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Expose no single Fop, but lay the Load
More equally, and spread the Folly broad:
The other way is vulgar oft we see
A fool derided by as bad as he;
Hawks fly at nobler Game; but in this low way,
A very Owl may prove a Bird of Prey:
All Poets so will one poor Fop devour;
But to collect, like Bees from every Flower,
Ingredients to compose that precious Juice
Which serves the World for Pleasure and for use,
In spite of Faction this will Favour get:
But [1]Falstaff seems unimitable yet.
Another Fault which often does befal,
Is when the Wit of some great Poet shall
So overflow, that is, be none at all,
That all his Fools speak Sence, as if possest,
And each by Inspiration breaks his Jest;
If once the Justness of each part be lost,
Well may we laugh, but at the Poets Cost.
That silly thing, Men call Sheer wit, avoid,
With which our Age so nauceously is cloy'd;
Humour is all, Wit, should be only brought
To turn agreeably some proper Thought.
But since the Poet we of late have known,
Shine in no Dress so well as in their own,
- ↑ An admirably Character in a Play of Shakespear's.
