Poems on several occasions By H. Carey. The Third Edition, much enlarged |
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PROLOGUE TO THE RIVAL QUEENS:
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 | Poems on several occasions |  |
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PROLOGUE TO THE RIVAL QUEENS:
Or, the Death of Alexander the Great.
How Mad are we, in so refin'd an Age,To ape the Tragic Muse, and tread the Stage!
But, all that for this Folly can be said,
Is, that we act for Pleasure, not for Bread.
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And to a Theatre transform our School.
Our Forms and Benches, rang'd commodiously,
Serve us for Pit, and Box, and Gallery:
Tap'stry supplies the Place of painted Scenes,
While we imaginary Kings and Queens,
Strut in Heroics, dyzen'd in Attire
Compos'd of Feathers, Spangles, Lace and Wire:
So, if we chance to fail, some Recreation
You'll surely find in such a Transformation.
But, since we've none but Friends assembled here,
Why should we tremble, what have we to fear?
If in our Childish Pastimes we should miss,
You have more Manners, surely, than to hiss:
For what can you expect from such as we,
But Virgin Blushes and Simplicity?
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Our very Alexander is a Maid.
Then on our Youth some tender Pity take,
And spare the Action; for the Actors sake.
| Poems on several occasions | |