Francis Beaumont to his friend Ben Ionson, at London.
The Sunn (which doth the greatest comfort bringe
To absent friends, because the self same thinge
They know, they see, how euer absent) is
Here our best haymaker: forgiue me this,
It is my Countrie stile; in this warm shine
I lye, and dreame of your full Mermaide wine.
O, we haue water mixt with Clarret Lees:
Drinke apt to bring in drier Heresies
Then beere; good only for a Sonnett straine,
With fustian Metaphors, to stuffe the braine;
So mixt, that giuen to the thirstiest one
T'will not proue Almes, Vnles he haue the stone;
'Tis sold by Puritans, mixt with intent
To make it serue for either Sacrament.
I thinke with one draught mans Invention fades,
Two Cups had quite spoil'd Homer's Iliades;
'Tis liquor that will find out Sutcliffes wit,
Where ere it lyes, and make him write worse yet;
Fill'd with such moysture, in a greuious qualme,
Did Robert Wisedome write his singing Psalme,
And soe must I doe this: but yet, I thinke,
It is a potion sent vs downe to drinke
By speciall prouidence; for this alone,
Being thrice taken, doth kill Ambition,
Drownes all past iniuryes, keeps vs from fights,
Makes vs not laughe, when wee make leggs to knights:
'Tis this that keepes our mindes fitt for our states,
A medicine to obey our Magistrates.
For we doe liue more free then you; no hate,
No envie at one anothers happie state,
Moues us; we are equall: every whitt
Of Land that God giues men, here, is there witt:
He doth consider fully; for our best
And greatest men will, with his maine house ieast,
Scarce please you: we want subtilty to doe
The city tricks: lye, hate, and flatter too.
Here are none that cann beare a feyned showe,
Strike when you winke, and then lament the blowe;
Who like Mills, still sett the right way to grinde,
Cann make their gaines alike with euery winde.
Onlie some fellow, with the subtlest pate
Among'st vs, may equiuocate
Att selling of a horse, and that's the most
Mee thinkes. The little witt I had is lost
Since I sawe you: for witt is like a rest
Held vp at Tennis, which menn doe the best
With the best Gamsters. What things haue we seene?
Done at the Mermaide? heard wordes that haue beene
So nimble, and so full of subtle flame,
As if that euery man from whom they came
Had meant to put his whole witt in one ieast,
And had resolu'd to liue a foole the rest
Of his dull life: then, when there hath been throwne
Witt, able well to iustifie the towne
For three daies past, witt that might warrant bee
For the whole city to talke foolishlie
Till that were cancelled, and when we were gone,
We left an ayre behind which was alone
Able to make the next twoe companies
Right witty, though they were downeright Cockeneys.
When I remember this, and see that now
The Countrey gentlemen beginn to allowe
My witt for drie bobbs, then I needes must crie:
I see my daies of ballading are nigh;
I can already riddle, and can singe
Catches, sell bargaines, and I feare shall bringe
My selfe to speake the hardest wordes I find
Ouer, as oft as any, with one wind
That takes no medicines; but one thought of thee
Makes me remember all these things to be
The witt of our younge men; fellowes that showe
No part of good, yett vtter all they knowe;
Who, like trees and the Guard, haue growinge soules.
Only strong destiny (which all controules),
I hope hath left a better fate in store
For me thy friend, then to liue euermore
Banish'd vnto my home; 'twill once againe
Bringe me to thee, who wilt make smooth and plaine
The way of knowledge for me, and then I
(Who haue no good, but simplicity)
Knowe that it will my greatest vertue bee
T'acknowledge all the rest to come from thee.

(Bland (2005) 170-2)