A collection of poems on various subjects including the theatre, a didactic essay; in the course of which are pointed out, the rocks and shoals to which deluded adventurers are inevitably exposed. Ornamented with cuts and illustrated with notes, original letters and curious incidental anecdotes [by Samuel Whyte] |
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 | A collection of poems on various subjects |  |
100
PROLOGUE TO THE TRAGEDY OF EDWINA, THURSDAY, MARCH XXIX, MDCCXCII. SPOKEN BY MR. MIDDLETON.
At seasons meet, deck'd in obsequious rhyme,
Prologues have been, from immemorial time,
Brought out by all retainers to the Stage,
To palliate faults and stem the critic's rage;
An arduous task!—and to complete the bore
We are doom'd to glean where others reap'd before:
Yet to comply with custom, as all should,
With customs well establish'd, wise and good,
I for my client in this cause appearing,
Solicit now a favourable hearing.
Prologues have been, from immemorial time,
Brought out by all retainers to the Stage,
To palliate faults and stem the critic's rage;
An arduous task!—and to complete the bore
We are doom'd to glean where others reap'd before:
Yet to comply with custom, as all should,
With customs well establish'd, wise and good,
I for my client in this cause appearing,
Solicit now a favourable hearing.
To night—with deference to begin my story—
By me a suppliant Author comes before ye.
Shall I, low bending, in a bondman's key,
Thus, forma pauperis, put in my plea?
Or, vi et armis, in Theatric fury,
Brow-beat, as oft, the scheme is, judge and jury?
No—this were arrogant, and that were mean,
And, tho' well meant, more serious blots to screen,
Instead of soothing, might provoke your spleen.
A first attempt, our author bade me say,
To candid breasts may find a fitter way;
Little confiding in Dramatic power,
He but requests the indulgence of an hour;
So, with the sunshine of your favour grac'd,
Fresh fruits may grow and ripen to your taste.—
His is a tale of woe, tho' well he knows
All are not touch'd alike with other's woes;
The laughing Muse you with applause pursue,
On nobler grounds her elder sister's due.
There lives a charm in sympathetic grief,
To soften care and give the mind relief.
When from compassion's eye the dew-drops start,
Mild grows the temper and humane the heart;
The strong, the weak, the lowly and the high
Are born to suffer, as they're born to die;
And not the happiest individual here
But owes to martyr'd innocence a tear.
From poor Edwina's fate the unpractised maid,
May learn, whate'er her good intents persuade,
Virtue itself's an insufficient shield,
When passion sways, and prudence quits the field.
By me a suppliant Author comes before ye.
Shall I, low bending, in a bondman's key,
Thus, forma pauperis, put in my plea?
Or, vi et armis, in Theatric fury,
Brow-beat, as oft, the scheme is, judge and jury?
101
And, tho' well meant, more serious blots to screen,
Instead of soothing, might provoke your spleen.
A first attempt, our author bade me say,
To candid breasts may find a fitter way;
Little confiding in Dramatic power,
He but requests the indulgence of an hour;
So, with the sunshine of your favour grac'd,
Fresh fruits may grow and ripen to your taste.—
His is a tale of woe, tho' well he knows
All are not touch'd alike with other's woes;
The laughing Muse you with applause pursue,
On nobler grounds her elder sister's due.
There lives a charm in sympathetic grief,
To soften care and give the mind relief.
When from compassion's eye the dew-drops start,
Mild grows the temper and humane the heart;
The strong, the weak, the lowly and the high
Are born to suffer, as they're born to die;
And not the happiest individual here
But owes to martyr'd innocence a tear.
From poor Edwina's fate the unpractised maid,
May learn, whate'er her good intents persuade,
Virtue itself's an insufficient shield,
When passion sways, and prudence quits the field.
As to the merits of our venturous Bard,
Suspend your judgment 'till the cause you've heard:
A lover, husband, mistress and a wife,
In error's maze involved, he draws from life;
The dire delusions that their peace destroy'd,
Trac'd to their source, he wills you to avoid,
And trusts, from rigid rule shou'd he depart
To follow nature, you'll dispense with art.
Suspend your judgment 'till the cause you've heard:
102
In error's maze involved, he draws from life;
The dire delusions that their peace destroy'd,
Trac'd to their source, he wills you to avoid,
And trusts, from rigid rule shou'd he depart
To follow nature, you'll dispense with art.
Thus he relies on plain and simple truth;
Modest you'll own and promising in youth:
Yet by descent were merit to be tried,
Facts might appear to countenance some pride,
And evidence, allowing envy scope,
To curb detraction and encourage hope;
Better perhaps in other climates shown;
A prophet meets least honour in his own.
But all in all so little we presume,
Man but a rush you strike the trembler dumb;
O'erwhelm'd in dread suspense, the worst of states,
He patiently your high decision waits;—
There, in some nook belike, sequester'd stands;
Dispel his fears and cheer him with your hands.
Modest you'll own and promising in youth:
Yet by descent were merit to be tried,
Facts might appear to countenance some pride,
And evidence, allowing envy scope,
To curb detraction and encourage hope;
Better perhaps in other climates shown;
A prophet meets least honour in his own.
But all in all so little we presume,
Man but a rush you strike the trembler dumb;
O'erwhelm'd in dread suspense, the worst of states,
He patiently your high decision waits;—
There, in some nook belike, sequester'd stands;
Dispel his fears and cheer him with your hands.
| A collection of poems on various subjects | |