PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1674 by JOHN DRYDEN

POETS, your Subjets, have their Parts assign'd,
T' unbend and to divert their Sov' reign's Mind:
When, tyr'd with following Nature, you think fit
To seek repose in the cool shades of Wit,
And from the sweet Retreat, with Joy survey
What rests, and what is conquer'd, of the way.
Here, free your selves from Envy, Care, and Strife,
You view the various Turns of humane Life;
Safe in our Scene, through dangerous Courts you go,
And undebauch'd the Vice of Cities know.
Your Theories are here to Practice brought,
As in Mechanick Operations wrought;
And Man, the little World, before you set,
As once the Sphere of Chrystal Shew'd the Great.
Blest sure are you above all Mortal Kind,
If to your Fortunes you can suit your Mind;
Content to see, and shun, those ills we show,
And Crimes, on Theatres alone, to know.
With joy we bring what our dead Authors writ,
And beg from you the value of their Wit:
That @3Shakespear's, Fletcher's,@1 and great @3Johnson's@1 Claim
May be renew'd from those who gave them Fame.
None of our living Poets dare appear;
For Muses so severe are worshipt here
That, conscious of their Faults, they shun the Eye,
And, as Prophane, from sacred Places fly,
Rather than see th' offended God, and dye.
We bring no Imperfections, but our own;
Such Faults as made are by the Makers shown.
And you have been so kind that we may boast,
The greatest Judges still can pardon most.
Poets must stoop, when they would please our Pit,
Debas'd even to the Level of their Wit;
Disdaining that which yet they know will take,
Hating themselves what their Applause must make.
But when to Praise from you they would aspire,
Though they like Eagles mount, your @3Jove@1 is higher.
So far your Knowledge all their Pow'r transcends,
As what @3should@1 be beyond what @3Is@1, extends.

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