name before his betters； he knew there was but one way with him。 Maecenas took another course； and we know he was more than a great man； for he was witty too： But finding himself far gone in poetry； which Seneca assures us was not his talent； he thought it his best way to be well with Virgil and with Horace； that at least he might be a poet at the second hand； and we see how happily it has succeeded with him； for his own bad poetry is forgotten； and their panegyrics of him still remain。 But they who should be our patrons are for no such expensive ways to fame； they have much of the poetry of Maecenas； but little of his liberality。 They are for prosecuting Horace and Virgil； in the persons of their successors； for such is every man who has any part of their soul and fire； though in a less degree。 Some of their little zanies yet go further； for they are persecutors even of Horace himself； as far as they are able； by their ignorant and vile imitations of him； by making an unjust use of his authority； and turning his artillery against his friends。 But how would he disdain to be copied by such hands！ I dare answer for him； he would be more uneasy in their company； than he was with Crispinus； their forefather； in the Holy Way； and would no more have allowed them a place amongst the critics； than he would Demetrius the mimic； and Tigellius the buffoon；
… Demetri； teque； Tigelli； Discipulorum inter jubeo plorare cathedras。
With what scorn would he look down on such miserable translators； who make doggerel of his Latin； mistake his meaning； misapply his censures； and often contradict their own？ He is fixed as a landmark to set out the bounds of poetry
… Saxum antiquum； ingens； Limes agro positus； litem ut discerneret arvis。
But other arms than theirs； and other sinews are required； to raise the weight of such an author； and when they would toss him against enemies
Genua labant； gelidus concrevit frigore sanguis。 Tum lapis ipse viri； vacuum per inane volatus； Nec spatium evasit totum； nec pertulit ictum。
For my part； I would wish no other revenge； either for myself； or the rest of the poets； from this rhyming judge of the twelve…penny gallery； this legitimate son of Sternhold； than that he would subscribe his name to his censure； or （not to tax him beyond his learning） set his mark： For； should he own himself publicly； and come from behind the lion's skin； they whom he condemns would be thankful to him； they whom he praises would choose to be condemned； and the magistrates； whom he has elected； would modestly withdraw from their employment； to avoid the scandal of his nomination。 The sharpness of his satire； next to himself； falls most heavily on his friends； and they ought never to forgive him for commending them perpetually the wrong way； and sometimes by contraries。 If he have a friend； whose hastiness in writing is his greatest fault； Horace would have taught him to have minced the matter； and to have called it readiness of thought； and a flowing fancy； for friendship will allow a man to christen an imperfection by the name of some neighbour virtue
Vellem in amicitia sic erraremus； et isti Errori nomen virtus posuisset honestum。
But he would never allowed him to have called a slow man hasty； or a hasty writer a slow drudge； as Juvenal explains it
… Canibus pigris； scabieque vestusta Laevibus； et siccae lambentibus ora lucernae； Nomen erit； Pardus； Tigris； Leo； si quid adhuc est Quod fremit in terris violentius。
Yet Lucretius laughs at a foolish lover； even for excusing the imperfections of his mistress
Nigra est； immunda et foetida Balba loqui non quit； ； muta pudens est； etc。
But to drive it ad Aethiopem cygnum is not to be endured。 I leave him to interpret this by the benefit of his French version on the other side； and without further considering him； than I have the rest of my illiterate censors； whom I have disdained to answer； because they are not qualified for judges。 It remains that I acquiant the reader； that I have endeavoured in this play to follow the practice of the ancients； who； as Mr。 Rymer has judiciously observed； are and ought to be our masters。 Horace likewise gives it for a rule in his art of poetry
… Vos exemplaria Graeca Nocturna versate manu； versate diurna。
Yet； though their models are regular； they are too little for English tragedy； which requires to be built in a larger compass。 I could give an instance in the Oedipus Tyrannus； which was the masterpiece of Sophocles； but I reserve it for a more fit occasion； which I hope to have hereafter。 In my style； I have professed to imitate the divine Shakespeare； which that I might perform more freely； I have disencumbered myself from rhyme。 Not that I condemn my former way； but that this is more proper to my present purpose。 I hope I need not to explain myself； that I have not copied my author servilely： Words and phrases must of necessity receive a change in succeeding ages； but it is almost a miracle that much of his language remains so pure； and that he who began dramatic poetry amongst us； untaught by any； and as Ben Jonson tells us； without learning； should by the force of his own genius perform so much； that in a manner he has left no praise for any who come after him。 The occasion is fair； and the subject would be pleasant to handle the difference of styles betwixt him and Fletcher； and wherein； and how far they are both to be imitated。 But since I must not be over…confident of my own performance after him； it will be prudence in me to be silent。 Yet； I hope； I may affirm； and without vanity； that； by imitating him； I have excelled myself throughout the play； and particularly； that I prefer the scene betwixt Antony and Ventidius in the first act； to anything which I have written in this kind。
PROLOGUE
What flocks of critics hover here to…day； As vultures wait on armies for their prey； All gaping for the carcase of a play！ With croaking notes they bode some dire event； And follow dying poets by the scent。 Ours gives himself for gone； y' have watched your time： He fights this day unarmed；without his rhyme； And brings a tale which often has been told； As sad as Dido's； and almost as old。 His hero； whom you wits his bully call； Bates of his mettle； and scarce rants at all； He's somewhat lewd； but a well…meaning mind； Weeps much； fights little； but is wond'rous kind。 In short； a pattern； and companion fit； For all the keeping Tonies of the pit。 I could name more： a wife； and mistress too； Both （to be plain） too good for most of you： The wife well…natured； and the mistress true。 Now； poets； if your fame has been his care； Allow him all the candour you can spare。 A brave man scorns to quarrel once a day； Like Hectors in at every petty fray。 Let those find fault whose wit's so very small； They've need to show that they can think at all； Errors； like straws； upon the surface flow； He who would search for pearls； must dive below。 Fops may have leave to level all they can； As pigmies would be glad to lop a man。 Half…wits are fleas； so little and so light； We scarce could know they live； but that they bite。 But； as the rich； when tired with daily feasts； For change； become their next poor tenant's guests； Drink hearty draughts of ale from plain brown bowls； And snatch the homely rasher from the coals： So you； retiring from much better cheer； For once； may venture to do penance here。 And since that plenteous autumn now is past； Whose grapes and peaches have indulged your taste； Take in good part； from our poor poet's board； Such rivelled fruits as winter can afford。
ALL FOR LOVE or THE WORLD WELL LOST
A TRAGEDY
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
MARK ANTONY。 VENTIDIUS； his General。 DOLABELLA； his Friend。 ALEXAS； the Queen's Eunuch。 SERAPION； Priest of Isis。 MYRIS； another Priest。 Servants to Antony。
CLEOPATRA； Queen of Egypt。 OCTAVIA； Antony's Wife。 CHARMION； Cleopatra's Maid。 IRAS； Cleopatra's Maid。 Antony's two little Daughters。
SCENE。Alexandria。
Act I
Scene I。The Temple of Isis
Enter SERAPION； MYRIS； Priests of Isis
SERAPION。 Portents and prodigies have grown so frequent； That they have lost their name。 Our fruitful Nile Flowed ere the wonted season； with a torrent So unexpected； and so wondrous fierce； That the wild deluge overtook the haste Even of the hinds that watched it： Men and beasts Were borne above the tops of trees； that grew On the utmost margin of the water…mark。 Then； with so swift an ebb the flood drove backward； It slipt from underneath the scaly herd： Here monstrous phocae panted on the shore； Forsaken dolphins there with their broad tails； Lay lashing the departing waves： hard by them； Sea horses floundering in the slimy mud； Tossed up their heads； and dashed the ooze about them。
Enter ALEXAS behind them
MYRIS。 Avert these omens； Heaven！
SERAPION。 Last night； between the hours of twelve and one； In a lone aisle of the temple while I walked； A whirlwind rose； that； with a violent blast； Shook all the dome： the doors around me clapt； The iron wicket； that defends the vault； Where the long race of Ptolemies is laid； Burst open； and disclosed the mighty dead。 》From out each monument； in order placed； An armed ghost starts up： the boy…king last Reared his inglorious head。 A peal of groans Then followed； and a lamentable voice Cried； Egypt is no more！ My blood ran back； My shaking knees against each other knocked； On the cold pavement down I fell entranced； And so unfinished left the horrid scene。
ALEXAS。 And dreamed you this？ or did invent the story； ＇Showing himself。＇ To frighten our Egyptian boys withal； And train them up； betimes； in fear of priesthood？
SERAPION。 My lord； I saw you not； Nor meant my words should reach you ears； but what I uttered was most true。
ALEXAS。 A foolish dream； Bred from the fumes of indigested feasts； And holy luxury。
SERAPION。 I know my duty： This goes no further。
ALEXAS。 'Tis not fit it should； Nor would the times now bear it； were it true。 All southern； from yon hills； the Roman camp Hangs o'er us black and threatening like a storm Just breaking on our heads。