 | The Faithful Shepherdess |  |
To the worthy Author Mr. Jo. Fletcher.
The
wise, and many headed Bench, that sits
Upon the Life, and Death of Playes, and Wits,
(Compos'd of Gamester, Captain, Knight, Knight's man,
Lady, or Pusill, that wears mask or fan,
Velvet, or Taffata cap, rank'd in the dark
With the shops Foreman, or some such brave spark,
That may judge for his six-pence) had, before
They saw it half, damn'd thy whole Play, and more;
Their motives were, since it had not to doe
With vices, which they look'd for, and came to.
Upon the Life, and Death of Playes, and Wits,
(Compos'd of Gamester, Captain, Knight, Knight's man,
Lady, or Pusill, that wears mask or fan,
Velvet, or Taffata cap, rank'd in the dark
With the shops Foreman, or some such brave spark,
That may judge for his six-pence) had, before
They saw it half, damn'd thy whole Play, and more;
Their motives were, since it had not to doe
With vices, which they look'd for, and came to.
I, that am glad, thy Innocence was thy Guilt,
And wish that all the Muses blood were spilt
In such a Martyrdome, to vex their eyes,
Do crown thy murdred Poeme: which shall rise
A glorified work to Time, when Fire,
Or mothes shall eat, what all these Fools admire.
And wish that all the Muses blood were spilt
In such a Martyrdome, to vex their eyes,
Do crown thy murdred Poeme: which shall rise
A glorified work to Time, when Fire,
Or mothes shall eat, what all these Fools admire.
BEN. JONSON.
| The Faithful Shepherdess | |