Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EPILOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1673, by JOHN DRYDEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EPILOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1673, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: No poor dutch peasant, winged with all his fear
Last Line: We'll boldly back, and say their price is rais'd.
Variant Title(s): Epilogue Spoken At The Acting Of The 'silent Woman'
Subject(s): England; Fear; France; Oxford University; Plays & Playwrights ; War; English; Dramatists


No poor Dutch Peasant, wing'd with all his Fear,
Flies with more haste, when the French Arms draw near,
Than we with our Poetique Train come down,
For Refuge hither from th' infected Town;
Heaven for our Sins this Summer has thought fit
To visit us with all the Plagues of Wit.
A French Troop first swept all things in its way;
But those hot Monsieurs were too quick to stay;
Yet, to our Cost, in that short time, we find
They left their Itch of Novelty behind.
Th' Italian Merry-Andrews took their place,
And quite debauch'd the Stage with lewd Grimace:
Instead of Wit and Humours, your Delight
Was there to see two Hobby-horses fight,
Stout Scaramoucha with Rush Lance rode in,
And ran a Tilt at Centaure Arlequin.
For Love you heard how amorous Asses bray'd,
And Cats in Gutters gave their Serenade.
Nature was out of Countenance, and each Day
Some new-born Monster shewn you for a Play.
But when all fail'd, to strike the Stage quite dumb,
Those wicked Engines, call'd Machines, are come.
Thunder and Lightning now for Wit are play'd.
And shortly Scenes in Lapland will be lay'd:
Art Magique is for Poetry profest,
And Cats and Dogs, and each obscener Beast
To which AEgyptian Dotards once did bow,
Upon our English Stage are worshipp'd now.
Witchcraft reigns there, and raises to Renown
Macbeth, the Simon Magus of the town.
Fletcher's despis'd, your Johnson out of Fashion,
And Wit the onely Drug in all the Nation.
In this low Ebb our Wares to you are shown,
By you those Staple Authours Worth is known;
For Wit's a Manufacture of your own.
When you, who only can, their scenes have prais'd,
We'll boldly back, and say their Price is rais'd.





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