lucasta-第2节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
those of the author of LUCASTA。 In the present edition； which is the first attempt to present the productions of a celebrated and elegant poet to the admirers of this class of literature in a readable shape； both the text and the pointing have been amended throughout； the original reading being always given in the foot… notes； but some passages still remain； which I have not succeeded in elucidating to my satisfaction； and one or two which have defied all my attempts at emendation； though； as they stand； they are unquestionably nonsense。 It is proper to mention that several rather bold corrections have been hazarded in the course of the volume； but where this has been done； the deviation from the original has invariably been pointed out in the notes。
On the title…page of the copy of LUCASTA； 1649； preserved among the King's Pamphlets in the British Museum； the original possessor has； according to his usual practice； marked the date of purchase； viz。； June 21； perhaps； and indeed probably； that was also the date of publication。 A copy of LUCASTA； 1649； occasionally appears in catalogues； purporting to have belonged to Anne； Lady Lovelace； but the autograph which it contains was taken from a copy of Massinger's BONDMAN （edit。 1638； 4to。）； which her Ladyship once owned。 This copy of Lovelace's LUCASTA is bound up with the copy of the POSTHUME POEMS； once in the possession of Benjamin Rudyerd； Esq。； grandson and heir of the distinguished Sir Benjamin Rudyerd； as appears also from his autograph on the title。
In the original edition of the two parts of LUCASTA； 1649…59； the arrangement of the poems appears； like that of the text； to have been left to chance； and the result has been a total absence of method。 I have therefore felt it part of my duty to systematise the contents of the volume； and； so far as it lay in my power； to place the various pieces of which it consisted in their proper order； all the odes； sonnets； &c。 addressed or referring to the lady who is concealed under the names of LUCASTA and AMARANTHA have now been； for the first time； brought together； and the copies of commendatory and gratulatory verses； with one exception prefixed by Lovelace to various publications by friends during his life… time； either prior to the appearance of the first part of his own poems in 1649； or between that date and the issue of his Remains ten years later； have been placed by themselves； as an act of justice to the writer； of whose style and genius they are； as is generally the case with all compositions of the kind； by no means favourable specimens。 The translations from Catullus； Ausonius； &c。 have been left as they stood； they are； for the most part； destitute of merit； but as they were inserted by the Poet's brother； when he edited the posthumous volume； I did not think it right to disturb them； and they have been retained in their full integrity。
Lovelace's LUCASTA was included by the late S。 W。 Singer； Esq。； in his series of 〃Early English Poets；〃 but that gentleman； besides striking out certain passages； which he； somewhat unaccountably and inconsistently； regarded as indelicate； omitted a good deal of preliminary matter in the form of commendatory verses which； though possibly of small worth； were necessary to render the book complete； it is possible； that Mr。 Singer made use of a copy of LUCASTA which was deficient at the commencement。 It may not be generally known that； independently of its imperfections in other respects； Mr。 Singer's reprint abounds with the grossest blunders。
The old orthography has been preserved intact in this edition； but with respect to the employment of capitals； the entirely arbitrary manner in which they are introduced into the book as originally published； has made it necessary to reduce them； as well as the singularly capricious punctuation； to modern rules。 At the same time； in those cases where capitals seemed more characteristic or appropriate； they have been retained。
It is a singular circumstance； that Mr。 Singer （in common with Wood； Bliss； Ellis； Headley； and all other biographers；） overlooked the misprint of ARAMANTHA for AMARANTHA； which the old compositor made； with one or two exceptions； wherever the word occurred。 In giving a correct representation of the original title…page； I have been obliged to print ARAMANTHA。
In the hope of discovering the exact date of Lovelace's birth and baptism； I communicated with the Rev。 A。 J。 Pearman； incumbent of Bethersden； near Ashford； and that gentleman obligingly examined the registers for me； but no traces of Lovelace's name are to be found。
W。 C。 H。 Kensington； August 12； 1863。
Mr。 B。 R。 was a somewhat diligent collector of books； both English and foreign。 On the fly…leaves of his copy of Rosse's MYSTAGOGUS POETICUS； 1648； 8vo。； he has written the names of a variety of works； of which he was at the time seemingly in recent possession。
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE。
With the exception of Sir Egerton Brydges； who contributed to the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE for 1791…2 a series of articles on the life and writings of the subject of the present memoir； all the biographers of Richard Lovelace have contented themselves with following the account left by Anthony Wood of his short and unhappy career。 I do not think that I can do better than commence； at least； by giving word for word the narrative of Wood in his own language； to which I purpose to add such additional particulars in the form of notes or otherwise； as I may be able to supply。 But the reader must not expect much that is new： for I regret to say that； after the most careful researches； I have not improved； to any large extent； the state of knowledge respecting this elegant poet and unfortunate man。
〃Richard Lovelace；〃 writes Wood； 〃the eldest son of Sir William Lovelace of Woollidge in Kent； knight； was born in that country ＇in 1618＇； educated in grammar learning in Charterhouse School near London； became a gent。 commoner of Gloucester Hall in the beginning of the year 1634； and in that of his age sixteen； being then accounted the most amiable and beautiful person that ever eye beheld； a person also of innate modesty； virtue； and courtly deportment； which made him then； but especially after； when he retired to the great city； much admired and adored by the female sex。 In 1636； when the king and queen were for some days entertained at Oxon； he was； at the request of a great lady belonging to the queen； made to the Archbishop of Canterbury ＇Laud＇； then Chancellor of the University； actually created； among other persons of quality； Master of Arts； though but of two years' standing； at which time his conversation being made public； and consequently his ingenuity and generous soul discovered； he became as much admired by the male； as before by the female； sex。 After he had left the University； he retired in great splendour to the court； and being taken into the favour of Lord George Goring； afterwards Earl of Norwich； was by him adopted a soldier； and sent in the quality of an ensign； in the Scotch expedition； an。 1639。 Afterwards； in the second expedition； he was commissionated a captain in the same regiment； and in that time wrote a tragedy called THE SOLDIER； but never acted； because the stage was soon after suppressed。 After the pacification of Berwick； he retired to his native country； and took possession ＇of his estate＇ at Lovelace Place； in the parish of Bethersden； at Canterbury； Chart； Halden； &c。； worth； at least； 500 per annum。 About which time he ＇being then on the commission of the peace＇ was made choice of by the whole body of the county of Kent at an assize； to deliver the Kentish petition to the House of Commons； for the restoring the king to his rights； and for settling the government； &c。 For which piece of service he was committed ＇April 30； 1642＇ to the Gatehouse at Westminster； where he made that celebrated song called； STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE； &c。 After three or four months' ＇six or seven weeks'＇ imprisonment； he had his liberty upon bail of 40；000 ＇4000？＇ not to stir out of the lines of communication without a pass from the speaker。 During the time of this confinement to London； he lived beyond the income of his estate； either to keep up the credit and reputation of the king's cause by furnishing men with horses and arms； or by relieving ingenious men in want； whether scholars； musicians； soldiers； &c。 Also； by furnishing his two brothers； Colonel Franc。 Lovelace； and Captain William Lovelace （afterwards slain at Caermarthen） with men and money for the king's cause； and his other brother； called Dudley Posthumus Lovelace； with moneys for his maintenance in Holland； to study tactics and fortification in that school of war。 After the rendition of Oxford garrison； in 1646； he formed a regiment for the service of the French king； was colonel of it； and wounded at Dunkirk； and in 1648； returning into England； he； with Dudley Posthumus before mentioned； then a captain under him； were both committed prisoners to Peter House； in London； where he framed his poems for the press； entitled； LUCASTA： EPODES；
