Philip Massinger

The Copie of a Letter written upon occasion to the Earle of Pembrooke Lo: Chamberlaine

My Lord

p. 554

Soe subiect to the worser fame

Are even the best that clayme a Poets name:

Especially poore they that serve the stage

Though worthily in this Verse-halting Age.

[pg 209] And that dread curse soe heavie yet doth lie

Wch the wrong'd Fates falne out wth Mercurie

Pronounc'd for ever to attend upon

All such as onely dreame of Helicon.

That durst I sweare cheated by selfe opinion

I were Apolloes or the Muses Mynion 10

Reason would yet assure me, 'tis decreed

Such as are Poets borne, are borne to need.

If the most worthy then, whose pay's but praise

Or a few spriggs from the now withering bayes

Grone underneath their wants what hope have I

Scarce yet allowed one of the Company- 16

p. 555

When584 thou sighst, thou sigh'st not wind, but sigh'st my soule away

When thou weep'st unkindly kind, my lifes blud doth decay

It cannot bee

That thou lov'est mee as thou sai'est, if in thine my life thou wast,

Thou art the best of mee.585

[pg 210] In some high mynded Ladies grace to stand

Ever provided that her liberall hand 30

Pay for the Vertues they bestow upon her

And soe long shees the miracle and the honor

Of her whole Sex, and has forsooth more worth

Then was in any Sparta e're brought forth

But when the Bounty failes a change is neare

And shee's not then what once shee did appeare

For the new Giver shee dead must inherit

What was by purchase gott and not by merit

Lett them write well that doo this and in grace

I would not for a pension or A place 40

Part soe wth myne owne Candor, lett me rather p. 556

Live poorely on those toyes I would not father

Not knowne beyond A Player or A Man

That does pursue the course that I have ran

Ere soe grow famous: yet wth any paine

Or honest industry could I obteyne

A noble Favorer, I might write and doo

Like others of more name and gett one too

Or els my Genius is false. I know

That Johnson much of what he has does owe 50

To you and to your familie, and is never

Slow to professe it, nor had Fletcher ever

Such Reputation, and credit nonne

But by his honord Patron, Huntington

Unimitable Spencer ne're had been

Soe famous for his matchlesse Fairie Queene

Had he not found a Spencer Sydney to preferr [sic]

His plaine way in his Shepheards Calender

Nay Virgills selfe (or Martiall does lye)

Could hardly frame a poore Gnatts Elegie 60

Before Mec?nas cherisht him; and then

He streight conceiv'd ?neas and the men

That found out Italic Those are Presidents586

I cite wth reverence: my lowe intents

Looke not soe high, yet some worke I might frame

[pg 211] That should nor wrong my duty nor your Name. p. 557

Were but your Lopp pleas'd to cast an eye

Of favour on my trodd downe povertie

How ever I confesse myselfe to be

Ever most bound for your best charitie 70

To others that feed on it, and will pay

My prayers wth theirs that as yu doe yu may

Live long, belov'd and honor'd doubtles then

Soe cleere a life will find a worthier Penn.

For me I rest assur'd besides the glory

T'wold make a Poet but to write your story. 76

Phill: Messinger.

p. 557