The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) by William Winstanley
page 8 of 249 (03%)
page 8 of 249 (03%)
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exceed them
_Whose victorious Rhime,_ _Revenge their Masters Death,_ _and conquer Time_. And indeed what is it that so masters Oblivion, and causeth the Names of the dead to live, as the divine Strains of sacred Poesie? How are the Names forgotten of those mighty Monarchs, the Founders of the _Egyptian Pyramids_, when that _Ballad-Poet, Thomas Elderton_, who did arm himself with Ale (as old Father _Ennius_ did with Wine) is remembred in Mr. _Cambden's Remains?_ having this made to his Memory, _Hic situs est sitiens atque ebrius_ Eldertonus, _Quid dico; hic situs est; hic potius sitis est_. Now, Sir, all my Ambition, that I address these _Lines_ unto you, is, that you will pardon the Defects I have committed herein, as having done my good will in so short an _Epitome_ to lay a _Ground-work_, on which may be built a _sumptuous Structure_; a Work well worthy the Pen of a second _Plutarch_; since Poetical Devices have been well esteemed. even amongst them who have been ignorant of what they are; as the judicious Mr. _Cambden_ reports of _Sieur Gauland_, who, when he heard a Gentleman express that he was at a Supper, where they had not only good Company and good Chear, but also savoury _Epigrams_, and fine _Anagrams_; he returning home, rated and belowted his _Cook_, as an ignorant _Scullion_, that never dressed or served up to him either _Epigrams_ or _Anagrams_. But, _Sir_, I intrench upon your Patience, and shall no further; only |
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