NEuer ( most equall SISTERS ) had any man a wit so presently excellent , as that it could raise it selfe ; but there must come both matter , occasion , commenders , and fauourers to it : If this be true , and that the fortune of all writers doth daily proue it , it behoues the carefull to prouide , well , toward these accidents ; and , hauing acquir'd them , to preserue that part of reputation most tenderly , wherein the benefit of a friend is also defended . Hence is it , that I now render my selfe gratefull , and am studious to iustifie the bounty of your act : to which , though your mere authority were satisfying , yet , it being an age , wherein Poetrie , and the Professors of it heare so ill , on all sides , there will a reason bee look'd for in the subiect . It is certayne , nor can it with any fore-head be oppos'd , that the too-much licence of Poetasters , in this time , hath much deform'd their Mistris ; that , euery day , their manifold , and manifest ignorance , doth sticke vnnaturall reproches vpon her : But for their petulancy , it were an act of the greatest iniustice , either to let the learned suffer ; or so diuine a skill ( which indeed should not bee attempted with vncleane hands ) to fall , vnder the least contempt . For , if men will impartially , and not à-squint , looke toward the offices , and function of a Poet , they will easily conclude to themselues , the impossibility of any mans being the good Poet , without first being a good man . He that is said to be able to informe yong-men to all good disciplines , inflame growne-men to all great vertues , keepe old-men in their best and supreme state , or as they decline to child-hood , recouer them to their first strength ; that comes forth the interpreter , and arbiter of nature , a teacher of things diuine , no lesse then humane , a master in manners ; and can alone ( or with a few ) effect the businesse of man-kind : this , I take him , is no subiect for pride , and ignorance to exercise their rayling rhetorique vpon . But , it will here be hastily answer'd , that the writers of these dayes are other things ; that , not only their manners , but their natures are inuerted ; and nothing remayning with them of the dignitie of Poet , but the abused name , which euery Scribe vsurps : that now , especially in dramatick , or ( as they terme it ) stage-poetrie , nothing but ribaldry , profanation , blasphemy , all licence of offence to god , and man , is practis'd . I dare not denie a great part of this ( and am sorry , I dare not ) because in some mens abortiue features ( and would they had neuer boasted the light ) it is ouer-true : But , that all are embarqu'd in this bold aduenture for hell , is a most vncharitable thought , and , vtter'd , a more malicious slander . For my particular , I can ( and from a most cleare conscience ) affirme , that I haue euer trembled to thinke toward the least prophanenesse ; haue lothed the vse of such foule , and vn-wash'd baudry , as is now made the foode of the scene : And , howsoeuer I cannot escape , from some , the imputation of sharpnesse , but that they will say , I haue taken a pride , or lust , to be bitter , and not my yongest infant but hath come into the world with all his teeth ; I would aske of these supercilious politiques , what nation , societie , or generall order , or state I haue prouok'd ? what publique person ? whether I haue not ( in all these ) preseru'd their dignitie , as mine owne person , safe ? My workes are read , allow'd , ( I speake of those that are intirely mine ) looke into them : What broad reproofes haue I vs'd ? Where haue I beene particular ? Where personall ? except to a mimick , cheater , bawd , or buffon , creatures ( for their insolencies ) worthy to be tax'd ? Yet , to which of these so pointingly , as he might not , either ingenuously haue confest , or wisely dissembled his disease ? But it is not rumour can make men guiltie , much lesse entitle me , to other mens crimes . I know , that nothing can bee so innocently writ , or carryed , but may be made obnoxious to construction ; mary , whil'st I beare mine innocence about mee , I feare it not . Application , is now , growne a trade with many ; and there are , that professe to haue a key for the decyphering of euery thing : but let wise and noble persons take heed how they be too credulous , or giue leaue to these inuading interpreters , to bee ouer-familiar with their fames , who cunningly , and often , vtter their owne virulent malice , vnder other mens simplest meanings . As for those , that will ( by faults which charitie hath rak'd vp , or common honestie conceal'd ) make themselues a name with the multitude , or ( to draw their rude , and beastly claps ) care not whose liuing faces they intrench , with their petulant stiles ; may they doe it , without a riuall , for me : I choose rather to liue grau'd in obscuritie , then share with them , in so preposterous a fame . Nor can I blame the wishes of those seuere , and wiser patriots , who prouiding the hurts these licentious spirits may doe in a state , desire rather to see fooles , and deuils , and those antique reliques of barbarisme retriu'd , with all other ridiculous , and exploded follies : then behold the wounds of priuate men , of princes , and nations . For , as HORACE makes TREBATIVS speake , among these — Sibi quisque timet , quanquam est intactus , & odit . And men may iustly impute such rages , if continu'd , to the writer , as his sports . The increase of which lust in liberty , together with the present trade of the stage , in all their misc'line enter-ludes , what learned or liberall soule doth not already abhor ? where nothing but the filth of the time is vtter'd , and that with such impropriety of phrase , such plenty of soloecismes , such dearth of sense , so bold prolepse's , so rackt metaphor's , with brothelry , able to violate the eare of a pagan , and blasphemy , to turne the bloud of a christian to water . I cannot but be serious in a cause of this nature , wherein my fame , and the reputations of diuers honest , and learned are the question ; when a Name , so ful of authority , antiquity , and all great marke , is ( through their insolence ) become the lowest scorne of the age : and those men subiect to the petulancy of euery vernaculous Orator , that were wont to bee the care of Kings , and happiest Monarchs . This it is , that hath not only rap't me to present indignation , but made me studious , heretofore ; and , by all my actions , to stand off , from them : which may most appeare in this my latest worke ( which you , most learned ARBITRESSES , haue seene , iudg'd , and to my crowne , approu'd ) wherein I haue labour'd , for their instruction , and amendment , to reduce , not onely the ancient formes , but manners of the scene , the easinesse , the propriety , the innocence , and last the doctrine , which is the principall end of poesie , to informe men , in the best reason of liuing . And though my catastrophe may , in the strict rigour of comick law , meet with censure , as turning back to my promise ; I desire the learned , and charitable critick to haue so much faith in me , to thinke it was done off industrie : For , with what ease I could haue varied it , neerer his scale ( but that I feare to boast my owne faculty ) I could here insert . But my speciall ayme being to put the snaffle in their mouths , that crie out , we neuer punish vice in our enterludes , &c. I tooke the more liberty ; though not without some lines of example , drawne euen in the ancients themselues , the goings out of whose comoedies are not alwaies ioyfull , but oft-times , the bawdes , the seruants , the riuals yea , and the masters are mulcted : and fitly , it being the office of a comick-Poet , to imitate iustice , and instruct to life , as well as puritie of language , or stirre vp gentle affections . To which , I shall take the occasion else-where to speake . For the present ( most reuerenced SISTERS ) as I haue car'd to be thankefull for your affections past , and here made the vnderstanding acquainted with some ground of your fauours ; let me not despaire their continuance , to the maturing of some worthier fruits : wherein , if my MVSES be true to me , I shall raise the despis'd head of poetrie againe , and stripping her out of those rotten and base rags , wherwith the Times haue adulterated her form , restore her to her primitiue habit , feature , and maiesty , and render her worthy to be imbraced , and kist , of all the great and master-spirits of our world . As for the vile , and slothfull , who neuer affected an act , worthy of celebration , or are so inward with their owne vicious natures , as they worthily feare her ; and thinke it a high point of policie , to keepe her in contempt with their declamatorie , and windy inuectiues : shee shall out of iust rage incite her seruants ( who are genus iritabile ) to spout inke in their faces , that shall eate , farder then their marrow , into their fames ; and not CINNAMVS the barber , with his arte , shall be able to take out the brands , but they shall liue , and bee read , till the wretches dye , as things worst deseruing of themselues in chiefe , and then of all mankind .