Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 4.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1 GEnt.

Have you seen Monsieur Thesis Book of Poems that is newly come forth?

2 Gent.

Yes.

1 Gent.

And how do you approve of them?

2 Gent.

As well as I do of an Anagram.

1 Gent.

There is never an Anagram in the Book.

2 Gent.

Why the whole Book is an Anagram of Doctor Costives Poems: for he hath only new placed the words, as they do Anagrams of names, but the whole matter, sense, and conceits is the same.

1 Gent.

Indeed he hath imitated him.

2 Gent.

By your favour, imitation is only to be like another, and not the same; but his is the very same, as I have told you, for which he deserves less praises than a Imitator, although those that do imitate any Excellent Poet, do not gain so much honour to themselves, as they give honour to those they imitate; as for example, the Imitators of Homer give more honour to Homer than to themselves; for Imitators are only as Painters, where he that is imita∣ted is as Nature, or the Gods, for the one draws but Copies, the other makes the Original; so that there is as much difference as a Man, and the Picture of a man.

1 Gent.

But a Painter that draws the Picture of a man, very like the life, he may be more famous than the man that is drawn.

2 Gent.

But not worshiped and adored, as Nature is, that made him: for Art cannot out-do Nature, nor do as Nature hath doue, and doth do; and an Imitator is but an Artificer, when as the Original Author is a Creator, and ought to be accounted of, and respected, and worship'd as Divine; but there are or have been but very few Poets that have such powers and parts to make a perfect Creature, which is a perfect work, as Poems, scenes, or story; but some Poets are like Chymist, that strive and labour to make as Na∣ture makes, but most fail in their work, and lose their labours, wanting that Natural heat, or well-tempered matter, which should produce such Crea∣tures as Nature makes, yet some 'tis said have made gold, as Raimond Lully.

1 Gent.

Then Homer is a Raimond Lully in Poetry.

2 Gent.

Nay rather Raimond Lully is a Homer in Chymistry: for no man ought to compare Homer to any Creature, by reason he hath out-wrought Nature, having done that which she never did; for Nature never made Gods, Devils, Hells, and Heavens, as Homer hath done.

1 Gent.

For my part I had rather be Raimond Lully than Homer: for I had rather have the Art to make Gold, than the Nature to make Poems.

2 Gent.

You would not gain so much by Gold as Wit.

1 Gent.

VVhy, what shall I gain?

2 Gent.

Fame.

1 Gent.

But Gold will bribe Fame to speak as I would have her, if I have ••old enough to bribe her.

2 Gent.

But Poems will force Fame to speak for you without a bribe.

1 Gent.

That were all one to me, so she speaks well, whether she be for∣••••d, flattered, or bribed.

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2 Gent.

But there is a fate of Poverty on Chymists, as much as on Poets, so that if you were as Excellent a Chymist as Raimond Lully, you would be as poor as Divine Homer.

1 Gent.

Not if I could make Gold.

2 Gent.

Yes, for Chymists spend more in the making of Gold, than they gain by it when it is made; and how should they do otherways, when they must needs spend a pound or pounds to make a grain? for the limbeck of a Chymist is but a little Still set a-work by a wasting fire, whereas Natures limbeck is the Earth, set a-work by an undecaiable fire, which is the Sun; this Chymist becomes as poor by an over-greedy Covetousness, as Poets by a despising Carelessness.

1 Gent.

Then Chymists are like those Bodyes which become lean with over-eating, and Poets like those Bodyes that becomes lean by over-fasting; the one surfits, the other famishes.

2 Gent.

Indeed Chymists are so greedily Covetous, and feed so much on hopes, as they never leave untill such time as they have vomitted out all their wealth, and then they become sick and lean with Poverty.

Exeunt.