Thou mayst do what thou wilt without control: _Only thyself and Heav'n can paint thy soul._ FRAN. BARNARD, M.D. [_Let not, &c._] 6 The form _Telesme_, which may be allowed its italics, reproduces the (late) Greek [Greek: telesma], instead of the Spanish-Arabic 'talisman'.] [Line: 22 giv'n] Orig. 'giv'_d_', but correct in previous (1682) edition.] [Line: 39 Both editions have a comma at 'aspects', which obscures the sense. 'Aspect' is made a transitive verb in the sense of the astrological substantive = 'arranges his situation in regard to the Moon so as to make her resign', &c. 1686 'To' for 'The', wrongly.] [Line: 46 It would be a shame to rob Francis Barnard of the italics which distinguish the entire line in the original. He died on February 9, 1698, and was buried at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate.] To his esteemed Friend Mr. Thomas Flatman, Upon the Publishing of his Poems. Your Poems (friend) come on the public stage In a debauch'd and a censorious age: Where nothing now is counted standard wit, But what's profane, obscene, or's bad as it. For our great wits, like gallants of the times (And such they are), court only those loose rhymes, Which, like their misses, patch'd and painted are; But scorn what virtuous is and truly fair; Such as your Muse is, who with careful art For all but such, hath wisely fram'd a part. 10 One while (methinks) under some gloomy shade, I see the melancholy lover laid, Pleasing himself in that his pensive fit With what you have on such occasion writ. Another while (methinks) I seem to hear 'Mongst those, who sometimes will unbend their care. And steal themselves out from the busy throng, Your pleasant _Songs_ in solemn consort sung. Again (methinks) I see the grave Divine Lay by his other books, to look on thine, 20 And from thy serious and divine _Review_ See what our duty is, and his own too. Yet, worthy friend, you can't but guess what doom Is like to pass on what you've writ, by some; But there are others, now your book comes forth, Who (I am sure) will prize it as 'tis worth, Who know it fully fraught with staple ware, Such as the _Works_ of the great Cowley are, And 'mongst our rarest English poems, thine Next unto his immortally shall shine. 30 RICH. NEWCOURT. [_Your Poems, &c._] 14 i.e., no doubt, _The Desperate Lover_ (_v. inf._ p. 336).] [Line: 18 consort] As so often = 'concert'.] [Line: 21 divine _Review_] The poem to Sancroft (_inf._, p. 301).] [Line: 31 Richard Newcourt is discoverable and throws a little more light on Flatman's circle of acquaintance. He was a topographer, and drew a map of London published in 1658 by Faithorne the elder (_v. inf._).] To my Worthy Friend Mr. Thomas Flatman, Upon the Publishing of his Poems.