Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OEDIPUS: PROLOGUE, by JOHN DRYDEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OEDIPUS: PROLOGUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When athens all the grecian state did guide
Last Line: The first play bury'd since the wollen act.
Subject(s): Greece; Oedipus; Plays & Playwrights ; Greeks; Dramatists


WHEN Athens all the Groecian State did guide,
And Greece gave Laws to all the World beside;
Then Sophocles with Socrates did sit,
Supreme in Wisdom one, and one in Wit:
And Wit from Wisdom differ'd not in those,
But as 'twas Sung in Verse or said in Prose.
Then OEdipus, on crowded Theaters
Drew all admiring Eyes and listning Ears:
The pleas'd Spectator shouted every Line,
The noblest, manliest, and the best Design!
And every Critick of each learned Age
By this just Model has reform'd the Stage.
Now, should it fail, (as Heav'n avert our fear!)
Damn it in silence, lest the World should hear.
For were it known this Poem did not please,
You might set up for perfect Salvages:
Your Neighbours would not look on you as men:
But think the Nation all turned Picis agen.
Faith, as you manage matters, 'tis not fit
You should suspect your selves of too much Wit.
Drive not the jeast too far, but spare this piece;
And for this once be not more Wise than Greece.
See twice! Do not pell-mell to Damning fall,
Like true-born Brittains, who ne're think at all:
Pray be advis'd; and though at Mons you won,
On pointed Cannon do not always run.
With some Respect to antient Wit proceed,
And take the four first Councils for your Creed.
But, when you lay Tradition wholly by,
And on the private Spirit alone relye,
You turn Fanaticks in your Poetry.
If notwithstanding all that we can say,
You needs will have your pen'worths of the Play,
And come resolv'd to Damn, because you pay,
Record it, in memorial of the Fact,
The first Play bury'd since the Wollen Act.





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