 | Miscellanies (1785) |  |
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AN OCCASIONAL EPILOGUE, WRITTEN FOR MRS. SIDDONS AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
Chear'd by the summer's sun and fostering gales,
Should some light bark unfurl her little sails,
Smooth down the stream in easy port she glides,
Where scarce a breeze the silver wave divides;
The sporting zephyrs with her pennants play,
As safe she anchors in th' unruffled bay;
No squalls molest, no deaf'ning thunders roar,
But pleas'd spectators greet her from the shore;
Lovers and friends run eager to the strand,
And shouts of welcome echo thro' the land.
Should some light bark unfurl her little sails,
Smooth down the stream in easy port she glides,
Where scarce a breeze the silver wave divides;
The sporting zephyrs with her pennants play,
As safe she anchors in th' unruffled bay;
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But pleas'd spectators greet her from the shore;
Lovers and friends run eager to the strand,
And shouts of welcome echo thro' the land.
But if once trusted from this friendly lee,
She braves the perils of a wider sea,
Where pilots, bred in tempest, dread the rock,
And noblest vessels scarce sustain a shock;
All hands aloft, th' affrighted crew would try
Their wonted land-marks left behind to spy;
Then climb the dizzy mast to trace the fort,
And wish, alas, how vain! to ken the port;
As Ocean heav'd, their terrors would increase,
And he alone who rais'd could bid them cease.
She braves the perils of a wider sea,
Where pilots, bred in tempest, dread the rock,
And noblest vessels scarce sustain a shock;
All hands aloft, th' affrighted crew would try
Their wonted land-marks left behind to spy;
Then climb the dizzy mast to trace the fort,
And wish, alas, how vain! to ken the port;
As Ocean heav'd, their terrors would increase,
And he alone who rais'd could bid them cease.
Thus I, adventurous, quit the harbour'd strand,
Where late I coasted within sight of land,
While wind and tide, and blazing beacons near,
Prosper'd the voyage, and bade me boldly steer;
Yet thirst of honest fame no fears restrain,
But tempts the slightest skiff to try the main.
For this—your smiles in view, myself I gave
To this great deep—for treasures on a grave;
For this on dangerous service here I sail,
The motive glory, your applause the gale;
And if, oh transport! as I distant roam,
Thro' you I bring some little venture home,
All hail the varied pains and pleasures past,
Since to good moorings here I come at last.
Where late I coasted within sight of land,
While wind and tide, and blazing beacons near,
Prosper'd the voyage, and bade me boldly steer;
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But tempts the slightest skiff to try the main.
For this—your smiles in view, myself I gave
To this great deep—for treasures on a grave;
For this on dangerous service here I sail,
The motive glory, your applause the gale;
And if, oh transport! as I distant roam,
Thro' you I bring some little venture home,
All hail the varied pains and pleasures past,
Since to good moorings here I come at last.
The generous terrors which ever accompany true genius prevented the admirable Performer, for whom this was written, from delivering it after she had studied it for that purpose; the event, however, of that night's exhibition proved that her fears were wholly unnecessary, and the Author has some claim on the kindness of the town, for having been instrumental in removing from a distant theatre (where, though her value was known and cherished, she had not “room or verge enough”), to her only proper scene of action, (and within the general reach) one of the very first sources of their entertainment and delight.
| Miscellanies (1785) | |