Literary Record 81
From F. Beaumont and J. Fletcher, Comedies and Tragedies (1647)
This is a commendatory poem to the Beaumont and Fletcher
folio. In another poem in the same volume, Cartwright comments that Fletcher steered
his muse ''Twixt Johnsons grave, and Shakespeares lighter sound' (sig. d2r). For Cartwright,
see Literary Record 50.
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Upon the report of the printing of the Dramaticall Poems of Master John
Fletcher, collected before, and now set forth in one Volume
Johnson hath writ things lasting, and divine,
Yet his Love-Scenes, Fletcher, compar'd to thine,
Are cold and frosty, and exprest love so,
As heat with Ice, or warme fires mixt with Snow;
Thou, as if struck with the same generous darts,
Which burne, and raigne in noble Lovers hearts,
Hast cloath'd affections in such native tires,
And so describ'd them in their owne true fires;
Such moving sighes, such undissembled teares,
Such charmes of language, such hopes mixt with feares,
Such grants after denialls, such pursuits
After despaire, such amorous recruits,
That some who sate spectators have confest
Themselves transform'd to what they saw exprest,
And felt such shafts steale through their captiv'd sence,
As made them rise Parts, and goe Lovers hence.
(lines 45-60; sig. d2v)