At earlier date than our own copy we find it, by Aug. 30th, 1656, in _Musarum Deliciæ_, p. 17, and in _Parnassus Biceps_, also 1656, p. 24. From this (as well as Harl. MS. 367) we gain corrections printed as our _marginalia_, pp. 214-6: _deserv’d_, for received; _statue_ stairs, At _Nôtre Dame_; prate, _doth_ please, &c. Harl. MS. 367 reads “The Indian _Roc_” [probably it is correct]; and “As great and wise as Luisuè” [Luines, who died 1622]. _Parnassus Biceps_ has an extra verse, preceding the one beginning “His Queen,” (and Harl. 367 has it, but inferior):—
_The people don’t dislike the youth,_ _Alleging reasons. For in truth_ _Mothers should honoured be._ _Yet others say, he loves her rather_ _As well as ere she loved his father,_ _And that’s notoriously._
(A similar scandal meets us in other early French reigns: Diana de Poictiers had relations with Henry II., as well as with his father, Francis I., &c.) Compare _West. Droll._, i. 87, and its Appendix, pp. xxv-vi.
It may be a matter of personal taste, but we cannot recognize the genial Bishop in the “R. C., Gent.,” who wrote “The Times Whistle.” A reperusal of the E. E. T., 1871, almost _convinces_ us that they were not the same person. We must look elsewhere for the author.
In MS., on fly leaf, prefixed to 1672 edition of Dr. Corbet’s poems, in the Brit. Mus. (press mark, 238, b. 56), we read:—
_If flowing wit, if Verses wrote with ease,_ _If learning void of pedantry can please,_ _If much good humour, join’d to solid sense,_ _And mirth accompanied by Innocence,_ _Can give a Poet a just right to fame,_ _Then CORBET may immortal honour claim._ _For he these virtues had, & in his lines_ _Poetick and Heroick spirit shines._ _Tho’ bright yet solid, pleasant but not rude,_ _With wit and wisdom equally endued._ _Be silent Muse, thy praises are too faint,_ _Thou want’st a power this prodigy to paint,_ _At once a Poet, Prelate, and a Saint._
Page 85 [218]. _I mean to speak of ~England’s~_, &c.
In the 1662 _Rump_, i. 39; and in _Loyal Songs_, 1731, i. 12. It is also in _Parnassus Biceps_ so early as 1656, p. 159, where we obtain a few peculiar readings; even in the first line, which has “of England’s fate;” “Prin _and_ Burton;” “_wear ~Italian~ locks for their abuse_ (instead of “Stallion locks for a bush”); They’ll only have private _keyes_ for their use,” &c. We are inclined to accept these as correct readings, although our text (agreeing with the _Rump_) holds an intelligible meaning. But those who have inspected the curiosities preserved in the Hôtel de Cluny, at Paris, can scarcely have forgotten “the Italian [pad-] Locks” which jealous husbands imposed upon their wives, as a preservative of chastity, whenever they themselves were obliged to leave their fair helpmates at home; and the insinuation that Prynne and Burton intended to introduce such rigorous precautions, nevertheless retaining “private keyes” for their own use, has a covert satire not improbable to have been intentional. Still, remembering the persistent war waged by these intolerant Puritans against “the unloveliness of love-locks,” there are sufficient claims for the text-reading: in their denunciation of curled ringlets “as Stallion locks” hung out “for a bush,” or sign of attraction, such as then dangled over the wine-shop door (and may still be seen throughout Italy), although “good wine needs no bush” to advertise it. Instead of “The brownings,” (i.e. _The Brownists_, a sect that arose in the reign of Elizabeth, founded by Robt. Browne), in final verse, _Parnassus Biceps_ reads “The Roundheads.” The poem was evidently written between 1632 and 1642. Strengthening the probability of “Italian locks” being the correct reading, we may mention in one of the _Rump_ ballads, dated 26 January, 1660-1, we find “The Honest Mens Resolution” is to adopt this very expedient:—