Another Fire-ballad (in addition to the coarse squib in present vol., pp. 33-7,) is “Zeal over-heated;” telling of a fire at Oxford, 1642; tune, Chivey Chace; and beginning, “Attend, you brethren every one.” It is not improbably by Thomas Weaver, being in his _Love and Drollery_, 1654, p. 21.
Page 92, 370. _Cast your caps and cares away._
Of this song, from Beaumont and Fletcher’s “Beggar’s Bush,” bef. 1625, the music set by Dr. John Wilson is in his _Cheerfull Ayres_, 1659-60, p. 22.
“Mahomet’s Pigeon,” a frequent allusion: compare _M. D. C._, pp. 11, 192; and present appendix, p. 356.
Pages 100, 108 (App.) 371. _Satires on Gondibert._
See Additional Note in this vol. § 3, _post_, for a few words on D’Avenant. Since printing _M. D. C._, we have been enabled (thanks to W. F. Fowle, Esq., possessor of) to consult the very rare Second Satire, 1655, mentioned on p. 371. It is entitled, “The Incomparable Poem GONDIBERT VINDICATED from the Wit-Combats of Four ESQUIRES, _Clinias_, _Dametas_, _Sancho_, and _Jack Pudding_.” [With this three-fold motto:—]
Χοτέει καὶ ἀοίδ τω ἀοίδω. _Vatum quoque gratia rara est._ Anglicè, _One Wit-Brother_ || _Envies another_.
Printed in the year 1655.” It begins on p. 3, with a poetical address to Sir Willm. Davenant, asking pardon beforehand in case his “yet-unhurt Reputation” should suffer more through the champion than from the attack made by the four “Cyclops, or Wit-Centaurs,” two of whom he unhesitatingly names as “Denham and Jack Donne,” or “Jack Straw.” But even thus early we notice the sarcasm against D’Avenant himself: when in reference to the never-forgotten “flaws” in his face, the Defender writes:—
Will _shew thy face_ (be’t what it will), _We’l push ’um yet a quill for quill_.
The third poem, p. 8, again to the Poet, mocks him as well as his assailants’ lines (our _M. D. C._, p. 108) with twenty triplets:—
_After so many poorer scraps_ _Of Playes which nere had the mishaps_ _To passe the stage without their claps, &c._
Next comes a poem “Upon the continuation of Gondibert,” “Ovid to Patmos pris’ner sent.” (Later, we extract the chief lines for the “Sessions” Add. Note.) He is told,
_Wash thee in ~Avon~, if thou flie,_ _My wary ~Davenant~ so high,_ _Yet ~Hypernaso~ now you shall_ _Ore fly this Goose so Capitall._ (p. 14.)