The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
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Prologue,
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 | The Works of the Late Aaron Hill |  |
Prologue,
for Mr. William Giffard, on his Benefit Night.
Young, and but forming distant hopes, to please,What I have done?—that call'd for smiles, like these;
'Tis your own worth—not mine—to night, is shown!
That truth my grateful heart delights to own.
Shall I say more—Oh! how might words surprize,
Could they but borrow power—from those bright Eyes!
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Yet still—tho' reason claims respect's full weight,
Tho' conscious rev'rence rash presumption awes,
What dumb tongue pleads not, in a Father's cause?
Strong are the tides, he stems!—How good, how kind,
'Twould be!—to swell his sails, with pity's wind!
Shoal'd, on the flats of your neglect, we lie,
Half buoy'd—half grounded—you might float us—try.
Help us to shun cold coasts of dry despair,
And take th' improving future to your care.
Then, shall new prospects raise our cherish'd aim,
'Till our stage lightens, and our actors flame.
Nor let this pride provoke our rival's gall,
The muses contests should be peaceful, all.
By emulation, not by envy, mov'd,
Slow time might teach us, all, to grow belov'd.
Teach comic shame, to pierce the mended mind,
And laugh away low tastes, that cramp mankind.
Might teach the stage's foes—plain truth reigns here,
And rich corruption loves a loftier sphere.
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How hearts, that feel, bid hearts, that listen, ake.
How action paints the soul, upon the eye,
And the wing'd muscles, into meanings fly.
Slow time can teach us this.—Slow time can do
Still more:—Slow time can add new friends—like you.
'Till, to reward our will's industrious pain,
No more thin benches make our labours vain;
But long-wish'd favour lifting modest claim,
You lend us ear, tho' you refuse us fame.
| The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | |