All proves, and moves, and loves, and honours too; All that appears high fenfe, and scarce is low. As for the coffee-wits, he fays not much; Their proper bufinefs is to damn the Dutch: 20 For the great dons of wit-- Phoebus gives them full privilege alone, They should have power to fave, but not to kill: PROLOGUE ΤΟ SIR MARTIN MARR-ALL. FOOLS, which each man meets in his dish each day, Are yet the great regalios of a play; 5 But fuch in plays must be much thicker fown, And when they have enough for comedy, 10 For, gallants, you yourselves have found the PROLOGUE TO THE TEMPEST *. As when a tree's cut down, the fecret root Lives under ground, and thence new branches. fhoot; So from old Shakspeare's honour'd duft, this day Springs up and buds a new-reviving play: Shakspeare, who (taught by none) did first impart To Fletcher wit, to labouring Jonfon art. 5 He, monarch-like, gave thofe, his fubjects, law; And is that nature which they paint and draw. Fletcher reach'd that which on his heights did grow, While Jonfon crept, and gather'd all below. 10 This did his love, and this his mirth, digeft: One imitates him moft, the other beft. If they have fince outwrit all other men, "Tis with the drops which fell from Shakspeare's pen. Bonarelli, in his Filli di Sciro, has introduced a fhepherdess in love with two perfons, like the alterations in the Tempest. Dr. J. WARTON. The storm, which vanish'd on the neighbouring fhore, 15 Was taught by Shakspeare's Tempest first to roar. That innocence and beauty, which did smile 20 26 Which works by magic fupernatural things: One of our women to prefent a boy; And that's a transformation, you will fay, Exceeding all the magic in the play. Her fex transform'd from man to womankind. Whate'er fhe was before the play began, All you fhall fee of her is perfect man. Or, if your fancy will be farther led 30 35 PROLOGUE то TYRANNICK LOVE. SELF- write. 10 Therefore our poet, as he thinks not fit 5 15 |