TO THE READER. THE drift of the ensuing discourse was chiefly to vindicate the honour of our English writers, from the censure of those who unjustly prefer the French before them. This I intimate, lest any should think me so exceeding vain," as to teach others an art which they understand much better than myself. But if this incorrect Essay, written in the country without the help of books or advice of friends, shall find any acceptance in the world, I promise to myself a better success of the Second Part, wherein I shall more fully treat of1 the virtues and faults of the English poets, who have written either in this, the epick2, or the lyrick3 way1. 1 A om. I shall more fully treat of. 3 Lyrique, A. 2 Epique, A. * A has, 'will be more fully treated of, and their several styles impartially imitated.' AN ESSAY OF DRAMATIC POESY'. 3 It was that memorable day, in the first summer of 5 the late war, when our navy engaged the Dutch; a day wherein the two most mighty and best appointed fleets which any age had ever seen, disputed the command of the greater half of the globe, the commerce of nations, and the riches of the universe: while' 10 these vast floating bodies, on either side, moved against each other in parallel lines, and our countrymen, under the happy conduct of his royal highness, went breaking, by little and little, into the line of the enemies; the noise of the cannon from both navies reached our ears about the city, n so that all men being alarmed with it, and in a dreadful suspense of the event, which they knew was then deciding, every one went following the sound as his fancy led him; and leaving the town almost empty, 15 1 Dramatick Poesie, A. 6 2 June 3, 1665 (Malone). Universe. While, A. 5 James, duke of York, afterwards James II (Malone). some took towards the park, some cross the river, others down it; all seeking the noise in the depth of silence. Among the rest, it was the fortune of Eugenius, Crites, Lisideius, and Neander, to be in company 5 together; three of them persons whom their wit and quality have made known to all the town; and whom I have chose to hide under these borrowed names, that they may not suffer by so ill a relation as I am going to make of their discourse. 3 2. Taking then a barge, which a servant of Lisideius had provided for them, they made haste to shoot the bridge, and left behind them that great fall of waters which hindered them from hearing what they desired: after which, having disengaged1 themselves from many 15 vessels which rode at anchor in the Thames, and almost blocked up the passage towards Greenwich, they ordered the watermen to let fall their oars more gently; and then, every one favouring his own curiosity with a strict silence, it was not long ere they perceived the air 20 to break about them like the noise of distant thunder, or of swallows in a chimney: those little undulations of sound, though almost vanishing before they reached them, yet still seeming to retain somewhat of their first horrour, which they had betwixt the fleets. 25 After they had attentively listened till such time as the sound by little and little went from them, Eugenius, lifting up his head, and taking notice of it, was the first who congratulated to the rest that happy omen of our nation's victory: adding, that we had but 30 3 The Air to break, A. 5 A om. 1 disingag'd, A. Fleets: after. • blockt, A. this to desire in confirmation of it, that we might hear no more of that noise, which was now leaving the English coast. When the rest had concurred in the same opinion, Crites, a person of a sharp judg5 ment, and somewhat too delicate a taste in wit, which the world have mistaken in him for ill-nature, said, smiling to us, that if the concernment of this battle' had not been so exceeding great, he could scarce have wished the victory at the price he knew he 10 must pay for it, in being subject to the reading and hearing of so many ill verses as he was sure would be made on that subject. Adding2, that no argument could scape some of those eternal rhymers, who watch a battle with more diligence than the ravens 15 and birds of prey; and the worst of them surest to be first in upon the quarry: while the better able, either out of modesty writ not at all, or set that due value upon their poems, as to let them be often desired3 and long expected. 'There are some of 20 those impertinent people of whom you speak",' answered Lisideius, 'who to my knowledge are already so provided, either way, that they can produce not only a panegyrick upon the victory, but, if need be, a funeral elegy on the duke; wherein, after they have 25 crowned his valour with many laurels, they will' at last deplore the odds under which he fell, concluding that his courage deserved a better destiny.' All the company smiled at the conceipt of Lisideius; but Crites, more eager than before, began to make par3 call'd for. 1 battel, A. 2 upon it; adding, A. 5 6 people you speak of, A. ticular exceptions against some writers, and said, the publick magistrate ought to send betimes to forbid them; and that it concerned the peace and quiet of all honest people, that ill poets should be as well silenced as seditious preachers." 'In my opinion,' 5 replied Eugenius, 'you pursue your point too far; for as to my own particular, I am so great a lover of poesy, that I could wish them all rewarded, who attempt but to do well; at least, I would not have them worse used than one of their brethren 10 was by Sylla the Dictator 1:-Quem in concione vidimus (says Tully,) cum ei libellum malus poeta de populo subjecisset, quod epigramma in eum fecisset tantummodo alternis versibus longiusculis, statim ex iis rebus quas tunc vendebat jubere ei praemium tribui, sub 15 ea conditione ne quid postea scriberet.'n 'I could wish with all my heart,' replied Crites, 'that many whom we know were as bountifully thanked upon the same condition, that they would never trouble us again. For amongst others, I have a mortal apprehension 20 of two poets", whom this victory, with the help of both her wings, will never be able to escape.' "Tis easy to guess whom you intend,' said Lisideius; 'and without naming them, I ask you, if one of them does not perpetually pay us with 25 clenches upon words, and a certain clownish kind of raillery? if now and then he does not offer at a catachresis or Clevelandism", wresting and tor 4 n 1 then [than] Sylla the Dictator did one of their brethren heretofore, A. |