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University of Virginia Library

Fletcher, John (1579-1625)

To the Stationer.

IN MEMORY OF Mr. Iohn Fletcher.

On Mr John Fletcher, and his Workes, never before published.

ON Mr Fletchers Works.

ON THE Deceased Authour, Mr John Fletcher, his Plays; and especially, The Mad Lover.

Upon the Works of Beaumont, and Fletcher.

On the Works of the most excellent Dramatick Poet, Mr. John Fletcher, never before Printed.

To the memory of my most honoured kinsman, Mr. Francis Beaumont.

On Mr. JOHN FLETCHER'S VVorkes.

Vpon Mr. John Fletcher's Playes.

To FLETCHER Reviv'd.

On Master JOHN FLETCHERS Dramaticall Poems.

Vpon Master FLETCHERS Dramaticall Workes.

On the Edition.

On the Edition of Mr Francis Beaumonts, and Mr John Fletchers Playes never printed before.

On the Dramatick Poems of Mr John Fletcher.

To the Manes of the celebrated Poets and Fellow-writers, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, upon the Printing of their excellent Dramatick Poems.

To the desert of the Author in his most Ingenious Pieces.

On Mr BEAVMONT. (Written thirty yeares since, presently after his death.)

UPON Mr FLETCHERS Incomparable Playes.

On the Workes of Beaumont and Fletcher, now at length printed.

Upon the report of the printing of the Dramaticall Poems of Master John Fletcher, collected before, and now set forth in one Volume.

On Mr Francis Beaumont (then newly dead.)

To Mr Francis Beaumont (then living.)

Upon Master Fletchers Incomparable Playes.

On the happy Collection of Master FLETCHER'S Works, never before Printed.

To the memorie of Master FLETCHER.

Vpon the ever to be admired Mr. John Fletcher and His PLAYES.

IN HONOUR OF Mr John Fletcher.

Master John Fletcher his dramaticall Workes now at last printed.

Upon the unparalelld Playes written by those Renowned Twinnes of Poetry Beaumont & Fletcher.

On the Death and workes of Mr John Fletcher.

On Mr. John Fletcer's ever to be admired Dramaticall Works.

To the memory of the deceased but ever-living Authour in these his Poems, Mr. JOHN FLETCHER.

Upon the Printing of Mr. Iohn Fletchers workes.

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Actus Secundus.

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On the Edition.

Fletcher (whose Fame no Age can ever wast;
Envy of Ours, and glory of the last)
Is now alive againe; and with his Name
His sacred Ashes wak'd into a Flame;
Such as before did by a secret charme
The wildest Heart subdue, the coldest warme,
And lend the Lady's eyes a power more bright,
Dispensing thus to either, Heat and Light.

He to a Sympathie those soules betrai'd
Whom Love or Beauty never could perswade;
And in each mov'd spectatour could beget
A reall passion by a Counterfeit:
When first Bellario bled, what Lady there
Did not for every drop let fall a teare?
And when Aspasia wept, not any eye
But seem'd to weare the same sad livery;
By him inspir'd the feign'd Lucina drew
More streams of melting sorrow then the true;
But then the Scornfull Lady did beguile
Their easie griefs, and teach them all to smile.

Thus he Affections could, or raise or lay;
Love, Griefe and Mirth thus did his Charmes obey:
He Nature taught her passions to out-doe,
How to refine the old, and create new;
Which such a happy likenesse seem'd to beare,
As if that Nature Art, Art Nature were.

Yet All had Nothing bin, obscurely kept
In the same Vrne wherein his Dust hath slept,
Nor had he ris' the Delphick wreath to claime,
Had not the dying sceane expir'd his Name;
Dispaire our joy hath doubled, he is come,
Thrice welcome by this Post-liminium.
His losse preserv'd him; They that silenc'd Wit,
Are now the Authours to Eternize it;
Thus Poets are in spight of Fate reviv'd,
And Playes by Intermission longer liv'd.

Tho. Stanley.