Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
 |
 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
185
A PROLOGUE,
Spoke in the Character of a Sailor, on opening the New Theatre at North-Shields.
[Without.
Hollo! my masters, where d'ye mean to stow us?
We're come to see what pastime ye can shew us;
Sal, step aloft—you shan't be long without me,
I'll walk their quarter deck and look about me.
[Enters.
We're come to see what pastime ye can shew us;
Sal, step aloft—you shan't be long without me,
I'll walk their quarter deck and look about me.
Tom and Dick Topsail are above—I hear 'em,
Tell 'em to keep a birth, and Sal—sit near 'em:
Sal's a smart lass—I'd hold a but of stingo
In three weeks' time she'd learn the playhouse lingo:
She loves your plays, she understands their meaning,
She calls 'em—Moral Rules made entertaining:
Your Shakespeare books, she knows 'em to a tittle;
And I, myself (at sea) have read—a little.
Tell 'em to keep a birth, and Sal—sit near 'em:
Sal's a smart lass—I'd hold a but of stingo
In three weeks' time she'd learn the playhouse lingo:
186
She calls 'em—Moral Rules made entertaining:
Your Shakespeare books, she knows 'em to a tittle;
And I, myself (at sea) have read—a little.
At London, Sirs, when Sal and I were courting,
I tow'd her ev'ry night a playhouse sporting:
Mass! I could like 'em and their whole 'Paratus,
But for their fidlers and their damn'd Sonatas;
Give me the merry sons of guts and rosin,
That play—God save the King, and Nancy Dawson.
[Looking about.
I tow'd her ev'ry night a playhouse sporting:
Mass! I could like 'em and their whole 'Paratus,
But for their fidlers and their damn'd Sonatas;
Give me the merry sons of guts and rosin,
That play—God save the King, and Nancy Dawson.
Well—tho' the frigate's not so much bedoyzen'd,
'Tis snug enough!—'Tis clever for the size on't:
And they can treat with all that's worth regarding
On board the Drury-lane or Common-Garden.
[Bell rings.
'Tis snug enough!—'Tis clever for the size on't:
And they can treat with all that's worth regarding
On board the Drury-lane or Common-Garden.
Avast!—A signal for the launch, I fancy:
What say you Sam, and Dick, and Doll, and Nancy,
Since they have trimm'd the pleasure-barge so tightly,
Shan't you, and I, and Sal, come see them nightly!
The jolly crew will do their best endeavours,
They'll grudge no labour to deserve your favours.
A luckier fate they swear can ne'er behap 'em
Than to behold you pleas'd, and hear you—clap 'em.
What say you Sam, and Dick, and Doll, and Nancy,
187
Shan't you, and I, and Sal, come see them nightly!
The jolly crew will do their best endeavours,
They'll grudge no labour to deserve your favours.
A luckier fate they swear can ne'er behap 'em
Than to behold you pleas'd, and hear you—clap 'em.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |