 | Scanderbeg |  |
PROLOGUE.
Spoken by the AUTHOR.
In
ancient Sparta (if Records be true)
The despis'd Drunkard was expos'd to View:
The virtuous Youth approv'd the wholsom Law,
And conscious Vice reform'd by what it saw.
The despis'd Drunkard was expos'd to View:
The virtuous Youth approv'd the wholsom Law,
And conscious Vice reform'd by what it saw.
The same fair Justice does on Plays attend;
The bad are damn'd, in hopes the rest may mend:
Publick th'Example! Publick is the Shame!
Such the tremendous Passport up to Fame!
Equal Decree! and worthy e'en the Age,
When Athens reign'd in Virtue on the Stage.
The bad are damn'd, in hopes the rest may mend:
Publick th'Example! Publick is the Shame!
Such the tremendous Passport up to Fame!
Equal Decree! and worthy e'en the Age,
When Athens reign'd in Virtue on the Stage.
If such be my Deserts, be such my Fate;
I come not, Criticks,—to capitulate—
To barter slavish Fear for partial Praise,
And, with a begging Face, your Pity raise:
I ask not any to espouse my Cause,
For I shou'd blush at Party-made Applause:
The Man who claps an undeserving Line,
Betrays his Weakness in approving mine:
No—let your Censure still impartial fly,
—I wou'd not live—when I deserve to die—
I come not, Criticks,—to capitulate—
To barter slavish Fear for partial Praise,
And, with a begging Face, your Pity raise:
I ask not any to espouse my Cause,
For I shou'd blush at Party-made Applause:
The Man who claps an undeserving Line,
Betrays his Weakness in approving mine:
No—let your Censure still impartial fly,
—I wou'd not live—when I deserve to die—
Perhaps I now a fair Example come,
To warn a thousand Scriblers—by my Doom—
Pleas'd I resign—if, from my Fall, again
Neglected Learning shall assume her Reign:
I'm satisfy'd—nay, Merit draw from thence,
To fall a Martyr to the Cause of Sense.
If, warm'd by me to Glory, there shou'd rise
Some abler Poet to delight your Eyes,
I, as the Cause, will share the leafy Crown,
And count his future Excellence my own.
To warn a thousand Scriblers—by my Doom—
Pleas'd I resign—if, from my Fall, again
Neglected Learning shall assume her Reign:
I'm satisfy'd—nay, Merit draw from thence,
To fall a Martyr to the Cause of Sense.
If, warm'd by me to Glory, there shou'd rise
Some abler Poet to delight your Eyes,
I, as the Cause, will share the leafy Crown,
And count his future Excellence my own.
| Scanderbeg | |