The Works, In Verse and Prose, of Leonard Welsted ... Now First Collected. With Historical Notes, And Biographical Memoirs of the Author, by John Nichols |
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PROLOGUE to Steele's
CONSCIOUS LOVERS, 1722.
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 | The Works, In Verse and Prose, of Leonard Welsted |  |
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PROLOGUE to Steele's CONSCIOUS LOVERS, 1722.
To win your hearts, and to secure your praise,
The Comic-writers strive by various ways;
By subtle stratagems they act their game,
And leave untry'd no avenue to fame:
One writes the spouse a beating from his wife;
And says, each stroke was copy'd from the life:
Some fix all wit and humour in grimace,
And make a livelihood of Pinkey's face:
While one gay shew and costly habits tries,
Confiding to the judgement of your eyes;
Another smuts his scene (a cunning shaver)
Sure of the rakes' and of the wenches' favour!
The Comic-writers strive by various ways;
By subtle stratagems they act their game,
And leave untry'd no avenue to fame:
One writes the spouse a beating from his wife;
And says, each stroke was copy'd from the life:
Some fix all wit and humour in grimace,
And make a livelihood of Pinkey's face:
While one gay shew and costly habits tries,
Confiding to the judgement of your eyes;
Another smuts his scene (a cunning shaver)
Sure of the rakes' and of the wenches' favour!
Oft have these arts prevail'd; and, one may guess,
If practis'd o'er again, would find success:
But this bold Sage, the Poet of to-night,
By new and desperate rules resolv'd to write:
Fain would he give more just applauses rise,
And please by Wit that scorns the aids of Vice;
The praise, he seeks, from worthier motives springs;
Such praise, as praise to those that give it, brings!
If practis'd o'er again, would find success:
But this bold Sage, the Poet of to-night,
By new and desperate rules resolv'd to write:
Fain would he give more just applauses rise,
And please by Wit that scorns the aids of Vice;
The praise, he seeks, from worthier motives springs;
Such praise, as praise to those that give it, brings!
Youraid, most humbly sought, then, Britons, lend,
And liberal mirth, like liberal men, defend:
No more let Ribaldry, with licence writ,
Usurp the name of Eloquence or Wit;
No more let lawless Farce uncensur'd go;
The lewd dull gleanings of a Smithfield show!
'Tis yours, with breeding to refine the age,
To chasten Wit, and moralize the Stage.
And liberal mirth, like liberal men, defend:
No more let Ribaldry, with licence writ,
Usurp the name of Eloquence or Wit;
No more let lawless Farce uncensur'd go;
The lewd dull gleanings of a Smithfield show!
'Tis yours, with breeding to refine the age,
To chasten Wit, and moralize the Stage.
Ye modest, wise, and good, ye fair, ye brave,
To-night the Champion of your virtues save;
Redeem from long contempt the Comic name,
And judge politely for your Country's fame.
To-night the Champion of your virtues save;
Redeem from long contempt the Comic name,
And judge politely for your Country's fame.
| The Works, In Verse and Prose, of Leonard Welsted | |