 | Psyche Debauch'd |  |
PROLOGUE.
Now
Fancy's up; lest waiting palls the jest;
Psyche the second's coming half undrest:
But in that Garb you like fine Women best.
Let our Rich Neighbours mock our Farce; we know
(Already, th'utmost) of their Puppet-show.
Since they 'gainst Nature go, they Heav'n offend,
If Natures purpose then cross Natures end;
Unnat'ral Nature is not Natures Friend.
Psyche the second's coming half undrest:
But in that Garb you like fine Women best.
Let our Rich Neighbours mock our Farce; we know
(Already, th'utmost) of their Puppet-show.
Since they 'gainst Nature go, they Heav'n offend,
If Natures purpose then cross Natures end;
Unnat'ral Nature is not Natures Friend.
[—There's Nature for you.
As Æsop's Cat dressed in a Nymph's disguise,
Their gaudy Trifle may at first surprize;
None but the (Dirty-rout) will like it twice:
A well drest Frollick once may please the eye;
But Plays (like Women,) can't so satisfie.
Ye masked Nymphs can tell, there's somthing in ye,
Besides a painted face that gets the penny:
Yet all the Fame you give'em, we'l allow
To their best Plays, and their best Actors too.
That is, the Painter, Carpenter, and show
Beaumont, and Fletcher, Poet, and Devow.
But Sirs, free harmless Mirth you here condemn,
And Clap at down-right Baudery in them.
In Epsom-Wells, for example—
Are they not still for pushing Nature on,
Till Natures feat thus in your sight is done.
Oh Lord!—
Take off their Psyches borrow'd plumes awhile,
Hopkins and Sternhold rise, and claim your style;
Dread Kings of Brentford! leave Lardellas Herse,
Psyches despairing Lovers steal your verse:
And let Apollo's Priest restore again
What from the nobler Mamamouchy's ta'n.
As Æsop's Cat dressed in a Nymph's disguise,
Their gaudy Trifle may at first surprize;
None but the (Dirty-rout) will like it twice:
A well drest Frollick once may please the eye;
But Plays (like Women,) can't so satisfie.
Ye masked Nymphs can tell, there's somthing in ye,
Besides a painted face that gets the penny:
Yet all the Fame you give'em, we'l allow
To their best Plays, and their best Actors too.
That is, the Painter, Carpenter, and show
Beaumont, and Fletcher, Poet, and Devow.
But Sirs, free harmless Mirth you here condemn,
And Clap at down-right Baudery in them.
In Epsom-Wells, for example—
Are they not still for pushing Nature on,
Till Natures feat thus in your sight is done.
Oh Lord!—
Take off their Psyches borrow'd plumes awhile,
Hopkins and Sternhold rise, and claim your style;
Dread Kings of Brentford! leave Lardellas Herse,
Psyches despairing Lovers steal your verse:
And let Apollo's Priest restore again
What from the nobler Mamamouchy's ta'n.
Let'em restore your Treble prices too,
To see how strangely still they bubble you,
It makes me blush; and that I seldom do.
Now Psyche's strip'd from all her gay attire,
TE DE POLYKAGATHOY, Behold the Fire!
To see how strangely still they bubble you,
It makes me blush; and that I seldom do.
Now Psyche's strip'd from all her gay attire,
TE DE POLYKAGATHOY, Behold the Fire!
But Oh! a long Farewell to all this sort,
Which Musick Scenes, nor Preface can support.
Yet you admire it, make'em thankful for't:
Alass their Charge was great, and you must pay't.
If they should purchase at a cursed Rate,
The New-come Elephant, and shew't in State;
Get him a Room with Pomp and Lux'ry drest,
Would you pay Crowns a piece to see the Beast?
Show some of your good Natures here kind Sirs;
If our Conceit less proud or gay appears,
She's less expensive, and more brisk then theirs.
Which Musick Scenes, nor Preface can support.
Yet you admire it, make'em thankful for't:
Alass their Charge was great, and you must pay't.
If they should purchase at a cursed Rate,
The New-come Elephant, and shew't in State;
Get him a Room with Pomp and Lux'ry drest,
Would you pay Crowns a piece to see the Beast?
Show some of your good Natures here kind Sirs;
If our Conceit less proud or gay appears,
She's less expensive, and more brisk then theirs.
| Psyche Debauch'd | |