Minor Poems of Michael Drayton. Drayton Michael
Aston Cokayne, in 1658, says that he went to Oxford, while Fleay asserts, without authority, that his university was probably Cambridge.
[3] Cf. the motto of Ideas Mirrour, the allusions to Ariosto in the Nymphidia, p. 129; and above all, the Heroical Epistles; Dedic. of Ep. of D. of Suffolk to Q. Margaret: 'Sweet is the French Tongue, more sweet the Italian, but most sweet are they both, if spoken by your admired self.' Cf. Surrey to Geraldine, ll. 5 sqq., with Drayton's note.
[4] Cf. Sonnet xij (ed. 1602), p. 42, ''Tis nine years now since first I lost my wit.' (This sonnet may, of course, occur in the supposed 1600 ed., which would fix an earlier date for Drayton's beginning of love.)
[5] Elegy ix, p. 113.
[6] Cf. Morley's ed. of Barons' Wars, &c. (1887), p. 6.
[7] Cf. E.H. Ep. 'Mat. to K.J.,' 100 sqq., &c.
[8] Professor Courthope and others. There was some excuse for blunders before the publication of Professor Elton's book; and they have been made easier by an unfortunate misprint. Professor Courthope twice misprints the first line of the Love-Parting Sonnet, as 'Since there's no help, come let us rise and part', and, so printed, the line supports better the theory that the poem refers to a patroness and not to a mistress. Cf. Courthope, Hist. Eng. Poetry, iii. pp. 40 and 43.
[9] Cf. E. and Phoebe, sub fin.; Shep. Sir. 145–8; Ep. Hy. Reyn. 79 sqq.
[10] Those reprints which were really new editions are in italics.
[11] 1594 ed., Pref. Son. and nos. 12, 18, 28; 1599 ed., nos. 3, 31, 46; 1602 ed., 12, 27, 31; and 1603 ed., 47.
[12] Meres thought otherwise. Cf. Palladis Tamia (1598), 'As Accius, M. Atilius, and Milithus were called Tragediographi, because they writ tragedies: so may wee truly terme Michael Drayton Tragaediographus for his passionate penning the downfals of valiant Robert of Normandy, chast Matilda, and great Gaueston.' Cf. Barnefield, Poems: in diuers humors (ed. Arber, p. 119), 'And Drayton, whose wel-written Tragedies, | And Sweete Epistles, soare thy fame to skies. | Thy learned name is equall with the rest; | Whose stately Numbers are so well addrest.'
[13] Cf. Meres, Palladis Tamia (1598), 'Michael Drayton doth imitate Ouid in his England's Heroical Epistles.'
[14] Cf. id., ibid., 'As Lucan hath mournefully depainted the ciuil wars of Pompey and Cæsar: so hath Daniel the ciuill wars of Yorke and Lancaster, and Drayton the civill wars of Edward the second and the Barons.'
[15] Cf. Elegy viij. 126–8.
[16] Cf. Morley's ed., Barons' Wars, &c., 1887, pp. 6–7.
[17] Cf. Elron, pp. 83–93, and Whitaker, M. Drayton as a Dramatist (Public. Mod. Lang. Assoc. of America, vol. xviij. 3).
[18] Cf. Nl. ij. 127 sqq., p. 172.
[19] Cf. Elegy ij. 20.
[20] Cf. Palladis Tamia: 'Michael Drayton is now in penning, in English verse, a Poem called Poly-olbion, Geographicall & Hydrographicall of all the forests, woods, mountaines, fountaines, riuers, lakes, flouds, bathes, & springs that be in England.'
[21] Cf. Amours (1594), xx and xxiv.
[22] Cf. Sonnet vj (1619 edition); which is a dignified summary of much that he says more coarsely in the Moone-Calfe.
[23] Cf. Morley's ed. Barons' Wars, &c., p. 8.
[24] Charles FitzGeoffrey, Drake (1596), 'golden-mouthed Drayton musical.' Guilpin, Skialetheia (1598), 'Drayton's condemned of some for imitation, But others say, 'tis the best poet's fashion … Drayton's justly surnam'd golden-mouth'd.' Meres, Palladis Tamia (1598),' In Charles Fitz-Jefferies Drake Drayton is termed "golden-mouth'd" for the purity and pretiousnesse of his stile and phrase.'
[25] Cf. E. H. E., pp. 90, 99 (ed. 1737); Elegy i; and Ode written in the Peak.
[26] Elegy viij, ad init.
[27] Palladis Tamia (1598).
[28] Cf. Returne from Parnassus, i. 2 (1600) ed. Arb. p. 11.
[29] Michael Drayton. A Critical Study. Oliver Elton, M.A. London: A. Constable & Co., 1905.
SONNETS
[from the Edition of 1594]
To the deere Chyld of the Muses, and
his euer kind Mecænas, Ma. Anthony Cooke, Esquire
Vovchsafe to grace these rude vnpolish'd rymes,
Which long (dear friend) haue slept in sable night,
And, come abroad now in these glorious tymes,
Can hardly brook the purenes of the light.
But still you see their desteny is such,
That in the world theyr fortune they must try,
Perhaps they better shall abide the tuch,
Wearing your name, theyr gracious liuery.