Sir JOHN SUCKLING.
Reading edition
Sir John Suckling, in his time, the delight of the Court and darling of the Muses, was one so filled with Phoebean fire, as for excellency of his wit, was worthy to be Crowned with a Wreath of Stars, though some attribute the strength of his lines to favour more of the Grape than the Lamp; Indeed he made it his Recreation, not his Study, and did not so much seek fame as it was put upon him: In my mind he gives the best Character of himself in those Verses of his in the Sessions of the Poets:
Suckling next was call'd, but did not appear, But strait one whisper'd Apollo i'th' ear, That of all men living he cared not for't, He lov'd not the Muses so well as his sport. And prized black eyes, or a lucky hit At Bowles, above all the Trophies of wit. But Apollo was angry, and publickly said, Twere fit that a fine were set upon's head.
Besides his Poems, he wrote three Plays, the Goblins a Comedy, Brenovalt a Tragedy, and Aglaura a Tragi-Comedy. He was a loyal person to his Prince, and in that great defection of Scotch Loyalty in 1639. freely gave the King a hundred Horses. And for his Poems, I shall conclude with what the Author of his Epistle to the Reader saies of them, It had been a Prejudice to posterity, and an injury to his own Ashes, should they have slept in Oblivion.