Item 6 - Letter from A. H. Bullen to R. B. McKerrow

The Shakespeare Head Press, Stratford-on-Avon.—Comments further on McKerrow’s editions of Weever and Greene.

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Transcript

The Shakespeare Head Press, Stratford-on-Avon
9.XI.1911.

My dear McKerrow,

I think the epigram Ad fatorum Dominum is intentional nonsense. {1} Have you noticed that it was included in Wit’s Recreations, 1640? See the Hotten reprint, p. 222, {2} where it is appropriately headed “Ad sesquipedales poetastros” (& may pair off with the Verses on p. 400 “When Neptunes blasts” &c which are headed “Pure Nonsence”).

Your note on “Guy & Guyon” struck me as doubtful. {3} Mustn’t Guyon be Spenser’s Guyon—the heroe† of the 2nd book of the Faerie Queene? ’Tis true that he was meant for Temperance and that Sir Calidore stood for Courtesy; but still (in 1599) nobody could take Guyon to be Gawain—his name must have been a household word.

I wish someone would give us a good reprint of Weever’s Funerals. {4} What a book it is!

In great haste.

Yours always
A. H. Bullen

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Formerly inserted in McKerrow’s copy of his own edition of John Weever’s Epigrammes in the Oldest Cut and Newest Fashion, 1599 (1911) (Adv. c. 25. 81). On p. 52 of this book, next to the epigram mentioned in this letter, McKerrow has written: ‘Included in Wits Recreations 1640, Hotten’s reprint p. 222 headed ‘Ad sesquipedales poetastros’ (A.H.B.)’.

{1} See Weever’s Epigrammes, ed. McKerrow, p. 52.

{2} The 1640 edition of Wits Recreations (STC 25870) was reprinted by John Camden Hotten in 1874 in a volume which also contained Facetiae, Musarum Deliciae, or The Muses Recreation (1656) and Wit Restor’d (1658).

{3} See Greenes Newes and Greenes Funeralls, ed. McKerrow, p. 92.

{4} Ancient Funerall Monuments within the United Monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the Islands Adjacent (1630) (STC 25223).

† Sic.