As the Shrieues crufts, and nafty as his fishscraps, out euery dish, as Throwne forth, and rak't into the common tub, May keepe vp the Play-club: There, sweepings doe as well As the best order'd meale. For, who the relish of these ghefts will fit, 30 Needs fet them, but, the almes-basket of wit. And much good do't you then: Braue plush, and veluet-men; Can feed on orts: And fafe in your ftage-clothes, 35 The stagers, and the ftage-wrights too (your peeres) Of larding your large eares With their foule comick focks; Wrought vpon twenty blocks: Which, if they are torne, and turn'd, & patch't enough, The gamesters share your guilt, and you their stuffe. Leaue things so prostitute, And take the Alcaick Lute; Warme thee, by Pindares fire: 45 And though thy nerues be shrunke, and blood be cold, Ere yeares haue made thee old; Strike that difdaine-full heate Throughout, to their defeate: As curious fooles, and enuious of thy ftraine, 50 May, blushing, fweare no palfey's in thy braine. But, when they heare thee fing The glories of thy King, His zeale to God, and his iuft awe o're men; They may, blood-fhaken, then, Feele fuch a flesh-quake to poffeffe their powers: 55 As they shall cry, like ours In found of peace, or warres, No Harpe ere hit the starres; In tuning forth the acts of his sweet raigne : 60 APPENDIX Of the poems included in this appendix expressing contemporary criticism of Jonson and his play, Gifford appended modernized versions of those by Feltham, Randolph, Carew, and 'I. C.' to The New Inn in his edition of 1816. In his Memoirs he quoted eight lines, 27-34, from 'The Cuntrys Censure,' here printed in full for the first time. The versions herein presented aim to be faithful copies of the early manuscripts and editions. |