University of Virginia Library

To his Friend the Author on his Comedy, called the Noble Stranger.

Friend , from me thou canst not expect a praise,
My Muse can give no Cypres nor no Baies:
She cannot though she would be vile, expresse
One syllable to make thy merits lesse:
Nor can she, had she rob'd the fluent store
Of Donns wise Genius, make thy merits more:
No, 'tis thy owne smooth numbers must preferre
Thy Stranger to the Globe-like Theatre.
But yet perhaps some squint-ey'd set will look
Worse then Magicians when they spell the book
Of exorcisme, yet doe not feare the danger
Of Critick Readers, since thy Noble Stranger,
With pleasing strains has smooth'd the rugged Fate
Of oft cram'd Theatres, and prov'd fortunate:
Smile at their Frownes, for I dare boldly say,
Who ere dislikes it cannot mend thy Play.