I mean with great but disproportion’d muses: 
  For if I thought, my judgment were of years,
  I should commit thee surely with thy peers,
  And tell how far thou did’st our Lily outshine,
  Or sporting Kid, or Marlow’s mighty line.

He then goes on to challenge all antiquity to match Shakespear; but the poetry is so miserable, that the reader will think the above quotation long enough.

Ben has wrote above fifty several pieces which we may rank under the species of dramatic poetry; of which I shall give an account in order, beginning with one of his best comedies.

1. [6] Alchymist, a comedy, acted in the year 1610.  Mr. Dryden supposes this play was copied from the comedy of Albumazer, as far as concerns the Alchymist’s character; as appears from his prologue prefixed to that play, when it was revived in his time.

2.  Bartholomew Fair, a comedy, acted at the Hope on the Bankside, October 31, in 1614, by the lady Elizabeth’s servants, and then dedicated to James I.

3.  Cataline’s conspiracy, a tragedy, first acted in the year 1611.  In this our author has translated a great part of Salust’s history; and it is when speaking of this play, that Dryden says, he did not borrow but commit depredations upon the ancients.  Tragedy was not this author’s talent; he was totally without tenderness, and was so far unqualified for tragedy.

4.  Challenge at Tilt, at a Marriage, printed 1640.

5.  Christmas’s Masque, presented at court 1616.

6.  Cloridia, or the Rites of Cloris and her Nymphs, personated in a Masque at court, by the Queen and her Ladies, at Shrove Tide, 1630.

7.  Cynthia’s Revels, or the Fountain of Self-love, a comical Satire, first acted in the year 1600, by the then children of Queen Elizabeth’s chapel, with the allowance of the Master of the Revels, printed in folio, 1640.

8.  The Devil is an Ass, a Comedy, acted in the year 1616.

9.  Entertainment of King James in passing his Coronation, printed in folio, 1640.

10.  Entertainment in Private of the King and Queen on May-day in the morning, at Sir William Cornwallis’s house at Highgate, 1604.

11.  Entertainment of King James and Queen at Theobald’s, when the house was delivered up, with the possession to the Queen, by the earl of Salisbury 1607, the Prince of Janvile, brother to the Duke of Guise being then present.

12.  Entertainment in particular of the Queen and Prince, their Highnesses at Althrope at the Lord Spenser’s, 1603, as they came first into the kingdom.

13.  Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Britain and Denmark, at Theobald’s, July 24th 1606, printed 1640.

14.  Every Man in his Humour, a Comedy, acted in the year 1598, by the then Lord Chamberlain’s servants, and dedicated to Mr. Camden.  This play has been often revived since the restoration.

15.  Every Man out of his Humour, a comical Satire, first acted 1599, and dedicated to the Inns of Court.  This play was revived 1675, at which time a new Prologue and Epilogue were spoke by Jo.  Haynes, written by Mr. Duffel.