Fragment

First printed in "England's Parnassus," 1600

I WALK'D along a stream, for pureness rare, Brighter than sun-shine; for it did acquaint The dullest sight with all the glorious prey That in the pebble-paved channel lay.

No molten crystal, but a richer mine, Even Nature's rarest alchymy ran there,-- Diamonds resolv'd, and substance more divine, Through whose bright-gliding current might appear A thousand naked nymphs, whose ivory shine, Enamelling the banks, made them more dear Than ever was that glorious palace' gate Where the day-shining Sun in triumph sate.

Upon this brim the eglantine and rose, The tamarisk, olive, and the almond tree, As kind companions, in one union grows, Folding their twining arms, as oft we see Turtle-taught lovers either other close, Lending to dulness feeling sympathy; And as a costly valance o'er a bed, So did their garland-tops the brook o'erspread.

Their leaves, that differ'd both in shape and show, Though all were green, yet difference such in green, Like to the checker'd bent of Iris' bow, Prided the running main, as it had been--

IN OBITUM HONORATISSIMI VIRI, ROGERI MANWOOD, MILITIS, QUAESTORII REGI- NALIS CAPITALIS BARONIS

First printed by Payne Collier (History of the English Stage, etc. p. xliv.--prefixed to the first vol. of his Shakespeare) from a MS. on the back of the title-page of a copy of Hero and Leander, ed. 1629, where it is subscribed with Marlowe's name.

NOCTIVAGI terror, ganeonis triste flagellum, Et Jovis Alcides, rigido vulturque latroni, Urna subtegitur. Scelerum, gaudete, nepotes! Insons, luctifica sparsis cervice capillis, Plange! fori lumen, venerandae gloria legis, Occidit: heu, secum effoetas Acherontis ad oras Multa abiit virtus. Pro tot virtutibus uni, Livor, parce viro; non audacissimus esto Illius in cineres, cujus tot millia vultus Mortalium attonuit: sic cum te nuntia Ditis Vulneret exsanguis, feliciter ossa quiescant, Famaque marmorei superet monumenta sepulcri.