 | The Novella |  |
A Præludium to Mr. RICHARD BROMES Playes.
Then we shall still have Playes! and though we may
Not them in their full Glories yet display;
Yet we may please our selves by reading them,
Till a more Noble Act this Act condemne.
Happy will that day be, which will advance
This Land from durt of precise Ignorance;
Distinguish Morall Virtue, and Rich Wit,
And gracefull Action, from an unfit
Parenthesis of Coughs, and Hums, and Haes,
Threshing of Cushions, and Taupologies.
Then the dull Zelots shall give way, and flye,
Or be converted by bright Poesie.
Apollo may enlighten them, or else
In Scottish Grots they may conceale themselves.
Then shall Learn'd Johnson reassume his Seat,
Revive the Phœnix by a second heat.
Create the Globle anew, and people it,
By those that flock to surfet on his Wit.
Judicious Beaumont, and th' Ingenious Soule
Of Fletcher too may move without controule.
Shakespeare (most rich in Humours) entertaine
The crowded Theaters with his happy veine.
Davenant and Massinger, and Sherley, then
Shall be cry'd up againe, for Famous men.
And the Dramatick Muse no longer prove
The peoples Malice, but the peoples Love.
Black, and white Fryers too, shall flourish againe,
Though here have bin none since Queen Mary's reign.
Our Theaters of lower note in those
More happy daies, shall scorne the rustick Prose
Of a Jack-pudding, and will please the Rout,
With wit enough to beare their Credit out
The Fortune will be lucky, see no more
Her Benches bare, as they have stood before.
The Bull take Courage from Applauses given,
To Eccho to the Taurus in the Heaven.
Not them in their full Glories yet display;
Yet we may please our selves by reading them,
Till a more Noble Act this Act condemne.
Happy will that day be, which will advance
This Land from durt of precise Ignorance;
Distinguish Morall Virtue, and Rich Wit,
And gracefull Action, from an unfit
Parenthesis of Coughs, and Hums, and Haes,
Threshing of Cushions, and Taupologies.
Then the dull Zelots shall give way, and flye,
Or be converted by bright Poesie.
Apollo may enlighten them, or else
In Scottish Grots they may conceale themselves.
Then shall Learn'd Johnson reassume his Seat,
Revive the Phœnix by a second heat.
Create the Globle anew, and people it,
By those that flock to surfet on his Wit.
Judicious Beaumont, and th' Ingenious Soule
Of Fletcher too may move without controule.
Shakespeare (most rich in Humours) entertaine
The crowded Theaters with his happy veine.
Davenant and Massinger, and Sherley, then
Shall be cry'd up againe, for Famous men.
And the Dramatick Muse no longer prove
The peoples Malice, but the peoples Love.
Black, and white Fryers too, shall flourish againe,
Though here have bin none since Queen Mary's reign.
Our Theaters of lower note in those
More happy daies, shall scorne the rustick Prose
Of a Jack-pudding, and will please the Rout,
With wit enough to beare their Credit out
Her Benches bare, as they have stood before.
The Bull take Courage from Applauses given,
To Eccho to the Taurus in the Heaven.
Lastly, St. James may no aversion show,
That Socks, and Buskins tread his Stage below.
May this Time quickly come, those daies of Blisse
Drive Ignorance down to the dark Abisse.
Then (with a justly attributed praise)
Wee'l change our faded Broom, to deathlesse Baies.
That Socks, and Buskins tread his Stage below.
May this Time quickly come, those daies of Blisse
Drive Ignorance down to the dark Abisse.
Then (with a justly attributed praise)
Wee'l change our faded Broom, to deathlesse Baies.
Aston Cokaine.
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