Satyrical essayes characters and others. Or Accurate and quick descriptions, fitted to the life of their subiects. Iohn Stephens

CHARAC. VI. A worthy Poet

IS the purest essence of a wor∣thy Man: He is confident of nature in nothing but the form, and an ingenious fitnesse to conceiue the matter. So he ap∣proues nature as the motiue, not

the foundation or structure of his worthinesse. His workes doe every way pronounce both nou∣rishment, delight, and admirati∣on to the readers soule: which makes him neither rough, effe∣minate, nor windy: for by a sweet contemperament of Tune and Ditty, hee entices others to goodnesse; and shewes himselfe perfect in the lesson. Hee never writes vpon a full stomacke, and an empty head; or a full head, and an emptie stomacke. For he cannot make so Diuine a re∣ceptacle stoope to the sordid folly of gall or enuy, without strength: or strength of braine stoope, and debase it selfe with hunting out the bodies suc∣cour. Hee is not so impartiall as to condemne every new fashion, or taxe idle circum∣stance; nor so easie as to allow

vices, and account them gene∣rous humours. So hee neither seekes to enlarge his credit of bitternesse, by a snarling seve∣ritie; nor to augment his substance by insinuating court∣shippe. Hee hath more debt∣tors in knowledge among the present Writers, then Credi∣tors among the ancient Poets. Hee is possessed with an inno∣cent libertie, which excludes him from the slavish labour and meanes of setting a glosse vp∣pon fraile commodities. What∣soever therefore proceeds from him, proceedes without a mea∣ning to supply the worth, when the worke is ended; by the addi∣tion of preparatiue verses at the beginning; or the dispersed hire of acquaintance to extoll things indifferent. He does not there∣fore passionatly affect high pa∣tronage,

or any further then hee may giue freely; and so receiue back honest thankes. The dange∣rous name and the contempt of Poets, sprung from their multi∣tude of corruptions, proues no disaduantage or terrour to him: for such be his antidotes that he can walke vntouched, euen through the worst infection. He is no miserable selfe-louer, nor no vnbounded prodigall: for he can communicate himselfe wise∣ly to auoide dull reseruednesse, but not make euery thought common, to maintaine his mar∣ket. It must be imputed to his perfect eye-sight, that he can see error, and auoide it without the hazard of a new one: As in Po∣ems, so in proiects, by an easie coniecture. Hee cannot flatter, nor bee flattered: If hee giues Desert, hee giues no more;

and leaues Hyperbole in such a matter of importance: As for himselfe, he is so well knowne vnto himselfe, that neither pub∣licke fame, nor yet his owne con∣ceite, can make him ouervalued in himselfe. Hee is an enemy to Atheists; for he is no Fatist nor Naturalist: hee therefore ex∣cludes Lucke and Rime, from the acceptance of his Poems; scor∣ning to acknowledge the one as an efficient, the other as an essence, of his Muses fauour. Hee paies back all his imitation with interest; whilst his Authors (if reuiued) would confesse their chiefe credit was to bee such a patterne: otherwise (for the most part) he proues himselfe the pat∣terne, and the proiect in hand: Siluer onely and sound mettall comprehends his nature: rub∣bing, motion, and customary

vsage, makes the brightnesse of both more eminent. No mer∣uaile though he be Immortall, seeing he conuerts poyson into nourishment; euen the worst obiects and societies to a wor∣thy vse. When he is lastly silent (for he cannot die) hee findes a Monument prepared at others cost and remembrance, whilst his former actions bee a liuing Epitaph.