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1681
THOUGH actors cannot much of learning boast, | |
| Of all who want it, we admire it most: | |
| We love the praises of a learned pit, | |
| As we remotely are allied to wit. | |
| We speak our poet’s wit, and trade in ore, | 5 |
| Like those who touch upon the golden shore; | |
| Betwixt our judges can distinction make, | |
| Discern how much, and why, our poems take; | |
| Mark if the fools, or men of sense, rejoice; | |
| Whether th’ applause be only sound or voice. | 10 |
| When our fop gallants, or our city folly, | |
| Clap over-loud, it makes us melancholy: | |
| We doubt that scene which does their wonder raise, | |
| And, for their ignorance, contemn their praise. | |
| Judge then, if we who act, and they who write, | 15 |
| Should not be proud of giving you delight. | |
| London like grossly; but this nicer pit | |
| Examines, fathoms, all the depths of wit; | |
| The ready finger lays on every blot; | |
| Knows what should justly please, and what should not. | 20 |
| Nature herself lies open to your view, | |
| You judge by her what draught of her is true, | |
| Where outlines false, and colours seem too faint, | |
| Where bunglers daub, and where true poets paint. | |
| But, by the sacred genius of this place, | 25 |
| By every Muse, by each domestic grace, | |
| Be kind to wit, which but endeavours well, | |
| And, where you judge, presumes not to excel. | |
| Our poets hither for adoption come, | |
| As nations sued to be made free of Rome: | 30 |
| Not in the suffragating tribes to stand, | |
| But in your utmost, last, provincial band. | |
| If his ambition may those opes pursue, | |
| Who with religion loves your arts and you, | |
| Oxford to him a dearer name shall be, | 35 |
| Than his own mother-university. | |
| Thebes did his green, unknowing youth engage; | |
| He chooses Athens in his riper age. | |
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