Spencer did next in Pastorals excel, And taught the Noble Art of Writing well: To stricter Rules the Stanza did restrain, And found for Poetry a richer Veine. Then D'Avenant came; who, with a new found Art, Chang'd all, spoil'd all, and had his way apart: His haughty Muse all others did despise, And thought in Triumph to bear off the Prize, Till the Sharp-sighted Critics of the times In their Mock-Gondibert expos'd his Rhimes; The Lawrels he pretended did refuse, And dash'd the hopes of his aspiring Muse. This head-strong Writer, falling from on high, Made following Authors take less Liberty. Waller came last, but was the first whose Art Just Weight and Measure did to Verse impart.
