The Works of John Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected |
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PROLOGUE to the Alteration of JULIUS CÆSAR.
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 | The Works of John Sheffield |  |
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PROLOGUE to the Alteration of JULIUS CÆSAR.
Hope
to mend Shakespear! or to match his Style!
'Tis such a Jest, would make a Stoick smile.
Too fond of Fame, our Poet soars too high;
Yet freely owns he wants the Wings to fly:
So sensible of his presumptuous Thought,
That he confesses while he does the Fault:
This to the Fair will no great Wonder prove,
Who oft in Blushes yield to what they love.
'Tis such a Jest, would make a Stoick smile.
Too fond of Fame, our Poet soars too high;
Yet freely owns he wants the Wings to fly:
So sensible of his presumptuous Thought,
That he confesses while he does the Fault:
This to the Fair will no great Wonder prove,
Who oft in Blushes yield to what they love.
Of greatest Actions, and of noblest Men,
This Story most deserves a Poet's Pen.
For who can wish a Scene more justly fam'd,
When Rome and mighty Julius are but nam'd!
That State of Heroes, who the World had brav'd!
That wond'rous Man, who such a State inslav'd!
Yet loth he was to take so rough a way,
And after govern'd with so mild a Sway,
At Distance now of sev'nteen hundred Years,
Methinks a lovely Ravisher appears;
Whom, tho' forbid by Virtue to excuse,
A Nymph might pardon, and could scarce refuse.
This Story most deserves a Poet's Pen.
For who can wish a Scene more justly fam'd,
When Rome and mighty Julius are but nam'd!
That State of Heroes, who the World had brav'd!
That wond'rous Man, who such a State inslav'd!
Yet loth he was to take so rough a way,
And after govern'd with so mild a Sway,
At Distance now of sev'nteen hundred Years,
Methinks a lovely Ravisher appears;
Whom, tho' forbid by Virtue to excuse,
A Nymph might pardon, and could scarce refuse.
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- Julius Cæsar, Dictator.
- Brutus, Conspirator.
- Cassius, Conspirator.
- Dec. Brutus, Conspirator.
- Trebonius, Conspirator.
- Casca, Conspirator.
- M. Antonius.
- Junius, One of Cæsar's Freedmen.
- Portia, Wife of Brutus.
- Lucius, One of his Servants.
- Senators.
- Priests.
- Tradesmen and Citizens.
- Spurinna, A Sooth-sayer.
Dramatis Personæ.
| The Works of John Sheffield | |