CARCE fhould we have the boldness, to pretend
So long renown'd a Tragedy to mend :
Had not already fome deferv'd your praise
With like attempt. Of all our elder Plays,
This, and PHILASTERS 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 drefs'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,
Polif'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 bonor this, than did the GRECIAN, Stage.
Thus fays our Author; not content to fee
That others write as carelefly as be:
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 rhyming verse, distinguish'd from the reft:
That, as the RHONE its hafy way does make,
(Not mingling waters) thro' GENEVA's lake: