The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher in Ten Volumes

On Mr John Fletcher, and his Workes, never before published

To flatter living fooles is easie slight:But hard, to do the living-dead men right.To praise a Landed Lord, is gainfull art:But thanklesse to pay Tribute to desert.This should have been my taske: I had intentTo bring my rubbish to thy monument,To stop some crannies there, but that I foundNo need of least repaire; all firme and sound.Thy well-built fame doth still it selfe advanceAbove the Worlds mad zeale and ignorance,Though thou dyedst not possest of that same pelfe(Which Nobler soules call durt,) the City wealth:Yet thou hast left unto the times so greatA Legacy, a Treasure so compleat,That 'twill be hard I feare to prove thy Will:Men will be wrangling, and in doubting stillHow so vast summes of wit were left behind,And yet nor debts nor sharers they can finde.'Twas the kind providence of fate, to lockSome of this Treasure up; and keep a stockFor a reserve untill these sullen daies:When scorn, and want, and danger, are the BaiesThat Crown the head of merit. But now heWho in thy Will hath part, is rich and free.But there's a Caveat enter'd by command,None should pretend, but those can understand.HENRY MODY, Baronet.

On Mr Fletchers Works

Though Poets have a licence which they useAs th' ancient priviledge of their free Muse;Yet whether this be leave enough for meTo write, great Bard, an Eulogie for thee:Or whether to commend thy Worke, will standBoth with the Lawes of Verse and of the Land,Were to put doubts might raise a discontentBetween the Muses and the –I'le none of that. There's desperate wits that be(As their immortall Lawrell) Thunder-free;Whose personall vertues, 'bove the Lawes of Fate,Supply the roome of personall estate:

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