Exercitatio. To this perfection of nature in our poet, we require exercise of those parts and frequent. If his wit will not arrive suddenly at the dignity of the ancients, let him not yet fall out with it, quarrel, or be over-hastily angry: offer, to turn it away from study, in a humor; but come to it again upon better cogitation; try another time, with labor. If then it succeed not, cast not away the quills, yet: nor scratch the wainscot, beat not the poor desk; but bring all to the forge, and file, again; turn it anew. There is no statue law of the kingdom bids you be a poet, against your will; or the first quarter. If it come, in a year, or two, it is well.
(from Timber, or Discoveries, 1640)
Well, with mine own frail pitcher, what to do
I have decreed: keep it from waves, and press,
Lest it be jostled, cracked, made nought or less;
Live to that point I will for which I am man,
And dwell as in my center as I can.
(from "An Epistle Answering to One That Asked to be Sealed of the Tribe of Ben")
No comments:
Post a Comment