Page:The Brittish Princes, an Heroick Poem - Howard (1669, 1st ed).djvu/11

 well as pity of some, that so famous a Poet should so much obscure the glory of his thoughts, wrapt up in words and expressions, which time and use had well nigh exploded: And though words serve our uses but like Counters or numbers to summe our intellectual Products, yet they must be currant as the money of the Age, or they will hardly pass: Nor is it less ridiculous to see a man confidently walk in the antiquated and mothy Garments of his Predecessors, out of an obstinate contempt of the present Mode, than to imitate the expressions of obsolete Authors, which renders even Wit barbarous, and looks like some affront to the present Age, which expects from Writers due esteem of the tongue they speak. But this objection which I have presumed to mention against Renowned Spencer, (though it be a Common one, and the most is laid to his charge,) shews us that his building was rather mighty than curious, and like the Pyramids of Egypt, may expect to be a long Companion of times.

His next most remarkable Successor in the Heroick Way, I suppose there are few will deny the late Sir William Davenant a merit I judge he may claim in his work of Gondibert, in which there are many remote and excellent thoughts, with apt and perspicuous expressions, the essential dignities of the Muses, whose chiefest beauties flow from the ornaments of words, and delightful variety of imaginati-