The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 2 (of 2)Skelton, John
General
The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 2 (of 2)
Skelton, John
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
v. 1371. _Scroupe pulchra Joanna_] See note, p. 122. I ought to have
observed _ad loc._ that “_Scroupe_” is to be considered here as a
monosyllable; unless we read “_Scrope_” as two short syllables.
ELYNOUR RUMMYNGE.
On the title-page and also on the last leaf of Rand’s edition of this
poem, 1624, 4to, (reprinted, not with perfect accuracy, in the _Harleian
Miscellany_; see vol. i. 415. ed. Park,) is an imaginary portrait, of
which the subjoined is a fac-simile:
[Illustration:
“When Skelton wore the Laurell Crowne,
My Ale put all the Ale-wiues downe.”
]
George Steevens having heard that a copy of Rand’s edition was in
the Library of Lincoln Cathedral, prevailed on the Dean to bring it
to London; and having made a drawing of the title-page, gave it to
Richardson the printseller, who engraved and published it. Steevens, soon
after, contributed to the _European Magazine_ for May, 1794, vol. xxv.
334,—
“Verses meant to have been subjoined (with the following Motto) to a
Copy from a scarce Portrait of Elinour Rumming, lately published by Mr.
Richardson, of Castle-street, Leicester-square.
Ne sit ancillæ tibi amor pudori
Xanthia Phoceu! prius insolentem
Serva Briseis niveo colore
Movit Achillem.
Movit Ajacem Telamone natum
Forma captivæ dominum Tecmessæ;
Arsit Atrides medio in triumpho
Virgine rapta.
HORACE.
“Eleonora Rediviva.
To seek this nymph among the glorious dead,
Tir’d with his search on earth, is Gulston fled:—
Still for these charms enamour’d Musgrave sighs;
To clasp these beauties ardent Bindley dies;—
For these (while yet unstag’d to public view)
Impatient Brand o’er half the kingdom flew;—
These, while their bright ideas round him play,
From classic Weston force the Roman lay:—
Oft too, my Storer! heaven has heard thee swear,
Not Gallia’s murder’d Queen was half so fair:—
‘A new Europa!’ cries the exulting Bull,
‘My Granger now (I thank the gods) is full:’—
Even Cracherode’s self, whom passions rarely move,
At this soft shrine has deign’d to whisper love.—
Haste then, ye swains, who Rumming’s form adore,
Possess your Elinour, and sigh no more.
W. R.”
The Marquis of Bute told Dallaway that he gave twenty guineas for the
original engraving of Elinour: see Dallaway’s _Letheræum_, 1821, p. 6.
Rand’s edition opens with the following lines, which, I need hardly
observe, are by some rhymer of the day:
“_Skeltons Ghost._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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