Is that they sing; and that they love.
In sum, this our Poet was not Inferior to Carew, Lovelace, nor any of those who were accounted the brightest Stars in the Firmament of Poetry.
Sir JOHN DENHAM.
Sir John Denham was a Gentleman, who to his other Honors had this added; that he was one of the Chief of the Delphick Quire, and for his Writings worthy to be Crowned with a wreath of Stars. The excellency of his Poetry may be seen in his Coopers Hill, which whosoever shall deny, may be accounted no Friends to the Muses: His Tragedy of the Sophy, is equal to any of the Chiefest Authors, which with his other Works bound together in one Volume, will make his name Famous to all Posterity.
Sir WILLIAM DAVENANT.
Sir William Davenant, may be accounted one of the Chiefest of Apollo's Sons, for the great Fluency of his Wit and Fancy: Especially his Gondibert, the Crown of all his other Writings; to which Mr. Hobbs of Malmsbury wrote a Preface, wherein he extolleth him to the Skyes; wherein no wonder (sayes one) if Compliment and Friendly Compliance do a little biass and over-sway Judgment. He also wrote a Poem entituled Madagascur, also a Farrago of his Juvenile, and other Miscelaneous Pieces: But his Chiefest matter was what he wrote for the English Stage, of which was four Comedies, viz. Love and Honour, The Man is the Master; The Platonick Lovers; and The Wits. Three Tragedies; Albovine, The Cruel Brother, and The unfortunate Lovers. Two Tragi-Comedies, the Just Italian; and the Lost Lady. And Six Masques, viz. Brittania Triumphans; The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru; Drakes History First Part; Siege of Rhodes in two Parts, and The temple of Love; Besides his Musical Drama's, when the usual Playes were not suffered to be Acted, whereof he was the first Reviver and Improver by painted Scenes after his Majesties Restoration; erecting a new Company of Actors, under the Patronage of the Duke of York.
Now this our Poet, as he was a Wit himself, so did several of the Wits play upon him; amongst others Sir John Suckling in his Session of the Poets hath these Verses.
Will Davenant asham'd of a Foolish mischance