LILLY.

JOHN LYLY, OR LILLY

THIS author was born in the Weald of Kent; and in 1569 became a student of Magdalen College, Oxford. "He was afterwards, I conceive," says Wood, "one of the demies, or clerks of that house." He took the degree of B. A. 1573, and M.A. 1575; "at which time he was esteemed in the university a noted wit;" from reasons, however, now unknown, he afterwards removed to Cambridge: from thence he attended court; was noticed by Elizabeth, and for many years flattered himself with the hope of being appointed Master of the Revels. By Wood's computation, which has been universally followed, he was born in 1553; “but," says Mr. Oldys, "I think he was born sooner; " indeed this must have been the case, or he was only thirteen when he first hoped for the appointment above mentioned; as, "in 1576, he wrote his first letter, or petition, to the queen; in 1579 his second letter, shewing he had been thirteen years in expectation of being appointed Master of the Revels *." Of the time of his decease we are likewise ignorant; Wood says he was alive in 1597. He was author of a work, called "Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit verie pleasant for all Gentlemen to read, and most necessary to remember: wherein are contained the Delyghts that Wit followeth in his Youth, by the Pleasantness of Love, and the Happinesse he reapeth in Age, by the Perfectnesse of Wisdome." The object of this publication was to purify the English language, and it met with very unusual success. Encouraged by the reputation of this work, he, the following year, published "Euphues, or his England, containing his Voyage and Adventures, mixt with sundrie prettie Discourses of honest Love, the Description of the Countrie, the Court, and the Manners of that Isle. Delightful to be read, and nothing hurtful to be regarded: wherein there is small Offence by Lightnesse given to the *MS. notes on Langbaine.

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Wise, and lesse Occasion of Loosenesse proffered to the Wanton." Notwithstanding the affectation and pedantry with which these works abound, "all our ladies,' says Mr. Edward Blount*, "were his scholars; and that beauty in court, which could not parley Euphueisme, was as little regarded as she which now there speaks not French :" in his title-page this gentleman styles him the witty, comical, facetiously-quick, and unparalleled John Lilly; and though many allowances ought to be made for the partiality of an editor, and the prevailing taste of that age, (which unquestionably contributed greatly to the popularity of our author's works), yet still, as productions which the court of Elizabeth held in admiration, and which Shakspeare condescended to imitate, they cannot be deemed unworthy the attention of the reader. It seems too probable that the popularity of his works was nearly all that he got by them; for notwithstanding his many years attendance on the court, he was eventually "forced to write to the queen herself, for some little grant to support him in his old age +:" we may hope this application was not without success; as Mr. Blount, in his preface, says he was an "excellent poet, whom Queen Elizabeth then heard, graced, and rewarded."

He was also the author of a celebrated pamphlet, against the Martinist, written about 1589, called, "Pap with a Hatchet; alias, a Fig for my Godson: or, crack me this Nut; that is, a sound Box on the Ear for the Idiot Martin, to hold his Peace; written by one that dares call a Dog a Dog."

It is almost impossible for a man to attain to a very high reputation, without, in some degree, meriting it; this is the case with Lyly; and the observation of Rousseau on the works of Gibbon, "that they were deformed by affectation and a perpetual pursuit of brilliancy," may be applied with some justice to our author's. Though undeserving the enthusiastic encomiums of Mr. Blount, he must, unquestionably, be considered a man of very considerable ability, and his writings might pos* Mr. Blount, afterwards a knight, says Wood. + MS. notes on Langbaine.

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