Whilst ev'n their very idleness, they think, Who, if my pen may as my thoughts be free, A coz'ning Davus; " take the fool away, Yet these are wits, because they're old, and now, JOH. EARLE."3 Оп The meaning seems to be, "They have no leisure for poetry, till they have done with gaming, drinking, and smoaking; these having had their time, poetry may command the day." 9 Pity then dull we, we that better know, Will a more serious hour on thee bestow.] There is too much inconsistency in this sentence to suppose it genuine. He ironically calls himself and friends dull, and literally asserts their superior understanding in the same sentence. Beside, Pity then we will bestow, &c. does not seem English. I change but an n to an m, and read, Pity them dull; We, we that, &c. The text is from Beaumont's Poems. SEWARD. 10 Their conceit was poor, &c.] Mr. Earle's reflections on Terence are in part at least very unjust. There is perhaps too much sameness in his plots; but his old men and young, his servants, his parasites, &c. are each a distinct character from all the rest, and preserved throughout each play with infinite spirit and judgment. Beside which, the elegant diction and fine sentiments which every where abound in him are patterns to the best comic writers; and which Beaumont and Fletcher strive to excel him in by adding sublimity of poetry justness of sentiment; well knowing that jests and droliery are only the lowest degree of comic excellence. SEWARD. to "A coz'ning dance.] Corrected by Theobald, who says, "Davus is the name of a subtle juggling servant in Terence's comedy called the Fair Andrian.” 12 A thirsty fame.] To make thirsty signify poor or scanty may be admitted; but as the smallest change gives a more natural word, thrifty seems the original. The text from Beaumont's Poems. *This copy varies considerably from that printed with Beaumont's Poems. SEWARD. 13 Joh. Earle. Mr Earle was young when he wrote this, and there are indisputable marks of a bright poetic genius, which had probably been greatly inspired by an intimacy with Beaumont. He was in high repute as a preacher and a scholar in King Charles the First's reign; and seems to have been a true patriot; for it is probable that he opposed the court in the beginning of the troubles, as he was elected one of the Assembly of Divines; but he refused to act with them, and adhered to the king in his lowest state, and for it was deprived VI. On Mr. FRANCIS BEAUMONT, (then newly dead). HE that hath such acuteness, and such wit, VII. RICH. CORBET, 14 D. D. On the happy Collection of Mr. FLETCHER's Works, never before printed. He comes! his volume breaks through clouds and dust; Nor comes he private; here's great Beaumont too: Some think your wits of two complexions fram'd, 15 Two, deprived of the chancellorship of Salisbury, and all his other preferments. After the restoration, he was made, first Dean of Westminster, then Bishop of Worcester, and afterwards of Salisbury. Mr Wood gives a character of him, that extremely resembles that of the excellent Dr. Hough, the late Bishop of Worcester; the sum of it is, that he joined the politeness of a courtier to the sanctity, goodness, and charity of an apostle. SEWARD. 14 Richard Corbet, first Student, then Dean of Christ-Church, afterwards Bishop of Oxford, and from thence translated to Norwich; in his youth was eminent for wit and poetry, of which this is a specimen, and a good testimony of Beaumont's having a luxuriant wit as well as Fletcher, 15 a wit That would ask ten good heads to husband it. But, as two voices in one song embrace, SEWARD. Two, full, congenial souls.] Here Berkenhead is speaking of the doubtful opinions relating to the share which Beaumont and Fletcher had in these plays: he tells you, that the general opinion was, that Beaumont was a grave tragic writer, Fletcher most excellent in comedy. This he contradicts; but how, why, they did not differ as a general of horse does from a general of foot, nor as the sock does from the buskin, nor as the will from the under standing, Two, full, congenial souls; still both prevail'd; His rules and standard wit (Fletcher) to thee. Scenes flow like sun-beams from thy glorious brain; To feed poor languid wits that wait at door; Who creep and creep, yet ne'er above-ground stood; Thou always best; if aught seem'd to decline, standing, but were two full congenial souls, and differed only as the base and treble do in the same song. Why, if this is the true reading, he confirms in these lines what he had contradicted in all the foregoing similes, for base and treble have much the same difference between them as horse and foot in an army, or the wit and understanding in the soul. To make the writer consistent with himself, the true reading seems to be not instead of but: 16 His muse and thine were quarter'd, not impal'd;] I know I am going out of my depth, in attempting a criticism on terms in heraldry. But my books tell me, that impating is when the arms of the man and wife are placed on the same escutcheon, the one on the right and the other on the left; which is a proper emblem of the matrimonial union; and might seemingly be as well applied to the marriage of Beaumont and Fletcher's wit, as the word quartering can, which the same Berkenhead speaks of at the latter end of this poem: What strange production is at last display'd, But I shall attempt no change in a science where I am ignorance itself. SEWARD. Thus Thus thy fair Shepherdess, which the bold heap For plunder'd folks ought to be rail'd upon; They stuff their page with gods, write worse than men; As much as Greeks, or Latins, thee in years: Lost to behold this great relapse of wit: What strength remains, is like that (wild and fierce) Such boist'rous trifles thy muse would not brook, Thy nerves have beauty, which invades and charms; Thy fancy gave no unswept language vent; High crimes were still arraign'd; though they made shift Nor swoln, nor flat, a true full natural vein; Thy sense (like well-drest ladies) cloath'd as skinn'd, Thou hadst no sloth, no rage, no sullen fit, But strength and mirth; Fletcher's a sanguine wit. Behold, Behold, two masculines espous'd each other; Wit and the world were born without a mother. J. BERKENHEAD. VIII. On the Works of BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, now at length printed. GREAT pair of Authors, whom one equal star In fame, as well as writings, both so knit, Whether one did contrive, the other write, That Art with Nature ne'er did smoother run. That modern cowards, when they saw him play'd, And thank'd you for this coz'nage, whose chaste scene That they, who brought foul fires, and thither came Be't to your praise too, that's your stock and vein 17 J. Berkinhead.] Berkinhead was first amanuensis to bishop Laud, and fellow of AllSouls. He was author of the Mercurius Aulicus, a very loyal paper in the time of the rebellion. He was persecuted much in Cromwell's days, and lived by his wits; afterwards he had good places under King Charles the Second, was member of parliament, and knighted. SEWARD. your stock and vein Held both to tragic and to comic strain.] i. e. Your stock of understanding and knowledge, and your vein of wit and humour, are equally excellent in tragedy and comedy. SEWARD. Where |