And great Augustus long ago is dead,
And all the worthies liggen wrapt in lead,
That matter made for poets on to play:
For ever, who in derring-do were dread,
The lofty verse of them was loved aye.
But after Virtue gan for age to stoop,
And mighty Manhood brought a bed of ease,
The vaunting poets found nought worth a pease
To put in press among the learned troop;
Then gan the streams of flowing wits to cease,