What should I fay, more? then turne ftone with wonder! NAS. I neuer faw this play bred all this tumult. What was there in it could so deeply offend? And stirre so many hornets? AVT. Shall I tell you? NAS. Yes, and ingenuously. AVT. Then, by the hope, Which I preferre vnto all other obiects, I can profeffe, I neuer writ that peece 55 60 Some falt it had, but neyther tooth, nor gall, 65 Which, in the setting downe, I could fufpect That was the crime. POL. No? why they, say you I vi'd no name. My Bookes haue ftill beene taught The Law, and Lawyers; Captaines; and the Players 70 To fpare the perfons, and to speake the vices. Or itch, t'haue me their aduerfary (I know not) They did prouoke me with their petulant stiles But weary, I confeffe, of so much trouble, Thought, I would try, if shame could winne vpon 'hem. 55 more, than 1692+ 56 saw] say N breed 1716 75 80. 85 And therefore chofe AVGVSTVS CAESARS times, 90 To fhew that VIRGIL, HORACE, and the reft I hop'd at last they would fit downe, and blush. 95 [351] Or as you fayd, of the next neft, the hornets; That they fly buzzing, mad, about my noftrills: And like fo many fcreaming graffe-hoppers, 100 Held by the wings, fill euery eare with noyse. And what? thofe former calumnies you mention'd. First, of the Law. Indeed, I brought in OVID, Chid by his angry father, for neglecting The study of their lawes, for poetry: 105 And I am warranted by his owne wordes: Sape pater dixit, ftudium quid invtile tentas? Trift. lib. 4. Eleg. 10. And in farre harsher termes elsewhere, as these : Amo. lib. 1. Eleg. 15. But how this fhould relate, vnto our lawes, Marke it. 113 their] the W, G IIO 115 120 I fweare by your true friend, my Mufe, I loue No more then I dare, now, doe with my pen. 125 130 To thinke well of themfelues. But, impotent they I am not mou'd with. If it gaue 'hem meat, 135 Or got 'hem clothes. 'Tis well. That was their end. Some better natures, by the rest so drawne, To run in that vile line. POL. And is this all?' Will you not anfwere then the libells? Avт. No. POL. Nor the vntruffers? Y'are vndone then. 140 AVT. Neither. POL. AVT. With whom? POL. The world. AvT. The baud! POL. It wil be taken To be ftupidity, or tameneffe in you. [352] Avт. But, they that haue incenf'd me, can in foule Acquit me of that guilt. They know, I dare 145 150 136 well; that 1716, W, G well: that N Should not take off, with all their art, and playsters. 155 In their pale fronts: when, what they write 'gainst me, This I could doe, and make them infamous. 160 But, to what end? when their owne deedes haue mark'd 'hem, And, that I know, within his guilty brest Each flanderer beares a whip, that shall torment him, Worse, then a million of these temporall plagues: 165 NAS. 'Tis true: for to reuenge their iniuries, Were to confeffe you felt 'hem. Let 'hem goe, And vie the treasure of the foole, their tongues, Who makes his gayne, by speaking worst, of best. POL. O, but they lay particular imputationsAVT. As what? Po. That all your writing, is meere rayling. AVT. Ha! If all the falt in the old comady Should be fo cenfur'd, or the sharper wit Of the bold fatyre, termed fcolding rage, What age could then compare with those, for buffons? PERSIVS? or IUVENAL? whofe names we now So glorifie in schooles, at least pretend it. 170 175 Ha' they no other? POL. Yes: they say you are flow, 180 And scarfe bring forth a play a yeere. Avт. 'Tis true. I would, they could not say that I did that, There's all the ioy that I take i'their trade, Vnleffe fuch Scribes as they might be profcrib'd Th'abufed theaters. They would thinke it strange, now, 185 A man should take but colts-foote, for one day, 166 a] om. 1640+ 185 abused] absurd N 175 Satyr 1692, 1716 Satire W + And, betweene whiles, fpit out a better poeme 190 195 To riue his ftayned quill, vp to the back, And damne his long-watch'd labours to the fire; Things, that were borne, when none but the still night, 200 And apts me, rather to fleepe out my time, 205 That make their mouthes their clyfters, and still purge From their hot entrailes. But, I leaue the monsters To their owne fate. And, fince the Comick MVSE Hath prou'd fo ominous to me, I will trie 210 If Tragedie haue a more kind aspect. Her fauours in my next I will pursue, Where, if I proue the pleasure but of one, So he iudicious be; He fhall b'alone A Theatre vnto me: Once, I'le fay, 215 To strike the eare of time, in those fresh straines, 202 Travels 1692, 1716 days W 220 |