[From the preface.]

And this our famous Ben. Johnson well understood, whose mature Judgement gave as little room to extravagancies of the Brain as any that preceded him, by his introducing Sylla's Ghost whereby to infuse on the wicked Genius of Cataline a more Hellish and Irresistable Temptation of perfect his Impious design, which could not have been so execrably Insinuated by any other Method.

An example that enough assures us that he approv'd the Allegorical part of Invention, and that it is as Legitimately ours, as it could be claim'd by any of the Ancients, when properly apply'd. I held it convenient to instance these particulars, that the Reader may not wonder if I have in some passages and fictions follow'd the example of so great a Poet, as well as others that famously preceded him in that manner of Contrivement.

(sig. A4v-A5)

[From Book v.]

[The hero Dornland has visited the wise Polyaster to learn the truth of a prophecy made about him; Polyaster first shows him a pantheon in wood and stone of the most learned of the British; among the poets Chaucer and Spenser are the first.]

Near these in Statue witty Shakspere stood,
Whose early Plays were soonest next to Good.
And Like a vast Dramatick Founder show'd
Bounties of Wit from his large Genius flow'd.
Whose worth was by this Learned duely weigh'd,
As in Effigie there he stood display'd.
But more stupendious to his Soul appear'd
Proportions which great Johnsons Form declar'd,
Whose deep Effigies he wish'd longer date
Then Polish'd art in stone cou'd Celebrate.
Admiring next the wit that Crown'd his Bays,
Whose Scenes were works, when most fell short of Plays.
So aptly by him Characters exprest,
That shew'd his artfull hand and Learning best.
Whilst other Dramaticks like Planets were,
Rambling to find their Center near his Sphere.
A Province Phoebus did on him bestow,
When made his Wits Lieutenancy below. (137-8)