You, who the readers are of the choice wit,
And have the leading voice in censuring it,
Whose votes grand-jurors are, and only have
The well-known power either to kill or save,
Give this a noble greeting and its due;
May Phœbus else withdraw his beams from you!
My worthy Friend, this Play o' th' publick stage
Hath gain'd such fair applause, as 't did engage
A nation to thy Muse; where thou shalt reign
Vicegerent to Apollo, who doth deign,
His darling Ben deceased, thou should'st be
Declar'd the heir apparent to his tree.