Prefatory Materials (Folio 3, 1664)
Not Peer Reviewed
Then laughing at our fear; abus'd and glad
To be abus'd, affected with that truth
VVhich we perceive is false; pleas'd in that ruth
At which we start; and by elaborate play
Tortur'd and tickled; by a crab-like way
Time past made pastime, and in ugly sort
Disgorging up his ravaine for our sport------
-----VVhile the Plebeian Imp from lofty throne,
Creates and rules a world, and works upon
Mankind by secret engines; Now to move
A chilling pity, then a rigorous love:
To strike up and stroak down, both joy and ire;
To steer th' affections; and by heavenly fire
Mould us anew. Stoln from our selves------
_This and much more which cannot be exprest,
But by himself, his tongue and his own brest, [brain
Was Shakespeares freehold, which his cunning
Improv'd by favour of the nine-fold train.
The Buskin'd Muse, the Comick Queen, the grand
And lowder tone of Clio; nimble hand,
And nimbler foot of the melodious pair,
The Silver voiced Lady; the most fair
Calliope, whose speaking silence daunts.
And she whose praise the heavenly body chaunts.
_These jointly woo'd him, envying one another
(Obey'd by all as Spouse, but lov'd as brother)
And wrought a curious robe of sable grave,
Fresh green, and pleasant yellow, red most brave,
And