price of a copy of the "Arcadia" was then six shillings and sixpence; but in all probability, judging from the date, the writer was speaking of the folio of 1593, and not of the 4to of 1590.

It is a mistake to say that "not a few original poems are found in the 4to, which were not reprinted when the Countess of Pembroke revised the whole," as they appear in the folios of 1593 and 1598. The main difference is, that their places are changed,—not that there are more in the 4tos than in the folios, for while some are omitted, as many are added. In one of his notes to his translation of Ariosto in 1590, Sir John Harington complains that a sonnet written by Sidney, had, "by what mishap he knew not," been omitted in the 4to "Arcadia" of the same year. He gives it thus:

"Who doth desire that chast his wife should be,

First be he true, for truth doth truth deserve:
Then be he such as she his worth may see,
And alwayes one credit with her preserve:
Not toying kind, nor causlesly unkind,

Not stirring thoughts nor yet denying right:
Not spying faults, nor in plaine errors blind;
Never hard hand, nor ever reins too light.
As far from want, as far from vain expence;

Tone doth enforce, the tother doth entice.
Allow good company, but drive from thence,

All filthy mouths that glory in their vice,

This done, thou hast no more; but leave the rest
To nature, fortune, time and womans brest."

This excellent poem is certainly not in the 4to “Arcadia" of 1590, but the Countess of Pembroke had the good taste and good sense to insert it in the folio of 1598, p. 380, the only material difference being that there, in the last line, "vertue" is substituted for nature as Harington gives it.

In the 4to before us, the whole work is divided into three Books, and those Books into chapters. The first Book has nineteen chapters, the second twenty-nine chapters, and the third nineteen chapters. There is no Finis, or words equivalent to it, at the end of the volume, but three asterisks to indicate that the work was incomplete.

What Lady Pembroke did towards finishing her brother's work

may be seen only by a comparison of the 4to, 1590, with the second edition in folio, 1593, where, after Sidney's dedication, comes an address"To the Reader," subscribed H. S., avowing the manner in which her Ladyship had perfected what had been left incomplete. Among the additions, we may presume on the authority of manuscripts left in her hands and in those of Sidney's friends, is the Epitaph upon Argalus and Parthenia. In the 4to, 1590, a blank space was left for it on folio 311 b, and in some copies it has been partly supplied in writing of the time; but the whole of it, consisting of only eight lines, may be seen in Book 3 of the later impressions: it occurs on p. 294 of the folio of 1598. Lady Pembroke, instead of including the whole "Arcadia in three Books, as in 1590, divided it, rather unequally, into five Books

in 1593.

SIDNEY, SIR Philip. - An Apologie for Poetrie. Written by the right noble, vertuous, and learned, Sir Phillip Sidney, Knight. Odi profanum vulgus, et arceo.At London, Printed for Henry Olney &c. Anno 1595. 4to. 42 leaves.

This is the first edition of Sir Philip Sidney's "Apologie for Poetry," which in 1598 was appended to his "Arcadia," under the title of the "Defence of Poesie." The Edward Wotton, spoken of in the commencement, is there merely designated by his initials, and the "foure Sonnets written by Henrie Constable to Sir Phillip Sidney's soule," which follow the title-page, were omitted, and never reprinted. The last is the happiest, and may be taken as a happy specimen of Constable's powers. (For a review of Constable's "Diana," 1592, see Vol. I. p. 187.)

"Great Alexander then did well declare

How great was his united Kingdomes might,
When ev'ry Captaine of his Army might,
After his death, with mighty Kings compare:
So now we see, after thy death, how far
Thou dost in worth surpasse each other Knight,
When we admire him as no mortall wight,
In whom the least of all thy vertues are.

One did of Macedon the King become,
Another sat in the Egiptian throne,
But onely Alexanders selfe had all:

So curteous some, and some be liberall,

Some witty, wise, valiaunt, and learned some,
But King of all the vertues thou alone.

"HENRY CONSTABLE."

The third of the sonnets prefixed to the work before us has the peculiarity of being in the measure of twelve syllables, although the form of a sonnet is still preserved. Constable had an extraordinary reputation, but what he has left behind him hardly warrants the praise bestowed upon him in the old play, "The Return from Parnassus," 1606, in a couplet, which will remind the reader of a beautiful passage in Milton's "Comus":

"Sweet Constable doth take the wond'ring ear,

And lays it up in willing prisonment."

66

Anthony Wood says that Constable had been "not unfitly ranked with Sir Edward Dyer," by whom no separate poetical work in verse is known,1 excepting " Sixe Idillia,” translated from Theocritus, and printed by Joseph Barnes at Oxford in 8vo, 1588; for which see Vol. I. p. 292.

-

SLANDER. A plaine description of the Auncient Petigree of Dame Slaunder, togither with her Coheires and fellowe members, Lying, Flattering, Backebyting, (being the Divels deare darlinges), Playnly and Pithely described and set forth in their colours from their first descent, of what linage and kinred they came off. Eyther of them severally in his place set forth, as thou mayest reade hereafter.

I wil not be ashamed to defend a freend, neither will I hide my selfe from him, though he should do me harme. Eccle. 22. Imprinted at London by John Harrison.

8vo. B. L. 64 leaves.

1573.

No criticism of this singular production is anywhere to be found.

1 On p. 75 of Vol. III. we have reviewed Dyer's prose paradox, "The Praise of Nothing," printed in 1585.

In opposition to the words of the author's motto, he does "hide himself," for it is anonymous, though dedicated "To the right worshipfull and my especiall deare freend and Vallentine, Mistresse F. S. in all humblenes of dutie your accepted partner and allotted Vallentine wisheth all grace," &c. Moreover, an address from "The Printer to the Reader” warns him not to apply initials to individuals.

The whole is divided into five parts, and is rather more of a religious and moral treatise than the title promises. However, the writer has no objection to draw illustrations from the Stage, and recognizes "comedies and interludes." Thus in the beginning of "the second part" he says:

"First selaunder is an accusation made for hatred, unknowen to him that is accused, wherein the accuser is not called to give answer, or to denye anything; and this definition standeth on three persons, even like as matters of Comedie doe. * * * And first of all, if you list, let us bring the Capten of the Interlude, and ring leader, which is the maker of this selaunder."

"It is not possible to expresse how readie Dame Selaunder is, and how much she prevaileth, if she meete with one that is desirous to heare her; for if evil report and light of credence never meet, there could never so much harme be done by Dame Selaunder; but when these two companions meete, then beginneth the mischief, and at their departure then there is — I heare say so, but say nothing that I told you so; for I tel it you for meere good wil, and therefore would be loth to hear of it again; for I know my tale, and tales maister, but I like not to come to fending and proving: and with this persuasion departeth the backbiting selaunderer."

The subject would easily have enabled a clever writer to be amusing; but towards the close the author becomes more scriptural, though not without allusions also to profane history. He urges a diligent perusal of the Bible as a remedy for slander, and winds up with a text from 2 Maccabees xv. 38: "If I have done well, and as is fitting the story," &c.

by P. Stent at the white horse in Guiltspur streete &c. n. d. 12mo. 35 leaves.

Opposite an engraved architectural title is "the true Portraiture of the learned Mr. William Slater, D. D.," but his real name, and that which he himself signed in existing MSS., was Slatyer. The Epistle to the Reader is also subscribed Wil. Slatyer: this is a long rambling introduction, in which the author refers to the translations of the Psalms by Sandys and by James I., to whose Queen Slatyer had been chaplain; and he states that with some alteration, as far as English was concerned, he had adopted the "vulgarly received and publickly authorized translation." The four languages in which he gives the Psalms, are Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English. After the Epistle there is another engraved titlepage, by which this volume should appear to be only "Pars prima" of the intended work. Opposite to it are forty-two English lines, headed Frontispicii Enarracō. This undated impression seems to have escaped notice, but there were reimpressions of it in 1643 and 1652.

SMITH, JOHN. A Description of New England: or the Observations and Discoveries of Captain John Smith, (Admirall of that Country) in the North of America, in the year of our Lord 1614: with the successe of sixe Ships that went the next yeare 1615 &c. At London Printed by Humfrey Lownes for Robert Clerke &c. 1616. 4to. 40 leaves.

The copy of this work preserved at Bridgewater House was obviously a presentation to Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, and on the inside of the cover is written, "My L. Chanseler," no doubt in Captain Smith's hand at the top of the title-page is printed, "For the Right Honourable the Lord Elesmere, Lord High Chancelor of England.” We know of no other exemplar with the same peculiarity; but it is not unlikely that the author had a certain number of copies struck off for persons of rank about the Court, with similar and separate printed directions, and the title-page