Neglect their comic humour, tragic rage, We're like old mistresses, you love the vice, For known defects of nature and of age ? And hate us only 'cause we once did pleale. Arise for Thame, ye conqu’ring Britons, rise! Nor can we find how else 'tis we deserve, Such unadorn d effeminacy deipife;

Like Tantalus, 'midst plenty thus to starse. Admire (if vou will dote on foreign wit) Not what Italians fing, but Romans writ. So Thall lefs works, tuch as to-night's flight play, $ 12%. Prologue to Tancred and Sigismund...

T'HOMsos. Ar your command with justice dic away; Till then forgive your writers, that can't bear BOLD. is the man, who in this nicer age You thould luch very Tramontanes appear,

Prefumes to tread the chaste, corrected stage. The nations, which contemn you, to revere.

Now, with gay emfel arts we can no more Let Anna's foil be known for all its charms; Conceal the want of nature's sterling ore : As fam'd for lib'ral sciences as aris :

Our spells are vanith d, broke our magic wand, Let thofe derision meet, who would advance

That usd to waft you over fca and land : Manners, or speech, from Italy or France.

Before your light the fairy people tade;
Let them learn you, who would your favour find, The demons Hy-the ghost itself is laid.
And English be the language of mankind.

In vain of martial scents the loud alarıns;
The mighty Prompter thund'ring out to arins :

The playhouse polie clattering from afar;
§ 126. Epilogue to the Gamejier. The cioli - svedg'd battle, and the din of war.

CENT LIVRE. Now even the Senate seldom we convene ;

The yawning fathers nod behind the scene. As one condemn’d, and ready to become, For his offences past, a pendulum,

Your taste rejects the glitt'ring falfe fublime, Does, cre he dies, beipeak the learned throng,

To high in metaphor, and die in rhime. Then, like the lwan, expires in a fong;

High rant is tumbled from his gallery throne : So I (though doubtful long which knot to choose, Defeription, dreams-nay, fimilies are gone. Whether the hangman's, or the marriage noofe),

What shall we then ? to please you how devile? Condeinn'd, good people, as you see, for life,

Whose judgment fits not in your ears and eyes. To play that tedious, juggling game, a wife,

Thrice happy! could we catch great Shaktpeare's Have but one word of good advice to say,

art, Before the doleful cart draws quite away.

ro trace the deep recesses of the heart; You roaring boys, who know the midnight cares His simple, plain fublime; to which is giren Of rattling tatts, ye fons of hopes and fears ;

To ftrike the soul with darted Hame from heavebi Who labour hard to bring your ruin on,

Could we awake toft Otway's tender woe; And diligently toil to be undone ;

The pomp of verte, and golden lines of Rowe! You 're fortune's sporting footballs at the best,

We to your hearts apply ; let them attend : Few are his joys, and small the gamester's reft :

Before their filent, candid bar we bend. Suppose then fortune only rules the dice,

If warmd they listen, 'tis our noblest praise : And on the square you play; yet who, that's wise, If cold, they wither all the muse's bays. Would to the credit of faithless main Trust his good dad's hard-gotten hoarded gain ? But then such vultures round a table wait, § 128. Epilogue to the fame. THOMSON. And hov'ring watch thc bubble's sickly state ; The young fond gambler, covetous of more,

CRAMM'D to the throat with wholesome,moral Like Æfop's dog, loses his certain ftore.

audience ! you

have had enough. Then the spunge squeezed by all grows dry—and Was ever hapless heroine of a play

In such a piteous plight as ours to-day? Completely wretched turns a sharper too ;

Was ever woman 10 by love betray'd These fools, for want of bubbles too, play fair,

Match'd with two husbands, and yet—die a maid! And lose to one anothier on the square :

But, blets me !--hold-what sounds are these I So whores the wealth from numerous culls they here: glean,

I see the Tragic Muse herself appear.
Still spend on bullies, and grow poor again.
This itch for play has likewise fatal been,

[The back scene opens, and discovers a ro

mantic jilvan landscape, from wbich SigifAnd more than Cupid drawn the ladies in : A thousand guincas for basit prevails,

munda, in the coaracter of the Tragic Maje, A bait, when cash runs low, that seldom fails;

advances flowly to music, and speaks the And when the fair-one can't the debt defray

following lines: In Iterling coin, does sterling beauty pay. Hence with your flippant epilogue, that tries

In vain we labour to divert your care, To wipe the virtuous tear from British eyes; Norfong nor dance can bribe yourpresence here, That dares my moral, tragic (cenc profane, You fly this place like an infectious air; With ftrains--at best, unsuiting, light, and vain. To yonder happy quarter of the town

Hence from the pure, unsullied beams, that play You crowd, and your own fav'rite stage disown ; In yon fair eyes, where virtue lines Away!

Britons,

fuff; Alas! poor

a

}

a

Britons, to you, from chaste Caftalian groves, for-not to feel your suff'rings, is the same Where dwell the tender, oft unhappy loves ;

As not to suffer-All the diffrence-name. Where shades of herocs roam, each mighty name, Thirdly-The jealous hufband wrongs his And court my aid, to rise again to fame :

honour; To you I come ; to freedom's noblett seat; No wife goes lame, without some hurt upon hier : And in Britannia fix my last retreat.

And the malicious world will still be guelling, In Greece, and Rome, I watch'd the public who oft dines out dillikes her own cook's dreiling. weal;

Fourthly, and lastly -- to conclude my lecture,
The purple tyrant erembled at my steel; If you would fix th'inconftant wift-relpect hicr.
Nor did I lets o'er private forrows reign, She who perceives her virtues over-rated,
And mend the melting heart with fofrer pain. Will fear to have th' account more juftly stated;
On France and you then role my bright’ning star And, borrowing from her pride the good wite's
With focial ray—The arts are ne'er at war,

feeming,
O! as your fire and genius Itronger blaze; Grow really luch—to mcrit your eftceming.
As yours are gen'rous freedom's bolder lays;
Let not the Gallic taste leave yours behind,
In decent manners and in life refin'd;

§ 130. Prologue to ibe Bankrupt. Foote. Banith the motley mode, to tag low verse,

FOR wit's keen fatire, and this daughing frige; The laughing ballad to the mournful hearse.

What theme so fruitful as a Bankrupt Age When thro' five acts your hearts have learnt to For not confin’d to commerce is the curre, glow,

The head is near as empty ós the purse; Touch'd with the sacred force of honest woc,

Equally funk our credit and our wit, o keep the dear imprellion on your breast,

Nor is the lage more folvent than the cit:
Nor idly lose it for a wretched jeit!

All there but soft, ere ihus abroad we roam,
Were it not prudunt first to look at home?

You, gentle Sirs, have given me credit long, $ 129. Epilogue to Zara. AARON HILL.

And took my word for many an idle long; HERE, take a furfeit, firs, of being jealous, But if, exhausted, I give notes to-day

And thun the pains that plague thule Turkish For wit and humour, which I cannot pay, fellows:

I must turn bankrupt too, and hop away: Where love and death join hands, their darts Unless, indeed, I modifhly apply confounding,

For leave to fell my works by lottery. Save us, good heaven! from this new way of Tho' few will favour, where's no cath to free emn, wounding!

Poor hopes, that way to part with my museum, Curs'd climate l-where, to cards, a lone-left My old friend Smirk, indeed, may lend his aid,

And fell by auction all my stock in trade; Has only one of her black guards to summon ! His placid features, and iinploring eye, Siglas, and fits mop'd, with her came bealt to May tempt perhaps the tardy town to buy;

His winning manner, and his soft addrels, And that cold treat is all the game she plays at! To other fales of mine have given fuccess. For-should the once fome abler hand be trying, But after all, my ever-honour'd friends, Poignard 's the word! and the first deal' is-On you alone my fate this night depends; dying!

I've fought fome battles, gain'd some vi&t'ricshere, 'Slife! should the bloody whim get ground in And little thought a culprit to appear Britain,

Before this houle ; but if refolv'd you go Where woman's freedom has such heights to fit To find me guilty, or to make me to, on;

To grant me neither wit, nor taste, nor sense, Daggers, provok’d, would bring on defolation, Vain were my plea, and useless my defence. And murder'd belles un-people half the nation ! But fill, I will not steal, I will not beg, Fain would I hope this play to move com

Tho' ('ve a patiport in this wooden leg i pallion

But to my cot contentedly retire, And live to hunt fufpicion out of fashion.

And stew my cabbage by my only fire.

Mean time, great Sirs, my sentence yet unFour motives strongly recommend, to lovers,

known, Hare of this weakness, that our scene diseurers :

E'en as your justice be your candour shown, First then--A woman will or won't depend And when you touch my honour, don't forget If she will do ’t, she will and there's an end on't. But, if the won'-lince fafc and found your trust is,

$ 131. Epilogue to the Toy-Shop. R. Dopsler. Fear is affront, and jealousy injustice. Next-He whobids his dear do what the pleases,

WELT, heaven be prais'd ! this dull, grave

's done Blunts wedlock's edge, and all its torture cales : (For 'faith our author might have call'd it one).

I wonder

gaze at :

on 't :

your own.

I wonder who the devil he thought to please! Juch could I offer in our author's cause;
Is this a time of day for things like there? X, prove his first great object--your applause ;
Good sense and honof satire new offen! ; But, lett dull friendthip thould his genius
We're grown too wif to lear,ing pool, stored, wrong,
And so divinely rapt in trys and tunes, Il fip-before the prologue grows too long,
The next wise age with all lie - tidlers tons.

sand Biler laie than never hold my tongue.
And did he thinki plan truth would favour find
Ah, 'tis a fign he little knows 111.39 kind!
To pleafe, he ought to have a long or dance, § 133. Epilogue io ibe fume. ANDREWS.
The tune from Italy, the caper France : T

HE drama done, and all its ini'reft over, These, these might charm-But hope to do it Content the husband, and secure the lover; with lense,

Our timid bard, who dreads the critic ire, Alas! alas ! how vain is the pretence !

And thinks my little tongue can never tire, But, tho'we told him— Faith, 'twill never do-- Would have me re-assume the wig and gown, Pho! never fear, he cried, tho'grave, 'tis new : To plead his goole-quill cause before the town. The whim perhaps may please, if not the wit, “ Lord! Sir,'says I, “ some better counsıl bring; And, tho' they don't approve, they may permit. “ For females in a wig are not the thing. If neither this nor that will intercede,

“ Your bearded Barrister, if tinarily made, is .. Submislive bend, and thus for pardun plead. " A furer advocate among the ladies.”

“ Ye gen’sous few ! to you our author fucs, " Madam," he cried, " or periwigg'd, or bare, “ His first essay with candour to cxcuse : " So you but taik, I never need deipair." “'T has faults, he owns; but, if they are but small, Suppote, ye fali, as I'm lo Imouth a prater, " He hopes your kind applause will hide them all.' I take a line more confonant to nature;

Give
up

the vain attempt your hearts to warm,

And gunstile min with female weapon arm. 132. Prologue to Mr. Andrews's Comudy of Bitter

Ojt have the nits, unminutul whom they vex, Late than Never. Duke of LEEDS.

Expos'd the foibles of the lofter fex; CUSTOM commands a prologue to ea h play, Laughid at their drcis, their well-shap'd cork, their But cultoin hath not told us what to fity:

feathers, No form prescrib’d, 'ris difficult to find Their steady bloom, unchanging in all weathers; How to conciliate the public mind.

Swore locks wercgrey,chatfeem'da comely brown, The bathful bard-the modest mute's fears, ind, thu'ail paid for, deem'd them not thcir own. So long have jingled in your patient cars,

Why not retort avenge th' insulted fair, That now perhaps you 'll scarce vonchlafe to fiay And thew thcle men, what wondrous things they To hear both their apology-and play. No ! Better lure on him at once to call,

Now don't be frighten'd-poor eccentric elves! With:—“Sir, if frighten'd thus, why write at all: , I only thew what most you like-yourselves. We're not reluc'd yet to a trembling pen! How ! tremble at a woman! shame beride! Zounds ! bards will crowd us foon, like-gentle- Tho' I look tiurce, like you—I 'm all outside : men.''

Yet e'er my ctures

your attention call Something like this, I heard a friend once day, To that dear portrait which should hit you all, Who wilh'd (poor foul !) to hear a newv-launch'd ! Let me delineate what was once a beau, play:

The Band-bux Bily of some years ago. Box'd fnug at first, compietely to his mind, Siveet image of mamma in ev'ry feature, With only one grave auditor behind,

The youth came fortli, a most delicious creature, Ere the third act had struggled to its end, lithfuil dret a kiris, not quite unlike a boop, In reel'd three critics, each the author's friend - Hat under arm, tie button, und gilt loopOs praise dctermia'd-wit contirin'd by wine : Stiff Rock, long livord still dangling in the way, Each And ! and If! was chatte-correct--damnd!!fe fometimes tenurd to a firii-night play: fine.

I Tripp'd thro' plic lovliy, molt completely curld; Totalte foinark'd my friend of course gave way; Vir did a paw-paw thing for all the world. But squeez'd, thump'd, kick'd-Atill liften’d to the Thus be difcouis'it : "Sir Dilverry, ods so, Till by repeated plaudits grown to fore, (play; Duar, dear good luck! have you a place velay! Nor Aéth nor blood could bcar one comment mot'. Dimit, dun't crowd to, fellot-, how shockSuch built'rous friends they surely cannot need,

ing! Who with by inerit only to luccced.

" He 's spoild my hair, and dirtiel all my stockTo-night we offer to the public view

ing.”

praise, A character, you 'll own perhaps is new : Such was the finart our grandmammas would From Doctor's Commons we the model draw; Rather unlike the finart of prosent days: A promising eleve of civil law;

For I defy all hiftory to thew And civil sure that law which can provide One thing in nature like a modern beau ; Or (thould need bu) release you from a bride. Hat flouch'd, short flick, knee-trappings, that Thrice bless'd the mansion, where, in spite of ills,

are.

6

a

Eternal boots, and collar you 'd suppose Terror of caps and wigs and sober notions !
Cut in kind contact with his buckthip's nose. A romp' that longest of perpetual motions?
Thus trinnlydleck'd, each night among the doxies

--Till tum'd and tortur'd into foreign graces,
He storms the lobby, and allails the buxus; She sports her lovely face at public places ;
With gait and manner---Sometising in this way, And with blue, laughing eyes, behind her fan,
Proves his rare taste, and deliants on the play - First acts her part with that great actor, MAN,
“ Here, box-keeper! why don't the ralul cone? Too foon a flirt; approach her and thic ilies,
" Halloo-Ton Gerkin! can you give 11s roum: Frowns when pursued, and, when entreated, fighst
" What's this:--The farce-- Macbeth-

ope

Plays with unhappy men as cats with mice; "ia:-0!

Till fading beauty hints the late advice. " Came out last season-Stupid stuff-damnd Ver prudence dictates what her pride diidain d, si low :

And no:v the fues to flaves herself had chain'd! " Zounds, let's be off!"...“ Z-ds, be a little Then cams that good old character, a wife, «« calmer !"

With all the diar, distracting cares of life, “ Who's theat--the Jordan :""No, you fool - A thousand cards a-day at doors to leare, “ R. Palmer.”

i And, in return, a thouland cards receive;
Thus fome are found, by ev'ry aćt revealing Rouge h: »!,play deep, to lead the ton alpire,
Perfect indifference to tenle and feeling. With niyatly blaze ict PORTLAND-PLACE on
To luch our plüy not sues--but you, ye fair,

fire;
Ye wile, whom nature form d with happier care, Snatch half a glimpse at concert, opera, ball,
Whofe tender boloms, tho' by pullions rent, A meteor, trac'd by none, tho' seco by all;
Feel the soft virtuts in their fuilosteni,

And, whe: her shatter'd nerves forbid to roam,
Cherish our author's plan, which a'ms to prove, In very fpleen --- rehearse the girls a: home.
Life's best exertions spring from virtuous love. 1 Lait the grey dowager, in ancient Hounces,

With Inuff and 1pcétacles the age denounces;
134. Veles qurilen to be ifodin by Mrs. Siclel ns, Boatts how the fires of this degencrate isle
ai ber Benight, April 27, 1795.

ROGERS. Knelt for a look, and duci'd for a smile;
YES, 'tis the pulse of life! my fears were vain! The scourge and ridicule of Goth and Vantal,
I wake, I breathe, and am mytol ng sin.

Her tca Ilie (wectens, as the fips, with scan lal;

With modern belles et nad Warfare wages, Still in this notiver world ! no Seraph yet!

Like her own birds that cla:pour from their cages;
Nor walks my firit when the fun is fit,

And Thuiles round to bear her tale to all,
With troubled step to haunt the fatal board,

Like fome old ruin, “ nodding to its fall!"
Where I died last---by porton or the livord;
Aid blanch cach honelt check with deeds of night, then molt an actress when the leasts suspects it.

Thus WOMAN makes her entrance and her exit,
Done here fo oft by dim and doubtful light.

Yet narure oft pecps out and mars the plot,
To drop all metaphor, ihat little bell

Each leffon loft, cach poor pretence forgot;
Caild back reality, and broke the spell
No hervine clainis your tears with tragic tone;

Full oft, with energy that scorns controul,

At once lights up the features of the foul ;
A very Woman-carce restrains her own!

Cnlocks each thought chain'd down by coward
Can ine, with fiction, charm the cheated mind,
Woen to be grateful is the part allign'd?

And to full day the latent paflions start!
Ah, no! the scoins the trappings of her art;

But the, whose first beit wish is your applause,
No thune but truth, no prompter but the heart. Herieif exemplifies the truth the draws.
But, Ladies, say, muft i alone unmaik.

Born on the diaye-thro' ev'ry thifting scene,
Is hie no other actress ? let ine a.k.

Obfcure or bright, tempestuous or serene,
Believe me, thosc, who best the heart diffict,

Still has your imile her trembli gfpirit fir'd!
know every woman ftudies ftage ettect.
She moulds her manners to the parts the fills,

And can íhe ali, with thoughts like ihese inspir'da

Thus from her mind all artifice she flings, As Initinct teaches, or as Humour wills;

All skill, all practice, now unmeaning things! And, as the grave or gay her talent calls,

To you, uncheckd, cach_genuinc feeling Hows,
Acts in the drama, till the curtain falls.

For all that life endears-to you the owcs.
First, how her little breast withi triumph swells,
When the red coral rings its filver bells!
To play in pantomime is then rage
Along the carpet's many-colour'd stage; $ 135. Virses to the Memory of Mi, GARRICK.
Or lifp her merry thoughts with loud endeavour, Spoken as a Mono/v, ly Mrs. YATES, at ib:
Now here, now chere-in noise and mischicfever!

Tbeatre-Roval in Diur;-Lane.
A school girl next, the curls her hair in papers, IF dying excellence deferses a tear;
And mimics father's guut, and mother's vapours; If fond remembrance still is cherish'd here,
Discards her doll, bribes Betty for romances, Can we persist to bid our forrows flow
Playful at church, and serious when the dances; For fabled tuff'rers and delusive woe?
Tramples alike on customs and on toes, Or with quaint smiles dismits the plaintive train,
And whispers all the hears to all the knows; Point the quick jeft---indulge tlic comic vein---

art,

air.

Ere yet to buried Roscius we allign

Even matchless Garrick's art, to heaven resign'd, One kind regret---one tributary line!

No txd citèEt, no model leaves behind.
His fame requires we act a tend'rer part : The grace of action, the a-apted mien,
His memory claims the tear you gave his art ! Faithful as nature to the varied Icene;

The gen'ral voice, the meed of iournful verse, Th'expreifivegiance, whofclubtle comment draws
The splendid sorrows that adorn’d his hearse, Entranc'd attention, and a mute applause;
The throng that mourn'd as their dead fav’rite Gesture that marks, with forecand feeling fraught,
passid,

A fenfe in silence, and a will in thought :
The grac'd respect that claim'd him to the last, Harmonious tpeech, whose pure and liquid tons
While Shakspeare'simage, from its hallow'd bale, Gives verse a music scarce confeis d is own,
Seem'd to prescribe the grave, and point the place: As light from gems allumes a brighter ray,
Nor thefe, nor all the tad regrets that flow And, cloth'd with orient hues, transcends the day!
From fond fidelity's domestic woe,

Pallion's wild break, and frown that awes the fenfe, So much are Garrick’s praife-fo much his due, And ev'ry charm of gentle eluquence, As on this spot-one tear bestow'd by you. All perishable !-- like th'electric fire

Amid the arts which leck ingenuous faine, But Itrike the frame, and, as they strike, expiic; Our toil attempts the molt precarious claim ! locense too pure a bodied Rame to bear, To him, whole mimic pencil wins the prize, Its fragrance charms the sense, and blends with Obedient fame immortal wreaths supplies : Whate'er of wonder Reynolds now may raise, Where then, while funk in cold decay he lics, Raphael still boasts cotemporary praise : And pale eclipfe for ever veils thuse eres ; Each dazzling light and gaudier bloom subdued, Where is the blest memorial that ensures With undimivih'd awe his works are view'd : Our Garrick's famne ? -—whose is the trust :- 'Tis E'en beauty's portrait wears a sofrer prime,

yours. Touch'd by the tender hand of mellowing time. And, o! by ev'ry charm his art essayd

The patient sculptor owns an humbler part, To footh your cares! by ev'ry grief allay'd! A ruder toil, and inore mechanic art:

By the hush'd wonder which his accents drew ! Content with flow and limorous ftroke to trace By his last parting tear, repaid by you! The ling’ring line, and mould the tardy grace: By all those thoughts, which many a distant night But once achiev'd, tho'barlı'rous wreck o'erthrow Shall mark his memory with a fad delight! The sacred fane, and lay its glories low, Still in your hearts dear record bear his name, Yet thall the sculptur'd ruin rise to-day, Cherish the keen regret that lifts his fame; Grac'd by defect, and worship'd in decay ; so you it is bequeath'd, allert the trust, Th' enduring record bears the artist's name, And to his worth— 'tis all you can-be just. Demands his honours, and asserts his fame. What more is due from fanctifying time, Superior hopes the poet's bosom fire,

To cheerful wir, and many a favour'd rhyine, O proud distinction of the sacred lyre !

O'er bis grac'd urn shall bloom, a deathlefs wreath, Wide as th' inspiring Phæbus darts his ray, Whose blossom'd sweets shall deck the mask be. Diffusive splendour gilds his votary's lay.

neath. Whether the song heroic woes rehearse, For these, when sculpture's votive toil shall rear With Epic grandeur, and the pomp of verse; The due memorial of a lofs so dear, Or, fondly gay, with unambitious guile o loveliest mourner, gentle muse! be thine Attempt no prize but fav’ring beauty's smile ; The pleasing woe to guard the laurell'd thrine. Or bear deje&ted to the lonely grove

As Fancy, oft by superstition led The soft despair of unprevailing love;

To roam the mansions of the fainted dead, Whate'er the theme, thro' ev'ry age and clime Has view'd, ty shadowy eve's unfaithful gloom, Congenial paflions meet the according rhyme; A weeping cherub on a martyr's tomb; The pride of glory, pity's figh sincere,

So thou, fiveet Muse, hango'er his sculptur’dbier, Youth's earliest bluth, and beauty's virgin tear. With patient woe, that loves the ling'ring tear;

Such is their meed-their honours thus fccure, With thoughts that mourn, nor yet defire relief, Whose arts yield objeêts, and whole works endure. With meek regret, and fond enduring gricf; The actor only shrinks from time's award ; With looks that speak—He never shall return! Feeble tradition is his memory's guard; Chilling thy tender bolom, clasp his urn; By whose faint breath his merits must abide, And with soft sighs disperse th' irrev'rend duft, Unvouch'd hy proof, to substance unallied ! Which time may strew upon his facred buft.

FINI S.