Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ... Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

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XXVI.GEORGE GASCOIGNE.A.D. 1576.George Gascoigne was the eldest son of Sir John Gascoigneof Cardington in Bedfordshire, and was born about 1525. Hewas educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and afterwardsentered at Gray's Inn as a law-student ; but after some timespent in ftileness and extravagance, he embarked for Holland,and servea as a soldier under William, Prince of Orange. Hereturned to England in 1573, and nominally resumed the studyof law, but spent much of his time in writing verses. In July,i575» '^ve find him at Kenilworth, reciting verses before QiieenElizabeth, and writingan account of the pageantries with whichshe was there entertained. He died at Stamford, Oct. 7, 1577.A complete collection of his poems has very lately been printed byW. C. Hazlitt, for the ' Roxburghe Library.' His best poem iscertainly ' The Steel Glas,' lately reprinted (with a few others)by Mr. Arber, and from which I give extracts. The Steel Glasis,in fact, a mirror, in which the poet sees a reflection of variousestates of men, whom he describes with severe exactness andsome fine satirical touches. Our extracts refer to the Gentlemen,the Merchants, the Priests, and the Ploughmen ; with anEpilogue upon Women. The poem was commenced in April,1575, and printed in April, 1576. It was dedicated to his patron,Arthur, Lord Gray of Wilton, whom he frequently addresses as*my lord ' in the poem.

.[FromXXVI. THE STEEL GLAS. 313' The Sled Glas:~\The Gentleman, which might in countrie keepeA plenteous boorde, and feed the fatherlesseWith pig and goose, with mutton, beefe and veale, 420(Yea now and then, a capon and a chicke)VVil breake vp house, and dwel in market townes,A loytring life, and like an Epicure.But who (meane while) defends the co;;zmon welth ?Who rules the flocke, when sheperds so are fled ? 425Who stayes the staff, which shuld vphold the state ?Forsoth, good Sir,the Lawyer leapeth in.Nay, rather leapes both ouer hedge and ditch.And rules the rost, but fewe men rule by right.O Knights, O Squires, O Gentle blouds yborne, 430You were not borne al onely for your seluesYour countrie claymes some part of al your paines.There should you hue, and therin should you toyle,To hold vp right and banish cruel wrong,To helpe the pore, to bridle backe the riche, 435To punish vice, and vertue to aduaunce.To see God servde and Belzehuh supprest.You should not trust lieftenaunts in your rome,And let them sway the scepter of your charge,Whiles you (meane while) know scarcely what is don, 440Nor yet can yeld acco/wpt if you were callde.The stately lord, which woonted was to kepeA court at home, is now come vp to courte.And leaues the country for a common preyTo pilling, polling, brybing, and deceit 445

.[FromXXVI. THE STEEL GLAS. 313' The Sled Glas:~\The Gentleman, which might in countrie keepeA plenteous boorde, and feed <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rlesseWith pig and goose, with mut<strong>to</strong>n, beefe and veale, 420(Yea now and <strong>the</strong>n, a capon and a chicke)VVil breake vp house, and dwel in market <strong>to</strong>wnes,A loytring life, and like an Epicure.But who (meane while) defends <strong>the</strong> co;;zmon welth ?Who rules <strong>the</strong> flocke, when sheperds so are fled ? 425Who stayes <strong>the</strong> staff, which shuld vphold <strong>the</strong> state ?Forsoth, good Sir,<strong>the</strong> Lawyer leapeth in.Nay, ra<strong>the</strong>r leapes both ouer hedge and ditch.And rules <strong>the</strong> rost, but fewe men rule by right.O Knights, O Squires, O Gentle blouds yborne, 430You were not borne al onely for your seluesYour countrie claymes some part <strong>of</strong> al your paines.There should you hue, and <strong>the</strong>rin should you <strong>to</strong>yle,To hold vp right and banish cruel wrong,To helpe <strong>the</strong> pore, <strong>to</strong> bridle backe <strong>the</strong> riche, 435To punish vice, and vertue <strong>to</strong> aduaunce.To see God servde and Belzehuh supprest.You should not trust lieftenaunts in your rome,And let <strong>the</strong>m sway <strong>the</strong> scepter <strong>of</strong> your charge,Whiles you (meane while) know scarcely what is don, 440Nor yet can yeld acco/wpt if you were callde.The stately lord, which woonted was <strong>to</strong> kepeA court at home, is now come vp <strong>to</strong> courte.And leaues <strong>the</strong> country for a common preyTo pilling, polling, brybing, and deceit 445

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