 | Titus Andronicus, or The Rape of Lavinia |  |
A PROLOGUE, Spoken before the Long Vacation.
Now
comes Vacation, that dead time of th'Year,
When nothing but New Plays will bring you here;
Now for the Countrey all you little Citts,
Prepare to gallop down on Smithfield Titts,
Having run out, you go to make up Cash,
To Parents dear—
Equip'd with the Heel-Spur and Spatter-dash.
But you the Graver sort of City-Blades,
Profit does keep in town to mind your Trades,
Whil'st in Crape-Mantoes deckt, and trolly-Primers
Your Wives at Epsom slily play the Siniurs.
You go on Saturdays to see your Honeys,
Are Waggish with 'em, leave 'em Spending-Moneys,
But come on Mundays up to Town like Tonys.
England is blest the Wells are so in fashion,
There, Heirs are got for one third pare of th' Nation.
When nothing but New Plays will bring you here;
Now for the Countrey all you little Citts,
Prepare to gallop down on Smithfield Titts,
Having run out, you go to make up Cash,
To Parents dear—
Equip'd with the Heel-Spur and Spatter-dash.
But you the Graver sort of City-Blades,
Profit does keep in town to mind your Trades,
Whil'st in Crape-Mantoes deckt, and trolly-Primers
Your Wives at Epsom slily play the Siniurs.
Are Waggish with 'em, leave 'em Spending-Moneys,
But come on Mundays up to Town like Tonys.
England is blest the Wells are so in fashion,
There, Heirs are got for one third pare of th' Nation.
You Town-Gallants who wallow in Debauches,
New Liveries prepare and fine Gilt Coaches.
And all in Order too to leave the Town,
Each to his Mansion-House does rattle down;
Which many hundred years in th' Name has been,
Where Miss appears as Glorious as a Queen.
The Country at you does but Laugh and Jeer,
Tho' Tenants flatter you for their good Cheer:
But Heark ye, who'l keep House there the next Year?
Scriv'ners and Bankers will have restitution,
E're that time, comes Judgment and Execution.
Punk trusts in Settlement the Misses Joynter,
But by some quirk in Law they disappoint her.
The Country Lawyers too Jog down apace
Each with his NOVERINT UNIVERSI Face;
Rides Jabbering along some damn'd Law-Case.
Young Ladies too attend their Parents down,
Quit their Intrigues and sigh to leave the Town
How innocently there you sit and Chat,
And Walk the Fields in Bongrace or Straw-Hat,
Eat Syllabubs, see Reapers mow, such Sport
Did please you well before you saw the Court.
But fare ye well.—
When you are gone, we'll shut the Play-house door,
The Bully-Gamster, Bawd and Unkept Whore,
Who here remain, will be so very poor,
They'l Venter their Half-Crowns but the first day,
And then—To pick up Cullys, not to see the Play.
All will be Sharpers here, what shall we do,
To Live? Faith let us be oblig'd by you.
Come all and pay your Foyes before you go,
Else we must troop to Scotland after Joh—
We by the last advice for Certain hear
That Haynes does head the Rebell-Players there.
New Liveries prepare and fine Gilt Coaches.
And all in Order too to leave the Town,
Each to his Mansion-House does rattle down;
Which many hundred years in th' Name has been,
Where Miss appears as Glorious as a Queen.
The Country at you does but Laugh and Jeer,
Tho' Tenants flatter you for their good Cheer:
But Heark ye, who'l keep House there the next Year?
Scriv'ners and Bankers will have restitution,
E're that time, comes Judgment and Execution.
Punk trusts in Settlement the Misses Joynter,
But by some quirk in Law they disappoint her.
The Country Lawyers too Jog down apace
Each with his NOVERINT UNIVERSI Face;
Rides Jabbering along some damn'd Law-Case.
Young Ladies too attend their Parents down,
Quit their Intrigues and sigh to leave the Town
How innocently there you sit and Chat,
And Walk the Fields in Bongrace or Straw-Hat,
Eat Syllabubs, see Reapers mow, such Sport
Did please you well before you saw the Court.
But fare ye well.—
When you are gone, we'll shut the Play-house door,
The Bully-Gamster, Bawd and Unkept Whore,
Who here remain, will be so very poor,
They'l Venter their Half-Crowns but the first day,
And then—To pick up Cullys, not to see the Play.
All will be Sharpers here, what shall we do,
To Live? Faith let us be oblig'd by you.
Come all and pay your Foyes before you go,
Else we must troop to Scotland after Joh—
We by the last advice for Certain hear
That Haynes does head the Rebell-Players there.
| Titus Andronicus, or The Rape of Lavinia | |