SCARCE Should we have the boldness, to pretend
So long renown'd a Tragedy to mend :
Had not already fome defer'd your praise
With like attempt. Of all our elder plays,
This, and PHILASTER, have the loudeft fame :
Great are their faults, and glorious is their flame.
In both, our ENGLISH genius is exprefs'd;
Lofty, and bold; but, negligently dress'd.
Above our neighbours our conceptions are:
But, faultlefs writing is th' effect of care.
Our lines reform'd, and not compos'd in hafte,
Polifb'd like marble, would like marble laft.
But, as the prefent, fo the laft age writ
In both we find like negligence, and wit.
Were we but lefs indulgent to our faults,
And patience had to cultivate our thoughts,
Our Mufe would flourish; and a nobler rage
Would honor this, than did the GRECIAN, Stage.
Thus fays our Author; not content to fee
That others write as carlessly as he :
Tho' he pretends not to make things complete,
Yet, to please you, he'd have the Poets fweat.
In this old play, what's new we have expreft
In rhiming verfe, diftinguish'd from the reft:
That, as the RHONE its hafty way does make,
(Not mingling waters) thro GENEVA's lake:
So, having here the diff'rent ftyles in view,
You may compare the former with the new.
If we lefs rudely shall the knot unty,
Soften the rigor of the Tragedy,
And yet preferve each perfons character ;
Then, to the other, this you may prefer.
'Tis left to you: the Boxes, and the Pit,
Are foreign judges of this fort of wit.
In other things the knowing artist may
Judge better than the people: but, a Play,
(Made for delight, and for no other use)
If you approve it not, has no excuse.