And to the door now is she come by stealth, And with her foot anon she scrapeth full fast. Th' other, for fear, durst not well scarce appear, Of every noise so was the wretch aghast. Peep!' quoth the other sister, I am here.' 'Peace,' quoth the town mouse, 'why speakest thou so loud?' And by the hand she took her fair and well. 'Welcome,' quoth she, 'my sister, by the Rood!' 45 The traitor cat had caught her by the hip, Alas, my Poins, how men do seek the best 70 No, no, although thy head were hooped with gold, Sergeant with mace, halberd, sword, nor knife, Cannot repulse the care that follow should. Each kind of life hath with him his dis Ye do mis-seek with more travail and care. From all effects whom vice hath ever spotted. For thou shalt feel it sticking in thy mind. HENRY HOWARD, EARL OF SURREY (1517?-1547) Henry Howard, or, as he is commonly called, Surrey, was, like Wyatt, actively connected with the English court. His courtly occupations, however, were not so much administrative and diplomatic as military and chivalric. From his early years up to manhood, Surrey was the companion of princes, and more than once his elders bargained for his marriage with a princess. As a boy of some fifteen years, Surrey accompanied the king to France, and remained eleven months at the French court. At the age of twenty, by striking a courtier who had accused him of seditious intentions, he landed himself in confinement for a few months at Windsor. These months Surrey spent in versifying, a diversion for which he had been well prepared by previous practice and by considerable reading in classical and contemporary literature. After having distinguished himself from time to time in jousts, he was made knight of the garter in 1541. Surrey's impulsive and adventurous spirit, which established him as the most foolish proud boy that is in England,' led him to eminent military service in France, during which he called forth the king's reprimand by exposing himself needlessly to danger. By numerous angry and trenchant utterances, he eventually brought upon himself the charge of treason, which he vigorously denied, but which led, ultimately, to his beheading on Tower Hill, January 21, 1547. Although Surrey composed verse during most of his life-time, his poems first appeared in print in 1557, when Richard Tottel published Songs and Sonnets written by the right honorable Lord Henry Howard, late Earl of Surrey, and others. During the same year appeared Surrey's translation of the second and fourth books of Virgil's Eneid, a translation in which blank verse is used for the first time, in any notable way, in English. Although Surrey was the poetical disciple of his friend Wyatt, he excelled his master in all points. In particular, this superiority is apparent in range of subject, in refinement and variety of versification, and in delicacy of feeling. In Cyprus springs, whereas dame Venus dwelt, A well so hot, that whoso tastes the same, Were he of stone, as thawèd ice should melt, And kindled find his breast with firèd flame; Whose moist poison dissolvèd hath my heart. With creeping fire my cold limbs are supprest, Feeleth the heart that harbored freedom, smart: Endless despair long thraldom hath imprest. And with the spot of change infects the mind; Whereof my dear hath tasted, to my pain: Whereby my service grows into disdain. When that I think what grief it is again, To live and lack the thing should rid my pain. VOW TO LOVE FAITHFULLY HOWSOEVER HE BE REWARDED Set me whereas the sun doth parch the green, 5 Or where his beams do not dissolve the ice; 10 ΙΟ |