Hora Vaciva, or, Essays. Some occasionall Considerations. By John Hall. Vitiis nemo caret, optimus ille Qui minimis urgetur. London, printed by E. G. for J. Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountain in Paul's Church Yard, 1646. 12mo. pp. 201. Has the Author's portrait, æt. 19, 1646. W. Marshall, sculp. "To the Reverend Mr. John Arrowsmith, Master of St. John's Colledge in Cambridge. BUT that (worthy Sir) you know as well how to pardon as judge, I might justly suspect your entertainment of these pieces. Faint breathings of a mind burthened with other literary employments, neither brought forth with care, nor ripened with age, yet such as if they be not now blasted, may be the first fruits of a larger harvest; let them, Sir, receive the honour and shelter of your name, since born under your government, and cherished by your candour, that if they chance to survive their father, they may testify he was, Sir, Your most humble Servant, J. HALL. To the Reader. When thou shalt peruse these Essays, and compare them with the Author's years, I suppose thou wilt wonder to see one, whose pulse beats short of nineteen, take such long strides in matters of this nature; and be ready to suspect, whether he walks upon his own legs, or be stilted up by what he hath borrowed from others; the truth is, he might be indebted to many, and yet few discover it, in regard of his acquaintance. with the French, Spanish, and Italian: but yet I dare assure thee, what this Gentleman presents thee with, is as free from any such engagement as his father's lands are from mortgage. For the language, 'tis continued every where so like itself, any may perceive he hath nowhere stretched his own meaning to make way for another's fancy: and for the matter, know this, they who are well acquainted in the closest shops, where wares of this kind lie, say that he is a true man, and hath not robbed any author; the whole web, (such as it is) is his own, if thou wilt believe him who (alone and only) saw it woven; 'tis but a little one; it is in thy power to make it bigger; for he hath more of it upon the loom, and only stays to know of thee whether he shall go forward in the work. Most of these subjects were not of his own chusing, but (after discovery of his genius this way) imposed upon him as tasks, though he was pleased then to call, and after make them, recreations: his recreations they were; and if thou please to make them thine, it may encourage him to begin, complete, and publish what he hath either designed, begun, or perfected. Be entreated to accept of these, and he is resolved (being already provided) to acknowledge thy candour by some POEMS. As I hope thou wilt find him not altogether left-handed in prose, so I dare promise thee he will be far more dextrous in verse. JOHN PAWSON. John's in Camb. To my dear friend, Mr. J. Hall, on his Essays. Wits, that, matur'd by time, have courted praise, THO. STANLEY. To his worthy friend, the Author, on his Essays. Thy youth these lessons learned hath, and more And like the youthful planet of the light, W. HAMMOND. To the deserving Author upon his Essays. "Tis common to commend; but to deserve JA. SHIRLEY. To the Author. I nor intend with some ambitious verse To court applause, nor yet thy praise rehearse ; I hence no fame affect; thou none dost want Makes five and forty blush, that scarce hath seen All thought, all fear of wreck, till some cross blast Hast one severe as he, so by old Rome Surnam'd. Go on, then, happy youth, and be Thy fruits as great as we can hope to see. A. HOLDEN, Col. St. Joh. Soc. To my worthy friend, the Author, concerning his Essays. Are these the bloomings of thy greener age? And ere thy seed-time's past, harvest appears. T. GOODWIN, Fellow of John's Col. Camb. ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟ ΕΥΦΥΕςατον νεανίσκον γραφαντα μεν καλῶς και παρ' ἡλικίαν, ἅμα και την άμφι Πυθαγοραν διασκώψανία. Τοια Εξασιχον. γράφειν δύνασαι παὶς ών, φιλε, μηκότι δοιας Ειν χθονὶ ἀντλήσας των ἐτέων δεκάδας Ουματὸν — ἀλλὰ πάλαι προμαθών πότε και προβίωσας, Πολλὰ τε και καλ' έρεις ὡς ἀναμνησαμενος. Ἐι και σὺ καὶ τὰ σὰ ἔργα παλαίτερα εσι σεαυτ8, * Essay ii. 31. Ερρικος ὁ Μορέ |