This eminent Poet, the Glory of the _English_ Stage (and so much the more eminent, that he gained great applause and commendation, when able Wits were his Contemporaries) was born at _Stratford_ upon _Avon_ in _Warwickshire_, and is the highest honour that Town can boast of. He was one of the _Triumvirate_, who from Actors, became Makers of Comedies and Tragedies, _viz. Christopher Marlow_ before him, and Mr. _John Lacy_, since his time, and one in whom three eminent Poets may seem in some sort to be compounded, 1. _Martial_, in the warlike sound of his Sirname, _Hastivibrans_, or _Shakespear_; whence some have supposed him of military extraction. 2. _Ovid_, the most natural and witty of all Poets; and hence it was that Queen _Elizabeth_ coming into a Grammar-School, made this extemporary Verse. _Persius_ a Crab-staff, Bawdy _Martial_, _Ovid_ a fine Wag. 3. _Plautus_, a most exact Comedian, and yet never any Scholar, as our _Shakespear_ (if alive) would confess himself; but by keeping company with Learned persons, and conversing with jocular Wits, whereto he was naturally inclin'd, he became so famously witty, or wittily famous, that by his own industry, without the help of Learning, he attained to an extraordinary height in all strains of Dramatick Poetry, especially in the Comick part, wherein we may say he outwent himself; yet was he not so much given to Festivity, but that he could (when so disposed) be solemn and serious; so that _Heraclitus_ himself might afford to smile at his Comedies, they were so merry, and _Democritus_ scarce forbear to sigh at his Tragedies, they were so mournful. Nor were his Studies altogether confined to the Stage, but had excursions into other kinds of Poetry, witness his Poem of the _Rape of Lucrece_, and that of _Venus and Adonis_; wherein, to give you a taste of the loftiness of his Style, we shall insert some few Lines of the beginning of the latter. Even as the Sun with purple-colour'd face Had tane his last leave of the weeping Morn, Rose-cheek'd _Adonis_ hy'd him to the Chase, Hunting he lov'd, but Love he laught to scorn. Sick thoughted _Venus_ makes amain unto him, And like a bold-fac'd Suiter 'gins to woo him. Thrive fairer than my self (thus she begins) The fields chief flower, sweet above compare, Stain to all Nymphs, more lovely than a man; More white and red than Doves or Roses are: Nature that made thee with herself at strife, Says that the world hath ending with thy life, &c He was an eminent instance of the truth of that Rule, _Poeta non fit, sed nascitur_; one is not made, but born a Poet; so that as _Cornish Diamonds_ are not polished by any Lapidary, but are pointed and smoothed even as they are taken out of the Earth, so Nature itself was all the Art which was used on him.