University of Virginia Library

To his worthy Friend Mr R. F. upon his publishing his Ternary of English Plays.

Believe me, Friend, when t'other night you lent
Your Plays to read, I thought my time well spent:
For, though I would not play my time away,
I would passtime to read a well-penn'd Play.
And such are yours, in which all things so sit
Th'Decorum both of Judgement, and of Wit;
That, though unposted yet, nor with applause
Or acted here or there, the Comick Laws
Are in them so well kept, that hence you may,
Were they all lost, pick plat-forms for a Play.
Nor need you doubt, in this our Comick Age,
Welcome acceptance for them from the Stage:
For, if 'tis true the Proverb doth express,
That He's best Prophet, who doth nearest guess,
This I'le dare to foretell, although no Seer,
That Thorny-Abbey will out-date King LEAR;
And Captain HOG his old Trade would give o're,
When his Play's acted, might he keep the Door;
And who in GRIM spyes not both wit and pains,
Needs Robin's flay! to beat it into's brains.
But if in webs so fine the lists chance shrink,
When you compare them, somewhat; or you think,
That I Hyperbolize more then is fit:
Excuse my Judgement, and accuse my Wit.