'A guest,' I answered, 'worthy to be here.' Love said, 'You shall be he.' 'I, the unkind, the ungrateful? Ah, my dear, I cannot look on Thee.' Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, 'Who made the eyes but I?' "Truth, Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame Go where it doth deserve.' 'And know you not,' says Love, 'who bore the blame?' 'My dear, then I will serve.' 'You must sit down,' says Love, and taste my meat.' So I did sit and eat. 10 SIR WILLIAM DAVENANT (1606–1668) was the son of an innkeeper at Oxford. Shakespeare frequently stayed at his father's house, and Davenant's earliest extant poem is an Ode in Remembrance of Master Shakespeare, written in his twelfth year. He became page to the Duchess of Richmond, and later entered the household of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. After Brooke's murder he remained at the Court writing plays and poems. His first drama, The Tragedy of Albovine, King of the Lombards, appeared in 1629. In 1630 The Cruel Brother and The Just Italian were acted. In 1633 came The Wits, a comedy, and in 1634 The Temple of Love, a masque written in collaboration with Inigo Jones. For some years Davenant continued to produce plays with great rapidity, beside writing poems. In 1635 he published Madagascar and other Poems, and his plays were interspersed with lyrics. In 1638 he became poet laureate. He attached himself to the Royalist cause during the war, and was knighted at the siege of Gloucester (1643). After the king's defeat he fled to France, where he became a Roman Catholic. He was sent on a mission to Virginia, was captured by Roundheads before he was clear of the French coast, and spent two years in the Tower. While in prison he published the first edition of Gondibert, an heroic poem in three books, written in quatrains. After his release he obtained permission to give entertainments by Declamations and Music' in private Before my sighs did dry it: there was corn Have I no bays to crown it? No flowers, no garlands gay? All blasted? Not so, my heart; but there is fruit, And thou hast hands. Recover all thy sigh-blown age On double pleasures; leave thy cold dispute Thy rope of sands, Which petty thoughts have made, and made to thee Good cable to enforce and draw, And be thy law While thou didst wink and wouldst not see. Away, take heed: I will abroad. Call in thy death's-head there: tie up thy fears. He that forbears To suit and serve his need, Deserves his load.' But as I raved and grew more fierce and wild At every word, Methought I heard one calling, 'Child!' And I replied, 'My Lord!' LOVE LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning, 'If I lacked anything.' 20 30 'A guest,' I answered, 'worthy to be here.' Love said, 'You shall be he.' 'I, the unkind, the ungrateful? Ah, my dear, I cannot look on Thee.' Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, 'Who made the eyes but I?' "Truth, Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame Go where it doth deserve.' 'And know you not,' says Love, who bore the blame?' 'My dear, then I will serve.' 'You must sit down,' says Love, and taste my meat.' So I did sit and eat. 10 SIR WILLIAM Davenant (1606-1668) was the son of an innkeeper at Oxford. Shakespeare frequently stayed at his father's house, and Davenant's earliest extant poem is an Ode in Remembrance of Master Shakespeare, written in his twelfth year. He became page to the Duchess of Richmond, and later entered the household of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. After Brooke's murder he remained at the Court writing plays and poems. His first drama, The Tragedy of Albovine, King of the Lombards, appeared in 1629. In 1630 The Cruel Brother and The Just Italian were acted. In 1633 came The Wits, a comedy, and in 1634 The Temple of Love, a masque written in collaboration with Inigo Jones. For some years Davenant continued to produce plays with great rapidity, beside writing poems. In 1635 he published Madagascar and other Poems, and his plays were interspersed with lyrics. In 1638 he became poet laureate. He attached himself to the Royalist cause during the war, and was knighted at the siege of Gloucester (1643). After the king's defeat he fled to France, where he became a Roman Catholic. He was sent on a mission to Virginia, was captured by Roundheads before he was clear of the French coast, and spent two years in the Tower. While in prison he published the first edition of Gondibert, an heroic poem in three books, written in quatrains. After his release he obtained permission to give entertainments by Declamations and Music' in private houses, and so founded English opera. Later he became manager of the Duke of York's company, and his theatre was known as 'The Opera'. Besides producing a large number of original plays, he collaborated with Dryden in rewriting The Tempest and Macbeth, and also adapted Two Noble Kinsmen under the title of The Rivals. His last comedy, Man's the Master, was published after his death. AUBADE THE lark now leaves his watery nest, And to implore your light he sings— Who look for day before his mistress wakes. Awake! awake! break through your veils of lawn! Then draw your curtains, and begin the dawn! 10 SIR JOHN SUCKLING (1609–1642) was one of the most striking figures at the Court of Charles I. He fought as a volunteer under Gustavus Adolphus, but returned to London in 1632, and became noted for his wit and prodigality. His first play, Aglaura, appeared in 1637. In 1639 he raised a troop of horse to assist the king in the Scotch war, and was much laughed at for the splendour of his uniforms. He was given a commission as captain of carabineers, and in the same year produced The Discontented Colonel, an attack upon the Scotch. It was later reprinted as Brenmoralt. He was compelled to flee from England after the defeat of the Royalists, and shortly afterwards appeared a burlesque letter giving an account of his life, and several spurious pamphlets professing to describe his conversion to Protestantism. Very few of his works were published during his lifetime. Four years after his death appeared a volume called Fragmenta Aurea, which contained all the best of his poems, three plays - including The Goblins-letters to various personages, and a tract on Socinianism. THE CONSTANT LOVER OUT upon it, I have loved Three whole days together! Time shall moult away his wings In the whole wide world again But the spite on 't is, no praise Is due at all to me: Love with me had made no stays, 10 Had it any been but she. Had it any been but she, And that very face, There had been at least ere this A dozen dozen in her place. RICHARD LOVELACE (1618-1658) was educated at Charterhouse and at Gloucester Hall, Oxford. He wrote occasional verses and one play, The Scholar, while at the University. On leaving Oxford he was received with great favour at Court, where he was noted for his beauty and great personal charm. He became ensign in Lord Goring's regiment, and was soon promoted to be captain. He fought in the Scotch war, but after the pacification of Berwick returned to take possession of the family property. In 1642 he was chosen to present a petition to Parliament on behalf of the king, and was imprisoned in consequence. While in the Gatehouse he wrote his famous lyric To Althea. He was released after a few weeks' captivity, and lived for some time in London, till he could join the |