The lines where_ Corydon Alexis _woes;
But those in opposition quickly met [-The faithfull Shepherdesse.-]
The smooth tongu'd_ Perigot _and_ Amoret:
_A paire whom doubtlesse had the others seene,
They from their owne loves had_ Apostates _beene;
Thus_ Fletcher _did the fam'd laureat exceed,
Both when his Trumpet sounded and his reed;
Now if the Ancients yeeld that heretofore,
None worthyer then those ere Laurell wore;
The least our age can say now thou art gon,
Is that there never will be such a one:
And since t' expresse thy worth, our rimes too narrow be,
To help it wee'l be ample in our prophesie_.

H. HOWARD.


On Mr John Fletcher, and his Workes, never before published.

_To flatter living fooles is easie slight:
But hard, to do the living-dead men right.
To praise a Landed Lord, is gainfull art:
But thanklesse to pay Tribute to desert.
This should have been my taske: I had intent
To bring my rubbish to thy monument,
To stop some crannies there, but that I found
No need of least repaire; all firme and sound.
Thy well-built fame doth still it selfe advance
Above the Worlds mad zeale and ignorance,
Though thou dyedst not possest of that same pelfe