Thus the whole World to reverence will flock
Thy Tragick Buskin and thy Comick Stock;
And winged fame unto posterity
Transmit but onely two, this Age, and Thee._
THOMAS PEYTON.
_Agricola Anglo-Cantianus._
VERSES
ON THE
Deceased Authour, Mr John Fletcher,
his Plays; and especially, _The Mad Lover_.
_Whilst his well organ'd body doth retreat,
To its first matter, and the formall heat
Triumphant sits in judgement to approve
Pieces above our Candour and our love:
Such as dare boldly venter to appeare
Unto the curious eye, and Criticke eare:
Lo the_ Mad Lover _in these various times
Is pressed to life, t' accuse us of our crimes.
While_ Fletcher _liv'd, who equall to him writ
Such lasting Monuments of naturall wit?
Others might draw: their lines with sweat, like those
That (with much paines) a Garrison inclose;
Whilst his sweet fluent veine did gently runne
As uncontrold, and smoothly as the Sun.
After his death our Theatres did make
Him in his own unequald Language speake:
And now when all the Muses out of their
Approved modesty silent appeare,
This Play of_ Fletchers _braves the envious light
As wonder of our eares once, now our sight.
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