DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53268#0193
WHEN we have named Chaucer3Spenfer, Shakfpeare, Jonfon, Fletcher*
Milton, Dryden and Pope, it is generally imagined that all our
nr ft-rate deceafedPoets have been enumerated ; this is a miftake : Drayton
fhould, undoubtedly, be inferted, chronologically, between Spenfcr and
Shakfpeare ; both of whom he, in feme inftances, excels.
He was defeended from an ancient and worthy family, originally of the
town of Drayton in Leicefterfhire, which gave name to his anceftors; but
his parents removing into the bordering county, he was born at the village
of Harlhull, or Hartfhill, in the pariih of Atherfton in Warwickfhire, in
the year 1563.
He gave fuch early tokens of genius, and was of fo engaging an afped,
fweet a temper, and graceful a deportment, as not only to render him the
delight of his inftrudors, but alfo to be the means of his preferment; for,
before he was ten years of age, as he himfelf informs us, he appears to
have been page to fome perfon of diftindion ; to have “ marvell'd” at the
idea of, and vehemently to have defired to be, a Poet.
from my cradle —- — — — I
{< Was ftill inclin’d to noble Podie,
“ And when that once Pueriles I had read,
££ And newly had my Cato conftrued,
“ In my fmall fclfe I greatly marveil’d then,
<{ Amongft all other, what ftrange kind of men
£C Thefe Poets were; and pleafed with the name,
ce To my milde Tutor merrily I came,
“ (For I was then a proper goodly page,
“ Much like a Pigmy, fcarfe ten yeares of age)
<c Clafping my {lender armes about his thigh,
“ O my deare mafterI cannot you (quoth I)
li Make me a Poet; doe it, if you can,
“ And you (hall fee, Ik quickly be a man.”
Elegies. FoliO) 1627®
Milton, Dryden and Pope, it is generally imagined that all our
nr ft-rate deceafedPoets have been enumerated ; this is a miftake : Drayton
fhould, undoubtedly, be inferted, chronologically, between Spenfcr and
Shakfpeare ; both of whom he, in feme inftances, excels.
He was defeended from an ancient and worthy family, originally of the
town of Drayton in Leicefterfhire, which gave name to his anceftors; but
his parents removing into the bordering county, he was born at the village
of Harlhull, or Hartfhill, in the pariih of Atherfton in Warwickfhire, in
the year 1563.
He gave fuch early tokens of genius, and was of fo engaging an afped,
fweet a temper, and graceful a deportment, as not only to render him the
delight of his inftrudors, but alfo to be the means of his preferment; for,
before he was ten years of age, as he himfelf informs us, he appears to
have been page to fome perfon of diftindion ; to have “ marvell'd” at the
idea of, and vehemently to have defired to be, a Poet.
from my cradle —- — — — I
{< Was ftill inclin’d to noble Podie,
“ And when that once Pueriles I had read,
££ And newly had my Cato conftrued,
“ In my fmall fclfe I greatly marveil’d then,
<{ Amongft all other, what ftrange kind of men
£C Thefe Poets were; and pleafed with the name,
ce To my milde Tutor merrily I came,
“ (For I was then a proper goodly page,
“ Much like a Pigmy, fcarfe ten yeares of age)
<c Clafping my {lender armes about his thigh,
“ O my deare mafterI cannot you (quoth I)
li Make me a Poet; doe it, if you can,
“ And you (hall fee, Ik quickly be a man.”
Elegies. FoliO) 1627®