All that the Angels do above,
Is that they sing; and that they love.
In sum, this our Poet was not Inferior to _Carew_, _Lovelace_, nor any
of those who were accounted the brightest Stars in the Firmament of
Poetry.
* * * * *
Sir _JOHN DENHAM_.
Sir _John Denham_ was a Gentleman, who to his other Honors had this
added; that he was one of the Chief of the _Delphick Quire_, and for
his Writings worthy to be Crowned with a wreath of Stars. The
excellency of his Poetry may be seen in his _Coopers Hill_, which
whosoever shall deny, may be accounted no Friends to the Muses: His
Tragedy of the _Sophy_, is equal to any of the Chiefest Authors, which
with his other Works bound together in one Volume, will make his name
Famous to all Posterity.
* * * * *
Sir _WILLIAM DAVENANT_.
Sir _William Davenant_, may be accounted one of the Chiefest of
_Apollo's_ Sons, for the great Fluency of his Wit and Fancy: Especially
his _Gondibert_, the Crown of all his other Writings; to which Mr.
_Hobbs_ of _Malmsbury_ wrote a Preface, wherein he extolleth him to the
Skyes; wherein no wonder (sayes one) if Compliment and Friendly
Compliance do a little biass and over-sway Judgment. He also wrote a
Poem entituled _Madagascur_, also a _Farrago_ of his Juvenile, and
other Miscelaneous Pieces: But his Chiefest matter was what he wrote
for the _English_ Stage, of which was four Comedies, _viz._ _Love and
Honour_, _The Man is the Master_; _The Platonick Lovers_; and _The
Wits_. Three Tragedies; _Albovine_, _The Cruel Brother_, and _The
unfortunate Lovers_. Two Tragi-Comedies, the _Just Italian_; and the
_Lost Lady_. And Six Masques, _viz._ _Brittania Triumphans_; _The
Cruelty of the_ Spaniards _in_ Peru; _Drakes_ History First Part;
_Siege of Rhodes_ in two Parts, and _The temple of Love_; Besides his
Musical Drama's, when the usual Playes were not suffered to be Acted,
whereof he was the first Reviver and Improver by painted Scenes after
his Majesties Restoration; erecting a new Company of Actors, under the
Patronage of the Duke of _York_.
Now this our Poet, as he was a Wit himself, so did several of the Wits
play upon him; amongst others Sir _John Suckling_ in his Session of the
Poets hath these Verses.
_Will Davenant_ asham'd of a Foolish mischance
That he had got lately Travelling into _France_;
Modestly hoped the Handsomness of's Muse,
Might any Deformity about him excuse.