Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part,
Nature in him was almost lost in art.

Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part,
Nature in him was almost lost in art.

But, spite of all the criticising elves,
Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves.

But, spite of all the criticising elves,
Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves.

All who (like him) have writ ill plays before,
For they, like thieves, condemned, are hangman made,
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All who (like him) have writ ill plays before,
For they, like thieves, condemned, are hangman made,
To execute the members of their trade.

They who write ill, and they who ne'er durst write,
Turn critics out of mere revenge and spite.

They who write ill, and they who ne'er durst write,
Turn critics out of mere revenge and spite.

He was in Logic, a great critic,
Profoundly skill'd in Analytic;
He could distinguish, and divide
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He was in Logic, a great critic,
Profoundly skill'd in Analytic;
He could distinguish, and divide
A hair 'twixt south and south-west side.

"I'm an owl: you're another. Sir Critic, good day." And the
barber kept on shaving.

"I'm an owl: you're another. Sir Critic, good day." And the
barber kept on shaving.

Reviewers are usually people who would have been poets,
historians, biographers, etc., if they could: they have tried
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Reviewers are usually people who would have been poets,
historians, biographers, etc., if they could: they have tried
their talents at one or the other, and have failed; therefore
they turn critics.

People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.

People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.

Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors.

Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors.