The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
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To the Memorie of the Best Dramaticke English Poet
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 | The poems of George Daniel |  |
63
To the Memorie of the Best Dramaticke English Poet
Ben: Ionson:
.1.6.3.8.
Great Flame of English Poets gon! how shall
Wee strew our flowers at thy Funerall?
What obsequies performe! what rites prepare
Vnto thy Herse? What Monument but were
Too narrow to Containe Thee! or what State
But were beneath the honour of thy fate?
Noe, rather, wee (remaining of the Tribe,
Sad Orphans) can but wish what wee ascribe
Vnto thy Merit. All wee bring to thee,
Is but our Tears, our filial Pietie.
Wee strew our flowers at thy Funerall?
What obsequies performe! what rites prepare
Vnto thy Herse? What Monument but were
Too narrow to Containe Thee! or what State
But were beneath the honour of thy fate?
Noe, rather, wee (remaining of the Tribe,
Sad Orphans) can but wish what wee ascribe
Vnto thy Merit. All wee bring to thee,
Is but our Tears, our filial Pietie.
Great Lord of Arts, and Father of the Age!
The first and best Informer of the Stage!
How shall wee speake of him? what Numbers bring
T' empassionate, and worthy Orgies Sing?
What Shall we Say? Shall wee in a Iust Zeale,
Rebuke the Age of Ignorance, and tell
Aloud his Merits? Shall wee weepe, or boast
His worth? or Losse? shall wee say, when wee lost
Him, a sad Night of follie did orespread
This Iland, as wee see, and wee are dead,
Rather then Hee wee weep for? For Hee still
Lives to instruct the Age with a Strong Qvill.
And as he did from Ignorance reduce
Th' abusèd Stage, Soe has he left to vs,
(Who act vpon this greater Theatre)
Grave morall Pandects, Strong, & yet soe Cleare
Hee is his owne Expositor; and wee
(If sottishly not blind or worse), may see
Vertue in Act; and everie gracefull Step
She treads may be our Path; but wee all Sleepe,
Vncapable of what Hee taught; or how
To valew what Hee left vs. I could bow
(And would the Age might doo't without offence)
To name him, with a Modest Reverence.
For Shall wee kneele to Titles? and observe
fformalities to those, who nought deserve?
(More then their Name or painted outside give)
And shall My Lord have a prerogative
ffor vertue, in his Ancestors? (though hee
Perhaps the Shame of all his Pedigree;)
And our Great Lord of witt, where vertue in
Her Sphere did move; where Art and Iudgment Shine,
(Inseparable) bee with Common Men,
And vulgar Mention named? oh! the Pen
Of Witt and Truth forbid it! Rather let
The worthles present Age his Name forget.
For wee are Emulous fooles, and will admitt
Noe Rivalls in the Claime wee lay to witt.
The first and best Informer of the Stage!
How shall wee speake of him? what Numbers bring
T' empassionate, and worthy Orgies Sing?
What Shall we Say? Shall wee in a Iust Zeale,
Rebuke the Age of Ignorance, and tell
Aloud his Merits? Shall wee weepe, or boast
64
Him, a sad Night of follie did orespread
This Iland, as wee see, and wee are dead,
Rather then Hee wee weep for? For Hee still
Lives to instruct the Age with a Strong Qvill.
And as he did from Ignorance reduce
Th' abusèd Stage, Soe has he left to vs,
(Who act vpon this greater Theatre)
Grave morall Pandects, Strong, & yet soe Cleare
Hee is his owne Expositor; and wee
(If sottishly not blind or worse), may see
Vertue in Act; and everie gracefull Step
She treads may be our Path; but wee all Sleepe,
Vncapable of what Hee taught; or how
To valew what Hee left vs. I could bow
(And would the Age might doo't without offence)
To name him, with a Modest Reverence.
For Shall wee kneele to Titles? and observe
fformalities to those, who nought deserve?
(More then their Name or painted outside give)
And shall My Lord have a prerogative
ffor vertue, in his Ancestors? (though hee
Perhaps the Shame of all his Pedigree;)
And our Great Lord of witt, where vertue in
Her Sphere did move; where Art and Iudgment Shine,
(Inseparable) bee with Common Men,
And vulgar Mention named? oh! the Pen
Of Witt and Truth forbid it! Rather let
65
For wee are Emulous fooles, and will admitt
Noe Rivalls in the Claime wee lay to witt.
But After-Ages, (more Iudicious,
Vswaied by Passion, only Sedulous
To honour vertue,) shall, (I will not Doubt)
Advance his Name; when the despisèd Rout
(His Scorne) shall perish, in the filthy Smoake
Of their owne Follies. Then, all Eyes shall looke
With Ioy and Admiration, to receive
A Light their Fathers could not. I will leave
Only this little: Iudgment shall Allow,
(When Men have Eyes to see & witt to know
Who merit most) the greatest Eulogie,
For Langvage, Art, and all Dexteritie
Of Witt, to Him: and happ'lie were the flame
Extinct, wee might recover't in his Name.
A Charme soe stronge, Who ever shall reherse
Ben: Ionson, cannot chuse but make a verse.
Vswaied by Passion, only Sedulous
To honour vertue,) shall, (I will not Doubt)
Advance his Name; when the despisèd Rout
(His Scorne) shall perish, in the filthy Smoake
Of their owne Follies. Then, all Eyes shall looke
With Ioy and Admiration, to receive
A Light their Fathers could not. I will leave
Only this little: Iudgment shall Allow,
(When Men have Eyes to see & witt to know
Who merit most) the greatest Eulogie,
For Langvage, Art, and all Dexteritie
Of Witt, to Him: and happ'lie were the flame
Extinct, wee might recover't in his Name.
A Charme soe stronge, Who ever shall reherse
Ben: Ionson, cannot chuse but make a verse.
| The poems of George Daniel | |