To all and singular in this full Meeting, Ladies and Gallants, @3Phoebus@1 sends me greeting. To all his Sons, by whate'er Title known, Whether of Court, of Coffee-house, or Town; From his most mighty Sons, whose Confidence Is plac'd in lofty Sound and humble Sense, Even to his little Infants of the Time, Who write new Songs and trust in Tune and Rhyme; Be't known, that @3Phoebus@1 (being daily griev'd To see good Piays condemn'd and bad receiv'd) Ordains your Judgment upon every Cause Henceforth be limited by wholesome Laws. He first thinks fit no Sonnetteer advance His Censure farther than the Song or Dance. Your Wit burlesque may one Step higher climb, And in his Sphere may judge all dogrel Rhyme; All proves, and moves, and loves, and honours too; All that appears high Sense, and scarce is low. As for the Coffee-wits, he says not much; Their proper Business is to damn the @3Dutch.@1 For the great Dons of Wit -------- @3Phoebus@1 gives them full Privilege alone To damn all others, and cry up their own. Last, for the Ladies, 'tis @3Apollo's@1 Will, They should have power to save, but not to kill; For Love and he long since have thought it fit, Wit live by Beauty, Beauty reign by Wit. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GRASSHOPPER AND CRICKET by JOHN KEATS SONG OF A SECOND APRIL by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY SONNET: AT STRATFORD-UPON-AVON by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE KING OF NORMANDY by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER WHATEVER IS, IS RIGHT by SAMUEL LAMAN BLANCHARD NOON; FROM AN UNFINISHED POEM by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE LANGUAGE OF THE EYES by EDWARD GEORGE EARLE LYTTON BULWER-LYTTON |