ANONYMOUS AUTHORESS. In the University Library of Edinburgh, is a MS. volume, (presented by Drummond the poet, in the year 1627,) entitled "The Triumphs of the most famous Poet, Mr. Frances Petrarke, translated out of italian into inglish by Mr. Wm. Foular, P. of Hauicke," and dedicated " to the right honorable and most verteous Ladye Jeane Fleming, Ladye Thirlstaine," &c. 12 Decr. 1587. Among the commendatory sonnets prefixed to it are two by a lady, E. D. The following is one of them. E. D. in praise of Mr. WM. FOULAR her freind. THE glorious Greiks dous praise thair Homer's quill, And citeis sevin dous strywe quhair he was borne ; The Latins dous of Virgill vant at will; And Sulmo thinks her Ovid dous adorne; The Spanzoll laughs (sawe Lucan) all to scorne, And France for Ronsard stands, and settis him owt; The better sort for Bartas blawis the horne; And Ingland thinks thair Surrye first but dout. To praise thair owen these countreis gois about; Who well deserwis first place amang that rout: ANNE, COUNTESS OF OXFORD, died 1588, Was the eldest daughter of Lord Burleigh. At the age of fifteen, she married Edward Vere, earl of Oxford. In Soothern's Diana, are "Foure Epytaphes made by the countes of Oxenford, after the death of her young sonne, the lord Bulbecke, &c." The following is one of them; and Mr. Park (who has reprinted it in his edition of the R. and N. authors,) justly observes, that "it so much resembles the style of Soothern, that it may almost be suspected of being tricked out by his incomprehensible pen." HAD with moorning the gods left their willes undon, They had not so soone herited such a soule : Or if the mouth Tyme did not glotten up all, Nor I, nor the world, were depriv'd of my sonne, Whose brest Venus, with a face dolefull and milde, Dooth wash with golden teares, inveying the skies; And when the water of the goddesses eyes Makes almost alive the marble of my childe; |