Incapable of pleasures youth abuse, In others blames what age does him refuse. Your actors must by reason be controuled; Let young men speak like young, old men like old. Observe the town, and study well the court; For thither various characters resort. Thus 'twas great Jonson purchased his renown, And in his art had borne away the crown, If, less desirous of the people's praise, He had not with low farce debased his plays; Mixing dull buffoonry with wit refined, And Harlequin with noble Terence joined. When in the Fox I see the tortoise hist, I lose the author of the Alchemist.[76] The comic wit, born with a smiling air, Must tragic grief and pompous verse forbear; Yet may he not, as on a market-place, With bawdy jests amuse the populace; With well-bred conversation you must please, And your intrigue unravelled be with ease; Your action still should reason's rules obey, Nor in an empty scene may lose its way. Your humble style must sometimes gently rise; And your discourse sententious be, and wise: The passions must to nature be confined; And scenes to scenes with artful weaving joined. Your wit must not unseasonably play; But follow business, never lead the way. Observe how Terence does this error shun: A careful father chides his amorous son; Then see that son, whom no advice can move, Forget those orders, and pursue his love: 'Tis not a well-drawn picture we discover; 'Tis a true son, a father, and a lover. I like an author that reforms the age, And keeps the right decorum of the stage; That always pleases by just reason's rule: But for a tedious droll, a quibbling fool, Who with low nauseous bawdry fills his plays, Let him be gone, and on two tressels raise Some Smithfield stage, where he may act his pranks, And make Jack-Puddings speak to mountebanks. CANTO IV.