Thomas Nashe

“ It is curious to note that while Shakspeare and Nash both promise "graver work" and "better lines," they alike select amatory themes for their first offerings. The promise in Shakspeare's case was redeemed by the dedication to Southampton of "The Rape of Lucreece," while it may be assumed, as aforesaid, that Nash followed suit with "The Unfortunate Traveller."
Nash, however, for some cause or other failed to retain the Earl's interest; "indeed," says Mr. Sidney Lee, "he did not retain the favour of any patron long." ”

“ In the first place, it appears to have been dedicated to the Earl of Southampton, the generous patron of letters, and friend of Shakspeare; and second, it is probably the only example extant of the kind of hackwork to which Nash was frequently reduced by "the keenest pangs of poverty." [2] He confesses he was often obliged "to pen unedifying toys for gentlemen." ”

“ Nash writes in 1593, [3] "the full spring of the Earl's liberality." Record is also made of a visit paid by him to Lord Southampton and Sir George Carey, while the former was Governor, and the latter Captain-General, of the Isle of Wight.
From internal evidence it would seem that this poem was called forth by the Earl's bounty to its author. "My muse devorst from deeper (the Rawl. MS. reads deepest) care, presents thee with a wanton elegie;" and further on, the dedication promises "better lines" which should "ere long" be penned in "honour" of his noble patron. ”

“ Hir ratling silkes my sences doe confound [77] .
"Oh, I am rauisht: voide the chamber streight [78] ;
80 For I must neede's upon hir [79] with my weight."
"My Tomalin," quoth shee, and then she smilde [80] .
"I, I," quoth I, "soe more men are beguild [81]
With smiles, with flatt'ring wordes, and fained cheere [82] ,
84 When in their deedes their falsehood doeth appeare [83] ." ”

“ I come! sweete death, rocke mee.↑ entombed, intombe me.↑ my deare, my dearest saint, my deare, and dearest she.↑ For, from us yett, thy spirit maie, from us two (yett) this pleasure must.↑ Untill, Vntill; channels, Chambers.↑ Without their source, Withould themselues; imprisoned, newe prisoned.↑ will we, we will; com too, come soe.↑ whilst, whilest; speake, speke; is fleeting, in stealing.↑ fleshie, earthly.↑ but an houre, but one houre; an houre is, one houre is; so, soe↑ But, nay; if that, and if.↑ Maie be alightned with a little pause, Maye now be lengthened by a litle pawse.↑ awaie, awaye ”

“ Whether this story be true or not, it is certain that Lord Southampton was a most liberal patron of letters.↑ Presents thee with, Presentes you with.↑ "Ne" = Nor, A.S.; unchastitie, inchastitye.↑ painting, paynting; things, thinges; hidden are, hidden be.↑ In Rawl. MS. these lines are transposed. Since all men act, sith most men
marke; speache declare, speech descrie; Onlie, only; varietie, varyetye.↑ Complants and praises euery one, Complayntes & prayses every man.↑ passion out, passion forth ”

“ Hir armes are spread, and I am all unarm'd [121] ,
124 Lyke one with Ouid's cursed hemlocke charm'd [122] ;
So are my Limms unwealdlie for the fight [123]
That spend their strength in thought of hir [124] delight.
What shall I doe to shewe my self a man?
128 It will not be for ought that beawtie can [125] .
I kisse, I clap, I feele [126] , I view at will,
Yett dead he lyes [127] , not thinking good or ill.
"Unhappie me," quoth shee, "and wilt' not stand? [128]
132 Com, lett me rubb and chafe [129] it with my hand! ”

“ Who leades the daie about the Zodiake [164] ,
168 And euerie euen discends to th'oceane [165] lake;
So fierce and feruent is her radiance [166] ,
Such fyrie stakes she darts at euerie glance [167]
As might enflame the icie limmes [168] of age,
172 And make pale death his seignedrie to aswage ”

“ Perhaps (earlier) Henry Price owned the book." The volume contains besides an English transcript of Ovid's "Arte Amandis" and some amatory poems. [7] The date of the Petyt text may be about.... It is written in a miscellaneous, folio, commonplace-book, and in the catalogue it is described as "an obscene poem, entitled 'The Choosing of Valentines,' by Thomas Nash. The first 17 lines are printed at p. lx. of the Preface to vol i. of Mr. Grosart's edition of Nash's works, as if they formed the whole piece." ”

“ MS.↑ Thus gazing, and thus striuing, we perseuer, Thus striking, thus gazeing, we perseuere.↑ what so firme, nought soe sure; maie, will; euer, ever.↑ Oh! Fleete; rauisht Mistris cryes, ravisht senses cries.↑ Leaste, sith; content that on, Content vppon.↑ Be, Which; too, soe; seat, seates.↑ And me unwares of hoped bliss defeat, me vnawares of blissefull hope defeates. Here occur two lines in the Rawl. MS. which do not appear in the Petyt MS., as follows:
Togeather lett our equall motions stirr,
Togeather lett vs liue and dye, my deare ”

“ I com! sweete lyning be [98] thy leaue:"
100 Softlie my fingers up theis curtaine heaue [99] ,
And make me happie, stealing by degreese [100] .
First bare hir leggs, then creepe up to hir kneese [101] ;
From thence ascend unto her mannely [102] thigh—
104 (A pox on lingring when I am so [103] nighe!) .
Smock, climbe [104] a-pace, that I maie see my ioyes;
Oh heauen and paradize are all [105] but toyes
Compar'd with this sight I now [106] behould,
108 Which well might keepe a man from being olde. ”

“ A significant reading in view of the absence of the
dedication in the Rawl. MS. "Accept ... in gentle gree," to take kindly.↑ And better lynes ere long, And better farr, ere long (see Introduction) . ”

“ That falselie hath betrayde our equale trust.
Hence-forth no more will I implore thine [212] ayde,
236 Or thee, or man of cowardize upbrayde [213] .
My little dilldo shall suply [214] their kinde:
A knaue, that moues [215] as light as leaues by winde ”

“ Mistris serue's, Mistres serve.↑ Or, and; (unhappie) pines and staru's, full deeply pyne and sterue.↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.↑ womans secretarie, woemans secretary.↑ Lett, let.↑ handfulls highe, handfulles high.↑ plumb, plump; yett hauing, and having.↑ rhewme so feruentlie doeth raigne, rheume soe fervently doth raine.↑ That, the; gulph maie, gulfe can; containe, conteyne. Here follow, in the Rawl. MS., lines 290-93 of the Petyt; lines 292-3 being also reversed in the Rawl. text.↑ Attired, attird; veluet, velvet.↑ nourisht, norisht; hott, warme; milk, milke. ”

“ Gods oune, gods one.↑ wylie, wyly.↑ more, better.↑ You'l smell, youle find; nare so, now soe.↑ hir, her.↑ think, look; purse-strings, purse-stringes; abye it deare, abide yt deere.↑ that will eate quailes, whoole feed on quayles; crounes, crownes.↑ Mistris Francis, Mistres Fraunces; veluett gounes, velvett gownes.↑ And ruffs, Her ruffe; perwigs, perriwigge; as, soe; Maye, May.↑ with half a croune, for half a crowne.↑ hostess, hostes ”

“ MS.↑ spend their, spent there; hir, your.↑ It, Yt; beawtie cann, beauty can.↑ clap, clipp; I feele, I view, I wincke, I feele.↑ dead he lyes, lyes he dead; thinking, feeling.↑ Unhappie me, By Holly dame; stand, staund.↑ Com, now; rubb, roule; chafe, rub; with, in.↑ Perhaps, perhapps; sillie, seely; is labour'd, hath laboured.↑ wearied that it can, worked soe that it cann.↑ If it be so, Which if it be; am greate a-dread, doe greately dread.↑ tenne, ten; were, weare.↑ How ere it is, What ere it be; no, noe; want, lacke.↑ maie auaile to, maye avayle for ”