appeared a small volume containing various apothegms, extracted principally from the Classics and the Fathers, compiled by Nicholas Ling and dedicated to Bodenham.  It was entitled Politeuphuia:  Wits Commonwealth.  In the following year appeared ’Palladis Tamia, Wits Treasury:  Being the Second Part of Wits Commonwealth.  By Francis Meres, Maister of Arts in both Universities.’  On the title-page is the motto ‘Vivitur ingenio, cetera mortis erunt.’  It was printed by P. Short for Cuthbert Burbie.  From the address to the reader, which does not appear in the first edition, though it was apparently intended for that edition, we learn that it had been undertaken because of the extraordinary popularity of Wits Commonwealth, which ’thrice within one year had runne thorough the Presse.’  Meres’s work differs importantly from Wits Commonwealth.  It is not merely a compilation, but contains original matter, generally by way of commentary.  The extracts are much fuller, many being taken from modern writers, notably Robert Greene, Lyly, Warner, and Sir Philip Sidney.  In 1634 the work was re-issued under another title, Wits Commonwealth, The Second Part:  A Treasurie of Divine, Moral, and Phylosophical Similes and Sentences generally useful.  But more particular published for the Use of Schools.  In 1636 it was again reprinted.  The only part of Meres’s work which is of interest now is what is here reprinted.  It belongs to that portion of his compilation which treats of studies and reading, the preceding sections discussing respectively of ‘books,’ of ’reading of books,’ of ‘choice to be had in reading of books,’ of ’the use of reading many books,’ of ‘philosophers,’ of ‘poetry,’ of ‘poets,’ consisting for the most part of remarks compiled from Plutarch, and in one or two instances from Sir Philip Sidney’s Defence of Poetry.  A portion of the passage which immediately precedes the Discourse_ may be transcribed because of its plain speaking about the indifference of Elizabeth and her ministers to the fortune of poets; though this, with curious inconsistency, is flatly contradicted, probably for prudential reasons, in the Discourse itself—­

’As the Greeke and Latin Poets have wonne immortal credit to their native speech, being encouraged and graced by liberal patrones and bountiful benefactors; so our famous and learned Lawreate masters of England would entitle our English to far greater admired excellency, if either the Emperor Augustus or Octavia his sister or noble Maecenas were alive to reward and countenance them; or if witty Comedians and stately Tragedians (the glorious and goodlie representers of all fine witte, glorified phrase and great action) bee still supported and uphelde, by which meanes (O ingrateful and damned age) our Poets are soly or chiefly maintained, countenanced and patronized.’

Of the author of this work, Francis Meres or Meers,