Mr. ZOUCH TOWNLYE to Mr. BEN JOHNSON,
Against Mr. Alexander Gill's verses written against the play called the Magnetick Ladye.
It cannot moue thy friend, firm Ben, that he,
Whom the star-chamber censur'd, rayles at thee,
I gratulate the method of thy fate
That joyn'd thee next in malice to the state:
This Nero, after parricidall guilt,
Brooks noe delayes till Lucan's blood bee spilt;
Nor could his mischiefe finde a second crime,
Unles he slew the poet of the time.
But, thanks to Helicon, here are no blows,
This drone no more of stinge then honey shows:
His verses shall be counted censures, when
Cast malefactors are made jurie-men.
Meane while rejoyce, that soe disgrac'd a quill
'Tempted to wound that worth, time cannot kill.
-- And thou, who dar'st to blast fame fully blown,
Lye buried in the ruines of thine own,
Vex not thine ashes, open not the deep,
The ghost of thy slain name would rather sleep.

(fol. 59)