As a fan of John Dickenson (and I know I am not the only one on this list)
I have been confused and I will admit panic-stricken (since I am writing
his DNB entry) by mention by Dr Sharon-Zisser of two works as being by
Dickenson - the sonnets to Philomel by Melophilus (edn 1) or 'I.D.' (edn 2)
printed in _A Poetical Rapsody_ (1602) and two commendatory sonnets by
'I.D. of the Middle Temple' to Chapman's _Ovids Banquet of Sence_. Now,
Dickenson is a splendid writer and has been on the whole ignored. He was
also someone who used his initials to identify himself. But he was not a
Middle Templar, and that I assume is why the two Chapman sonnets have been
ascribed to Sir John Davies, who was. Davies (one of a truly illustrious
bevy of I.D. poets which includes Donne and Davies of Hereford) has also
been gifted the sonnets to Philomel, and his latest editor accepts this.
My question is simple. Is there hard evidence for the Dickenson ascription?
Gavin Alexander
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