University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE to the OPERA.

Mr. Dogget, dress'd like Collin, rises from under the Stage as frighted.
Oh! —oh!—
[Groans.
From Crouds of Rogues, that did, like me, rebel;
Good People, I am just now scap'd from Hell,
By lucky Fortune, and Apollo's Grace,
(I shall love Wit the better all my Days)
Repriev'd from Pluto's smoky Dungeon-hole;
A Convert, to save yours and my own Soul.
Ah, Criticks! leave off then, to Damn our Rhimes,
Lest you are Damn'd yourselves these devilish Times;
For, had you seen what I have seen below,
Such Reformation would amongst you grow,
You'd hear the Parson oftner than you do;
You'd have a wiser Rellish of what ill is,
And damn no more your poor Souls, for your Phillis,
Your Cloris, Daphne, or your Amarillis;
You'd leave the wanton Dabling in the Palm,
No more Chant Bawdy Songs, but Howl a Psalm:
Little did I think, in that Station, new,
To find so much Acquaintance 'mongst that Crew;
But there they were! A sad Tale, but 'tis true;
The Quoif, the Cassack, Red-coat, and the Blew,
The Cit, the Lawyer, and the Soldier bold,
And more damn'd Vintners than the place would hold;
Yet, for all these, the Virtuoso's there,
If I observ'd right, were Hell's choicest Ware,
Much more regarded than the duller Fry,
The Devil of late loves learned Company.
Time was, a House-breaker was a fine Guest;
But now, he's for a Wit, that breaks a Jest:
And has for each Degree peculiar Rooms,
Fit Offices for every one that comes;
For th'Lord, is the large Dining-room assign'd;
The Bed-chamber, for th'Lady that is kind;
The low Mechanick is a Kitchen-dweller;
For Pimps, the Hall; for Poets, is the Celler;
For Plotters, a huge Slaughter-house they frame,
Where one expected was, of noted Fume;
Fer, fer,-fer, fer,-I'm sure you know his Name:
I ask'd, If he, e'ex yet, had seen his Room?
'Twas answer'd, No: But he was sure to come.
Shock'd at that News, I ran away, for fear;
And, finding Friends, made shift to get up here,
An humble Penitent now,—as true and loyal
As are the glittering Sun-beams to the Dial.
Take good Example then, and mend your Lives;
Beat all your Whores, good Sirs, and Buss your Wives;
On Wit no more a barbrous Censure pass,
But let Good-nature shew that you have Grace;
So you may have the Peace you wish the Land,
And Tallies and New Money answer your Demand.