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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR'S TO A MASQUE AT WHITTON by JOHN SUCKLING

First Line: EXPECT NOT HERE A CURIOUS RIVER FINE
Last Line: AND, IF A LAUGH BE TOO MUCH, LEND A SMILE.

EXPECT not here a curious river fine:
Our wits are short of that---alas the time!
The neat refined language of the Court
We know not; if we did, our country sport
Must not be too ambitious; 'tis for kings,
Not for their subjects, to have such rare things.
Besides, though, I confess, Parnassus hardly,
Yet Helicon this summer-time is dry:
Our wits were at an ebb, or very low,
And, to say troth, I think they cannot flow.
But yet a gracious influence from you
May alter nature in our brow-sick crew.
Have patience then, we pray, and sit a while,
And, if a laugh be too much, lend a smile.



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