referred to above (see the first volume of the present edition, p. 4): I have not been able to find any reason why his statement should be doubted. Nor have I included A Satyre against Separatists, 1642, also attributed to Cowley. A few verses attributed to Cowley are printed in the appendix and notes: of these, the lines Upon the Happie Birth of the Duke may be regarded as certainly his, although he never included them in his works; and probably the verses beginning Come, Poetry, and with you bring along' (p. 489) are his also: the edition in which they are to be found appeared during the lifetime of his literary executor (Bishop Thomas Sprat, 1635-1713). As previously announced it is not intended to print Cowley's Latin poems as part of the present edition. Material for a Supplement of Notes, biographical, bibliographical and critical, is being collected and will be published, it is hoped, at no very distant date. A. R. WALLER. UNIVERSITY PRESS, 12 September, 1906. BLOSSOMES. The third Edition. Enlarged by the Author. -fit surculus Arbor. LONDON. Printed by E. P. for HENRY SEILE, and are to bee sold at his shop at the signe of the Tygers-head in Fleet-street between the Bridge and the Conduit ΤΟ THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, JOHN LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLNE AND DEANE OF WESTMINSTER MY LORD, I might well feare, least these my rude and unpolisht lines, should offend your Honourable survay; but that I hope your Noblenesse will rather smile at the faults committed by a Child, then censure them. Howsoever I desire your Lordships pardon, for presenting things so unworthy to your view, and to accept the good will of him, who in all dutie is bound to be Your Lordships most humble servant. Abraham Cowley. To the Reader. EADER (I know not yet whether Gentle or no) Some, RE I know, have beene angrie (I dare not assume the honour of their envie) at my Poeticall boldnes, and blamed in mine, what commends other fruits, earliness: others, who are either of a weake faith, or strong malice, have thought me like a Pipe, which never sounds but when 'tis blowed in, and read me, not as Abraham Cowley, but Authorem anonymum: to the first I answer, that it is an envious frost which nippes the Blossomes, because they appeare quickly: to the latter, that he is the worst homicide who strives to murther anothers fame; to both, that it is a ridiculous follie to condemne or laugh at the starres, because the Moone and Sunne shine brighter. The small fire I have is rather blowne then extinguished by this wind. For the itch of Poesie by being angered encreaseth, by rubbing, spreads farther; which appeares in that I have ventured upon this third Edition. What though it be neglected? It is not, I am sure, the first booke, which hath lighted Tobacco, or been imployed by Cooks, and Groacers. If in all mens judgements it suffer shipwracke, it shall something content mee, that it hath pleased My selfe and the Bookseller. In it you shall finde one argument (and I hope I shall need no more) to confute unbelievers: which is, that as mine age, and consequently experience (which is yet but little) hath encreased, so they have not left my Poesie flagging behind them. I should not bee angrie to see any one burne my Pyramus, and Thisbe, nay I would doe it my selfe, but that I hope a pardon may easily bee gotten for the errors of ten yeeres age. My Constantia and Philetus confesseth mee two yeeres older when I writ it. The rest were made since upon severall occasions, and perhaps doe not belie the time of their birth. Such as they are, they were created by mee, but their fate lies in your hands, it is onely you, can effect, that neither the Booke-seller repent himselfe of his charge in printing them, nor I of my labour in composing them. Farewell. A. C. |