Introduction 



Unto his mighty merit, and not dare 



Your puny threads with his lines to compare .... 



The Greek and Latin language he commands, 



So all that then was writ in both these lands; 



The French and the Italian he hath gained 



And all the wit that in them is contained. 



So, if he pleases to translate a piece 



From France or Italy, old Rome or Greece, 



The understanding reader soon will find, 



It is the best of any of that kind ; 



But when he lets his own rare fancy loose, 



There is no flight so noble as his muse. 



Treats he of war ? Bellona doth advance, 



And leads his march with her refulgent lance. 



Sings he of love ? Cupid about him lurks, 



And Venus in her chariot draws his works. 



Whatever his subject be, he'll make it fit 



To live hereafter emperor of wit. 



He is the Muses' darling, all the nine 



Phoebus disclaim, and term him more divine. 



The wondrous Tasso, that so long hath borne 



The sacred laurel, shall remain forlorn. 



Alonso de Ercilla, that in strong 



And mighty lines hath Araucana sung, 



And Sallust, that the ancient Hebrew story 



Hath poetized, submit unto your glory. 



So the chief swans of Tagus, Arne, and Seine, 



Must yield to Thames, and veil unto your strain. 



Hail, generous magazine of wit, you bright 



Planet of learning, dissipate the night 



Of dulness, wherein us this age involves, 



And (from our ignorance} redeem our souls. 



A word at parting, Sir, I could not choose 



Thus to congratulate your happy muse ; 



And (though I vilify your worth] my zeal 



(And so in mercy think] intended well. 



The world will find your lines are great and strong, 



The nihil ultra of the English tongue. 



Cotton's young manhood seems to have been spent like the 

 manhood of other young men of his class and time ; college, foreign 



Ixxvii 



