[9] It is unnecessary to quote the passage, as the whole tract is reprinted both in the old and new editions of the “Harleian Miscellany.”  In his “Almond for a Parrot,” Nash adverts to the ticklishness of the times, and to the necessity of being extremely guarded in what he might write.  “If thou (Kemp) will not accept of it in regard of the envy of some citizens that cannot away with arguments, I’ll prefer it (the book) to the soul of Dick Tarlton, who I know will entertain it with thanks, imitating herein that merry man Rabelais, who dedicated most of his works to the soul of the old Queen of Navarre, many years after her death, for that she was a maintainer of mirth in her life.  Marry, God send us more of her making, and then some of us should not live so discontented as we do, for nowadays a man cannot have a bout with a ballader, or write Midas habet aures asininas, in great Roman letters, but he shall be in danger of a further displeasure.”

Nash’s “Isle of Dogs” was doubtless a satire upon the age, which “touched too near” some persons in authority.  In the last act of “The Return from Parnassus” the Isle of Dogs is frequently spoken of, and once as if it were a place of refuge. Ingenioso says:  “To be brief, Academico, writs are out for me to apprehend me for my plays, and now I am bound for the Isle of Dogs.”

[10] Sir J. Harington has an epigram upon the paper war between Harvey and Nash.

    TO DOCTOR HARVEY OF CAMBRIDGE.

    “The proverb says, who fights with dirty foes
    Must needs be soil’d, admit they win or lose: 
    Then think it doth a Doctor’s credit dash
    To make himself antagonist to Nash.”

—­B.  II., Epigr. 36.

[11] Tergimini means the three Harveys, for Gabriel took up the cudgels for himself and his two brothers.

[12] The death of Nash is spoken of in the address to a tract, which is the more curious, as it forms a second part to “Pierce Penniless.”  It has been assigned to Decker, under the title of “News from Hell;” [and it was reprinted under the title of “A Knight’s Conjuring.”  This issue is included in the Percy Society’s series.]

[13] [See the list, however, in “Ath.  Cantab.,” ii. 307-9, and in Hazlitt’s “Handbook,” in v.]

[14] In 1589 Nash wrote the address prefixed to Robert Greene’s “Menaphon,” which contains notices of various preceding and contemporary poets, and which has been admired by all but Mr Malone, for the general purity of its style and the justness of its criticism.  As Nash was born in November 1567, he was only in his twenty-second year when it was published.

[15] Parts of “Pierce Penniless, his Supplication to the Devil,” are written by Nash in a similar strain of bitter grief for past errors, especially a poem inserted near the commencement. [As to Nash’s withdrawal of his apology, see Hazlitt in v.]