noble families, those of Lord Petre, and of Mrs Fermor, on the trifling occasion of his having cut off a lock of her hair.”
P. 292. These lines, dictated by affection, and good sense, appear to have been written by, or in the name of, several individuals of the Aston family, probably collected at Tixall, or Bellamore, and were addressed perhaps to the Thimelbyes of Irnharn. But I am puzzled to make out some of the Christian names. They may, however, be read, John, Constantia, Katherine, Gertrude, R ? Walter, Frances, and Mary, a daughter of the second Lord Aston.
I am surprised that H. for Herbert, is not among them ; but as the A. is quite in his hand, I suspect he held the pen, on this occasion ; and the lines being sent perhaps from Bellamore, his signature was therefore considered unnecessary.
P. 294. This, and the following poem, are in the MS. subscribed “Kath. Thym.” and in her hand. I therefore consider them as her‘composition; and they must have been written, in, or before the year 1638 ; as about that time she was married to Herbert Aston.
Sleep, the best ease of the most troubled minde,
Rest of our labours, nurse of human kinde.
ὕπνοςλύων μελεδήματα
Νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς.
Λυσιμέριμνε, κόπων ἡδεῖαν ἒχων ἀνάπαυσιν.
Somne, quies rerum, placidissime somne deorum,
Pax animi, quern cura fugit, qui corpora duris
Fessa ministeriis mulces, reparasque labori.
Tired nature’s sweet restorer, balmy sleep!
