University of Virginia Library

To my old Faithful Servant, and (by his continu'd vertue) my loving Friend, the Author of this work, Mr. Rich. Brome.

I had you for a Servant, once, Dick. Brome,
And you perform'd a Servants faithful parts:
Now, you are got into a neerer room
Of Fellowship, professing my old Arts.
And you do do them well, with good applause,
Which you have justly gained from the Stage,
By observation of those Comick Laws,
Which I, your Master, first did teach this Age.
You learn'd it well, and for it serv'd your Time,
A Prentiship, which few do now adayes:
Now each Court Hobby-Horse, will wince in Rhime,
Both learned and unlearned, all write Playes:
It was not so of old; men took up trades
That knew the Crafts they had been bred in right;
An honest Bilbo Smith would make good Blades,
And the Physician teach men spue, and—
The Cobler kept him to his Awll, But now
He'll be a Pilot, scarce can guide a Plow.