamberlain, who had now made him
one of his family. His divine poems are written in verse and various
measures, and are dedicated to the Countess of Dorset; and there are
some sublime images in them. At the end of the first divine poem,
there are copies of verses in praise of the author, by Bcal Sapperton,
in Latin; Mr. John Fletcher, and Thomas Andrews in English; the last
of whom is very lavish in displaying the great extent of our poet's
fame.
In 1631 Mr. Drayton died, or as it is expressed in his monumental
inscription, exchanged his laurel for a crown of glory. He was buried
among the poets in Westminster-Abbey, and the handsome table monument
of blue marble which was raised over his grave the same year, is
adorned with his effigies in busto, laureated. On one side is a crest
of Minerva's cap, and Pegasus in a scutcheon on the other. Sir Aston
Cokain composed an elegy upon him: and Ben Johnson is said to have
been the author of his epitaph, which is written in letters of gold
upon his monument, with which I shall here present the reader.
EPITAPH.
Do pious marble let thy readers know
What they, and what their children owe
To Drayton's name, whose sacred dust
We recommend unto thy trust:
Protect his memory, and preserve his story,
Remain a lasting monument of his glory;
And when thy ruins shall disclaim,
To be the treasure of his name;
His name, that cannot fade shall be,
An everlasting monument to thee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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