The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) excluding Seneca and Manilius Introduced and Annotated by F. J. Van Beeck |
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The Prologue. |
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 | The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) |  |
The Prologue.
The seven Wisemen, (that Name Times past apply'd
To them, nor hath Posterity deny'd)
Themselves this Day unto your view present.
Why dost thou blush Gown'd Roman? discontent
That such grave Men should on the Stage be brought!
Is't shame to us! 'twas none to Athens thought:
Whose Councell-Chamber was their Theater.
True; here for Busines sev'rall Places are
Assign'd, the Cirque for Meetings, Courts to take
Enrollments, Forums in which Pleas to make:
But in old Athens, and all Greece, was known
No other Place for Busines, but this One,
Which later Luxury in Rome did raise.
To them, nor hath Posterity deny'd)
Themselves this Day unto your view present.
Why dost thou blush Gown'd Roman? discontent
That such grave Men should on the Stage be brought!
Is't shame to us! 'twas none to Athens thought:
Whose Councell-Chamber was their Theater.
True; here for Busines sev'rall Places are
Assign'd, the Cirque for Meetings, Courts to take
Enrollments, Forums in which Pleas to make:
But in old Athens, and all Greece, was known
No other Place for Busines, but this One,
Which later Luxury in Rome did raise.
The Ædile heretofore did build for Playes
A Scaffold-stage, No work of Carved stone;
So Gallius and Murena did, 'tis known:
But after, when great Men not sparing Cost,
Thought it the highest Glory they could boast,
To build for Playes a Scene more eminent,
The Theater grew to this vast Extent;
Which Pompey, Balbus, Cæsar, did inlarge;
Vying, which should exceed for State and Charge.
A Scaffold-stage, No work of Carved stone;
So Gallius and Murena did, 'tis known:
But after, when great Men not sparing Cost,
Thought it the highest Glory they could boast,
To build for Playes a Scene more eminent,
The Theater grew to this vast Extent;
Which Pompey, Balbus, Cæsar, did inlarge;
Vying, which should exceed for State and Charge.
But to what End all this? We came not here
To tell you who first built the Theater
Or Forum, or who rais'd this Gallery;
But as the Prologue to a Comedy,
In which act Heaven-lov'd Sages; who in Verse
Their own Judicious Sentences reherse,
Known to the Learned, and perhaps to you:
But if your Mem'ries shall not well renue
Things spoke so long since; the Comedian shall
Who better than I knows them, tell you all.
To tell you who first built the Theater
Or Forum, or who rais'd this Gallery;
But as the Prologue to a Comedy,
In which act Heaven-lov'd Sages; who in Verse
Their own Judicious Sentences reherse,
Known to the Learned, and perhaps to you:
But if your Mem'ries shall not well renue
Things spoke so long since; the Comedian shall
Who better than I knows them, tell you all.
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| The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) | |