The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687)Winstanley, William
General
The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687)
Winstanley, William
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
There a vain Fop mortgages all his Land
To buy that gaudy Play-thing, a Command;
To ride a Cock-horse, wear a Scarf at's ----
And play the Pudding in a _May-pole Farce_.
Here one, whom God to make a Fool thought fit,
In spight of Providence, will be a Wit:
But wanting strength t'uphold his ill made choice,
Sets up with Lewdness, Blasphemy, and Noise.
There at his Mistress feet a Lover lies,
And for a Tawdry painted Baby dies;
Falls on his knees, adores and is afraid
Of the vain Idol he himself has made.
These, and a thousand Fools unmention'd here,
Hate Poets all, because they Poets fear.
Take heed (they cry) yonder mad Dog will bite,
He cares not whom he falls on in his fit:
Come but in's way, and strait a new _Lampoon_
Shall spread your mangled fame about the Town
This Earl died in the Flower of his Age, and though his Life might be
somewhat Extravagant, yet he is said to have dyed Penitently; and to
have made a very good End.
* * * * *
Mr. _THOMAS FLATMAN_.
Mr. _Thomas Flatman_, a Gentleman once of the middle Temple, of
Extraordinary Parts, equally ingenious in the two Noble Faculties of
Painting and Poetry; as by the several choice Pieces that have been
seen of his Pourtraying and Limning, and by his Book of Poems, which
came out about Fourteen or Fifteen Years ago, sufficiently appeareth:
The so much Celebrated Song of the Troubles of Marriage, is ascribed to
him.
Like a Dog with a Bottle tyed close to his Taile,
Like a Tory in a Bog, or a Thief in a Jail, _&c._
* * * * *
_MARTIN LUELLIN_.
This Gentleman was bred up a Student in _Christ-Church_ in _Oxford_;
where he addicted his Mind to the sweet Delights of Poetry, writing an
Ingenious Poem, entituled, _Men Miracles_, which came forth into the
World with great applause. The times being then when there was not only
_Cobling Preaching_, but _Preaching Coblers_; he followed the practice
of Physick, and whether he be yet living is to me unknown.
* * * * *
_EDMOND FAIRFAX_.
_Edmond Fairfax_, a most judicious, elegant, and approved Poet, and who
we should have remembred before: But better out of due place, than not
at all. This judicious Poet Translated that most exquisite Poem of
_Torquato Tasso_, the Prince of _Italian_ Heroick Poets, which for the
Exactness of his Version, is judged by some not inferior to the
Original it self. He also wrote some other things of his own Genius,
which have passed in the World with a general applause.
* * * * *
_HENRY KING_ Bishop of _Chichester_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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