203:01,000@@@@@| 203:01,000[' ]| 203:01,001[A ]| Well, sir, it is granted I said Dryden's rhymes 203:01,002[A ]| Were stolen, unequal, nay dull many times. 203:01,003[A ]| What foolish patron is there found of his 203:01,004[A ]| So$5#1$ blindly partial to$9$ deny me this? 203:01,005[A ]| But that$3$ his plays, embroidered up$5$ and down 203:01,006[A ]| With wit and learning, justly pleased the town 203:01,007[A ]| In$4$ the same paper I as freely own. 203:01,008[A ]| Yet having this allowed, the heavy mass 203:01,009[A ]| That$6#1$ stuffs up$5$ his loose volumes must not pass; 203:01,010[A ]| For$3$ by$4$ that$6#2$ rule I might as well admit 203:01,011[A ]| Crowne's tedious scenes for$4$ poetry and wit. 203:01,012[A ]| It is therefore not enough when your false sense 203:01,013[A ]| Hits the false judgment of an audience 203:01,014[A ]| Of clapping fools, assembling a vast crowd 203:01,015[A ]| Till the thronged playhouse crack with the dull load; 203:01,016[A ]| Though even that$6#2$ talent merits in$4$ some sort 203:01,017[A ]| That$6#1$ can divert the rabble and the Court, 203:01,018[A ]| Which$6#1$ blundering Settle never could attain, 203:01,019[A ]| And puzzling Otway labours at in$4$ vain. 203:01,020[A ]| But within due proportions circumscribe 203:01,021[A ]| Whate'er you write, that$6#1$ with a flowing tide 203:01,022[A ]| The style may rise, yet in$4$ its rise forbear 203:01,023[A ]| With useless words to$9$ oppress the wearied ear. 203:01,024[A ]| Here be your language lofty, there more light: 203:01,025[A ]| Your rhetoric with your poetry unite. 203:01,026[A ]| For$4$ elegance' sake, sometimes allay the force 203:01,027[A ]| Of epithets: it will$1$ soften the discourse. 203:01,028[A ]| A jest in$4$ scorn points out and hits the thing 203:01,029[A ]| More home than the morosest satire's sting. 203:01,030[A ]| Shakespeare and Jonson did herein excel, 203:01,031[A ]| And might in$4$ this be imitated well; 203:01,032[A ]| Whom refined Etherege copies not at all, 203:01,033[A ]| But is himself a sheer original; 203:01,034[A ]| Nor that$6#2$ slow drudge in$4$ swift Pindaric strains, 203:01,035[A ]| Flatman, who$6#1$ Cowley imitates with pains, 203:01,036[A ]| And rides a jaded muse, whipped with loose reins. 203:01,037[A ]| When Lee makes temperate Scipio fret and rave, 203:01,038[A ]| And Hannibal a whining amorous slave, 203:01,039[A ]| I laugh, and wish the hot-brained fustian fool 203:01,040[A ]| In$4$ Busby's hands, to$9$ be well lashed at school. 203:01,041[A ]| Of all our modern wits, none seems to$4$ me 203:01,042[A ]| Once to$9$ have touched upon$4$ true comedy 203:01,043[A ]| But hasty Shadwell and slow Wycherley. 203:01,044[A ]| Shadwell's unfinished works do yet impart 203:01,045[A ]| Great proofs of force of nature, none of art: 203:01,046[A ]| With just, bold strokes he dashes here and there, 203:01,047[A ]| Showing great mastery, with little care, 203:01,048[A ]| And scorns to$9$ varnish his good touches o'er 203:01,049[A ]| To$9$ make the fools and women praise them more. 203:01,050[A ]| But Wycherley earns hard whate'er he gains: 203:01,051[A ]| He wants no$2$ judgment, nor he spares no$2$ pains. 203:01,052[A ]| He frequently excels, and at the least 203:01,053[A ]| Makes fewer faults than any of the best. 203:01,054[A ]| Waller, by$4$ nature for$4$ the bays designed, 203:01,055[A ]| With force and fire and fancy unconfined, 203:01,056[A ]| In$4$ panegyrics does excel mankind. 203:01,057[A ]| He best can turn, enforce, and soften things 203:01,058[A ]| To$9$ praise great conquerors, or to$9$ flatter Kings. 203:01,059[A ]| For$4$ pointed satires, I would Buckhurst choose: 203:01,060[A ]| The best good man with the worst-natured muse. 203:01,061[A ]| For$4$ songs and verses mannerly obscene, 203:01,062[A ]| That$6#1$ can stir nature up$5$ by$4$ springs unseen, 203:01,063[A ]| And without forcing blushes, warm the Queen ~~ 203:01,064[A ]| Sedley has that$6#2$ prevailing gentle art, 203:01,065[A ]| That$6#1$ can with a resistless charm impart 203:01,066[A ]| The loosest wishes to$4$ the chastest heart; 203:01,067[A ]| Raise such a conflict, kindle such a fire, 203:01,068[A ]| Betwixt declining virtue and desire, 203:01,069[A ]| Till the poor vanquished maid dissolves away 203:01,070[A ]| In$4$ dreams all night, in$4$ sighs and tears all day. 203:01,071[A ]| Dryden in$4$ vain tried this nice way of wit, 203:01,072[A ]| For$3$ he to$9$ be a tearing blade thought fit. 203:01,073[A ]| But when he would be sharp, he still was blunt: 203:01,074[A ]| To$9$ frisk his frolic fancy, he would cry, 203:01,074[W ]| "Cunt!" 203:01,075[A ]| Would give the ladies a dry bawdy bob, 203:01,076[A ]| And thus he got the name of Poet Squab. 203:01,077[A ]| But, to$9$ be just, it will$1$ to$4$ his praise be found 203:01,078[A ]| His excellencies more than faults abound; 203:01,079[A ]| Nor dare I from his sacred temples tear 203:01,080[A ]| That$6#2$ laurel which$6#1$ he best deserves to$9$ wear. 203:01,081[A ]| But does not Dryden find even Jonson dull; 203:01,082[A ]| Fletcher and Beaumont uncorrect, and full 203:01,083[A ]| Of lewd lines, as he calls them; Shakespeare's style 203:01,084[A ]| Stiff and affected; to$4$ his own the while 203:01,085[A ]| Allowing all the justness that$6#1$ his pride 203:01,086[A ]| So$5#1$ arrogantly had to$4$ these denied? 203:01,087[A ]| And may not I have leave impartially 203:01,088[A ]| To$9$ search and censure Dryden's works, and try 203:01,089[A ]| If those gross faults his choice pen does commit 203:01,090[A ]| Proceed from want of judgment, or of wit; 203:01,091[A ]| Or if his lumpish fancy does refuse 203:01,092[A ]| Spirit and grace to$4$ his loose, slattern muse? 203:01,093[A ]| Five hundred verses every morning writ 203:01,094[A ]| Proves you no$2$ more a poet than a wit. 203:01,095[A ]| Such scribbling authors have been seen before; 203:01,096[A ]| \Mustapha\, \The*English*Princess\, forty more 203:01,097[A ]| Were things perhaps composed in$4$ half an hour. 203:01,098[A ]| To$9$ write what may securely stand the test 203:01,099[A ]| Of being well read over, thrice at least 203:01,100[A ]| Compare each phrase, examine every line, 203:01,101[A ]| Weigh every word, and every thought refine. 203:01,102[A ]| Scorn all applause the vile rout can bestow, 203:01,103[A ]| And be content to$9$ please those few who$6#1$ know. 203:01,104[A ]| Canst thou be such a vain, mistaken thing 203:01,105[A ]| To$9$ wish thy works might make a playhouse ring 203:01,106[A ]| With the unthinking laughter and poor praise 203:01,107[A ]| Of fops and ladies, factious for$4$ thy plays? 203:01,108[A ]| Then send a cunning friend to$9$ learn thy doom 203:01,109[A ]| From the shrewd judges in$4$ the drawing room. 203:01,110[A ]| I have no$2$ ambition on$4$ that$6#2$ idle score, 203:01,111[A ]| But say with Betty*Morris heretofore, 203:01,112[A ]| When a Court lady called her Buckley's whore, 203:01,113[A ]| "I please one man of wit, am proud on it too: 203:01,114[A ]| Let all the coxcombs dance to$4$ bed to$4$ you!" 203:01,115[A ]| Should I be troubled when the purblind knight, 203:01,116[A ]| Who$6#1$ squints more in$4$ his judgment than his sight, 203:01,117[A ]| Picks silly faults, and censures what I write; 203:01,118[A ]| Of when the poor-fed poets of the town, 203:01,119[A ]| For$4$ scraps and coach room, cry my verses down? 203:01,120[A ]| I loathe the rabble; it is enough for$4$ me 203:01,121[A ]| If Sedley, Shadwell, Shepherd, Wycherley, 203:01,122[A ]| Godolphin, Butler, Buckhurst, Buckingham, 203:01,123[A ]| And some few more, whom I omit to$9$ name, 203:01,124[A ]| Approve my sense: I count their censure fame.