The poetical works of Sir John Denham Edited with notes and introduction by Theodore Howard Banks |
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THE PROLOGUE |
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 | The poetical works of Sir John Denham |  |
THE PROLOGUE
Hither ye come, dislike, and so undoThe Players, and disgrace the Poet too;
But he protests against your votes, and swears
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He claims his priviledge, and sayes 'tis fit
Nothing should be the Judge of wit, but Wit.
Now you will all be Wits, and be I pray;
And you that discommend it, mend the Play:
'Tis the best satisfaction, he knows then
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But Gentlemen, if ye dislike the Play,
Pray make no words on't till the second day,
Or third be past: For we would have you know it,
The loss will fall on us, not on the Poet:
For he writes not for money, nor for praise,
Nor to be call'd a Wit, nor to wear Bayes:
Cares not for frowns or smiles: so now you'll say,
Then (why the Devil) did he write a Play?
He says, 'twas then with him, as now with you,
He did it when he had nothing else to do.
| The poetical works of Sir John Denham | |