The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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PROLOGUE,
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
PROLOGUE,
To the WITS.
Bless me you kinder Starrs! How are we throng'd?Alass! whom hath our harmless Poet wrong'd,
That he should meet together in one day
A Session, and a Faction at his Play,
To judge, and to condemne? It cannot be
Amongst so many here, all should agree.
Your expectation too, you so much raise
As if you came to wonder, not to praise.
And this Sir-Poet (if I e're have read
Customes, or Men) strikes you, and your Muse dead!
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Hath surfeited in this our Hemisphear,
With various, pure, eternal Wit; add then
Young Comick-Sir, you must be kill'd agen.
But, to out-doe these miseries a sort
Of cruel spies (we hear) intend a sport
Among themselves; our mirth must not at all
Tickle, or stirre their Lungs, but shake their Gall.
So this, joyn'd with the rest, makes me agin
To say, you and your Lady Muse within
Will have but a sad doom; and your trim Brow
Which long'd for Wreaths, you must wear naked now;
Unless some here, out of a courteous pride,
Resolve to praise what others shall decide.
So they will have their humour too; and we,
More out of dulness then Civility,
Grow highly pleas'd with our success to night,
By thinking both, perhaps, are in the right.
Such is your pleasant judgements upon Plays,
Like Par'lels that run straight, though sev'ral ways.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |