University of Virginia Library

To the most Ingenious Master ROBERT BARON, On his Masterpiece of Tragedy.

PHYTHAGORAS sang truth, souls shift we see
For IOHNSON'S transmigrated into Thee:
Or if that Doctrines false, thy glory's more
Without his helpes to equal, whom before
We thought Sans peer: both are so very well,
So like, as mix them, and you cannot tell
Me which is which. Thou Fame enough hast won,
Thy name is up, now maist thou lie till Noon,
And rest thy strong Muse, having equall'd him
Whom sharpest wits did our best Poet deem:
I know thy Judgment's more then t'aim ought higher,
Thou mightest as well hope to drown PHOEBUS Lyre;
Yet write again, till all the world's agree'd
Thy PEGASUS has breath as well as speed.
Mean time, who'l number our best Playes aright
First CATALINE, then let him MIRZA write,
So mix your names: in the third place must be
SELANUS, or the next that comes from thee.