Negative film. Bookplate of William Arthur Sixth Duke of Portland K.G. Some difficulties caused by working from microfilm, which is seemingly incomplete. `Pomfret MS'. Important MS miscellany in a professional but careless hand, whose entries are interspersed with those of other hands. Folio 225r reveals that both the principal scribe and one other were entering contemporaneously. `Sodom' has here been assigned preliminary pagination, as the page numbering begins again with #2. The TC classifies all of Sodom as (i), #2 as (2) and thereafter its pagination matches the MS, though omissions and duplications in numbering abound. Consecutive rectos or versos suggest that blank pages were not filmed. Folio 211 begins a second section of the MS, which includes Rochester's verse copied from 80pf (other verse also copied from printed sources?).
Beal, IELM: Folio, c.160 leaves (variously paginated and foliated, with some irregularities of numbering, in series thus: pp. 1-212; ff. 212-47; pp. 1-29 bis), plus intermediate series of unnumbered blanks; formal miscellany of poems on affairs of state, including 29 poems by Rochester (plus a second copy of one) and Sodom, as well as apocryphal items, in several hands, one professional hand predominating; once owned by Thomas Fermor, first Earl of Pomfret (1698-1753); also used by one James Parks; c.1680s.
<A Table of the Poems herein contain'd' (lists #1-#103). [Note that if a work starts on a verso, the TC will have the following recto]>
Thus in the zenith of my lust I reign Np40*1 (pp. a1-a[4], a4[bis]-a22)
<[TC title: The Destruction of Sodom] Actus 1st: Scena 1. The scene an antichamber hung with Aretine's postures ... [lacks Prologue and Epilogue, and stops after Scene B5] [unfilmed ?blank verso (p a23) follows]>
Dear friend / I hear this town does so abound Np40*2 (pp. 1-4)
<From E: R: to E: M [page numbering starts at 1 again here]>
Much wine had passed with grave discourse Np40*3 (pp. 5-10)
<A ramble in the park [title written sideways in margin]>
F[u]cksters you that will be happy Np40*4 (pp. 11-12)
<Advice to a C[un]t {Coster TC} Monger>
Vulcan contrive me such a cup Np40*5 (pp. 12-13)
<Nestor>
Since now my Sylvia is as kind as fair Np40*6 (pp. 13-19)
<The enjoyment>
Dreaming last night on Mrs Farley Np40*7 (pp. 19-22)
<Familiar letters>
As crafty harlots use to shrink Np40*8 (pp. 22-4)
<Answer>
If I can guess the devil choke me Np40*9 (pp. 25-8)
<Second letter [4 unnumbered pages follow (here 28a,b,c,d, which break the link between #9 and #14]>
By all love's soft yet mighty powers Np40*10 (p. [28a])
<Song>
Room room for a man of the town Np40*11 (pp. [28a-28b])
<Song>
For standing tarses we kind Nature thank Np40*12 (pp. [28b]-[28c])
<Actus, Primus, Scena prima. Enter Tarsander and Swiveanthe. The Scene a Bed-Chamber>
Have you seen the raging stormy main Np40*13 (pp. [28c]-[28d])
<To all curious critics and admirers of a metre>
So soft and amorously you write Np40*14 (pp. 29-31)
<Answer to the second letter [ie. to #9 on the last numbered page (28)]>
How far are they deceived who hope in vain Np40*15 (pp. 32-3)
<Ephelia. To Bajacet>
Madam / If you're deceived 'tis not by my cheat Np40*16 (pp. 34-5)
<A very heroical epistle in answer to Ephelia>
Crushed by that just contempt his folly brings Np40*17 (pp. 36-7)
<Poet Ninny>
Bursting with pride the loath'd impostume swells Np40*17.1 (pp. 37-8)
<Lord all Pride [the scribe entered this poem as part of the previous, then realized his error and wrote the title in the margin. It is listed separately in the TC, however]>
Madam / I cannot change as others do Np40*18 (p. 38)
<Letter>
I fuck no more than others do Np40*19 (p. 39)
<Answer>
Well Sir 'tis granted I said Dryden's rhymes Np40*20 (pp. 40-4)
<An allusion to Horace. Nempe incomposito dixi pede etc. Lib: i: sat: 10>
When Shakespeare Fletcher Jonson ruled the stage Np40*21 (pp. 45-7)
<In defence of satyr [see #21.1. on p. 49 below] [end: Scroope] [#21, #22, #23, #21.1 in second hand]>
To rack {work uncorr} and torture thy unmeaning brain Np40*22 (p. 48)
<On the supposed author of a late poem in defence of satyr {On . . . satyr] Answer to ye Author uncorr} [corrected title written in margin] [end: Rochester] [cf. #83]>
Rail on poor feeble {silly uncorr} scribbler speak of me Np40*23 (p. 49)
<Answer by way of epigram {Answer . . . epigram] Reply uncorr} [end: Scroope] [cf. #84]>
[list] Np40*21.1 (p. 49)
<[no title; identifications for Scroope's #21 above, beginning `Vain Fopp ─ Mr Arp: orpe'] [not in TC] [See Rochester edition, p. 432] [end (referring to following poem and old foliation): 71. On Mrs W[ ]llis]>
Against the charms our bollocks have Np40*24 (p. 50)
<On Mrs W[ ]llis [first hand resumes]>
Nothing thou elder brother unto shade Np40*25 (pp. 51-3)
<Nothing>
O Love how cold and slow to take my part Np40*26 (pp. 53-5)
<Ovid. O nunquam pro me satis indignate Cupido. To Love>
What cruel pains Corinna takes Np40*27 (p. 56)
<To Corinna>
Love bid me hope and I obeyed Np40*28 (pp. 56-7)
<Woman's honour>
To this moment a rebel I throw down my arms Np40*29 (pp. 57-8)
<The submission>
Give me leave to rail at you Np40*30 (pp. 59-60)
<To Thirsis>
Fair Cloris in a pigsty lay Np40*31 (pp. 60-2)
<Song>
Phillis be gentler I advise Np40*32 (pp. 62-3)
<To Phillis>
All my past life is mine no more Np40*33 (p. 63)
<Love and life>
Whilst on those lovely looks I gaze Np40*34 (p. 64)
<Song>
How blessed was the created state Np40*35 (pp. 64-5)
<The fall [not in TC]>
Amintor loved and lived in pain Np40*36 (p. 65)
<Song>
Love a woman thou'rt an ass Np40*37 (p. 66)
<Love to a woman>
In the fields of Lincoln's Inn Np40*38 (pp. 66-8)
<Song [not in TC]>
As trembling prisoners stand at bar Np40*39 (p. 68)
<Another [TC title: The Answer]>
Julian / In verse to ease thy wants I write Np40*40 (pp. 69-71)
<To Julian>
All human things are subject to decay Np40*41 (pp. 71-78, 78[bis]-79)
<Mac-Fleckno>
Thou common show of this poetic town Np40*42 (pp. 79-83)
<To Julian secretary to the muses>
From a sensual proud atheistical life Np40*43 (pp. 84-7)
<The Duke of B[ ]s litany>
Now curses on you all ye virtuous fools Np40*44 (pp. 87-98)
<Satyr on vice and virtue. Aude aliquid brevibus giaris aut carcere dig[num] Si vis esse aliquis. Juv. Sat. i. Supposed to be spoken by a court hector at the breaking of the sun dial in Privy Gard[en]. Pindarique>
It happened in the twilight of the day Np40*45 (pp. 98-101)
<Sir E[dmund] B[erry] Godfrey's ghost>
I am a senseless thing with a hey Np40*46 (pp. 101-3)
<Sir Martin>
Thou worst of flesh in superstition stewed Np40*47 (pp. 103-4)
<On Kitty etc>
As Colon drove his sheep along Np40*48 (pp. 105-10)
<Satyr>
The Lords and Commons having had their doom Np40*49 (pp. 110-13)
<The character>
I have been Sir where so many puritans dwell Np40*50 (pp. 114-22)
<A satyr against the separation>
Farewell false women know I'll ever be Np40*51 (pp. 122-3)
<To a false mistress>
We must resign Heaven his great soul doth claim Np40*52 (pp. 123-4)
<The storm>
'Tis well he's gone O had he never been Np40*53 (pp. 124-6)
<The answer to The storm>
What if by chance a man can't stand Np40*54 (p. 127)
<Catch>
Apollo concerned to see the transgressions Np40*55 (pp. 128, 128[bis]-133)
<A convention of the poets>
There sighs not on the plain Np40*56 (pp. 133-5)
<A pastoral dialogue between Alexis and Strephon>
Accept these tablets from Leander fraught Np40*57 (pp. 136-40)
<Leander to Hero a translation out of Ovid's epistle>
I sing the praise of a worthy wight {Knight uncorr} Np40*58 (pp. 140-2, 145-6)
<A ballad [there are no pages 143, 144]>
My lords and gentlemen / I told you the last meeting the winter was Np40*59 (pp. 147-50)
<The speech [prose text]>
When Hodge had numbered up how many score Np40*60 (pp. 151-4)
<Hodge. A country clown called Hodge went up to view the pyramid>
Cleveland was doubtless to blame Np40*61 (pp. 154-5)
<On the Duchess of C[levelan]d>
Methinks my poor prick has been troubled too long Np40*62 (pp. 155-6)
<Mock song>
When to the king I bad good morrow Np40*63 (p. 156)
<Dialogue>
Reform great queen the error of thy youth Np40*64 (pp. 157-8)
<On the q[ueen]. a ballad>
As citizens that to their first conquerors yield Np40*65 (pp. 158-60)
<Stocks Market statute>
To make myself for this employment fit Np40*66 (pp. 160-1)
<A young gentleman desirous to be a minister of state thus pretends to qualify himself etc [TC title: The young statesman]>
Spargaret audaces cum dira per æthera crines Np40*67 (p. 161)
<In Catharinam de Medicis>
Whilst in the sky with blazing train Np40*67.1 (pp. 161-2)
<Upon the late comet April 1677. Translated thus [not listed separately in TC]>
Come on ye critics find one fault who dare Np40*68 (pp. 162-3)
<On Mr E[dward] H[oward] upon his B[ritish] P[rinces]>
As when a bully draws his sword Np40*69 (pp. 163-4)
<On the same author upon his B[ritish] P[rinces] >
While with a strong and yet a gentle hand Np40*70 (pp. 165-71)
<Panegyric by E[dmund] W[aller]>
Her faults and follies London's doom shall fix Np40*71 (pp. 171-2)
<Nostredamus a prophecy>
What can be the mystery why Charing Cross Np40*72 (pp. 173-4)
<Upon the statue {statute TC} at Charing Cross. Charles the first>
Draw England ruined by what was given before Np40*73 (pp. 175-9)
<Advice to a painter>
Ah Raleigh when thou didst thy breath resign Np40*74 (pp. 179-85)
<Britannia and Raleigh>
Spread a large canvas painter to contain Np40*75 (pp. 186-9)
<Advice to a painter>
Great Charles who full of mercy wouldst command Np40*76 (p. 190)
<To the king>
Chaste pious prudent Charles the second Np40*77 (pp. 191-6)
<The chronicle>
And now 'tis time for their officious haste Np40*78 (pp. 197-202)
<On the death of O[liver] C[romwell] by J[ohn] D[ryden]>
Here uninterred suspends though not to save Np40*79 (p. 203)
<Elegy>
Naked she lay clasped in my longing arms Np40*80 (pp. 203-5)
<The imperfect enjoyment>
Say Heaven-born muse for only thou canst tell Np40*81 (pp. 206-10)
<The argument. How Tall-boy, Kill Prick, Suck-prick did contend...>
As some brave admiral in former war Np40*82 (f. 211r-v)
<The disabled debauchee [Second section of the MS begins, Rochester copied from 80pf. At this point, p. 211 becomes f. 211, and the following pages are foliated rather than numbered.>
To rack and torture thy unmeaning brain Np40*83 (f. 212r-v)
<On the supposed author of a late poem in defence of satyr [cf. #22]>
Rail on poor feeble scribbler speak of me Np40*84 (f. 212v)
<Answer [cf. #23]>
After death nothing is and nothing death Np40*85 (ff. 212v-213r)
<Seneca's Troas, Act. 2. Chorus>
Quoth the Duchess of Cleveland to Mrs Knight Np40*86 (f. 213r)
<Song>
I rise at eleven I dine about two Np40*87 (f. 213r-v)
<Song>
Thou damned antipodes to common sense Np40*88 (ff. 213v-214r)
<On Mr E[dward] H[oward] upon his New Ut[opia] [TC title: On the supposed author]>
Whilst happy I triumphant stood Np40*89 (ff. 214v-216r)
<On a juniper tree now cut down to make busks>
What doleful cries are these that fright my sense Np40*90 (ff. 216v-217v)
<On the death of Mr Greenhill the famous painter>
What Timon does old age begin t'approach Np40*91 (ff. 218r-219v, 225v-226r)
<Satyr [at the bottom of f. 219v the scribe instructs the reader to `Turne over to folio 226' (actually f. 225v)]>
Strephon a youth of Sodomitic strain Np40*92 (f. 220r)
<The sodomite [#92 to #95 in new hand]>
Close by a stream whose flowery bank must give Np40*93 (ff. 220r-221r)
<The parting between Sireno and Diana [f. 221v not on film]>
How dull and how insensible a beast Np40*94 (ff. 222r-224v)
<An essay upon satyr>
Though royal sir your every act doth show Np40*95 (ff. 224v-225r)
<Upon the last prorogation, 1679 [2nd last entry in TC, out of sequence]>
Some few from wit have this true maxim got Np40*96 (f. 225r)
<The Epilogue to Circe. by the E[arl of] R[ochester] [first hand resumes]>
Since the sons of the muses grew num'rous and loud Np40*97 (ff. 226v, 226r-v [bis], 227r)
<A session of the poets>
Tell me abandoned miscreant prithee tell Np40*98 (ff. 227r-228r)
<Upon the author of a play called Sodom>
If Rome can pardon sins as Romans hold Np40*99 (f. 228r)
<On Rome's pardons>
Were I who to my cost already am Np40*100 (ff. 228v-232r)
<Satyr>
Chloe by your command in verse I write Np40*101 (ff. 232r-v, 232r-v [bis], 233r-235r)
<A letter fancied from Artemisa in the town, to Chloe in the country>
Whilst duns were knocking at my door Np40*102 (ff. 235v-238r)
<Captain Ramble>
Husband thou dull unpitied miscreant Np40*103 (ff. 238v-239v)
<A poem against marriage directed to that inconsiderable animal called husband [TC ends here]>
My part is done and you'll I hope excuse Np40*104 (ff. 240r-241r)
<An apology to the foregoing satyr by way of Epilogue [The `satyr' is `Now curses on you all' (*44 above)>
If you love a woman tol tol tol Np40*105 (f. 241v)
<Song [a new hand has entered this page]>
There was a weaver and he married his daughter to linning drap[er] Np40*106 (f. 241v)
<Song>
Madam I cannot but congratulate Np40*107 (f. [241]r-v)
<[no title] [first hand resumes] [end: A: C] [Crum lists this and the following as one poem]>
Methinks I cannot but commiserate Np40*107.1 (f. [242]r-v)
<[no title] [end: J. J]>
'Twas noon when I scorched with a double fire Np40*108 (f. [243]r-v)
<[no title] [another hand has entered this folio]>
'Twas in the days of old when women had no hair Np40*109 (f. [243]v)
<[no title]>
Friends like to leaves that on the trees do grow Np40*110 (f. [244]v)
<[no title] [another hand] [f. [244]r? not on film]>
Of all the things which at this guilty time Np40*111 (ff. [245r-[256]r))
<The play house. A satyr [the scribe has numbered this piece pp. 1-23]>
The Lord my pasture shall prepare Np40*112 (f. [257]r)
<[no title] [f. 256v? not on film] [another hand]>
Who governs his own course with steady hand Np40*113 (f. [257]v)
<[no title] [another hand has entered this and the following verso]>
The chertreux wants the warning of a bell Np40*114 (f. [257]v)
<[no title]>
A veil of thickened air around them cast Np40*115 (f. [257]v)
<[2 lines; no title] [an extract?]>
Begin be bold and venture to be wise Np40*116 (f. [257]v)
<[no title] [f. [258]r? not on film] [an extract?]>
Oft am I by the women told Np40*117 (f. [[258]v)
<Age>
For the few hours of life allotted me Np40*118 (f. [258]v)
<[no title]>