Page "Michael Drayton" Paragraph 9

In 1627 he published another of his miscellaneous volumes, and this contains some of his most characteristic and exquisite writing.

It consists of the following pieces: The Battle of Agincourt, an historical poem in ottava rima ( not to be confused with his ballad on the same subject ), and The Miseries of Queen Margaret, written in the same verse and manner ; Nimphidia, the Court of Faery, a most joyous and graceful little epic of fairyland ; The Quest of Cinthia and The Shepherd's Sirena, two lyrical pastorals ; and finally The Moon Calf, a sort of satire.

Of these Nimphidia is perhaps the best thing Drayton ever wrote, except his famous ballad on the battle of Agincourt ; it is quite unique of its kind and full of rare fantastic fancy.