It is now Nine Years since we first opened our columns for the use of all inquiring spirits,

"Omni quærenti et scire volenti,"

and each of those Nine Years has seen an increase in the number of our Friends, and in our consequent usefulness. The obvious utility of the object for which this Journal was started, namely, "to assist Men of Letters and of Research in their pursuits, by furnishing them with a Medium of Inter-communication," is doubtless one great

cause of our success. Something may also be due to the rule which excludes from these pages all harsh and uncourteous discussions. Even if this rule has not contributed to our success, it has made NOTES AND QUERIES what it now is, that summum bonum of all philosophers— "a happy Medium." We shall endeavour to maintain this essential characteristic of our publication. We have no objection to preside over a passage of arms; but when the combatants wax wroth, we must be permitted, as of old, to throw down our truncheon and close the lists. And so, once more, Gentle Readers, we bid You A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Notes.

JOSUAH SYLVESTER AND HIS WORKS.

Little is known of the personal history of this once highly popular, but now totally neglected poet. It has been surmised that pecuniary difficulties drove him into exile, where he languished and died, and was soon forgotten. The suspicion may be fairly controverted-the assertion is too true. With the exception of that typographical curiosity, his Lachryme Lachrymarum (a monody on the premature demise of his patron, Prince Henry, eldest son of James I.), and three brief extracts from his lighter compositions, inserted in Ellis's Specimens of the Early British Poets, probably few are aware how many other pieces, original and translated, this proto-musus of the Puritans committed to the press; and how deeply was the most illus- | trious of our sacred poets indebted to him for some of his choicest similes, as well as the most apposite of his phrases. Sylvester culled the flowers which the genius of Milton disposed. This interesting fact was first noted, in 1750, by Lauder, in his splenetic Essay on Milton's Use and Imitation of the Moderns; and, half a century later, was confirmed more at large by Dunster, in his Letter to Dr. Falconer. Sylvester's Du Bartas " contains (says the last-mentioned critic) more material prima stamina of the Paradise Lost than, as I believe, any other book whatever; and my hypothesis is,

that it positively laid the first stone of that monumentum ære perennius." And he proceeds to establish his hypothesis by innumerable quotations from, and comparisons of, the principal works of Milton's obligations to him ought to preserve the two poets. The interesting fact alone of from oblivion the name of Du Bartas's ingenious paraphrast.

No author was more highly esteemed by his poetical contemporaries than Josuah Sylvester, by whom he was commonly styled "The Silvertongued," for the smoothness of his versification. He was not more distinguished for his learning and ingenuity than for his many virtues and piety. Anthony à Wood incidentally describes him as "a saint on earth, a true Nathanael, a Christian Israelite;" and John Vicars, the Puritan, who sang his requiem, testifies also of him as one

"Whom Envy scarce could hate, whom all admired, Who lived beloved, and a Saint expired." He was a native of Kent, and was born in the year 1563. The only education he received was under Dr. Adrianus Šaravia of Southampton, with whom he continued from the age of nine to twelve, and of whose "love and labors" he makes grateful acknowledgments in one of his latest poems: "... My Saravia, to whose rev'rend name Mine owes the honor of Du Bartas' fame. From th' ample cisterns of his sea of skill Suck'd I my succor, and slight shallow rill; The little all I can, and all I could,

In three poor years, at three times three years old."

He regrets not having to "either Athens flown" (that is, to Oxford or Cambridge), or followed his revered master to Leyden, when Saravia was invited, shortly after parting with his pupil, to fill the divinity chair in that University.

Notwithstanding his scholastic deficiencies in youth, Sylvester contrived, "in his manly years,” to thoroughly master the French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and Latin languages. Doubtless, he acquired the first four of these whilst trading on the Continent. In 1597, he was a candidate for the office of secretary to the Company of Merchantadventurers at Stade, of which he was a member. On that occasion the Earl of Essex, then at the height of his fortune, exerted himself, but apparently in vain, in his favour; recommending him in two highly eulogistic letters, addressed from the court of Elizabeth. Wood says that queen "had a great respect for him; King James I. had a greater; and Prince Henry the greatest of all; who valued him so much, that he made him the first [and Sylvester adds himself the worst] poetpensioner."

His connexion with the Court, however, as well as all hopes of preferment there, must have terminated with the life of the young Prince; for the poet's subsequent career appears to have been one of unmitigated poverty and neglect. The

prime cause of his misfortunes is said to have been "his taking too much liberty upon him to correct the vices of the times;" but, in the concluding dedicatory lines of the Second Part of his Parliament of Virtues Reall, he intimates a very different reason, when subscribing himself — "Your under-clarke, unworthily undon (By over-trusting to a starting BowYer-while too strong, to my poor wrong and woe)." Whence I infer that the individual, upon whose name he there so oddly plays, had anticipated him in, or ousted him from, some lucrative office under the government, if indeed he had not effected his ruin in some more questionable manner. Be that as it may, his indigence was extreme towards the close of his life, as is evident from another, and (if possible) more touching of his dedications; namely, that of The Triumph of Faith, "for ever consecrated to the grateful memorie of my never-sufficiently-honoured deere uncle, William Plumbe (late) of Fulham, Esq., deceased, first kinde fosterer of our tender muses,' wherein he mournfully complains that, "for want of wealth," he could do no more than "build a toomb with words." He died at Middleburg, in Zealand, on the 28th Sept. 1618, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

Chalmers, in his very curt notice of Sylvester, is not content with damning him, pro more suo, as an author, but also taxes him with being "very earnest in courting the great for relief." I know not whence that information was obtained, or upon what authority the unfortunate poet is sometimes accused of fleeing abroad in order to avoid his creditors. The few authentic particulars concerning him, preserved by Anthony à Wood, indicate á totally different character. Besides the testimony of Vicars, already referred to, he was reported by others who personally knew him, as being "very pious and sober; religious in himself and family, and courageous to withstand adversity.” The task of adjusting the order of Sylvester's | numerous publications would be about as difficult as profitless. I subjoin a list of them, together with such dates as I have been able to gather, partly from the title-pages themselves, and partly from other sources. The last edition of his collected works, which was printed in folio by Robert Young, appeared in the year 1641. His translations, upon the whole, are superior to his original pieces; although amongst the latter, which are generally brief, there are several fully equal to anything that his age produced. I doubt not the Divine Weeks and Duys, which he paraphrased from the French of that gallant Huguenot, Guillaume de Salust, Sieur Du Bartas, the friend and counsellor of King Henry of Navarre, would still find many admirers, if reproduced in a commodious form, and enriched with a few annotations. It was a well-spring at the foot of Parnassus from

!

which both Milton and Dryden copiously drank before making their respective ascents. Notwithstanding his pages are occasionally disfigured by highly inflated and bombastic passages and tropes, such, for instance, as "wrapt into ecstacy" the infantine mind of the last-mentioned great poet, and which afterwards served to excite his (as well as our own) merriment, it may be confidently asserted that the beauties of the volume are infinitely more numerous than its blemishes. The following list of our author's various compositions prove, at least, his extraordinary diligence - a diligence, it is to be regretted, that failed to secure to him not only a commensurate, but even the most moderate reward:—

The Batail of Yvry (from Du Bartas), 4to. n. P., 1590.

The Triumph of Faith, 4to. n. p., 1592. (This is manifestly a second and enlarged edition. Vide the Dedication.)

The Second Week, or Childhood of the World (part of Du Bartas's Divine Weeks), 16mo. n. p., 1598.*

The Weeks and Works of Du Burtas. To these were added "Fragments," and other small pieces of Du Bartas, with translations from other sources, comprising Jonas, a fragment; Urania; Miracle of Peace; Ode to Astrea; Epigrams and Epitaphs; The Profit of Imprisonment; Quadrains of Pibrac, (translated by John Sylvester,) &c. 4to. n. p., 1605.; ib. 1606. Subjoined to the last-mentioned edition are Posthumous Bartas, containing The Vocation; The Fathers; The Captaines; The Tropheis of Henry the Great; and The Magnificence. Ib. 1608. Together with The History of Judith, Englished by Thomas Hudsont, and An Index of the hardest Words. lb. 1611; ib. 1613. (Five editions in all)

Lachrymæ Lachrymarum, or the Spirit of Teares, 4to. Lond. 1613; ib. 1614.

Bethulia's Rescue. In VI. Books. 12mo. Lond. 1614.

Tobacco Battered and Pipes Shattered, 16mo. n. p., 1614?

Parliament of Vertues Royall (first part), sm. 8vo. n. p., 1614?

Parliament of Vertues Reall (second part), sm. 8vo. n. p., 1615.

Du Bartas, His Divine Weeks and Works, with

* Silvester was not the first English translator of this portion of Du Bartas' great work. Wm. Lisle preceded him by two years in his publication entitled Babilon, a Part of the Second Weeke, with a Commentarie and marginall notes by S. G. S. 4o. Lond. 1596 — a work which escaped the notice of Wood, Ames, Herbert, Ritson, and Lowndes; and Watt only notices the enlarged edition of

1637.

+ The History of Judith is also from the French of Du Bartas, and was translated at the command of James VI., to whom it was dedicated. It was originally published in 8vo., Edinb. 1584.

a Compleate Collection of all the other most delightful Works, translated and written by that famous Philomusus, Josuah Sylvester, Gent. Fol. 1621; ib. 1633; ib. 1641. The first folio edition contained the following additional poems, namely: Micro-cosmo-graphia; The Maiden's Blush, or Joseph; Panaretus; Job Triumphant; Hymn of Alms; Memorials of Mortalitie; St. Lewis; SelfeCivil-War; All's not Gold that Glisters; New Jerusalem; Christian Conflict; Honor's Farewell; Elegy on the Death of Sir W. Sidney; Elegy on the Death of Mrs. Hill; A Briefe Catechisme; Spectacles: Mottoes; The Woodman's Brare; A Preparation to the Resurrection; and A Table of the Mysterie of Mysteries. The last folio edition, or that of 1641, contained, besides all the poems which I have already enumerated, Posthumi, or Sylvester's Remains; containing divers Sonnets, Epistles, Elegies, Epitaphs, Epigrams, and other delightful devises, revived out of the Ashes of that Silver-tongued Translator and divine Poet Laureat, Master Josuah Sylvester, never till now Imprinted.

3.

SUPPOSED VOYAGES OF THE PHOENICIANS IN THE NORTHERN SEAS.

In reference to the reality of the voyages supposed to have been made in remote times by the Phoenicians to the southern coast of the Baltic, in search of amber, it may interest some of the readers of "N. & Q." to read the opinions expressed on the subject by Dr. Redslob, in a program of the Hamburg Academic Gymnasium, entitled Tartessus, and published in 1849. In this program, Dr. Redslob, having occasion to treat of the northern trade of Tartessus, makes the following remarks:

"It is unpleasant to be obliged to apply the epithet ridiculous to the opinions of distinguished men; but the speculations concerning the voyages of the Phoenicians are in truth deserving of this appellation. It has even been thought possible that they may have reached America! Heeren thinks that they may have sailed as far as the Baltic coast of Prussia in quest of amber; and he sees nothing in this coasting voyage which was beyond their power. But the currents in the Bay of Biscay, which he considers the main difficulty, would have been in fact one of their least obstacles. Living, as I de, in a port which sends out ships to all these waters, and maintains an active intercourse with Bilbao, I have never heard any complaints as to the currents of the Bay of Biscay. But one may hear every day that the channel between France and England is a highly dangerous sea, in which a number of ships commanded by the most experienced captains are annually damaged or lost. The German Ocean is likewise a dangerous sea, with shallows running into it for miles, from the flat shores of Holland and Germany, and with narrow channels which form the entrances of the rivers. The same is the character of the long coast of Sleswig-Holstein and Jutland. Next comes the Cattegat, a difficult sea; and the Belt, a dangerous strait, the Baltic in general is bad for navigation, as may be seen by the inspection of a chart on

which the shallows, rocks, and various securities against danger are marked. It must be borne in mind that these dangers exist at present, when the captains are all well acquainted with these seas, are provided with far more perfect vessels and better crews, and steer by the compass and the chart; when all the coasts and the dangerous places in the water are marked with signals of all sorts both by day and night, and preparations are made for the hand, let us image to ourselves a solitary Phoenician naassistance of ships in case of actual danger. On the other vigator in a craft fitted for his coasting voyage, feeling his way by means of the lead, without any knowledge of these dangerous shores, more than 1200 miles in length, occupied by rapacious barbarians accustomed to a sea-life

in a course where, if he is driven before any wind for 24 hours, he is either wrecked on sand-banks or rocks, or carried out into the boundless ocean. The difficulties of the climate must likewise be considered; the storms, fogs, and clouds which prevail in these seas during half the year, the shortness of the days, and the ice in winter. However he timed his voyage, and whenever the winter fell, he must have twice encountered the equinoctial gales. Wherever he might land, he was exposed to being plundered or killed. Heeren, like other persons ignorant of navigation, evidently believes that a coasting voyage is easy in comparison with a voyage in the open sea; whereas the reverse is the fact. Without pretending to professional knowledge, but judging only from the impressions made by the accounts of these seas which I have heard during a long series of years, I cannot but regard the difficulties opposed by nature to the Phonician navigation, under the supposed circumstances, hundred ships sailing from Tyre to the southern coast of as simply insuperable. I do not believe that out of a the Baltic, two would have returned home. The premiums for marine insurance afford a standard for measuring the dangers of this voyage. From the prices in the Hamburg Exchange List it may be seen that the rates of insurance from Hamburg to the Mediterranean in general are as high as those to the western coast of America, and even to China, and sometimes even higher.

"Even if it is admitted that the merchant fears no

dangers, yet he does not undertake the easiest and safest voyage without the prospect of profit. Now it is certain that voyages of the Phoenicians to the German Ocean and the Baltic must from their long duration have been most costly, and therefore must have yielded a very high profit, if they were carried on systematically. If, however, we consider the slowness of the voyage, the necessity of taking a large crew for purposes of defence, and the probability that not above one out of three, four, or perhaps ten ships could return in safety, it may be doubted whether the profit to be made on a box of amber would have repaid the merchant for his enterprise.”

G. C. LEWIS.

MILTON'S AUTOGRAPH, IN THE ALBUM OF CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD.

In the edition of Milton's Works by the Rev. John Mitford, 1851, he refers (vol. i. p. clxxx.) to a letter from Christopher Arnold to George Richter (printed among Geo. Richteri Epistolæ Selectiores, Norimb., 1662, p. 483.), written from London, 7th Aug. 1651, in which he speaks of Milton and his writings, and characterises him as the “strenuus defensor" of the Republic. The fact of the acquaintance of Arnold with Milton is confirmed by the Album of the former, which