Early English Poets.
SIR JOHN DAVIES.
PRINTED BY ROBERT ROBERTS,
BOSTON.
Early English Poets.
THE
COMPLETE POEMS
OF
SIR JOHN DAVIES.
EDITED,
WITH
Memorial-Introduction and Notes,
BY THE
REV. ALEXANDER B. GROSART.
IN TWO VOLUMES.—VOL. I.
London:
CHATTO AND WINDUS, PICCADILLY.
1876.
To
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE W. EWART GLADSTONE, M.P., &c., &c.
Sir,
I had the honour to place in your hands the complete Poems of SirJohn Davies in the Fuller Worthies' Library. In now publishingthese Poems for a wider circle of readers and students, I re-dedicatethem to you.
That I should have wished (and wish) to inscribe the Works of a manfamous as a prescient and practical Statesman, as a philosophicThinker, as an Orator, as a Lawyer, and as a Poet, to you, isextremely natural; for in you, Sir,—in common with all Great Britainand Europe, and America,—I recognize his equal, and England'sforemost living name, in nearly every department wherein the elderdistinguished himself; while transfiguring and ennobling all, isyour conscience-ruled and stainless Christian life. That you gave mepermission so to do, with appreciative and kindly words, adds to mypleasure. Trusting that my fresh 'labour of love' (for which 'love oflabour' has been necessary) on this Worthy may meet your continuedapproval,
I am, Sir,
With high regard and gratitude,
Yours faithfully and truly,
ALEXANDER B. GROSART.
Preface.
My edition of the Complete Poems of Sir John Davies in the FullerWorthies' Library in 1869; since being followed up with a similarlycomplete collection of his much more extensive Prose, as Volumes II.and III. of his entire Works—met with so instant a Welcome, that veryspeedily I had to return the answer of 'out of print' to numerousapplicants. Accordingly it was with no common satisfaction I agreedto the request of the Publishers that Sir John Davies' complete Poemsshould succeed Giles Fletcher's in their Early English Poets.
In the preparation of this new edition I have carefully re-collatedthe whole of the original and early editions, with the same advantageand for the same reasons, as in Giles Fletcher's. I have likewise beenenabled to make some interesting additions, as will appear in therespective places.
I wish very cordially to re-thank various friends for their continuedhelpfulness. Several I must specify: To Dr. Brinsley Nicholson Iam indebted for many suggestions, and spontaneous research towardselucidating the Poems. I would specially thank B. H. Beedham, Esq.,Ashfield House, Kimbolton, for not only making a transcript of theholograph copy of the "Twelve Wonders" in Downing College Library,Cambridge, and of the Lines to the King in All Souls' College,[Pg iv]Oxford—both Colleges readily allowing this—but for his old-fashionedenthusiasm and care