What things have we seen Done at the Mermaid! Hard is it to say, Yet will I venture On the old play, Newly revived by him Who writ it. If it be a sin To make a mystery Of brethren, Brothers the Muses, Large family, I beg their pardon; For I must tell all. One of you know The famous Mermaid, Where divers of worship Receiv'd and graced The house, might rightly Claim a poet's patronage. Beaumont lies there, And so does Fletcher, Of rare note; Two Beaumonts, three Fletchers, Of divers plays, One of the former, Of the Night and Day. He that watered his plants And made 'em grow, Glorious Jonson, and Then, after him, Beaumont and Fletcher, Who equals them? But did you never Heare that the Muses Were nuns? No? Sirs, I thought ye had, And therefore may Be taught, I hope, The way to know them; They are cloyster'd now, And I fear for ever, But the Cloister Is not kept so strict, But they'll take order For their old friend's sake, And make him sit In his old place. Now for a proof Of what I say, Reader, behold, And do not stay, The notary That wrote this, And let but him Be called to Bliss To read them over, And if he Can challenge them, The difference Shall make it good, And give the kisse He lately took. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A YOUNG ASS; ITS MOTHER BEING TETHERED NEAR IT by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE DEFINITION OF LOVE by ANDREW MARVELL A HYMN TO CONTENTMENT by THOMAS PARNELL ON THE COLLAR OF MRS. DINGLEY'S LAP-DOG by JONATHAN SWIFT I HEAR AMERICA SINGING by WALT WHITMAN |