University of Virginia Library

A PROLOGUE By Mrs. Behn to her New PLAY, CALLED Like Father, like Son,

OR THE Mistaken Brothers, Spoken by Mrs. Butler.

Lord what a House is here, how Thin 'tis grown!
As Church 'ere Conventicling was put down:
Since all the Brave are to Newmarket gone!
Declining States-men are abandon'd too,
Who scarce a Heartless Whigg will Visit now:
Who once had Crowds of Mutineers in Fashion,
Fine drawn in Cullys of th'Association:
Sparks, Justices and Jurymen by Dozens,
Whom his perverted late betrays and Cozens.
But change of Scene, having unvail'd their Cheats,
Pensive State Puss alone, Majestick Sits;
Purr's on his pointless Mischiefs, tho' in vain;
Verses are all the Darlings of his Brain.
So we who having Plotted long to please,
With new Parts, new Cloathes, new Face, new Dress;
To draw in all the yielding Hearts o'th' Town,
His Highness comes and all our Hopes are gone.
Ah Fickle Youth, what lasting Joys have we,
When Beauty thus is left for Loyalty;
I would to Heaven ye had been all Whiggs for me:
Whilst Honest Tory Fools abroad do Roame,
Whigg Lovers Slay and Plot, and Love at Home.
Nay one Advantage greater far than this,
The Party helps to keep their Mistresses.
The Devils it't if I'm not Fine and Vain,
Whom publick Bank Contribute to Maintain.

Epilogue spoken by Mr. Gevan.

[Mr. Gevan.]
And now Messiers, what do you say,
Unto our Modern Conscientious Play?
Nor Whigg, nor Tory here can take Offence,
It Libels neither Patriot, Peer nor Prince.
Nor Sheriff, nor Burgess, nor the Reverend Gown;
Faith Here's no Scandal worth Eight Hundred Pound,
Our Damage is at most but Half a Crown.
Only this Difference you must allow,
That you receive th'Affront and pay us too;
Would some Body had manag'd matters so.
Here's no Reflection on Damn'd Witnesses,
We Scorn such out of Fashion things as these,
They fail to be Belov'd, and fail to Please.
No Salamanchian Doctorship's Abus'd,
Nor a Malitious State'man here Accus'd.
Tho' here are Fools of every Fashion,
Except State Fools, the Fools of Reformation.
And these Originals decline so fast,
We shall have none to Copy by at last.
There's Joe and Jack a pair of Whining Fools Pointing at Mr. Williams, Mr. Wiltshire.

And Leigh, and I, Dull, Lavish, Creeping Tools.
Bowman's for Mischief all, and carry's on
With Faun and Sneer as Gilting Whigg has done,
But like theirs too, his Projects are o'r thrown.
Sweet Mistris Corall here has lost her Lover,
Pshaw English or Irish ground shall find another. To Mrs. Butler.

Poor Madam Butler too, are you defeated,
You never were before so basely Cheated.
Here Mistris Betty, Hah! she's grown a very Woman,
Thou'st got me Child, better me than no man.
Here's Blundering Richards is my Huffing Esquire,
Damn me, the best in England's for't, d'e hear.
Is that your Cue come nearer, Faith thy Face
Has Features not unlike Joe Hains's Grace.
Impudence assist thee, and boldly try
To speak for us, and for the Comedy.

Mr. Richards
Speaks.
I'le do't Gallants, I'le Justify this Play;
'Od Zoons 'tis Good, and if you lik'd you may.