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| | Poetry, in this latter Age,
hath prov'd but a meane Mistresse, to such as have wholly addicted
themselves to her, or given their names up to her family. They who have
but saluted her on the by, and now and then tendred their visits, shee
hath done much for, and advanced in the way of their owne professions
(both the Law, and the Gospel) beyond all they could have
hoped, or done for themselves, without her favour. Wherein she doth
emulate the judicious, but perposterous bounty of the times Grandes
: who accumulate all they can upon the Parasite, or
Fresh-man in their friendship ; but thinke an old Client, or honest
servant, bound by his place to write, and starve.
[@ Jonson,
Timber: or, Discoveries (Herford 622)]
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De Shake-
speare
nostrat. |
I remember, the Players have often mentioned
it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing, (whatsoever he
penn'd) hee never blotted out line. My answer hath beene, Would he had
blotted a thousand. Which they thought a malevolent speech. I had not told
posterity this, but for their ignorance, who choose that circumstance to
commend their friend by, wherein he most faulted. And to justifie mine owne
candor, (for I lov'd the man, and doe honour his memory (on this side
Idolatry) as much as any.) Hee was (indeed) honest, and of an open, and
free nature : had an excellent Phantsie ; brave notions, and gentle
expressions : wherein hee flow'd with that facility, that sometime it was
necessary he should be stop'd : Sufflaminandus erat ; as
Augustus said of Haterius. His wit was in his owne power ;
would the rule of it had beene so too. Many times hee fell into those
things, could not escape laughter : As when hee said in the person of
Caesar, one speaking to him ; Caesar, thou dost me wrong. Hee
replyed : Caesar did never wrong, but with just cause : and such
like ; which were ridiculous. But hee redeemed his vices, with his vertues.
There
was ever more in him to be praysed, then to be pardoned. |
Ingeni-
orum
dis-
crimina.
Not. I. |
In the difference of wits, I have observ'd ;
there are many notes : And it is a little Maistry to know them : to
discerne, what every nature, every disposition will beare : For, before
wee sow our land, we should plough it. There are no fewer formes of minds,
then of bodies amongst us. The variety is incredible ; and therefore wee
must search. Some are fit to make Divines, some Poets, some
Lawyers, some Physicians ; some to be sent to the plough, and trades.
[676] |
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