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To his Precious Friend I. S. upon his choyse conceipt of Penelope and Ulysses.
LOng look't for comes at last; twas sayd of old•…•…,
I'le use the proverb; herein I am bold:
For if the ancient Poets don't belie us
Nihil jam dictum quod non dictum pri•…•…s:
But let that passe: the thing I would intend,
With my unpolist lines, is to commend
A worke that may to an ingenious care
Be its owne or ator; for nothing here,
But grate's this stupid age, wherein each ma•…•…e
That can but •…•…yme, is poet laureat.
It is the scorne of time, and for m•…•… par•…•…
That at the best am but af•…•…eind to art,
My senses ake to heare the cry advance
And dot•…•… upon the workes of ignorance;
Let focles admire folly: while I thee
That into pastime turn'st their poetrie.