Page:Madagascar, with other poems - Davenant (1638).djvu/161

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Who living, all the Muses Treasure spent,
As if they him, their Heire, not Steward meant.
Forrests of Mirtle, he disforrested,
That neere to Helicon their shades did spred;
Like Moderne Lords, w'are so of Rent bereft;
Poets, and they, have nought but Titles left:
He wasted all in Wreaths, for's conqu'ring Wit;
Which was so strong, as nought could conquer it
But's Judgment's force, and that more rul'd the sense
Of what he writ, than's Fancy's vaste expence.
Of that hee still was lavishly profuse;
For joyne the remnant-Wealth of ev'ry Muse,
And t'will not pay the Debt wee owe to thee,
For honours done unto his Memory:
Thus then, he brought th'Estate into decay,
With which, this Debt, wee as his Heires should pay.
As sullen Heires, when wastefull Fathers die,
Their old Debts leave for their Posteritie
To cleere; and the remaining Akers strive
T'enjoy, to keepe them pleasant whilst alive;
So I (alas!) were to my selfe unkinde,
If from that little Wit, he left behinde,

I simply