Cowley adopted it, and excelled his predecessors, having as much
sentiment and more music. Suckling neither improved versification
nor abounded in conceits. The fashionable style remained chiefly
with Cowley; Suckling could not reach it, and Milton disdained it.

Critical remarks are not easily understood without examples; and I
have therefore collected instances of the modes of writing by which
this species of poets (for poets they were called by themselves and
their admirers) was eminently distinguished.

As the authors of this race were perhaps more desirous of being
admired than understood, they sometimes drew their conceits from
recesses of learning not very much frequented by common readers of
poetry. Thus, Cowley on Knowledge:


The sacred tree 'midst the fair orchard grew;
The phoenix truth did on it rest,
And built his perfumed nest,
That right Porphyrian tree which did true logic show.
Each leaf did learned notions give,
And the apples were demonstrative;
So clear their colour and divine,
The very shads they cast did other lights outshine.


On Anacreon continuing a lover in his old age:


Love was with thy life entwined,