To worship at the Bestial Fane,
Where scoffing Sceptics worship pay,
And glorying in their mortal stain,
Reject the Soul-to cling to Clay!

X.

Alas! that Genius lends its grace,
By false ambition madly driven,
Its own bright splendour to efface,

And sinks to Earth-the powers of Heaven.

Not always is the chaplet given

To deck the swift, or crown the strong,

And lays which have to virtue risen,

Alone to dateless time belong.

XI.

Then, Bloomfield, shall thy verse remain,
When prouder Bards shall be forgot,

For Darkness must resign her reign,
The Light of Nature dieth not!

And happier far thy anxious lot,

Uncheer'd by Fortune's fav'ring sun, Than who for gold their manhood blot, Or follow fame to be undone.

XII.

Ye Rich, ye Noble, bow your head,
Writhe to the dust in conscious shame,

For Bloomfield sunk among the dead,

In sickness, poverty, and pain;

His honest breast knew not to feign,
Disdain'd the Laureate's varnish'd style,
Nor dar'd the sacred Muse profane,
To win by lies your patron smile.

XIII.

Blush, Wealth and Power! if blush ye can,
That Merit should unsuccour'd die;
That sharp Neglect's unworthy ban

Should cloud the brow, and force the sigh,

Of Him whose Spirit now, on high,
Pleads meekly for our sinful race,

And still retains that sympathy

Your heartlessness could ne'er efface.

XIV.

Ah! ye, who love the simple verse,
Which tells of rural joys and pains,
To hear an artless mind rehearse

The peaceful lives of artless swains,
Who love the page where Nature reigns
And holiest feelings point the tale,
View not with scorn these untaught strains,
But sweetest Bloomfield's death bewail!"

JOHN HEYWOOD.

JOHN HEYWOOD, commonly called "The Epigrammatist," was beloved and rewarded by Henry the Eighth for his buffooneries. On

leaving the University, he commenced author, and was countenanced by Sir Thomas More, for his facetious disposition. To his talents of jocularity in conversation, he joined a skill in music, both vocal and instrumental. His merriments were so irresistible, that they moved even the rigid muscles of Queen Mary; and her sullen solemnity was not proof against his songs, his rhymes, and his jests. One of these is preserved in the Cotton MS. Jul. F. x. "When Queene Mary tolde Heywoode that the priestes must forego their wives, he merrily answered, Then your Grace must allow them lemmans (mistresses), for the clergie cannot live without sauce."

Another is recorded by Puttenham, in his "Arte of English Poesie, 1589."-" At the Duke of Northumberland's bourd, merry John Heywood was allowed to sit at the table's end. The Duke had a very noble and honorable mynde always to pay his debts well, and when he lacked money, would not stick to sell the greatest part of his plate; so had he done a few dayes before. Heywood being loth to call for his drinke so oft as he was dry, turned his eye toward the cupbord, and sayd, 'I finde great

misse of your Grace's standing cups.' The Duke, thinking he had spoken it of some knowledge that his plate was lately sold, said, somewhat sharply, ‹ Why, Sir, will not these cups serve as good a man as yourselfe?' Heywood readily replied, Yes, if it please your Grace; but I would have one of them stand still at myne elbow full of drinke, that I might not be driven to trouble your men so often to call for it.' This pleasaunt and speedy turn of the former words, holpe all the matter againe ; whereupon the Duke became very pleasaunt, and dranke a bolle of wine to Heywood, and bid a cuppe should always be standing by him.”

One of Heywood's works is a Poem in long verse, with the following curious title: "A Dialogue, containing in Effect the Number of al the Proverbes in the English Tongue, compact in a Matter concerning Two Marriages." All the proverbs of the English language are here interwoven into a very silly comic tale:-the idea is ingenious, and the repertory, though illexecuted, is at least curious.

The following anecdote relating to this work, has been transmitted among some "witty aunsweres and saiengs of Englishmen," in the Cotton

"William Pawlett,

MS. before referred to. Marques of Wynchester and Highe Treasurer of Engelande, being presented by John Heywood with a booke, asked him what it conteyned? And when Heywoode told him 'All the Proverbes in English,'- What, all?' quoth my Lorde; No; Bate me an ace, quoth Bolton; is that in your booke? No, by my faith, my Lorde, I thinke not,' aunswered Heywoode."

But the neatest replication of this professed court-wit, seems to be recorded in " Camden's Remains, 1605," p. 234. Heywood being asked by Queen Mary "What wind blew him to the Court?"-he answered, "Two specially; the one to see your Majesty." "We thank you for that," said the Queen; "but, I pray you, what is the other?"- "That your Grace," said he, " might see me."

Most of his sallies, however, are contemptible enough; and the same may be said of his "Epigrams," which are six hundred in number, and, perhaps, were often extemporaneous jests, made and repeated to the company. The miserable drolleries and pitiful quibbles with which they are pointed, indicate great want of refinement. From this heap of rubbish, it may be