Pope came off clean with Homer, but they say,
Broome went before, and kindly swept the way.
Leaving a few words on the matchless Ben himself for [the “Sessions of the Poets” Additional Note], we end this commentary on our book’s chief poem with a few more stanzas from the Beswick Manuscript, by George Daniel, (written in great part before, part after, 1647,) in honour of Ben Jonson, but preceded by others relating to Sir Philip Sidney, Spenser, Daniel, Drayton, Shakespeare, Beaumont, and Donne:—
I am not bound to honour antique names, [8th verse]
Nor am I led by other men to chuse
Any thing worthy, which my judgment blames;
Heare better straines, though by a later Muse;
The sweet Arcadian singer first did raise
Our Language current, and deserv’d his Baies.
That Lord of Penhurst, Penhurst whose sad walls