I can’t, without infinite ingratitude to the memory of those excellent persons, omit the first famous masters in’t, of our nation, venerable Shakespeare and the great Ben Jonson. I have had a particular kindness always for most of Shakespeare’s tragedies, and for many of his comedies, and I can’t but say that I can never enough admire his style (considering the time he writ in, and the great alteration that has been in the refining of our language since), for he has expressed himself so very well in’t that ’tis generally approved of still; and for maintaining of the characters of the persons design’d, I think none ever exceeded him. “_An Essay on Dramatic Poetry_” appended to _Amaryllis to Tityrus, Being the First Heroick Harangue of the excellent pen of Monsieur Scudery. A Witty and Pleasant Novel._ Englished by a Person of Honour, 1681, pp. 66-67. SIR CHARLES SEDLEY, 1693 (1639?-1701) But against old as well as new to rage, Is the peculiar frenzy of this age. Shakespeare must down, and you must praise no more Soft Desdemona, nor the jealous Moor: Shakespeare whose fruitful genius, happy wit Was fram’d and finish’d at a lucky hit; The pride of Nature, and the shame of schools, Born to create, and not to learn from rules; Must please no more, his bastards now deride, Their father’s nakedness they ought to hide, But when on spurs their Pegasus they force, Their jaded Muse is distanc’d in the course. _The Wary Widdow, or Sir Noisy Parrat. A Comedy._ By Henry Higden. Prologue by Sir Charles Sydley. 1693. THE SECOND PERIOD THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SIR RICHARD STEELE, 1709 (1672-1729)