The Whole Works of William Browne of Tavistock ... Now first collected and edited, with a memoir of the poet, and notes, by W. Carew Hazlitt, of the Inner Temple |
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 | The Whole Works of William Browne |  |
361
THE AUTHORS FRIEND TO THE READER.
The Printers haste calls on; I must not driueMy time past Sixe, though I begin at Fiue.
One houre I haue entire; and 'tis enough.
Here are no Gipsie Iigges, or Drumming stuffe,
Dances, or other Trumpery to delight,
Or take, by common way, the common sight.
The Avthor of this Poem, as he dares
To stand th' austerest censure, so he cares
As little what it is. His owne best way
Is to be Iudge and Avthor of his Play.
It is his knowledge makes him thus secure;
Nor do's he write to please, but to endure.
And (Reader) if you haue disburs'd a shilling,
To see this worthy Story, and are willing
To haue a large encrease; (if rul'd by me)
You may a Marchant and a Poet be.
'Tis granted for your twelue-pence you did sit,
And See, and Heare, and Vnderstand not yet.
The Avthor (in a Christian pitty) takes
Care of your good, and prints it for your sakes.
That such as will but venter but Six-pence more,
May Know, what they but Saw, and Heard before;
'Twill not be money lost, if you can read,
(Ther's all the doubt now) but your gaines exceed,
362
Free of the freest, and the noblest, Trade.
And in the way of Poetry, now adayes,
Of all that are call'd Workes, the best are Playes.
| The Whole Works of William Browne | |