HUmano capiti cervicem pictor equinam

Jungere si velit, & varias inducere plumas,

Undi[que] collatis membris, ut turpitèr atrum

Desinat in piscem mulier formosa supernè;

Spectatum admißirisum teneatis, amici?

Credite, Pisones, isti tabulæ fore librum

Per similem; cujus, velut ægri somnia, vanæ

Fingentur species, ut nec pes, nec caput, uni

Reddatur formæ. Pictoribus, at[que] Poêtis,

Quidlibet audendi semper fuit æqua potestas.

Scimus; & hanc veniam petimus[que], damus[que], vicißim:

Sed non ut placidis coëant immitia, non ut

Serpentes avibus geminentur, tigribus agni.

In cœptis gravibus plerun[que] & magna profeßis,

Purpureus latè qui splendeat unus & alter

Aßuitur pannus, cùm lucus, & ara Dianæ,

Et properantis aquæ per amœnos ambitus agros,

Aut flumen Rhenum, aut pluvius describitur arcus.

Sed nunc non erat his locus: &, fortasse, cupressum

Scis simulare. quid hoc, si fractis enatat exspes

Navibus, ære dato qui pingitur? amphora cœpit

Institui; currente rotâ, cur urceus exit?

Deni[que] sit, quod vis, simplex duntaxat, & unum.

IF to a Womans head a Painter would

Set a Horse-neck, and divers feathers fold

On every limbe, ta'en from a severall creature,

Presenting upwards, a faire female feature,

Which in some swarthie fish uncomely ends:

Admitted to the sight, although his friends

Could you containe your laughter? Credit mee,

This peece, my Piso's, and that booke agree,

Whose shapes, like sick-mens dreames, are fain'd so vaine,

As neither head, nor foot, one forme retaine.

But equall power, to Painter, and to Poët,

Of daring all, hath still beene given; we know it:

And both doe crave, and give againe, this leave.

Yet, not as therefore wild, and tame should cleave

Together: not that we should Serpents see

With Doves; or Lambes, with Tygres coupled be.

In grave beginnings, and great things profest,

Ye have oft-times, that may ore-shine the rest,

A Scarlet peece, or two, stitch'd in: when or

Diana's Grove, or Altar, with the bor-

Dring Circles of swift waters that intwine

The pleasant grounds, or when the River Rhine,

Or Rainbow is describ'd. But here was now

No place for these. And, Painter, hap'ly, thou

Know'st only well to paint a Cipresse tree.

What's this? if he whose money hireth thee

To paint him, hath by swimming hopelesse scap'd,

The whole fleet wreck'd? a great jarre to be shap'd,

Was meant at first. Why forcing still about

Thy labouring wheele, comes scarce a Pitcher out.

In short; I bid, Let what thou work'st upon,

Be simply quite throughout, and wholly one.

Maxima pars vatum, pater, & juvenes patre digni,

Decipimur specie recti: Brevis esse laboro,

Obscurus fio: Sectantem levia, nervi

Deficiunt animi[que]: professus grandia, turget:

Serpit humi, tutus nimium, timidus[que] procellæ.

Qui variare cupit rem prodigialiter unam,

Delphinum silvis appingit, fluctibus aprum.

In vitium ducit culpæ fuga, si caret arte.

Æmilium circa ludum faber imus, & ungueis

Exprimet, & molleis imitabitur ære capillos;

Infœlix operis summa: quia ponere totum

Nesciet. Hunc ego me, si quid componere curem,

Non magis esse velim, quàm pravo vivere naso,

Spectandum nigris oculis, nigro[que] capillo.

Sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis, æquam

Viribus, & versate diù, quid ferre recusent,

Quid valeant humeri. cui lecta potenter erit res,

Nec facundia deserit hunc, nec lucidus ordo.

Ordinis hæc virtus erit, & Venus, aut ego fallor,

Ut jam nunc dicat, jam nunc debentia dici

Plera[que] differat: & præsens in tempus omittat.

Hoc amet, hoc spernat promißi carminis autor.

In verbis etiam tenuis cautus[que] serendis,

Dixeris egregiè, notum si callida verbum

Reddiderit junctura novum. Si fortè necesse est,

Indiciis monstrare recentibus abdita rerum;

Fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis

Continget, dabitur[que] licentia, sumpta pudentèr.

Et nova ficta[que] nupèr habebunt verba fidem, si

Græco fonte cadant, parcè detorta. Quid autem

Cæcilio, Plautoq; dabit Romanus, ademptum

Virgilio, Varioque?ego cur acquirere pauca

Si possum, invideor: cùm lingua Catonis, & Enni

Sermonem patrium ditaverit; & nova rerum

Most Writers, noble Sire, and either Sonne,

Are, with the likenesse of the truth, undone.

My selfe for shortnesse labour; and I grow

Obscure. This striving to run smooth, and flow,

Hath neither soule, nor sinewes. Loftie he

Professing greatnesse, swells: That low by lee

Creepes on the ground; too safe, too afraid of storme.

This seeking, in a various kind, to forme

One thing, prodigiously, paints in the woods

A Dolphin, and a Boare amid' the floods.

So, shunning faults, to greater fault doth lead,

When in a wrong, and artlesse way we tread.

The worst of Statuaries, here about

Th' Æmilian Schoole, in brasse can fashion out

The nailes; and every curled haire disclose,

But in the maine worke haplesse: since he knowes

Not to designe the whole. Should I aspire

To forme a worke, I would no more desire

To be that Smith; then live, mark'd one of those,

With faire black eyes, and haire; and a wry nose.

Take, therefore, you that write, still, matter fit

Unto your strength, and long examine it,

Upon your Shoulders. Prove what they will beare,

And what they will not. Him whose choice doth reare

His matter to his power, in all he makes,

Nor language, nor cleere order ere forsakes.

The vertue of which order, and true grace,

Or I am much deceiv'd, shall be to place

Invention. Now, to speake; and then differ

Much, that mought now be spoke: omitted here

Till fitter season. Now, to like of this;

Lay that aside, the Epicks office is.

In using also of new words, to be

Right spare, and warie: then thou speak'st to mee

Most worthie praise, when words that common grew,

Are, by thy cunning placing, made meere new.

Yet, if by chance, in utt'ring things abstruse,

Thou need new termes; thou maist, without excuse,

Faine words, unheard of to the well-truss'd race

Of the Cethegi; And all men will grace,

And give, being taken modestly, this leave,

And those thy new, and late-coyn'd words receive,

So they fall gently from the Grecian spring,

And come not too much wrested. What's that thing,

A Roman to Cæcilius will allow,

Or Plautus, and in Virgil disavow,

Or Varius? why am I now envi'd so,

If I can give some small increase? When, loe,

Cato's and Ennius tongues have lent much worth,

And wealth unto our language; and brought forth

Nomina protulerit? Licuit, semper[que] licebit,

Signatum præsente notâ producere nomen.

Ut silvæ foliis pronos mutantur in annos,

Prima cadunt; ità verborum vetus interit ætas,

Et juvenum ritu florent modò nata, vigent[que].

Debemur morti nos, nostra[que]: sive receptus

Terrâ Neptunus, classes Aquilonibus arcet,

Regis opus, sterilisve diù palus, apta[que] remis,

Vicinas urbes alit, & grave sentit aratrum:

Seu cursum mutavit iniquum frugibus amnis;

Doctus iter melius. Mortalia facta peribunt:

Nedum sermonum stet honos, & gratia vivax.

Multa renascentur, quæ jam cecidêre, cadent[que],

Quæ nunc sunt in honore, vocabula, si volet usus;

Quem penes arbitrium est, & vis, & norma loquendi.

Res gestæ regum[que], ducum[que], & tristiabella

Quo scribi possent numero, monstravit Homerus.

Versibus impariter junctis querimonia primum,

Post etiàm inclusa est voti sententia compos.

Quis tamen exiguos elegos emiserit author,

Grammatici certant, & adhuc sub judice lis est.

Musa dedit fidibus Divos pueros[que] Deorum,

Et pugilem victorem, & equum certamine primum,

Et juvenum curas, & libera vina referre.

Archilochum proprio rabies armavit Iambo.

Hunc socci cepêre pedem, grandes[que] cothurni,

Alternis aptum sermonibus, & populares

Vincentem strepitus, & natum rebus agendis.

Versibus exponi Tragicis res Comica non vult.

Indignatur item privatis, ac propè socco

Dignis car minibus celebrari cœna Thyestæ.

Singula quæ[que] locum teneant sortita decenter.

Descriptas servare vices operum[que] colores,

Cur ego, si nequeo, ignoro[que], Poêta salutor?

Cur nescire pudens pravè, quàm discere malo?

Interdùm tamen, & vocem Comœdia tollit,

New names of things. It hath beene ever free,

And ever will, to utter termes that bee

Stamp'd to the time. As woods whose change appeares

Still in their leaves, throughout the sliding yeares,

The first-borne dying; so the aged state

Of words decay, and phrases borne but late

Like tender buds shoot up, and freshly grow.

Our selves, and all that's ours, to death we owe:

Whether the Sea receiv'd into the shore,

That from the North, the Navie safe doth store,

A kingly worke; or that long barren fen

Once rowable, but now doth nourish men

In neighbour-townes, and feeles the weightie plough;

Or the wilde river, who hath changed now

His course so hurtfull both to graine, and seedes,

Being taught a better way. All mortall deeds

Shall perish: so farre off it is, the state,

Or grace of speech, should hope a lasting date.

Much phrase that now is dead, shall be reviv'd;

And much shall dye, that now is nobly liv'd,

If Custome please; at whose disposing will

The power, and rule of speaking resteth still.

The gests of Kings, great Captaines, and sad Warres,

What number best can fit, Homer declares.

In Verse unequall match'd, first sowre Laments,

After mens Wishes, crown'd in their events

Were also clos'd: But, who the man should be,

That first sent forth the dapper Elegie,

All the Grammarians strive; and yet in Court

Before the Judge, it hangs, and waites report.

Unto the Lyrick Strings, the Muse gave grace

To chant the Gods, and all their God-like race,

The conqu'ring Champion, the prime Horse in course,

Fresh Lovers businesse, and the Wines free source.

Th' Iambick arm'd Archilochus to rave,

This foot the socks tooke up, and buskins grave,

As fit t' exchange discourse; a Verse to win

On popular noise with, and doe businesse in.

The Comick matter will not be exprest

In tragick Verse; no lesse Thyestes feast

Abhorres low numbers, and the private straine

Fit for the sock: Each subject should retaine

The place allotted it, with decent thewes.

If now the turnes, the colours, and right hues

Of Poëms here describ'd, I can, nor use,

Nor know t' observe: Why (i' the Muses name)

Am I call'd Poët? wherefore with wrong shame,

Perversly modest, had I rather owe

To ignorance still, then either learne, or know.

Yet, sometime, doth the Comedie excite

Iratus[que] Chremes tumido delitigat ore

Et Tragicus plerumque dolet sermone pedestri

Telephus, & Peleus, cùm pauper, & exul uter[que],

Projicit ampullas, & sesquipedalia verba,

Si curat cor spectantis tetigisse querelá.

Non satis est pulchra esse poëmata: dulcia sunto,

Et quocun[que] volent animum auditoris agunto.

Ut ridentibus arrident, ita flentibus adflent

Humani vultus. Si vis me flere, dolendum est

Primùm ipsi tibi: tunc tua me infortunia lædent

Telephe, vel Pelu. Malè si mandata loqueris,

Aut dormitabo, aut ridebo. Tristia mæstum

Vultum verba decent: iratum, plena minarum:

Ludentem, lasciva: severum, seria dictu.

Format enim natura priùs nos intùs ad omnem

Fortunarum habitum: iuvat, aut impellit ad iram,

Aut ad humum mærore gravi deducit, & angit:

Post effert animi motus interprete linguâ.

Si dicentis erunt fortunis absona dicta,

Romani tollent equites pedites[que] cachinnum.

Intererit multùm, Davus ne loquatur, an heros:

Maturúsne senex, an adhuc florente juventâ

Fervidus: an matrona potens, an sedula nutrix:

Mercatorne vagus, cultorne virentis agelli:

Colchus, an Assyrius: Thebis nutritus, an Argis:

Aut famam sequere, aut sibi convenientia finge,

Scriptor. Honoratum si fortè reponis Achillem,

Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer

Jura neget sibi nata, nihil non arroget armis.

Sit Medea ferox, invicta[que]; flebilis Ino,

Perfidus Ixion, Io vaga, tristis Orestes.

Si quid inexpertum scenæ committis, & audes,

Personam formare novam; servetur ad imum

Qualis ad incæpto pro cesserit, & sibi constet.

Her voyce, and angry Chremes chafes out-right

With swelling throat: and, oft the tragick wight

Complaines in humble phrase. Both Telephus,

And Peleus, if they seeke to heart-strike us

That are Spectators, with their miserie,

When they are poore, and banish'd, must throw by

Their bombard-phrase, and foot-and-halfe-foot words:

'T is not enough, th' elaborate Muse affords

Her Poem's beautie, but a sweet delight

To worke the hearers minds, still, to their plight.

Mens faces, still, with such as laugh, are prone

To laughter; so they grieve with those that mone.

If thou would'st have me weepe, be thou first drown'd

Thy selfe in teares, then me thy losse will wound,

Peleus, or Telephus. If you speake vile

And ill-penn'd things, I shall, or sleepe, or smile.

Sad language fits sad lookes; stuff'd menacings,

The angry brow; the sportive, wanton things;

And the severe, speech ever serious.

For Nature, first within doth fashion us

To every state of fortune; she helpes on,

Or urgeth us to anger; and anon

With weightie sorrow hurles us all along,

And tortures us: and, after by the tongue

Her truch-man, she reports the minds each throw.

If now the phrase of him that speakes, shall flow

In sound, quite from his fortune; both the rout,

And Roman Gentrie, jearing, will laugh out.

It much will differ, if a God speake, than,

Or an Heroe; If a ripe old man,

Or some hot youth, yet in his flourishing course;

Where some great Lady, or her diligent Nourse;

A ventring Merchant, or the Farmer free

Of some small thankfull land: whether he bee

Of Cholchis borne; or in Assyria bred;

Or, with the milke of Thebes; or Argus, fed.

Or follow fame, thou that dost write, or faine

Things in themselves agreeing: If againe

Honour'd Achilles chance by thee be seiz'd,

Keepe him still active, angry, un-appeas'd,

Sharpe, and contemning lawes, at him should aime,

Be nought so 'bove him but his sword let claime.

Medea make brave with impetuous scorne;

Ino bewaild; Ixion false, forsworne;

Poore Jö wandring; wild Orestes mad:

If something strange, that never yet was had

Unto the Scene thou bringst, and dar'st create

A meere new person. Looke he keepe his state

Unto the last, as when he first went forth,

Still to be like himselfe, and hold his worth.

Difficile est propriè communia dicere; tu[que]

Rectiùs Iliacum carmen deducis in actus,

Quàm si proferres ignota, indicta[que] primus.

Publica materies privati juris erit; si

Nec circa vilem, patulum[que] moraberis orbem:

Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus

Interpres: nec desilies imitator in arctum,

Unde pedem proferre pudor vetet, aut operis lex.

Nec sic incipies, ut scriptor Cyclicus olim:

Fortunam Priami cantabo, & nobile bellum.

Quid dignum tanto feret hic promissor hiatu?

Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Quantò rectiùs hic, qui nil molitur ineptè:

Dic mihi Musa virum, capte post tempora Trojæ,

Qui mores hominum multorum vidit, & urbeis.

Non fumum ex fulgore, sed ex fumo dare lucem

Cogitat, ut speciosa dehinc miracula promat,

Antiphaten, Scyllamq;, & cum Cyclope Charybdim:

Nec gemino bellum Trojanum orditur ab ovo.

Semper ad eventum festinat, & in medias res,

Non secus ac notas, auditorem rapit: & quæ

Desperat tractata nitescere posse, relinquit.

At[que] ita mentitur, sic veris falsa remiscet,

Primo ne medium, medio ne discrepet imum.

Tu quid ego, & populus mecum desideret, audi.

Si plausoris eges aulæa manentis, & us[que]

Sessuri, donec cantor, Vos plaudite, dicat,

Aetatis cujus[que] notandi sunt tibi mores,

Mobilibus[que] decor naturis dandus, & annis.

Reddere qui voces jam scit puer, & pede certo

Signat humum, gestit paribus colludere, & iram

Colligit, ac ponit temerè, & mutatur in horas.

Imberbis juvenis tandem custode remoto,

Gaudet equis, canibus[que], & aprici gramine campi,

Cereus in vitium flecti, monitoribus asper,

'T is hard, to speake things common, properly:

And thou maist better bring a Rhapsody

Of Homers, forth in acts, then of thine owne,

First publish things unspoken, and unknowne.

Yet common matter thou thine owne maist make,

If thou the vile, broad-troden ring forsake.

For, being a Poet, thou maist feigne, create,

Not care, as thou wouldst faithfully translate,

To render word for word: nor with thy sleight

Of imitation, leape into a streight,

From whence thy Modestie, or Poëmes law

Forbids thee forth againe thy foot to draw.

Nor so begin, as did that Circler late,

I sing a noble Warre, and Priam's Fate.

What doth this Promiser such gaping worth

Afford? The Mountaines travail'd, and brought forth

A scorned Mouse! O, how much better this,

Who nought assaies unaptly, or amisse?

Speake to me, Muse, the Man, who after Troy was sack't,

Saw many Townes, and Men, and could their manners tract.

Hee thinkes not, how to give you smoake from light,

But light from smoake; that he may draw his bright

Wonders forth after: As Antiphates,

Scylla, Charybdis, Polypheme, with these.

Nor from the brand, with which the life did burne

Of Meleager, brings he the returne

Of Diomede; nor Troyes sad Warre begins

From the two Egges, that did disclose the twins.

He ever hastens to the end, and so

(As if he knew it) rapps his hearer to

The middle of his matter: letting goe

What he despaires, being handled, might not show.

And so well faines, so mixeth cunningly

Falshood with truth, as no man can espie

Where the midst differs from the first: or where

The last doth from the midst dis-joyn'd appeare.

Heare, what it is the People, and I desire:

If such a ones applause thou dost require,

That tarries till the hangings be ta'en downe,

And sits, till the Epilogue saies Clap, or Crowne:

The customes of each age thou must observe,

And give their yeares, and natures, as they swerve,

Fit rites. The Child, that now knowes how to say,

And can tread firme, longs with like lads to play;

Soone angry, and soone pleas'd, is sweet, or sowre,

He knowes not why, and changeth every houre.

Th' unbearded Youth, his Guardian once being gone,

Loves Dogges, and Horses; and is ever one

I' the open field; Is Waxe like to be wrought

To every vice, as hardly to be brought

Utilium tardus provisor, prodigus æris,

Sublimis, cupidus[que], & amata relinquere pernix.

Conversis studiis ætas, animus[que] virilis

Quærit opes, & amicitias: inservit honori:

Commisiße cavet, quod mox mutare laboret.

Multa senem circumveniunt incommoda, vel quòd

Quærit, & inventis miser abstinet, ac timet uti:

Vel quòd res omneis timidè gelide[que] ministrat;

Dilator, spe longus, iners, avidus[que] futuri,

Difficilis, querulus, laudator temporis acti

Sepuero: censor, castigator[que] minorum.

Multa ferunt anni venientes commoda secum:

Multa recedentes adimunt. ne fortè seniles

Mandentur juveni partes, puero[que] viriles,

Semper in adjunctis, ævo[que] morabimur aptis.

Aut agitur res in scenis, aut acta refertur.

Segniùs irritant animos demissa per aurem,

Quàm quæ sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus, & quæ

Ipse sibi tradit spectator. non tamen intus

Digna geri, promes in scenam: multa[que] tolles

Ex oculis, quæ mox narret facundia præsens.

Nec pueros coram populo Medea trucidet:

Aut humana palàm coquat exta nefarius Atreus:

Aut in avem Progne vertatur, Cadmus in anguem.

Quodcun[que] ostendit mihi sic, incredulus odi.

Néve minor, quinto, neu sit productior actu

Fabula quæ posci vult, & spectata reponi.

Nec Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus

Inciderit: nec quarta loqui persona laboret.

Autoris parteis chorus, officium[que] virile

Defendat, neu quid medios intercinat actus

Quod non proposito conducat, & hæreat aptè.

Ille bonis faveat[que], & concilietur amicè.

Et regat iratos, & amet peccare timenteis.

To endure counsell: A Provider slow

For his owne good, a carelesse letter-goe

Of money, haughtie, to desire soon mov'd,

And then as swift to leave what he hath lov'd.

These studies alter now, in one, growne man;

His better'd mind seekes wealth, and friendship: than

Lookes after honours, and bewares to act

What straight-way he must labour to retract.

The old man many evils doe girt round;

Either because he seekes, and, having found,

Doth wretchedly the use of things forbeare,

Or do's all businesse coldly, and with feare;

A great deferrer, long in hope, growne numbe

With sloth, yet greedy still of what's to come:

Froward, complaining, a commender glad

Of the times past, when he was a young lad;

And still correcting youth, and censuring.

Mans comming yeares much good with them doe bring:

At his departing take much thence: lest, then,

The parts of age to youth be given; or men

To children; we must alwayes dwell, and stay

In fitting proper adjuncts to each day.

The businesse either on the Stage is done,

Or acted told. But, ever, things that run

In at the eare, doe stirre the mind more slow

Then those the faithfull eyes take in by show,

And the beholder to himselfe doth render.

Yet, to the Stage, at all thou maist not tender

Things worthy to be done within, but take

Much from the sight, which faire report will make

Present anone: Medea must not kill

Her Sonnes before the people; nor the ill-

Natur'd, and wicked Atreus Cooke, to th' eye,

His Nephews entrailes; nor must Progne flie

Into a Swallow there; Nor Cadmus take,

Upon the Stage, the figure of a Snake.

What so is showne, I not beleeve, and hate.

Nor must the Fable, that would hope the Fate

Once seene, to be againe call'd for, and plaid,

Have more or lesse then just five Acts: nor laid,

To have a God come in; except a knot

Worth his untying happen there: And not

Any fourth man, to speake at all, aspire.

An Actors parts, and Office too, the Quire

Must maintaine manly; not be heard to sing

Betweene the Acts, a quite cleane other thing

Then to the purpose leades, and fitly 'grees.

It still must favour good men, and to these

Be wonne a friend; It must both sway, and bend

The angry, and love those that feare t' offend.

Ille dapeis laudet mensæ brevis: ille salubrem

Justitiam, leges[que], & apertis otia portis.

Ille tegat commissa, Deos[que] precetur, & oret,

Ut redeat miseris, abeat fortuna superbis.

Tibia non, ut nunc, orichalco vincta, tubæ[que]

Æmula, sed tenuis, simplex foramine pauco

Aspirare, & adesse choris erat utilis, atque

Nondùm spissa nimis complere sedilia flatu.

Quò sanè populus numerabilis, utpote parvus,

Et frugi, castus[que] verecandus[que] coibat.

Postquam cœpit agros extendere victor, & urbem

Latior amplecti murus, Vinoq; diurno,

Placari Genius festis impunè diebus,

Acceßit numeris[que] modis[que] licentia major.

Indoctus quid enim saperet, liber[que] laborum,

Rusticus urbano confusus, turpis honesto?

Sic priscæ motum[que], & luxuriam addidit arti

Tibicen, traxit[que] vagus per pulpita vestem.

Sic etiam fidibus voces crevere severis,

Et tulit eloquium insolitum facundia præceps:

Utilium[que] sagax rerum, & divina futuri

Sortilegis non discrepuit sententia Delphis.

Ignotum Tragicæ genus invenisse Camœnæ

Dicitur, & plaustris vexisse poëmata Thespis,

Quæ canerent agerent[que] peruncti fæcibus ora.

Post hunc personæ pallæ[que] repertor honestæ

Æschylus, & modicis instravit pulpita tignis,

Et docuit magnum[que] loqui niti[que] cothurno.

Carmine qui Tragico vilem certavit ob hircum,

Mox etiam agresteis Satyros nudavit, & asper

Incolumi gravitate jocum tentavit: eò quòd

Illecebris erat, & gratâ novitate morandus

Spectator, functus[que] sacris, & potus, & exlex.

Verùm ita risores, ita commendare dicaces

Conveniet Satyros, ità vertere seria ludo:

Ne, quicun[que] Deus, quicun[que] adhibebitur Heros,

Praise the spare diet, wholsome justice, lawes,

Peace, and the open ports, that peace doth cause

Hide faults, pray to the Gods, and wish aloud

Fortune would love the poore, and leave the proud.

The Hau'-boy, not as now with latten bound,

And rivall with the Trumpet for his sound,

But soft, and simple, at few holes breath'd time

And tune too, fitted to the Chorus rime,

As loud enough to fill the seates, not yet

So over-thick, but, where the people met,

They might with ease be numbred, being a few

Chaste, thriftie, modest folke, that came to view.

But, as they conquer'd, and enlarg'd their bound,

That wider Walls embrac'd their Citie round,

And they uncensur'd might at Feasts, and Playes

Steepe the glad Genius in the Wine, whole dayes,

Both in their tunes, the licence greater grew,

And in their numbers; For, alas, what knew

The Ideot, keeping holy-day, or drudge,

Clowne, Towns-man, base, and noble, mix'd, to judge?

Thus, to his antient Art the Piper lent

Gesture, and riot, whilst he swooping went

In his train'd Gowne about the Stage: So grew

In time to Tragedie, a Musicke new.

The rash, and head-long eloquence brought forth

Unwonted language; And that sense of worth

That found out profit, and foretold each thing

Now differ'd not from Delphick riddling.

Thespis is said to be the first found out

The Tragedie, and carried it about,

Till then unknowne, in Carts, wherein did ride

Those that did sing, and act: their faces dy'd

With lees of Wine. Next Eschylus, more late

Brought in the Visor, and the robe of State,

Built a small timbred Stage, and taught them talke

Loftie, and grave; and in the buskin stalke.

Hee too, that did in Tragick Verse contend,

For the vile Goat, soone after, forth did send

The rough rude Satyres naked; and would try,

Though sower, with safetie of his gravitie.

How he could jest, because he mark'd and saw

The free spectators, subject to no Law,

Having well eat, and drunke: the rites being done,

Were to be staid with softnesses, and wonne

With something that was acceptably new.

Yet so the scoffing Satyres to mens view,

And so their prating to present was best,

And so to turne all earnest into jest,

As neither any God, were brought in there,

Or Semi-god, that late was seene to weare

Regali conspectus in auro nuper, & ostro,

Migret in obscuras humili sermone tabernas;

Aut, dum vitat humum, nubeis, & inania captet.

Effutire leveis indigna Tragœdia versus:

Ut festis matrona moveri jussa diebus,

Intererit Satyris paulum pudibunda protervis.

Non ego inornata, & dominantia nomina solum,

Verba[que] Pisones, Satyrorum scriptor amabo:

Nec sic enitar Tragico differre colori

Ut nihil intersit, Davusne loquatur, an audax

Pythias emuncto lucrata Simone talentum;

An custos, fumulus[que] dei Silenus alumni.

Ex noto fictum carmen sequar, ut sibi quivis

Speret idem: sudet multùm frustra[que] laboret

Ausus idem: tantum series junctura[que] pollet:

Tantum de medio sumptis accedit honoris.

Silvis deducti caveant, me judice, Fauni,

Ne velut innati triviis, ac penè forenses,

Aut nimium teneris juvenentur versibus unquam,

Aut immunda crepent, ignominiosa[que] dicta.

Offenduntur enim, quibus est equus, & pater, & res:

Nec, si quid fricti ciceris probat, & nucis emptor,

Aequis accipiunt animis, donant've corona.

Succeßit vetus his Comœdia non sine multâ

Laude, sed in vitium libertas excidit, & vim

Dignam lege regi. Lex est accepta, chorus[que]

Turpiter obticuit, sublato jure nocendi.

Syllaba longa brevi subjecta, vocatur Iambus

Pes citus: unde etiam trimetris accrescere jußit

Nomen Iambeis, cum senos redderet ictus,

Primus ad extremum similis sibi: non ita pridem

Tardior ut paulo gravior[que] veniret ad aureis,

Spondeos stabiles in jura paterna recepit

Commodus, & patiens: non ut de sede secunda

Cederet, aut quarta socialiter. hic & in Acci

Nobilibus trimetris apparet rarus: & Enni.

A royall Crowne, and purple; be made hop

With poore base termes, through every baser shop:

Or whilst he shuns the Earth, to catch at Aire

And emptie Clowdes. For Tragedie is faire,

And farre unworthy to blurt out light rimes;

But, as a Matrone drawne at solemne times

To Dance, so she should, shamefac'd, differ farre

From what th' obscene, and petulant Satyres are.

Nor I, when I write Satyres, will so love

Plaine phrase, my Piso's, as alone t' approve

Meere raigning words: nor will I labour so

Quite from all face of Tragedie to goe,

As not make difference, whether Davus speake,

And the bold Pythias, having cheated weake

Simo; and, of a talent wip'd his purse;

Or old Silenus, Bacchus guard, and Nurse.

I can out of knowne geare, a fable frame,

And so, as every man may hope the same;

Yet he that offers at it, may sweat much,

And toile in vaine: the excellence is such

Of Order, and Connexion; so much grace

There comes sometimes to things of meanest place.

But, let the Faunes, drawne from their Groves, beware.

Be I their Judge, they doe at no time dare

Like men street-borne, and neere the Hall, reherse

Their youthfull tricks in over-wanton verse:

Or crack out bawdie speeches, and uncleane.

The Roman Gentrie, Men of Birth, and Meane

Will take offence, at this: Nor, though it strike

Him that buyes chiches blanch't, or chance to like

The nut-crackers throughout, will they therefore

Receive, or give it an applause, the more.

To these succeeded the old Comœdie,

And not without much praise; till libertie

Fell into fault so farre, as now they saw

Her licence fit to be restrain'd by law:

Which law receiv'd, the Chorus held his peace,

His power of foulely hurting made to cease.

Two rest's, a short and long, th' Iambick frame;

A foot, whose swiftnesse gave the Verse the name

Of Trimeter, when yet it was sixe-pac'd,

But meere Iambicks all, from first to last.

Nor is't long since, they did with patience take

Into their birth-right, and for fitnesse sake,

The steadie Spondæes; so themselves doe beare

More slow, and come more weightie to the eare:

Provided, ne're to yeeld, in any case

Of fellowship, the fourth, or second place.

This foot yet, in the famous Trimeters

Of Accius, and Ennius, rare appeares:

In scenam missos magno cum pondere versus,

Aut operæ celeris nimium, cura[que] carentis,

Aut ignoratæ premit artis crimine turpi:

Non quivis videt immodulata poëmata judex.

Et data Romanis venia est indigna poëtis,

Idcircóne vager, scribam[que] licenter? an omneis

Visuros peccata putem mea? tutus, & intra

Spem veniæ cautus? vitavi deni[que] culpam,

Non laudem merui. Vos exemplaria Græca

Nocturnâ versate manu, versate diurnâ.

At nostri proavi Plautinos, & numeros, &

Laudavere saleis: nimium patienter utrunque,

Ne dicam stultè, mirati; si modò ego, & vos

Scimus inurbanum lepido seponere dicto,

Legitimum[que] sonum digitis callemus, & aure.

Nil intentatum nostri liquere poêtæ,

Nec minimum meruêre decus, vestigia Græca

Ausi deserere, & celebrare domestica facta:

Vel qui Prætextas, vel qui docuêre Togatas.

Nec vertute foret, clarisve potentius armis,

Quàm linguâ, Latiam, si non offenderet unum-

Quem[que] poëtarum limæ labor, & mora. Vos ò

Pompilius sanguis carmen reprehendite, quod non

Multa dies, & multa litura coërcuit, at[que]

Perfectum decies non castigavit ad unguem.

Ingenium misera quia fortunatius arte

Credit, & excludit sanos Helicone poêtas

Democritus, bona pars non ungueis ponere curat,

Non barbam, secreta petit loca, balnea vitat.

Nanciscetur enim pretium, nomen[que] poetæ,

Si tribus Anticyris caput insanabile nunquam

Tonsori Lycino commiserit. O ego lævus,

Qui purgor bilem sub verni temporis horam.

Non alius faceret meliora poêmata. verùm,

Nil tanti est: ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum

So rare, as with some taxe it doth ingage

Those heavie Verses sent so to the Stage,

Of too much haste, and negligence in part,

Or a worse Crime, the ignorance of art.

But every Judge hath not the facultie

To note in Poëmes, breach of harmonie;

And there is given too, unworthy leave

To Roman Poëts. Shall I therefore weave

My Verse at randome, and licentiously?

Or rather, thinking all my faults may spie,

Grow a safe Writer, and be warie-driven

Within the hope of having all forgiven.

'T is cleare, this way I have got off from blame,

But, in conclusion, merited no fame.

Take you the Greeke Examples, for your light,

In hand, and turne them over day, and night.

Our Ancestors did Plautus numbers praise,

And jests; and both to admiration raise

Too patiently, that I not fondly say;

If either you, or I, know the right way

To part scurrilitie from wit: or can

A lawfull Verse, by th' eare, or finger scan.

Our Poëts, too, left nought unproved here;

Nor did they merit the lesse Crowne to weare,

In daring to forsake the Grecian tracts,

And celebrating our owne home-borne facts;

Whether the guarded Tragedie they wrought,

Or 't were the gowned Comœdy they taught.

Nor had our Italie more glorious bin

In vertue, and renowne of armes, then in

Her language, if the Stay, and Care t' have mended,

Had not our every Poët like offended.

But you, Pompilius off-spring, spare you not

To taxe that Verse, which many a day, and blot

Have not kept in; and (lest perfection faile)

Not ten times o're, corrected to the naile.

Because Democritus beleeves a wit

Happier then wretched art, and doth, by it,

Exclude all sober Poëts, from their share

In Helicon; a great sort will not pare

Their nailes, nor shave their beards, but to by-paths

Retire themselves, avoid the publike baths;

For so, they shall not only gaine the worth,

But fame of Poëts, they thinke, if they come forth,

And from the Barber Licinus conceale

Their heads, which three Anticyra's cannot heale.

O I left-witted, that purge every spring

For choller! If I did not, who could bring

Out better Poëms? But I cannot buy

My title, at the rate, I 'ad rather, I,

Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exors ipsa secandi.

Munus & officium nil scribens ipse docebo;

Unde parentur opes: quid alat formet[que] Poëtam:

Quid deceat, quid non: quò virtus, quò ferat error.

Scribendi rectè, sapere, est & principium & fons.

Rem tibi Socraticæ poterunt ostendere chartæ:

Verba[que] provisam rem non invita sequentur.

Qui didicit, patriæ quid debeat, & quid amicis:

Quo sit amore parens, quo frater amandus, & hospes:

Quod sit conscripti, quod judicis officium: quæ

Partes in bellum mißi ducis: ille profectò

Reddere personæ scit convenientia cui[que].

Respicere exemplar vitæ, morum[que] jubebo

Doctum imitatorem, & veras hinc ducere voces.

Interdum speciosa locis, morata[que] rectè

Fabula, nullius Veneris, sine pondere, & arte,

Valdius oblectat populum, melius[que] moratur,

Quàm versus inopes rerum, nugæ[que] canoræ.

Graiis ingenium, Graiis dedit ore rotundo

Musa loqui, præter laudem, nullius avaris.

Romani pueri longis rationibus assem

Discunt in parteis centum diducere. Dicat

Filius Albini, Si de quincunce remota est

Uncia, quid superat? poteras dixisse triens. eu,

Rem poteris servare tuam. redit uncia: quid fit?

Semis. ad hæc animos ærugo, & cura peculi,

Cum semel imbuerit, speramus carmina fingi

Posse linenda cedro, & levi servanda cupresso?

Aut prodesse volunt, aut delectare Poëtæ,

Aut simul & jucunda, & idonea dicere vitæ.

Silvestres homines sacer, interpres[que] Deorum,

Cædibus & victu fœdo deterruit Orpheus,

Dictus ob hoc lenire tigres, rapidos[que] leones:

Be like a Whet-stone, that an edge can put

On steele, though't selfe be dull, and cannot cut.

I writing nought my selfe, will teach them yet

Their Charge, and Office, whence their wealth to set,

What nourisheth, what formed, what begot

The Poët, what becommeth, and what not:

Whether truth may, and whether error bring.

The very root of writing well, and spring

Is to be wise; thy matter first to know;

Which the Socratick writings best can show:

And, where the matter is provided still,

There words will follow, not against their will.

Hee, that hath studied well the debt, and knowes

What to his Countrey, what his friends he owes,

What height of love, a Parent will fit best,

What brethren, what a stranger, and his guest,

Can tell a States-mans dutie, what the arts

And office of a Judge are, what the parts

Of a brave Chiefe sent to the warres: He can,

Indeed, give fitting dues to every man.

And I still bid the learned Maker looke,

On life, and manners, and make those his booke,

Thence draw forth true expressions. For, sometimes,

A Poëme, of no grace, weight, art, in rimes

With specious places, and being humour'd right,

More strongly takes the people with delight,

And better stayes them there, then all fine noise

Of verse meere-matter-lesse, and tinckling toies.

The Muse not only gave the Greek's a wit

But a well-compass'd mouth to utter it.

Being men were covetous of nought, but praise;

Our Roman Youths they learne the subtle wayes

How to divide, into a hundred parts,

A pound, or piece, by their long compting arts:

There's Albin's sonne will say, Substract an ounce

From the five ounces; what remaines? pronounce

A third of twelve, you may: foure ounces. Glad,

He cries, Good boy, thou'lt keepe thine owne. Now, adde

An ounce, what makes it then? The halfe pound just;

Sixe ounces. O, whence once the canker'd rust,

And care of getting, thus, our minds hath stain'd,

Thinke wee, or hope, there can be Verses fain'd

In juyce of Cedar, worthy to be steep'd,

And in smooth Cypresse boxes to be keep'd?

Poëts would either profit, or delight,

Or mixing sweet, and fit, teach life the right.

Orpheus, a priest, and speaker for the Gods

First frighted men, and wildly liv'd, at ods,

From slaughters, and foule life; and for the same

Was Tigers, said, and Lyons fierce, to tame.

Dictus & Amphion Thebanæ conditor arcis

Saxo movere sono testudinis, & prece blanda

Ducere quo vellet. Fuit hæc sapientia quondam,

Publica privatis secernere, sacra profanis,

Concubitu prohibere vago: dare jura maritis,

Oppida moliri, leges incidere ligno.

Sic honor, & nomen divinis vatibus, at[que]

Carminibus venit. post hos insignis Homerus,

Tyrtæusq; mares animos in tristia bella

Versibus exacuit. dictæ per carmina sortes,

Et vitæ monstrata via est, & gratia regum

Pieriis tentata modis, ludus[que] repertus,

Et longorum operum finis. ne fortè pudori

Sit tibi Musa lyræ solers, & cantor Apollo.

Quicquid præcipies esto brevis: ut citò dicta

Percipiant animi dociles, teneant[que] fideles.

Omne supervacuum pleno de pectore manat.

Ficta, voluptatis causâ, sint proxima veris.

Nec quodcun[que] volet, poscat sibi fabula credi:

Neu pransæ Lamiæ vivum puerum extrahat alvo.

Centuriæ seniorum agitant expertia frugis:

Celsi prætereunt austera poêmata Rhamnes.

Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci,

Lectorem delectando, pariter[que] monendo.

Hic meret æra liber Sosiis: hic & mare transit,

Et longum noto scriptori prorogat ævum.

Sunt delicta tamen quibus ignovisse velimus.

Nam ne[que] chorda sonum reddit, quem vult manus & mens,

Poscenti[que] gravem, persæpe remittit acutum:

Nec semper feriet, quodcun[que] minabitur arcus.

Verùm ubi plura nitent incarmine, non ego paucis

Offendar maculis, quas aut incuria fudit,

Aut humana parum cavit natura. quid ergo?

Ut scriptor si peccat idem librarius us[que]

Quamvis est monitus, venia caret & citharœdus

Ridetur, chorda qui semper oberrat eadem:

Amphion, too, that built the Theban towres,

Was said to move the stones, by his Lutes powers,

And lead them with soft songs, where that he would.

This was the wisdome, that they had of old,

Things sacred, from profane to separate;

The publike, from the private; to abate

Wild raging lusts; prescribe the mariage good;

Build Townes, and carve the Lawes in leaves of wood.

And thus at first, an honour, and a name

To divine Poets, and their Verses came.

Next these great Homer and Tyrtœus set

On edge the Masculine spirits, and did whet

Their minds to Warres, with rimes they did rehearse;

The Oracles, too, were given out in Verse;

All way of life was shewen; the grace of Kings

Attempted by the Muses tunes, and strings;

Playes were found out; and rest, the end, and crowne

Of their long labours, was in Verse set downe:

All which I tell, lest when Apollo's nam'd,

Or Muse, upon the Lyre, thou chance b' asham'd.

Be briefe, in what thou wouldst command, that so

The docile mind may soone thy precepts know,

And hold them faithfully; For nothing rests,

But flowes out, that ore-swelleth in full brests.

Let what thou fain'st for pleasures sake, be neere

The truth; nor let thy Fable thinke, what e're

It would, must be: lest it alive would draw

The Child, when Lamia 'has din'd, out of her maw.

The Poëms void of profit, our grave men

Cast out by voyces; want they pleasure, then

Our Gallants give them none, but passe them by:

But he hath every suffrage can apply

Sweet mix'd with sowre, to his Reader, so

As doctrine, and delight together go.

This booke will get the Sosii money; This

Will passe the Seas, and long as nature is,

With honour make the farre-knowne Author live.

There are yet faults, which we would well forgive,

For, neither doth the String still yeeld that sound

The hand, and mind would, but it will resound

Oft-times a Sharpe, when we require a Flat:

Nor alwayes doth the loosed Bow, hit that

Which it doth threaten. Therefore, where I see

Much in the Poëme shine, I will not bee

Offended with few spots, which negligence

Hath shed, or humane frailtie not kept thence.

How then? Why, as a Scrivener, if h' offend

Still in the same, and warned will not mend,

Deserves no pardon; or who'd play, and sing

Is laugh'd at, that still jarreth on one string:

Sic mihi, qui multum cessat, fit Cherilus ille,

Quem bis ter[que] bonum cum risu miror; & idem

Indignor. quando[que] bonus dormitat Homerus.

Verùm opere in longo fas est obrepere somnum.

Ut pictura, poësis erit: quæ, si proprius stes,

Te capiet magis, & quædam, si longius abstes.

Hæc amat obscurum: volet hæc sub luce videri,

Judicis argutum quæ non formidat acumen.

Hæc placuit semel: hæc decies repetita placebit.

O major juvenum, quamvis & voce paterna

Fingeris ad rectum, & per te sapis, hoc tibi dictum

Tolle memor: certis medium, & tolerabile rebus

Rectè concedi. consultus juris, & actor

Causarum mediocris, abest virtute diserti

Messalæ, nec scit quantum Cacellius Aulus:

Sed tamen in pretio est. Mediocribus esse poëtis

Non homines, non Dii, non concessere columnæ.

Ut gratas inter mensas symphonia discors,

Et crassum unguentum, & Sardo cum melle papaver,

Offendunt; poterat duci quia cœna sine istis:

Sic animis natum inventum[que] poëma juvandis,

Si paulum summo disceßit, vergit ad imum.

Ludere qui nescit, campestribus abstinet armis,

Indoctus[que] pilæ, discive, trochive, quiescit,

Ne spissæ risum tollant impune coronæ.

Qui nescit, versus tamen audet fingere: quid ni?

Liber, & ingenius, præsertim census equestrem

Summam nummorum, vitio[que] remotus ab omni.

Tu nihil invitâ dices, facies[que] Minervâ.

Id tibi judicium est, eamens, si quid tamen olim

Scripseris, in Metii descendat judicis aures,

Et patris, & nostras, nonum[que] prematur in annum.

Membranis intus positis delere licebit,

Quod non ædideris. Nescit vox missare verti.

Naturâ fieret laudabile carmen, an arte,

Quæsitum est, ego nec studium sine divite vena,

So he that flaggeth much, becomes to me

A Chœrilus, in whom if I but see

Twice, or thrice good, I wonder: but am more

Angry. Sometimes, I heare good Homer snore.

But, I confesse, that, in a long worke, sleepe

May, with some right, upon an Author creepe.

As Painting, so is Poësie. Some mans hand

Will take you more, the neerer that you stand;

As some the farther off: This loves the darke;

This, fearing not the subtlest Judges marke

Will in the light be view'd: This once, the sight

Doth please; this, ten times over, will delight.

You Sir, the elder brother, though you are

Informed rightly, by your Fathers care,

And, of your selfe too, understand; yet mind

This saying: To some things there is assign'd

A meane, and toleration, which does well:

There may a Lawyer be, may not excell;

Or Pleader at the Barre, that may come short

Of eloquent Messalla's power in Court,

Or knowes not what Cassellius Aulus can;

Yet, there's a value given to this man.

But neither, Men, nor Gods, nor Pillars meant,

Poëts should ever be indifferent.

As jarring Musique doth, at jolly feasts,

Or thick grosse ointment, but offend the Guests:

As Poppie, and Sardane honey; 'cause without

These, the free meale might have beene well drawne out:

So, any Poëme, fancied, or forth-brought

To bettring of the mind of man, in ought,

If ne're so little it depart the first,

And highest; sinketh to the lowest, and worst.

Hee, that not knowes the games, nor how to use

His armes in Mars his field, he doth refuse;

Or, who's unskilfull at the Coit, or Ball,

Or trundling Wheele, he can fit still, from all;

Lest the throng'd heapes should on a laughter take:

Yet who's most ignorant, dares Verses make.

Why not? I'm gentle, and free-borne, doe hate

Vice, and, am knowne to have a Knights estate.

Thou, such thy judgement is, thy knowledge too,

Wilt nothing against nature speake, or doe:

But, if hereafter thou shalt write, not feare

To send it to be judg'd by Metius eare,

And, to your Fathers, and to mine; though't be

Nine yeares kept in, your papers by, yo'are free

To change, and mend, what you not forth doe set.

The Writ, once out, never returned yet.

'Tis now inquir'd, which makes the nobler Verse,

Nature, or Art. My Judgement will not pierce

Nec rude quid prosit video ingenium; alterius sic

Altera poscit opem res, & conjurat amicè.

Qui studet optatam cursu contingere metam

Multa tulit fecit[que] puer: sudavit, & alsit,

Abstinuit Venere, & vino. qui Pythica cantat

Tibicen, didicit priùs, extimuit[que] magistrum.

Nunc satis est dixisse, Ego mira Poëmata pango:

Occupet extremum scabies, mihi turpe relinqui est,

Et quod non didici, sanè nescire fateri.

Ut prœco ad merces turbam qui cogit emendas,

Assentatores jubet ad lucrum ire Poëta

Dives agris, dives positis in fœnore nummis.

Si verò est, unctum qui rectè ponere poß it,

Et spondere levi pro paupere, & eripere atris

Litibus implicitum; mirabor, si sciet inter-

Noscere mendacem verum[que] beatus amicum.

Tu seu donaris, seu quid donare voles cui,

Nolito ad versus tibi factos ducere plenum

Lætitiæ. clamabit enim, Pulchrè, benè, rectè:

Pallescit super his: etiam stillabit amicis

Ex oculis rorem, saliet, tundet pede terram.

Ut qui conducti plorant in funere, dicunt,

Et faciunt propè plura dolentibus ex animo: sic

Derisor vero plus laudatore movetur.

Reges dicuntur multis urgere culullis,

Et torquere mero, quem perspexisse laborant,

An sit amicitiâ dignus. si carmina condes,

Nunquam te fallant animi sub vulpe latentes.

Quintilio, si quid recitares, corrige, sodes,

Hoc aiebat, & hoc. meliùs te posse negares,

Bis, ter[que] expertum frustra; delere jubebat,

Et malè tornatos incudi reddere versus.

Si defendere delictum, quâm vertere malles,

Nulla ultra verbum, aut operam sumebat inanem,

Quin sine rivali te[que], & tua solus amares.

Into the Profits, what a meere rude braine

Can; or all toile, without a wealthie veine:

So doth the one, the others helpe require,

And friendly should unto one end conspire.

Hee, that's ambitious in the race to touch

The wished goale, both did, and suffer'd much

While he was young; he sweat; and freez'd againe:

And both from Wine, and Women did abstaine.

Who, since, to sing the Pythian rites is heard,

Did learne them first, and once a Master fear'd.

But, now, it is enough to fay; I make

An admirable Verse. The great Scurfe take

Him that is last, I scorne to come behind,

Or, of the things, that ne're came in my mind

To say, I'm ignorant. Just as a Crier

That to the sale of Wares calls every Buyer;

So doth the Poet, who is rich in land,

Or great in money's out at use, command

His flatterers to their gaine. But say, he can

Make a great Supper; or for some poore man

Will be a suretie; or can helpe him out

Of an entangling suit; and bring't about:

I wonder how this happie man should know,

Whether his soothing friend speake truth, or no.

But you, my Piso, carefully beware,

(Whether yo' are given to, or giver are.)

You doe not bring, to judge your Verses, one,

With joy of what is given him, over-gone:

For hee'll cry, Good, brave, better, excellent!

Looke pale, distill a showre (was never meant)

Out at his friendly eyes, leape, beat the groun'.

As those that hir'd to weepe at Funeralls, swoune,

Cry, and doe more then the true Mourners: so

The Scoffer, the true Praiser doth out-goe.

Rich men are said with many cups to plie,

And rack, with Wine, the man whom they would try,

If of their friendship he be worthy, or no:

When you write Verses, with your judge do so:

Looke through him, and be sure, you take not mocks

For praises, where the mind conceales a foxe.

If to Quintilius, you recited ought:

Hee'd fay, Mend this, good friend, and this; 'T is naught.

If you denied, you had no better straine,

And twice, or thrice had 'ssayd it, still in vaine:

Hee'd bid, blot all: and to the anvile bring

Those ill-torn'd Verses, to new hammering.

Then: If your fault you rather had defend

Then change. No word, or worke, more would he spend

In vaine, but you, and yours, you should love still

Alone, without a rivall, by his will.

Vir bonus & prudens, versus reprehendit inerteis,

Culpabit duros, incomptis allinet atrum

Transverso calamo signum, ambitiosa recidet

Ornamenta, parum claris lucem dare coget:

Arguet ambiguè dictum, mutanda notabit:

Fiet Aristarchus, nec dicet, Cur ego amicum

Offendam in nugis? hæ nugæ seria ducent

In mala, semel derisum, exceptum[que] sinistrè.

Ut mala quam scabies, aut morbus regius urget,

Aut fanaticus error, & iracunda Diana,

Vesanum tetigisse timent fugiunt[que] Poetam

Qui sapiunt: agitant pueri, incauti[que] sequuntur.

Hic, dum sublimeis versus ructatur, & errat,

Si veluti merulis intentus decidit auceps

In puteum, foveámve, licet succurrite longum

Clamet Iò cives, non sit qui tollere curet.

Si quis curet opem ferre, & demittere funem,

Quî scis, an prudens huc se dejecerit, at[que]

Servari nolit? dicam, Siculiq; Poetæ

Narrabo interitum. Deus immortalis haberi

Dum cupit Empedocles, ardentem frigidus Ætnam

Insiluit. Sit jus, liceat[que] perire Poetis.

Invitum qui servat, idem facit occidenti.

Nec semel hoc fecit: nec si retractus erit, jam

Fiet homo: & ponet famosæ mortis amorem.

Nec satis apparet, cur versus factitet: utrum

Minxerit in patrios cineres, an triste bidental

Moverit incestus: certè furit, ac, velut ursus,

Objectos caveæ valuit si frangere clathros

Indoctum, doctum[que] fugat recitator acerbus.

Quem verò arripuit, tenet, occidit[que] legendo,

Non missura cutem nisi plena cruoris hirudo.

FINIS.

A wise, and honest man will cry out shame

On artlesse Verse; the hard ones he will blame;

Blot out the carelesse, with his turned pen;

Cut off superfluous ornaments; and when

They're darke, bid cleare this: all that's doubtfull wrote

Reprove; and, what is to be changed, note:

Become an Aristarchus. And, not say,

Why should I grieve my friend, this trifling way?

These trifles into serious mischieses lead

The man once mock'd, and suffer'd wrong to tread.

Wise, sober folke, a frantick Poet feare,

And shun to touch him, as a man that were

Infected with the leprosie, or had

The yellow Jaundies, or were furious mad

According to the Moone. But, then the boyes

They vexe, and follow him with shouts, and noise,

The while he belcheth loftie Verses out,

And stalketh, like a Fowler, round about,

Busie to catch a Black-bird; if he fall

Into a pit, or hole; although he call,

And cry aloud, Helpe gentle Countrey-men,

There's none will take the care, to helpe him then;

For, if one should, and with a rope make haste

To let it downe, who knowes, if he did cast

Himselfe there purposely, or no; and would

Not thence be fav'd, although indeed he could?

I'le tell you but the death, and the disease

Of the Sicilian Poët Empedocles,

Hee, while he labour'd to be thought a God

Immortall, tooke a melancholique, odde

Conceipt, and into burning Aetna leap'd.

Let Poëts perish, that will not be kept.

Hee that preserves a man, against his will,

Doth the same thing with him, that would him kill.

Nor did he doe this once; for if you can

Recall him yet, hee'ld be no more a man:

Or love of this so famous death lay by.

His cause of making Verses none knowes why

Whether he piss'd upon his Fathers grave;

Or the sad thunder-stroken thing he have

Defiled, touch'd; but certaine he was mad,

And, as a Beare, if he the strength but had

To force the grates, that hold him in, would fright

All; So this grievous Writer puts to flight

Learn'd and unlearn'd; holding, whom once he takes;

And, there an end of him, reciting makes:

Not letting goe his hold, where he drawes food,

Till he drop off, a Horse-leech, full of blood.

FINIS.