University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE By Mr. Fenton. Spoken by Mr. Cibber.

When Realms are ravag'd with invasive Foes,
Each Bosom with heroick Ardor glows;
Old Chiefs, reflecting on their former Deeds,
Disdain to rust with batter'd Invalides;
But active in the foremost Ranks appear,
And leave young smock-fac'd Beaux to guard the Rear.
So, to repel the Vandals of the Stage,
Our Vet'ran Bard resumes his Tragick Rage:
He throws the Gauntlet Otway us'd to wield,
And calls for Englishmen to judge the Field:
Thus arm'd, to rescue Nature from Disgrace,
Messieurs! lay down your Minstrells, and Grimace:
The brawniest Youths of Troy the Combat fear'd,
When old Entellus in the Lists appear'd.
Yet what avails the Champion's Giant Size,
When Pigmies are made Umpires of the Prize?
Your Fathers (Men of Sense, and honest Bowlers)
Disdain'd the Mummery of foreign Strollers:
By their Examples wou'd you form your Taste,
The present Age might emulate the past.
We hop'd that Art and Genius had secur'd you;
But soon facetious Harlequin allur'd you:
The Muses blush'd, to see their Friends exalting
Those elegant Delights of Jigg, and Vaulting:
So charm'd you were, you ceas'd a while to doat
On Nonsense, gargl'd in an Eunuch's Throat.
All pleas'd to hear the chatt'ring Monsters speak.
As old Wives wonder at the Parson's Greek.
Such light Ragousts and Mushrooms may be good.
To whet your Appetites for wholesome Food:
But the bold Britton ne'er in earnest dines
Without substantial Haunches, and Surloins.
In Wit, as well as War, they give us Vigour;
Cressy was lost by Kickshaws, and Soupe meagre.
Instead of light Deserts, and luscious Froth,
Our Poet treats to Night with Spartan Broth;
To which, as well as all his former Feasts,
The Ladies are the chief-invited Guests.
Crown'd with a kind of Glassenbury Bays,
That bloom amid the Winter of his Days;
He comes, ambitious in his green Decline,
To consecrate his Wreath at Beauty's Shrine.
His Oronooko never fail'd to engage
The radiant Circles of the former Age:
Each Bosom heav'd, all Eyes were seen to flow,
And sympathize with Isabella's Woe:
But Fate reserv'd, to crown his elder Fame,
The brightest Audience for the Spartan Dame.