Sir William Davenant

Now Davenant's dead the Stage will mourn,
And all to Barbarism turn;
Since he it was this latter age,
Who chiefly civiliz'd the Stage.

He knew's decorum, and the Art,
To fit his properties to's part,
His part unto the Actors, and
All to the drama h'ad in hand.

And if the Stage or Theater be
A little world, 'twas onely he,
Who Atlas-like supported it,
By force of Industry and Wit.

Not onely Dedalus arts he knew,
But even Prometheus's too;
And living Machines made of men,
As well as dead ones for the Scene.

All this, and more he did beside,
Which having finished he dy'd;
If he may properly be sed
To dye, whose Fame will ne'er be dead.