“This account came directly from the prince to the above author; he said that though the parrot spoke in a language he did not understand, yet he could not be deceived, for he had in the room both a Dutchman who spoke Brazilian, and a Brazilian who spoke Dutch; that he asked them separately and privately, and both agreed very exactly in giving him the parrot’s discourse.  If the story is devoid of foundation, the prince must have been deceived, for there is not the least doubt that he believed it.”

Parrots not only discourse, but also mimic gestures and actions.  Scaliger saw one that performed the dance of the Savoyards, at the same time that it repeated their song.

P.T.W.

    [3] Pot or kitchen love.

* * * * *

RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.

* * * * *

DITTY BY QUEEN ELIZABETH.

(For the Mirror.)

“I find, (says Puttenham,) none example in English metre so well mayntayning this figure (Exargasia, or the Gorgeous) as that dittie of her Majestie Queen Elizabeth’s own making, passing sweete and harmonical; which figure being, as his very original name purporteth, the most beautiful and gorgeous of all others, it asketh in reason to be reserved for a last compliment, and disciphered by the arte of a ladies penne (herself being the most beautifull or rather beautie of Queens.) And this was the occasion:  Our Sovereign lady perceiving how the Queen of Scots residence within this realme as to great libertie and ease (as were scarce meete for so great and dangerous a prisoner,) bred secret factions amongst her people, and made many of the nobility incline to favour her partie (some of them desirous of innovation in the state, others aspiring to greater fortunes by her libertie and life;) the Queene our Sovereigne Lady, to declare that she was nothing ignorant of those secret practices (though she had long, with great wisdom and patience, dissembled it,) writeth that dittie, most sweet and sententious; not hiding from all such aspiring minds the danger of their ambition and disloyaltie, which afterwards fell out most truly by the exemplary chastisements of sundry persons, who in favour of the said Queen of Scots, declining from her Majestie, sought to interrupt the quiet of the realm by many evill and undutifull practyses.”

The ditty is as followeth:—­

  The dowbt of future foes exiles my present joy,
  And Wit me warns to shun snares as threaten mine annoy;
  For falshood now doth flowe, and subject faith doth ebbe,
  Which would not be, if reason rul’d, or wisdom weav’d the webbe. 
  But clouds of tois untried do choake aspiring mindes,
  Which turn’d to rain of late repent by course of changed windes. 
  The toppe of hope suppos’d, the root of ruth will be
  And fruitless all their grafted guiles,