Richard Flecknoe - 1670-1
Literary Record 97
[From Epigrams. Of all sorts, Made at
Several Times, on Several Occasions]
This poem started life as 'Of the difference Betwixt the Ancient and Modern Playes'
in
the first edition of Flecknoe's collection, which concluded by commenting on how 'hard
'tis now for any one to write / With Johnson's fire, or Flecher's flame
& spright: / Much less inimitable Shakspears way, /
Promethian-like to animate a Play' (p. 72 ).
The second edition has an expanded version, printed below, and a preface to its fourth
book lamenting modern playwrights who 'instead of neatly and closely
plotting' their plays like 'our great Masters', leave 'nothing but loose ends and Thrums' (p. 49). The new version seems directed at Dryden in particular, though it
continues a line of argument already present in Flecknoe's 'Short Discourse of the
English Stage' of 1664. (See Literary Record 88.)
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Former Playes and Poets vindicated
In former times none ever went away
But with a glowing bosom from a Play,
With somewhat they had heard, or seen, so fir'd,
You'd think they were celestially inspir'd:
Now, we have only a few light conceits,
Like Squibs and Crackers, neither warms nor heats,
And sparks of wit, as much as you'd desire,
But nothing of a true and solid fire.
So few w'ave now a dayes know how to write
with Johnsons fire, and Fletchers flame and sprite,
Much less inimitable Shakespears way,
Promethian-like to animate play,
Compar'd to whom, for moving passion,
There's none know how to do't now they are gon;
And this for learned Johnson, I shall say,
As few know, now he's gone, to plot a Play.
And though for th' writing, Criticks wont allow,
Their Times as witty were, as ours are now.
Yet know, who e'r thou art, dost less esteem
Of Johnson, for the faults oth' Times, not him,
Had he writ now, h'ad better writ than thee,
Hadst thou writ then, th'adst writ far worse than he;
And all in spight of Envy must confess,
If he be'nt worthy praise, others much less.
(Book 4, pp. 51-2)