I am the fortunate possessor of a thin volume, entitled _Fidessa, a
Collection of Sonnets_, by B. Griffin, reprinted 1811, from the edition of
1596, at the Chiswick Press; I presume, by the monogram at the end, by Mr.
S. W. Singer.
The title of the original edition is _Fidessa, more Chaste then Kinde_, by
B. Griffin, Gent, at London, printed by the Widdow Orwin, for Matthew
Lownes, 1596.
The advertisement prefixed by Mr. Singer to the reprint states, that the
original is one of the rarest of those that appeared at the period in which
it is dated; that he is not aware of the existence of more than two copies,
from one of which the reprint is taken, and that the other was in the
curious collection of the late Mr. Malone.
Besides the rarity of _Fidessa_, Mr. Singer states that it claims some
notice from the curious reader on account of a very striking resemblance
between Griffin's third sonnet, and one of Shakspeare's, in his _Passionate
Pilgrim_ (Sonnet IX.).
I will transcribe both sonnets, taking Griffin's first, as it bears the
earliest date.
"Venus, and yong Adonis sitting by her,
Under a myrtle shade began to woo him:
She told the yong-ling how god Mars did trie her,
And as he fell to her, so fell she to him.
'Even thus,' quoth she, 'the wanton god embrac'd me,'
And then she clasp'd Adonis in her armes.
'Even thus,' quoth she, 'the warlike god unlac'd me,'
As if the boy should use like loving charms.
But he, a wayward boy, refusde her offer,
And ran away, the beautious Queene neglecting:
Showing both folly to abuse her proffer,
And all his sex of cowardice detecting.
Oh! that I lead my mistris at that bay,
To kisse and clippe me till I ranne away!"
Sonnet III., from _Fidessa_.
"Fair[1] Venus, with Adonis sitting by her,
Under a myrtle shade, began to woo him;
She told the youngling how god Mars did try her,
And as he fell to her, she fell to him.
'Even thus,' quoth she, 'the warlike god embrac'd me,'
And then she clipp'd Adonis in her arms:
'Even thus,' quoth she, 'the warlike god unlac'd me,'
As if the boy should use like loving charms:
'Even thus,' quoth she, 'he seized on my lips,'
And with her lips on his did act the seizure;
And as she fetched breath, away he skips,
And would not take her meaning nor her pleasure.
Ah! that I had my lady at this bay,
To kiss and clip me till I run away!"
Sonnet IX., from Shakspeare's _Passionate Pilgrim_.
That the insertion of Griffin's sonnet in the _Passionate Pilgrim_ was
without Shakspeare's consent or knowledge, is in my opinion evident for
many reasons.
I have long been convinced that the _Passionate Pilgrim_ was published
surreptitiously; and although it bears Shakspeare's name, the sonnets and
ballads of which it is composed were several of them taken from his dramas,
and added to by selections from the poems of his cotemporaries, Raleigh,
Marlow, and others; that it was a bookseller's job, made up for sale by the
publisher, W. Jaggard.
No one can believe that Shakspeare would have been guilty of such a gross
plagiarism. Griffin's _Fidessa_ bears date 1596: the first known edition of
the _Passionate Pilgrim_ was printed for W. Jaggard, 1599. It has no
dedication to any patron, similar to Shakspeare's other poems, the _Venus
and Adonis_, the _Rape of Lucrece_, and the _Sonnets_; and why it bears the
title of the _Passionate Pilgrim_ no one has ascertained.
But I am losing sight of the object I had in view when I took up my pen,
which was, through the medium of "N. & Q.," to request any of its readers
to furnish me with any particulars of B. Griffin, the author of _Fidessa_.
Mr. Singer supposes him to have been of a Worcestershire family; as he
addresses his "poore pamphlet" for patronage to the gentlemen of the Innes
of Court, he might probably have been bred to the law.
Perhaps your correspondents CUTHBERT BEDE, or MR. NOAKE, the Worcestershire
rambler, might in their researches into vestry registers and parish
documents, find some notice of the family. I am informed there was a
gentleman of the name resident in our college precincts early in the
present century, that he was learned and respected, but very eccentric.
J. M. G. Worcester.
[Footnote 1: The early copies read "Venus, with Adonis sitting by her;" the
defective word was added at Dr. Farmer's suggestion. Had he seen a copy of
_Fidessa_, the true reading might perhaps have been restored. (Note by Mr.
Singer.)]
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