WHO first reformed our stage with justest laws, And was the first best judge in his own cause; Who, when his actors trembled for applause, Could (with a noble confidence) prefer His own, by right, to a whole theatre; From principles which he knew could not err: Who to his fable did his persons fit, With all the properties of art and wit, And above all that could be acted, writ: Who public follies did to covert drive, Which he again could cunningly retrive, Leaving them no ground to rest on and thrive: Here JONSON lies, whom, had I named before, In that one word alone I had paid more Than can be now, when plenty makes me poor. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE ROAD by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE THIRD DAY: SCANDERBERG by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE SWAMP FOX by WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS TO A YOUNG LADY; WHO ... REPROACHED FOR TAKING LONG WALKS IN COUNTRY by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE CLOAK, THE BOAT, AND THE SHOES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS BEAUTIFUL WORLD! by JOHN STUART BLACKIE |