The wise, and many-headed bench, that sits Upon the life, and death of plays, and wits, (Composed of gamester, captain, knight, knight's man, Lady, or pucel, that wears mask, or fan, Velvet, or taffeta cap, ranked in the dark With the shop's foreman, or some such brave spark, That may judge for his sixpence) had, before They saw it half, damned thy whole play, and more; Their motives were, since it had not to do With vices, which they looked for, and came to. I, that am glad, thy innocence was thy guilt, And wish that all the muses' blood were spilt, In such a martyrdom; to vex their eyes, Do crown thy murdered poem: which shall rise A glorified work to time, when fire, Or moths shall eat, what all these fools admire. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: TO HIS LUTE by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN SONNET: A PREACHER by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE VOICE IN THE GLOAMING by WILLIAM ALLAN BLIND OLD MILTON by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN UNSOPHISTICATED WISHES, BY MISS JEMINA INGOLDSBY, AGED 15 by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM COMMENDS THE SPRING; A PARAPHRASE OF AN IDYLLIUM by BION |