Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... BEN JONSON I. FROM THE PREFACE TO SEIANVS, HIS FALL 1605 To The Readers '"THE following and voluntary Labours of my Friends, prefixt to my Booke, haue releiued me in much whereat, without them, I should necessarilie haue touchd. Now I will onely vse three or foure short and needfull Notes, and so rest. 5 First, if it be obiected that what I publish is no true Poeme in the strict Lawes of Time, I confesse it, as also in the want of a proper Chorus, whose Habite and Moodes are such and so difficult as not any whome I haue seene since the Auntients (no, not they who haue most presently 10 affected Lawes) haue yet come in the way off. Nor is it needful, or almost possible, in these our Times, and to such Auditors as commonly Things are presented, to obserue the ould state and splendour of Drammatick Poemes, with preseruation of any popular delight. But of 15 this I shall take more seasonable cause to speake in my Obseruations vpon Horace his Art of Poetry, which, with the Text translated, I intend shortly to publish. In the meane time, if in truth of Argument, dignity of Persons, grauity and height of Elocution, fulnesse and frequencie of 20 Sentence, I haue discharg'd the other offices of a Tragick writer, let not the absence of these Formes be imputed to me, wherein I shall giue you occasion hereafter, and without my boast, to thinke I could better prescribe then omit the due vse for want of a conuenient knowledge. 25 The next is, least in some nice nostrill the Quotations might sauour affected, I doe let you know that I abhor nothing more, and haue onely done it to shew my integrity in the Story, and saue my selfe in those common Torturers that bring all wit to the Rack, whose Noses are euer like Swine spoyling and rooting vp the Muses...
