O age that hath no wit,
     And small conceit in it.

I thinke our ancestors had also more reason to cry out against those that blushed not to equall Plautus unto Terence (who makes more show to be a Gentleman) than Lucretius unto Virgil.  This one thing doth greatly advantage the estimation and preferring of Terence, that the father of the Roman eloquence, of men of his quality doth so often make mention of him; and the censure [Footnote:  Opinion.] which the chiefe Judge of the Roman Poets giveth of his companion.  It hath often come unto my minde, how such as in our dayes give themselves to composing of comedies (as the Italians who are very happy in them) employ three or foure arguments of Terence and Plautus to make up one of theirs.  In one onely comedy they will huddle up five or six of Bocaces tales.  That which makes them so to charge themselves with matter, is the distrust they have of their owne sufficiency, and that they are not able to undergoe so heavie a burthen with their owne strength.  They are forced to finde a body on which they may rely and leane themselves:  and wanting matter of their owne wherewith to please us, they will have the story or tale to busie and ammuse us:  where as in my Authors it is cleane contrary:  The elegancies, the perfections and ornaments of his manner of speech, make us neglect and lose the longing for his subject.  His quaintnesse and grace doe still retaine us to him.  He is every where pleasantly conceited, [Footnote:  Full of pleasant notions.]

     Liquidus puroque simillimus amni
     [Footnote:  Hor. 1. ii.  Epist.  II. 120.]

     So clearely-neate, so neately-cleare,
     As he a fine-pure River were,

and doth so replenish our minde with his graces that we forget those of the fable.  The same consideration drawes me somewhat further.  I perceive that good and ancient Poets have shunned the affectation and enquest, not only of fantasticall, new fangled, Spagniolized, and Petrarchisticall elevations, but also of more sweet and sparing inventions, which are the ornament of all the Poeticall workes of succeeding ages.  Yet is there no competent Judge that findeth them wanting in those Ancient ones, and that doth not much more admire that smoothly equall neatnesse, continued sweetnesse, and flourishing comelinesse of Catullus his Epigrams, than all the sharpe quips and witty girds wherewith Martiall doth whet and embellish the conclusions of his.  It is the same reason I spake of erewhile, as Martiall of himselfe.  Minus illi ingenio laborandum fuit, in cuius locum materia successerat. [Footnote:  Mart.  Praf. 1. viii.] “He needed the lesse worke with his wit, in place whereof matter came in supply.”  The former without being moved or pricked cause themselves to be heard lowd enough:  they have matter to laugh at every where, and need not tickle themselves; where as these must have foraine helpe:  according as they have lesse spirit, they must have more body.  They