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To my honoured Friend M. Ja. Shirley, Upon the printing of his Ele∣gant Poems.
ALthough thou want the Theaters applause, Which now is fitly silenc'd by the Lawes, Since these sad times that Civil swords did rage, And make three Kingdoms the lamented stage Of real Tragedies, it was not fit We quite should lose such monuments of wit As flowd from thy terse pen: the Presse alone Can vindicate from dark oblivion Thy Poems, Friend; those that with skill can read, Shall be thy Judges now, and shall instead Of ignorant spectators, grace thy name, Though with a narrower, yet a truer Fame, And crown with longer life thy worthy pains. All Muses are not guiltlesse; but such strains As thine, deserve, if I may verdict give, In sober, chast, and learned times to live.THO. MAY.