Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COMMENDATORY VERSES TO MASSINGER'S PLAY, 'THE BONDMAN', by WILLIAM BASSE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMMENDATORY VERSES TO MASSINGER'S PLAY, 'THE BONDMAN', by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The printers haste calls on; I must not driue
Last Line: Of all that are call'd workes, the best are playes.
Subject(s): Massinger, Philip (1583-1640); Plays & Playwrights ; Dramatists


THE PRINTERS haste calls on; I must not driue
My time past Sixe, though I begin at Fiue.
One houre I haue entire, and 'tis enough:
Here are no Gipsie Iigges, no Drumming stuffe,
Dances, or other Trumpery to delight,
Or take by common way the common sight.
The AVTHOR of this POEM, as he dares
To stand th' austerest Censure, so he cares
As little what it is. His owne Best way
Is, to be Iudge and AVTHOR of his PLAY
It is his Knowledge makes him thus secure;
Nor do's he write to please, but to endure.
And (Reader) if you haue disburs'd a shilling
To see this worthy STORY, and are willing
To haue a large encrease, (if rul'd by me)
You may a MARCHANT and a POET be.
'Tis granted for your twelue-pence you did sit,
And See, and Heare, and Vnderstand not yet.
The AVTHOR (in a Christian pitty) takes
Care of your good, and Prints it for your sakes:
That such as will but venter Six-pence more,
May Know, what they but Saw and Heard before:
'Twill not be money lost, if you can reed,
(Ther's all the doubt now); but your gains exceed
If you can Vnderstand, and you are made
Free of the freest and the noblest trade.
And in the way of POETRY, now adayes,
Of all that are call'd Workes, the best are PLAYES.





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