-]
But when he_ Amintor _saw revenge that wrong,
For which the sad_ Aspasia _sigh'd so long,
Upon himselfe, to shades hasting away,
Not for to make a visit but to stay;
He then did modestly confesse how farr_
Fletcher _out-did him in a Charactar.
Now lastly for a refuge_, Virgill _shewes
The lines where_ Corydon Alexis _woes;
But those in opposition quickly met [-The faithfull Shepherdesse.-]
The smooth tongu'd_ Perigot _and_ Amoret:
_A paire whom doubtlesse had the others seene,
They from their owne loves had_ Apostates _beene;
Thus_ Fletcher _did the fam'd laureat exceed,
Both when his Trumpet sounded and his reed;
Now if the Ancients yeeld that heretofore,
None worthyer then those ere Laurell wore;
The least our age can say now thou art gon,
Is that there never will be such a one:
And since t' expresse thy worth, our rimes too narrow be,
To help it wee'l be ample in our prophesie_.
H. HOWARD.
On Mr John Fletcher, and his Workes, never before published.
_To flatter living fooles is easie slight:
But hard, to do the living-dead men right.
To praise a Landed Lord, is gainfull art:
But thanklesse to pay Tribute to desert.
This should have been my taske: I had intent
To bring my rubbish to thy monument,
To stop some crannies there, but that I found
No need of least repaire; all firme and sound.
Pages:
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30