 | Titus Andronicus, or The Rape of Lavinia |  |
PROLOGUE, Spoken in Lent.
Gallants
, in this good Godly Time of Lent,
I am come forth to bid you all repent.
You Sparks I see have got a Pious Notion,
You put on Black to shew your great Devotion:
But lest you shou'd mistake what I intend,
Let me tell you your Faults, and how to mend.
I am come forth to bid you all repent.
You Sparks I see have got a Pious Notion,
You put on Black to shew your great Devotion:
But lest you shou'd mistake what I intend,
Let me tell you your Faults, and how to mend.
First, leave to shew your Valour in the Pit,
Leave Railing at Great Men to shew your Wit.
With Vizard-Masques, leave your Lewd Raillery,
Leave your disturbance in the Middle-Gallery.
Leave all your Jests of Bant'ring and Dum-sounding,
Leave always Duelling and never Wounding.
Leave coming here when you do not intend
To see the Play, but pick up a she-friend.
Leave sharping for your selves, and pay your Guinny
For Procuration there to honest Jenny.
Leave Railing at Great Men to shew your Wit.
With Vizard-Masques, leave your Lewd Raillery,
Leave your disturbance in the Middle-Gallery.
Leave all your Jests of Bant'ring and Dum-sounding,
Leave always Duelling and never Wounding.
Leave coming here when you do not intend
To see the Play, but pick up a she-friend.
Leave sharping for your selves, and pay your Guinny
For Procuration there to honest Jenny.
Next for the men of Bus'ness in the Nation,
Let them begin a Thorough-Reformation.
Let 'em leave Faction, Jelousies and Fears,
Leave setting us together by the Ears.
Let Corporations leave Petitioning,
And learn all due Allegeance to the King.
Let Politicians too not be so hot,
To Swear, that a Spring-Tide's a Popish Plot,
Do not too Eagerly that Scent pursue,
Lest Hunting an Old Plot you Start a New.
Let them begin a Thorough-Reformation.
Let 'em leave Faction, Jelousies and Fears,
Leave setting us together by the Ears.
Let Corporations leave Petitioning,
And learn all due Allegeance to the King.
Let Politicians too not be so hot,
To Swear, that a Spring-Tide's a Popish Plot,
Do not too Eagerly that Scent pursue,
Lest Hunting an Old Plot you Start a New.
Leave your provoking Cæsar and his Frowns;
Leave Crossing Birth-Rights and disposing Crowns.
Leave Englands Antient Glory so to wrong,
As naming Princes with irreverent Tongue;
Tho' Forreigners and Enemies they be,
Forget not what is due to Majesty.
Whil'st Brutishly Those Titles we prophane
The World does think we are turn'd Picts again.
Consider well, and then you'l be I hope
So Civilis'd as scarce to Burn the Pope:
But if you will go on, make this Addition,
Burn too the Rump and Westminster-Petition.
Leave Crossing Birth-Rights and disposing Crowns.
Leave Englands Antient Glory so to wrong,
As naming Princes with irreverent Tongue;
Tho' Forreigners and Enemies they be,
Forget not what is due to Majesty.
Whil'st Brutishly Those Titles we prophane
The World does think we are turn'd Picts again.
Consider well, and then you'l be I hope
So Civilis'd as scarce to Burn the Pope:
But if you will go on, make this Addition,
Burn too the Rump and Westminster-Petition.
| Titus Andronicus, or The Rape of Lavinia | |