LIFE. A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. By FREDERICK REYNOLDS. THE FIFTH EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED BY A. STRAHAN, PRINTERS-STREET; FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND O. REES, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1801. [Price Two Shillings.] 1 PROLOGUE, WRITTEN BY A FRIEND. NATURE's a worn-out coat-her comic vein Bards following bards have turn'd and turn'd again- when 'Twas first cut out by Shakspeare and Old Ben ? The nap of novelty on every part. Would we a braggart paint, abfurd and vain, We can but dress up Pistol o'er again; LIFE. ACT I. SCENE-Outfide of CRAFTLY's Library; View of the Town, the Sea, &c. Enter MARCHMONT (with a Manuscript in his Hand) and Rosa. ROSA. CHEER up, cheer up, my father! furely this should be a day of joy. March. It fhould; but 'twill not be; I have out-toil'd my strength. Rofa. You have. For ten long years the produce of your pen has been our fole fupport; and for these fix months paft the labour of the brain has been unceafing; night after night has been devoted to that one compofition (pointing to the manufcript in MARCHMONT's hand). But now the book is finished, and yonder lives the gentleman who by the purchase of it will recompence you amply. Look, there's the library; will not that revive you, father? March. |