Flatter the waiting-woman, bribe the valet;
But know, that I, her father, play the Gryphon,
Tameless and sleepless, proof to fraud or bribe,
And guard the hidden treasure of her beauty.
The Spanish Father.

CHAP. XXXV.

It is a time of danger, not of revel,
When churchmen turn to masquers.

The Spanish Father.

CHAP. XXXVII.

Ay, sir—our ancient crown, in these wild times,
Oft stood upon a cast-the gamester's ducat,
So often staked, and lost, and then regain'd,
Scarce knew so many hazards.

FROM KENILWORTH.

(1.) GOLDTHRED'S SONG.

"After some brief interval, Master Goldthred, at the earnest instigation of mine host, and the joyous concurrence of his guests, indulged the company with the following morsel of melody: "

Of all the birds on bush or tree,
Commend me to the owl,
Since he may best ensample be

To those the cup that trowl.

For when the sun hath left the west,

He chooses the tree that he loves the best,

And he whoops out his song, and he laughs at his

jest;

Then though hours be late, and weather foul,

We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny owl.

The lark is but a bumpkin fowl,
He sleeps in his nest till morn;
But my blessing upon the jolly owl,

That all night blows his horn.

Then up with your cup till you stagger in speech,

And match me this catch though you swagger and

screech,

And drink till you wink, my merry men each; For though hours be late, and weather be foul, We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny owl. Chap. ii.

(2.) SPEECH OF THE PORTER TO THE QUEEN.

WHAT stir, what turmoil, have we for the nones?
Stand back, my masters, or beware your bones !
Sirs, I'm a warder, and no man of straw;
My voice keeps order, and my club gives law.

Yet soft-nay, stay-what vision have we here?
What dainty darling's this-what peerless peer ?
What loveliest face, that loving ranks enfold,
Like brightest diamond chased in purest gold?
Dazzled and blind, mine office I forsake,
My club, my key, my knee, my homage take,
Bright paragon, pass on in joy and bliss ;—
Beshrew the gate that opes not wide at such a
sight as this!
Chap. xxx.

1

1 An imitation of Gascoigne. The original may be found in the republication of the Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth, by the same author, in the History of Kenilworth. Chiswick, 1821.

(3.) TRANSLATION FROM THE ORLANDO INNAMORATO OF BOIARDO.

Lib. II. C. 4, St. 25.

As then, perchance, unguarded was the tower,
So entered free Anglante's dauntless knight.
No monster and no giant guard the bower
In whose recess reclined the fairy light,
Robed in a loose cymar of lily white,

And on her lap a sword of breadth and might,
In whose broad blade, as in a mirror bright,
Like maid that trims her for a festal night,
The fairy decked her hair, and placed her coronet
aright.

Chap. xxxii. (note.)

(4.) MOTTOES.

CHAP. III.

NAY, I'll hold touch-the game shall be play'd out,

It ne'er shall stop for me, this merry wager;
That which I say when gamesome, I'll avouch
In my most sober mood, ne'er trust me else.
The Hazard Table.

CHAP. IV.

Not serve two masters?—Here's a youth will try it

Would fain serve God, yet give the devil his due;
Says grace before he doth a deed of villany,
And returns his thanks devoutly when 'tis acted.
Old Play.

CHAP. V..

He was a man

Versed in the world as pilot in his compass.
The needle pointed ever to that interest
Which was his loadstar, and he spread his sails
With vantage to the gale of others' passion.
The Deceiver-a Tragedy.

CHAP. VII.

-This is he

Who rides on the court-gale; controls its tides;
Knows all their secret shoals and fatal eddies;
Whose frown abases, and whose smile exalts.
He shines like any rainbow-and, perchance,
His colours are as transient.
Old Play.

CHAP. XIV.

This is rare news thou tell'st me, my good fellow;
There are two bulls fierce battling on the green
For one fair heifer-if the one goes down,
The dale will be more peaceful, and the herd,
Which have small interest in their brulziement,
May pasture there in peace.
Old Play.