 | The Tragedy of King Saul |  |
THE PROLOGUE, spoken by King David.
When
Verse and Virtue both United Join,
To form and bring about some great Design;
We Praise with Justice what's with Justice wrought,
And with Choice Thanks return each Chosen Thought.
Such be my Task, and such my Present Care,
Never till now well us'd in English Air,
Never but wrong'd and injur'd by my Foes,
Till on my side this Vengeful Author rose,
That Preciously my Memory Embalms,
And makes me full amends for Martyr'd Psalms.
To form and bring about some great Design;
We Praise with Justice what's with Justice wrought,
And with Choice Thanks return each Chosen Thought.
Such be my Task, and such my Present Care,
Never till now well us'd in English Air,
Never but wrong'd and injur'd by my Foes,
Till on my side this Vengeful Author rose,
That Preciously my Memory Embalms,
And makes me full amends for Martyr'd Psalms.
Sternhold be thou forgot with thy Offence,
And Hopkins thou Assassin to my Sense,
Musick succeeds your Inharmonious Songs,
And Brittain does atone for Brittain's Wrongs,
As David's Pleasures, David's Pains Requite,
And makes him Sing a Poem he would write.
As evr'y Line do's every Beauty trace,
And Art Illustrates Natures shining Grace:
Not that our Author gives us Painted Scenes,
Or leans upon the Help of Fine Machines,
He scorns such base Assistances of Wit,
To Crowd a Gallery, or to fill a Pit,
But moves your Mind neglectful of your sight,
And stead of wronging does Religion right.
As Scenes instructive as they'r chast and safe,
Dismiss you back to learn, that come to laugh.
And having every Height of Honour won,
Teach you those Virtues Modern Stage; shun,
While in Grimace their whole Instructions lye,
And Songs and Dances please the Ear and Eye.
While Elford's and Labee's high Movements take,
And Margaretta's please for Fancies sake.
Though Margaretta's Worth would justly shine,
Were but her Songs, as is her Voice, Divine.
And Hopkins thou Assassin to my Sense,
Musick succeeds your Inharmonious Songs,
And Brittain does atone for Brittain's Wrongs,
As David's Pleasures, David's Pains Requite,
And makes him Sing a Poem he would write.
As evr'y Line do's every Beauty trace,
And Art Illustrates Natures shining Grace:
Not that our Author gives us Painted Scenes,
Or leans upon the Help of Fine Machines,
He scorns such base Assistances of Wit,
To Crowd a Gallery, or to fill a Pit,
But moves your Mind neglectful of your sight,
And stead of wronging does Religion right.
As Scenes instructive as they'r chast and safe,
Dismiss you back to learn, that come to laugh.
And having every Height of Honour won,
Teach you those Virtues Modern Stage; shun,
While in Grimace their whole Instructions lye,
And Songs and Dances please the Ear and Eye.
While Elford's and Labee's high Movements take,
And Margaretta's please for Fancies sake.
Though Margaretta's Worth would justly shine,
Were but her Songs, as is her Voice, Divine.
| The Tragedy of King Saul | |