Farewel, too little and too lately known, Whom I began to think and call my own; For sure our Souls were near ally'd; and thine Cast in the same Poetick Mould with mine. One common note on either Lyre did strike, And Knaves and Fools we both abhorr'd alike: To the same Goal did both our Studies drive, The last set out the soonest did arrive. Thus _Nisus_ fell upon the Slippery place, While his young Friend perform'd and won the race. O early ripe! to thy abundant store, What could advancing age have added more? It might (what Nature never gives the young) Have taught the numbers of thy Native Tongue. But Satyr needs not those, and wit will shine Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line, A noble error, and but seldom made, When Poets are by too much force betray'd. Thy generous Fruits, though gather'd e're their Prime, Still shew'd a quickness; and maturing time; But Mellows what we write to the dull sweets of Rhime. Once more, hail and farwel, farwel thou young, But all too short _Marcellus_ of our Tongue; Thy brows with Ivy, and with Lawrels bound; But flat and gloomy Night encompass thee around. This wittily learned Gentleman was of _Edmund-Hall_ in _Oxford_, and dyed in the Earl of _Kingston's_ Family in the prime of his Years; whose life had it been lengthened, might have produced as large a Volume of learned Works, as any this latter Age have brought forth. * * * * * And thus have we given you an Account of all the most Eminent _English_ Poets that have come to our knowledge; although we question not but many and those well deserving have slipped our Pen; which if these our Labours shall come to a Second Impression, as we question nothing to the contrary, we shall endeavour to do them right. In the mean time we shall give you a short Account of some of the most eminent that are now (or at least thought by us so to be) living at this time, and so conclude, beginning first with _Mr. JOHN DRIDEN._ Poet Laureat and Historiographer to his Royal Majesty; whose Poetry hath passed the World with the greatest Approbation and acceptance that may be, especially what he hath written of Dramatick, _viz._ _The Maiden Queen_; _The Wild Gallant_; _The Mock Astrologer_; _Marriage Ala-mode_; _The Amorous Old Woman_; and _The Assignation_, Comedies; _Tyranick Love_; and _Amboyna_, Tragedies; and _The Indian Emperor_; and two Parts of the Conquests of _Granada_; Historical Drama's. Besides several other Pieces, which speak their own worth, more than any Commendations my Pen can bestow upon them. * * * * * Mr. _ELKUNAH SETTLE_. An Ingenious Person, who besides his other Works hath contributed to the Stage two Tragedies, _viz._ _Cambises_, and _The Empress of Morrocco_, which notwithstanding the severe censure of some, may deservedly pass with good Approbation. * * * * *