Читать книгу The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher in Ten Volumes - Beaumont Francis - Страница 6

Tell the sad World that now the lab'ring Presse

Has brought forth safe a Child of happinesse,

The Frontis-piece will satisfie the wise

And good so well, they will not grudge the price.

'Tis not all Kingdomes joyn'd in one could buy

(If priz'd aright) so true a Library

Of man: where we the characters may finde

Of ev'ry Nobler and each baser minde.

Desert has here reward in one good line

For all it lost, for all it might repine:

Vile and ignobler things are open laid,

The truth of their false colours are displayed:

You'l say the Poet's both best Judge and Priest,

No guilty soule abides so sharp a test

As their smooth Pen; for what these rare men writ

Commands the World, both Honesty and Wit.