But to return to Verse. Whether it be natural or not in Plays, is a problem which is not demonstrable, of either side. 'Tis enough for me, that he acknowledges that he had rather read good Verse than Prose [p. 575]: for if all the enemies of Verse will confess as much, I shall not need to prove that it is _natural_. I am satisfied, if it cause Delight; for Delight is the chief, if not the only end of Poesy. Instruction can be admitted but in the second place; for Poesy only instructs as it delights. 'Tis true, that to Imitate Well is a Poet's work: but to affect the soul, and excite the passions, and, above all, to move Admiration [_wondering astonishment_] (which is the Delight of serious Plays), a bare Imitation will not serve. The converse [_conversation_] therefore, which a Poet is to _imitate_, must be _heightened_ with all the arts and ornaments of Poesy; and must be such as, _strictly considered_, could never be supposed [to be] spoken by any, without premeditation. As for what he urges, that, _A Play will still be supposed to be a composition of several persons speaking_ ex tempore; and that good verses are the hardest things, which can be imagined, to be so spoken_ [p. 575]: I must crave leave to dissent from his opinion, as to the former part of it. For, if I am not deceived, A Play is supposed to be the work of the Poet, _imitating_ or _representing_ the conversation of several persons: and this I think to be as clear, as he thinks the contrary. But I will be bolder, and do not doubt to make it good, though a paradox, that, One great reason why Prose is not to be used in serious Plays is because it is too near the nature of converse [_conversation_]. There may be too great a likeness. As the most skilful painters affirm there may be too near a resemblance in a picture. To take every lineament and feature is not to make an excellent piece, but to take so much only as will make a beautiful resemblance of the whole; and, with an ingenious flattery of Nature, to heighten the beauties of some parts, and hide the deformities of the rest. For so, says HORACE-- _Ut pictura Poesis erit Haec amat obscurum; vult haec sub luce videri, Judicis argutum quae non formidat acumen. Et quae Desperat, tractata nitescere posse, relinquit_.