William Congreve,
The Mourning Bride — Prologue
“ For that damn'd Poet's spar'd who Damns a Brother, As one Thief 'scapes, that Executes another. Thus far alone does to the Wits relate; But from the rest we hope a better Fate. To please and move has been our Poet's Theme, Art may direct, but Nature is his aim; And Nature miss'd, in vain he boasts his Art, For only Nature can affect the Heart. ”
