Prologue at Oxford.

YOur most obliging kindness one year shown
A second time has brought your Servants down
From the tumultuous and unlearned Town,
Where Pride and Ignorance in a full cry,
Dare all the Pow'rs of Art and Wit defie:
To the calme dwellings of the Muses here,
Where all things soft and gentle do appear.
When sacred Learning flourishes in peace,
And without noyse each moment does encrease;
Hither we come and with such pleasure too,
As we can never hope t' afford to you.
And yet with this we cannot be content,
But you must pay for our divertisement:
A Lover thus to's Mistriss does impart,
The treasure of his purse as well as heart;
For that of which She has an equal part,
VVhat pleasure is it to give you delight,
When most of you are fit to Judge and write.
Here none t' appear fantastick take great pains,
Or under huge white Perr'wigs have no brains;
No blustring Bullyes come in here half drunk,
For Chyna Oranges and love to Punck;
To fly at Vizard Masks talk Nonsence loud,
And with their noise out-vye Bear-baiting Croud
Poets should be above such Judges rais'd,
To be condemn'd by such is to be prais'd:
But to his Nursery of Art and Wit,
Our Poets humbly all their Pens submit.
To you what 'ere they can invent is due,
Since all that's Wit and Art is taught by you.
Thus Inland Brooks into the Ocean flow,
To which their streams & f…n…i…s too they ow
But Po…ts must their empti…ess …e …e,
Who can but give what they receiv'd before.