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Learning's triumph o'er her barbarous foes First rear'd the stage, immortal Shakspeare rose; Each change of many-colour'd life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new: Existence saw him spurn her bounded reign, And panting Time toil'd after him in vain. His powerful strokes presiding Truth impress'd, And unresisted Passion storm'd the breast.
 * Then Jonson came, instructed from the school,

To please in method, and invent by rule; His studious patience and laborious art By regular approach assail'd the heart: Cold approbation gave the lingering bays, For those, who durst not censure, scarce could praise. A mortal born, he met the general doom, But left, like Egypt's kings, a lasting tomb.
 * The Wits of Charles found easier ways to fame,

Nor wish'd for Jonson's art, or Shakspeare's flame; Themselves they studied, as they felt they writ;