is "love's sweet
praise;" and then "as a steed refreshed after toil," he will "stoutly
that second worke assoyle." The first six books were published together
in 1596. He remained most of the year in London, during which _The Four
Hymns on Love and Beauty, Earthly and Heavenly_, were published; and
also a Dirge (_Daphnaida_) on Douglas Howard, the wife of Arthur Gorges,
the spirited narrator of the Island Voyage of Essex and Ralegh, written
in 1591; and a "spousal verse" (_Prothalamion_), on the marriage of the
two daughters of the Earl of Worcester, late in 1596. But he was only a
visitor in London. The _Prothalamion_ contains a final record of his
disappointments in England.

I, (whom sullein care,
Through discontent of my long fruitlesse stay
In Princes Court, and expectation vayne
Of idle hopes, which still doe fly away,
Like empty shaddowes, did afflict my brayne,)
Walkt forth to ease my payne
Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes--

His marriage ought to have made him happy. He professed to find the
highest enjoyment in the quiet and retirement of country life. He was in
the prime of life, successful beyond all his fellows in his special
work, and apparently with unabated interest in what remained to be done
of it. And though he could not but feel himself at a distance from the
"sweet civility" of England, and socially at disadvantage compared to
those whose lines had fallen to them in its pleasant places, yet
nature, which he loved so well, was still friendly to him, if men were
wild and dangerous. He is never weary of praising the natural advantages
of Ireland. Speaking of the North, he says,--

And sure it is yet a most beautifull and sweet countrey as any
is under heaven, seamed throughout with many goodly rivers,
replenished with all sortes of fish, most aboundantly
sprinckled with many sweet Ilandes, and goodly lakes, like
litle Inland Seas, that will carry even ships upon theyr
waters, adorned with goodly woodes fitt for building of howses
and shippes, soe comodiously, as that yf some princes in the
world had them, they would soone hope to be lordes of all the
seas, and ere long of all the world; also full of good portes
and havens opening upon England and Scotland, as inviting us
to come to them, to see what excellent comodityes that
countrey can affoord, besides the soyle it self most f