University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE, Spoken by Mrs. Oldfield, who acted Ethelinda.

The Business of the Day being now gone thro'
I quit the Saint, and am like one of you;
As well to look to, tho' not quite so good;
I bate in Spirit, but keep my Flesh and Blood.
The Moral of this Play being rightly scann'd,
Is, He that leaues his nown dear Wife is damn'd.
I leaue to you to make the Application:
The Doctrine, tho' a little out of Fashion,
May be of use in this same sinful Nation.
What think you of the Matter? Which of you
Would, for his Spouse, like my true Turtle do?
When Wealth and Beauty both at once importune,
Who would not leaue his Wife, to make his Fortune?
To some, I know, it may appear but odly,
That this Place, of all others, should turn godly:
But what of that? Since some good Souls there are,
Would gladly be instructed any where;
Nor should you scorn the Weakness of the Teacher,
The Wisest Man is not the ablest Preacher.
Ev'n we, poor Women, haue sometimes the Pow'r,
Read as you are, and rich in Learning's Store,
To teach, you Men, what you ne'er knew before.
To no Enthusiastick Rage we swell,
Nor foam, nor act Tom Tumbler out of Zeal.
But tho' we don't pretend to Inspiration,
Yet, like the Prophets, of a Neighbour Nation,
Our Teaching chiefly lyes in Agitation.
Perhaps, indeed, such are your wandring Brains,
Our Author might haue spar'd his Tragick Pains:
By that you'ue supp'd, and are set in to Drinking,
Some sweeter Matters will employ your Thinking;
With Nymphs Divine, writ on each Glass before ye,
You'll be but little better for our Story.
But since the parting Hour, tho' late, will come,
And all of you, at least as I presume,
May find some kind, instructive She at home,
Then Curtain Lectures will, I hope, be read,
Those Morals then, which from your Thoughts were fled,
Shall be put home to you, and taught a-bed.