Censura de Poetis. Mart. 1, 4. epig. 10. to have least of the wit in it; that which is writh'd and tortur'd, is counted the more exquisite. Cloath of Bodkin, or Tissue, must be imbrodered; as if no face were faire, that were not pouldred, or painted? No beauty to be had, but in wresting, and writhing our owne tongue? Nothing is fashionable, till it bee deform'd; and this is to write like a Gentlemen. All must bee as affected, and preposterous as our Gallants cloathes, sweet bags, and night-dressings: in which you would thinke our men lay in; like Ladies: it is so curious. Nothing in our Age, I have observ'd, is more preposterous, then the running Iudgements upon Poetry, and Poets; when wee shall heare those things com`mended, and cry'd up for the best writings, which a man would scarce vouchsafe, to wrap any wholsome drug in; hee would never light his Tobacco with them. And those men almost nam'd for Miracles, who yet are so vile, that if a man should goe about, to examine, and (96) correct them, hee must make all they have done, but one blot. Their good is so intangled with their bad, as forcibly one must draw on the others death with it. A Sponge dipt in Inke will doe all: Comitetur punica librum Spongia. Et pauló post, multa, una litura potest. Yet their vices have not hurt them: Nay, a great many they have profited; for they have beene lov'd for nothing else. And this false opinion growes strong against the best men: if once it take root with the Ignorant. Cestius in his time, was preferr'd to Cicero; Cestius. so farre, as the Ignorant durst. They learn'd him Cicero. without booke, and had him often in their mouthes: But a man cannot imagine that thing so foolish, or rude, but will find, and enjoy an Admirer; at least, a Reader, or Spectator. The Puppets are seene now in despight of the Players: Heath's Epigrams, and the Heath. Skullers Poems have their applause. There are never Taylor. wanting, that dare preferre the worst Preachers, the worst Pleaders, the worst Poets: not that the better have left to write, or speake better, but that they that heare them judge worse; Non illi pejus dicunt, sed hi corruptiùs judicant. Nay, if it were put to the question of the Water-rimers workes, against Spencers; I Spencer. doubt not, but they would find more Suffrages; because the most favour common vices, out of a Prerogative the vulgar have, to lose their judgements; and like that which is naught. Poetry in this latter Age, hath prov'd but a meane Mistresse, to such as have wholly addicted themselves to her; or given their names up to her family. They who have but saluted her on the by; and now and then tendred their visits, shee hath done much for, and advanced in the way of their owne professions (both the Law, and the Gospel) beyond all they could have hoped, or done for themselves, without her favour. Wherein she doth emulate the judicious, but preposterous bounty of the times Grandes: who accumulate all they can upon the Parasite, or Fresh-man in their friendship; but De Shakespeare nostrat. Augustus in Hat. thinke an old Client, or honest servant, bound by his place to write, and starve. Indeed, the multitude commend Writers, as they doe Fencers; or Wrastlers; who if they come in robustiously, and put for it, with a deale of violence, are received for the braver-fellowes: when many times their owne rudenesse is a cause of their disgrace; and a slight touch of their Adversary, gives all that boisterous force the foyle. But in these things, the unskilfull are naturally deceiv'd, and judging wholly by the bulke, thinke rude things greater then polish'd; and scatter'd more numerous, then compos'd: Nor thinke this only to be true in the sordid multitude but the neater sort of our Gallants: for all are the multitude; only they differ in cloaths, not in judgement or understanding. I remember, the Players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing, (whatsoever he penn'd) hee never blotted out line. My answer hath beene, would he had blotted a thousand. Which they thought a malevolent speech. I had not told posterity this, but for their ignorance, who choose that circumstance to commend their friend (97) by, wherein he most faulted. And to justifie mine owne candor, (for I lov'd the man, and doe honour his memory (on this side Idolatry) as much as any.) Hee was (indeed) honest, and of an open, and free nature: had an excellent Phantsie; brave notions, and gentle expressions: wherein hee flow'd with that facility, that sometime it was necessary he should be stop'd: Sufflaminandus erat; as Augustus said of Haterius. His wit was in his owne power; would the rule of it had beene so too. Many times hee fell into those things, could not escape laughter: As when hee said in the person of Casar, one speaking to him; Cæsar thou dost me wrong. Hee replyed: Cæsar did never wrong, but with just cause : and such like, which were ridiculous. But hee redeemed his vices, with his vertues. There was ever more in him to be praysed, then to be pardoned. Not. I. In the difference of wits, I have observ'd; there are Ingeniormany notes: And it is a little Maistry to know them: um disto discerne, what every nature, every disposition will crimina. beare: For, before wee sow our land, we should plough it. There are no fewer formes of minds, then of bodies amongst us. The variety is incredible; and therefore wee must search. Some are fit to make Divines, some Poets, some Lawyers, some Physicians; some to be sent to the plough, and trades. There is no doctrine will doe good, where nature is wanting. Some wits are swelling, and high; others low and still: Some hot and fiery; others cold and dull: One must have a bridle, the other a spurre. There be some that are forward, and bold; and Not. 2. these will doe every little thing easily: I meane that is hard by, and next them, which they will utter, unretarded without any shamefastnesse. These never performe much, but quickly. They are, what they are on the sudden; they shew presently like Graine, that, scatter'd on the top of the ground, shoots up, but takes no root; has a yellow blade, but the eare empty. They are wits of good promise at first, but * A witstand. Not. 3. Not. 4. Martial. lib. II. epig. 91. Not. 5. there is an *Ingeni-stitium: They stand still at sixteene, they get no higher. You have others, that labour onely to ostentation; and are ever more busie about the colours, and surface of a worke, then in the matter, and foundation: For that is hid, the other is seene. Others, that in composition are nothing, but what is rough, and broken: Quæ per salebras, altag, saxa cadunt. And if it would come gently, they trouble it of purpose. They would not have it run without rubs, as if that stile were more strong and manly, that stroke the eare with a kind of unevenesse. These men erre not by chance, but knowingly, and willingly; they are like men that affect a fashion by themselves, have some singularity in a Ruffe, Cloake, or Hat-band; or their beards, specially cut to provoke beholders, and set a marke upon themselves. They would be reprehended, while they are look'd on. And this vice, one that is in authority with the rest, loving, delivers over to them to bee imitated: so that ofttimes the faults which he fell into, the others seeke for: This is the danger, when vice becomes a Precedent. Others there are, that have no composition at all; but a kind of tuneing, and riming fall, in what they vvrite. It runs and slides, and onely makes a sound. Womens-Poets they are call'd, as you have womensTaylors. (98) They write a verse, as smooth, as soft, as creame; |