Since they were such, would have all others slaves. 
  ’Twas precious loyalty that was thought fit
  To atone for want of honesty and wit. 
  No wonder common-sense was all cried down,
  And noise and nonsense swaggered through the town. 
  Our author, then opprest, would have you know it,
  Was silenced for a nonconformist poet;
  In those hard times he bore the utmost test,
  And now he swears he’s loyal as the best. 
  Now, sirs, since common-sense has won the day,
  Be kind to this, as to his last year’s play. 
  His friends stood firmly to him when distressed;
  He hopes the number is not now decreased. 
  He found esteem from those he valued most;
  Proud of his friends, he of his foes could boast.”

Prologue to Bury-Fair.

[33] Vol. xi.

[34] Ibid.

[35] Introduct. to “Spanish Friar,” vol. vi.

[36] Vol. vii.

[37] “A play well-dressed, you know, is half in half, as a great writer says.  The Morocco dresses when new, formerly for ‘Sebastian,’ they say, enlivened the play as much as the ‘pudding and dumpling’ song did Merlin.”—­The Female Wits, a comedy by Mountfort.

[38]
  “The labouring bee, when his sharp sting is gone,
  Forgets his golden work, and turns a drone: 
  Such is a satire, when you take away
  That rage, in which his noble vigour lay. 
  What gain you by not suffering him to tease ye? 
  He neither can offend you now, nor please ye. 
  The honey-bag and venom lay so near,
  That both together you resolved to tear;
  And lost your pleasure to secure your fear. 
  How can he show his manhood, if you bind him
  To box, like boys, with one hand tied behind him? 
  This is plain levelling of wit; in which
  The poor has all the advantage, not the rich. 
  The blockhead stands excused, for wanting sense;
  And wits turn blockheads in their own defence.”

[39] [Transcriber’s note:  “See page 251” in original.  This approximates to paragraphs preceding reference [1] in text, Section VI.]

[40] [Transcriber’s note:  “See page 253” in original.  This approximates to paragraphs preceding reference [2] in text, Section VI.]

[41] [Transcriber’s note:  “See a preceding note, p. 300” in original.  This note is Footnote 37 above.]

[42] For example, in a Session of the Poets, under the fictitious name of Matthew Coppinger, Dryden is thus irreverently introduced: 

“A reverend grisly elder first appeared,
With solemn pace through the divided herd;
Apollo, laughing at his clumsy mien,
Pronounced him straight the poets’ alderman. 
His labouring muse did many years excel
In ill inventing, and translating well,
Till ‘Love Triumphant’ did the cheat reveal.
* * * * *
So when appears, midst sprightly births, a sot,
Whatever was the other offspring’s lot,
This we are sure was lawfully begot.”