A rhymer and a poet
are two things. It is said of the incomparable Virgil that he
brought forth his verses like a bear, and after formed them with
licking. Scaliger the father writes it of him, that he made a
quantity of verses in the morning, which afore night he reduced to a
less number. But that which Valerius Maximus hath left recorded of
Euripides, the tragic poet, his answer to Alcestis, another poet, is
as memorable as modest; who, when it was told to Alcestis that
Euripides had in three days brought forth but three verses, and
those with some difficulty and throes, Alcestis, glorying he could
with ease have sent forth a hundred in the space, Euripides roundly
replied, "Like enough; but here is the difference: thy verses will
not last these three days, mine will to all time." Which was as
much as to tell him he could not write a verse. I have met many of
these rattles that made a noise and buzzed. They had their hum, and
no more. Indeed, things wrote with labour deserve to be so read,
and will last their age.
3. Imitatio.--Horatius.--Virgil.--Statius.--Homer.--Horat.--
Archil.--Alcaeus, &c.
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