GEORGE TURBERVILE, One of the most celebrated sonneteers in this sonnet-making age, was born, probably, about 1540. Being of a respectable family, and having acquired an early reputation for talents, he was employed as secretary by Randolph, during his mission to Russia. Here he wrote to his friends some very amusing poetical epistles, descriptive of the manners and customs of that country. They are to be found in Hakeluyt's Voyages, Vol. I. p. 384, &c. On his return he published a volume of " Epitaphes, Epigrams, Songs, and "Sonets,1567 ;" and in 1576, another of "Tragical Tales." He also composed a translation of Ovid's Epistles, 1567, and of Mantuan's Eclogues, 1594, all of which were printed in duodecimo. 66 -The Lover confesseth himself to be in love, &c. If mind affright with dreadful dreams, If face besmear'd with often streams, If sudden hope by fear oppress'd, If fear by hope suppress'd again, Then I, of force, no longer may In covert keep my piercing flame, But yield myself to fancy's frame. The Lover wisheth to be conjoined and fast linked with his lady, never to sunder. I READ how Salmacis, sometime, with sight With sugar'd words she woo'd and spar'd no speech, But boarded him with many a pleasant tale; Requesting him, of ruth, to be her leech,' For whom she had abid such bitter bale: But he, replete with pride and scornful cheer, Away she went; a woful, wretched wight, And shrouded her, not far from thence, a space : When that at length the stripling saw in sight No creature there, but all were out of place, I The nymph in hope as then to have attain'd "O gods," quoth tho 3 the girl," this gift I crave, "This boy and I may never part again! "But so our corpses may conjoined have, "As one we may appear; not bodies twain." The gods agreed; the water so it wrought, As both were one; thy self would so have thought. 1 A boy, probably from nourisson. Fr. • In earnest. 3 Then. As from a tree we sundry times espy A twissell grow by nature's subtle might, And, being two, for-cause they grow so nigh, For one are ta'en, and so appear in sight: So was the nymph and noory joined y-fere,2 As two no more, but one self thing they were. O! where is now become that blessed lake Then should our limbs with lovely link be tied, I would not strive, I would not stir a whit,.. (As did Cyllenus' son, that stately wight), 'Double fruit. 2 ⚫ Together. But, well content to be hermaphrodite, Would cling as close to thee as e'er I might : And laugh to think my hap so good to be, As in such sort fast to be link'd with thee. The assured promise of a constant Lover. When moles shall leave to dig the ground, When Pan shall pass Apollo's skill, And golden Virtue friend to Vice; 1 Mates, |