56

Though they in number as in sense excel,
So just, so like tautology, they fell
That, pale with envy, Singleton forswore,
The lute and sword which he in triumph
bore,

And vowed he ne'er would act Valerius more."

Here stopped the good old sire and wept for joy,

60

In silent raptures of the hopeful boy.
All arguments, but most his plays, per-
suade

That for anointed dulness he was made. Close to the walls which fair Augusta bind,

Much Heywood, Shirley, Ogleby, there lay;

102

64 (The fair Augusta much to fears inclined,) An ancient fabric raised to inform the sight There stood of yore, and Barbican it hight; A watch-tower once, but now, so fate or

But loads of Shadwell almost choked the way.

Bilked stationers for yeomen stood prepared,

dains,

And Herringman was captain of the guard. Of all the pile an empty name remains; 69 The hoary prince in majesty appeared, 106

*

High on a throne of his own labors reared. At his right hand our young Ascanius sate,

Near these a Nursery erects its head
Where queens are formed and future
heroes bred,
Where unfledged actors learn to laugh and
cry,

75

Where infant trulls their tender voices try,
And little Maximins the gods defy.
Great Fletcher never treads in buskins here,
Nor greater Jonson dares in socks appear;
But gentle Simkin just reception finds 81
Amidst this monument of vanished minds;
Pure clinches1 the suburbian muse affords,
And Panton waging harmless war with
words.

Here Flecknoe, as a place to fame well known, 85 Ambitiously designed his Shadwell's Shadwell's throne.

For ancient Dekker prophesied long since That in this pile should reign a mighty prince,

Now Empress Fame had published the

renown

Of Shadwell's coronation through the

town.

95

Roused by report of fame, the nations meet

From near Bunhill and distant Watlingstreet.

No Persian carpets spread the imperial way,

But scattered limbs of mangled poets lay;

*

Born for a scourge of wit and flail of sense,
To whom true dulness should

some
90

Psyches owe,

But worlds of Misers from his pen should
flow;
Humorists and hypocrites it should pro-
duce,
Whole Raymond families and tribes of
Bruce.

1 puns.

Rome's other hope and pillar of the state.
His brows thick fogs instead of glories
grace,
And lambent dulness played around his
face.

IIO

As Hannibal did to the altars come,
Sworn by his sire a mortal foe to Rome;
So Shadwell swore, nor should his vow be
vain,

That he till death true dulness would
maintain;
115

And, in his father's right and realm's defence,