29. Hesperides: " Or, " The Works " Both " Humane & Divine " Of " Robert Herrick E?q. [Quotation, Printer's mark] London, " Printed for John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, " and are to be ?old at the Crown and Marygold " in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1648.

A volume entitled "The seuerall Poems written by Master Robert Herrick" was entered by Master Crooke for license April 29, 1640, but was not published. The Hesperides was the first work of the poet to be printed, except some occasional contributions to collections of poems. It is dedicated in a metrical epistle to the most illustrious and most hopeful Charles, Prince of Wales, afterward Charles II.

The book is divided into two parts, the second having a separate title-page which reads: His " Noble Numbers: " Or, " His Pious Pieces, " Wherein (among?t other things) " he ?ings the Birth of his Christ: " and ?ighs for his Saviours ?uffe- " ring on the Cro??e." [Quotation] London. " Printed for John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, 1647. "

This part was not issued, as far as is known, except with the Hesperides to which the author evidently intended it to be affixed, if we may judge by the lines toward the end of the first part: "Part of the work remains; one part is past."

The year of publication had seen Herrick dispossessed of his living at Dean Prior by the predominant Puritan party, and it has been suggested that he was glad to take this means of gaining an income. His use of the form, "Robert Herrick, Esquire," was, it is thought, a wise move on the part of the publishers, since a book by the "Reverend," or "Robert Herrick, Vicker" would have been less likely to meet with favor.

Neither Williams nor Eglesfield was a bookseller of importance, and the printer is entirely unknown. He may have withheld his name for fear of the judgment suggested by Herrick at the head of his column of Errata:

Copies vary in the imprint, some reading London, Printed for John Williams and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be ?old by Tho. Hunt, Book?eller in Exon, 1648; and several differences of spelling, capitalization and punctuation also occur. These variations have given rise to a discussion that aims to determine the sequence of issues; but thus far it serves only to prove that constant editorial tinkering took place at the press-side.

William Marshall, whose prolific graver (Strutt says he used only that tool) produced portraits, frontispieces, title-pages, and other decorations of a certain charm, even if dry and cramped in style, had in Herrick a subject of more than usual difficulty. As if conscious of his shortcomings he attempts to make atonement by the emblematic flattery of Pegasus winging his flight from Parnassus, the Spring of Helicon, loves and flowers, which he adds to lines signed I. H. C. and W. M.

Octavo.

Collation: Four leaves (without signatures): B-Z and Aa-Cc, in eights, Aa-Ee, in eights.