I always make the first Verse well, but I’m perplex’d about the rest.

[Je fais toujours bien le premier vers: mais j’ai peine à faire les autres.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]

The Romantick Ladies [Les Précieuses Ridicules], Act 1, sc. 11 (1659)
    (Source)

Alt. trans.: "I always make the first verse well, but I have trouble making the others."