 | Poems of Freneau |  |
Lines on the ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW THEATRE
and the management of the house being placed in the hands of Mr. Cooper.—
Quid Sophocles, et Thespis, et Aeschylus utile ferrent
Tentavit quoque, rem si digne vertere posset.—
Hor.
Tentavit quoque, rem si digne vertere posset.—
Hor.
This noble pile, superbly great
In Athens, might have graced her state,
And rivals all that London claims
From brilliant scenes, and boasted names.
In Athens, might have graced her state,
And rivals all that London claims
From brilliant scenes, and boasted names.
Whate'er the tragic muse affords
Will here be told in glowing words:
From magic scenes to charm the eyes
All nature's pictures will arise.
Will here be told in glowing words:
From magic scenes to charm the eyes
All nature's pictures will arise.
And she, who charms the sprightly throng,
The goddess of the comic song
The muse of laughter, and of jest
Will bring amusement with the rest.
The goddess of the comic song
The muse of laughter, and of jest
Will bring amusement with the rest.
And Cooper, here, who leads the train
Of sorrow, pleasure, pity, pain,
A Roscius, of superior powers,
The modern Garrick now is ours.
Of sorrow, pleasure, pity, pain,
A Roscius, of superior powers,
The modern Garrick now is ours.
He will display on nature's stage
(Or nature copied from her page)
The force of all that Shakespeare writ,
All Otway's grief and Congreve's wit.
(Or nature copied from her page)
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All Otway's grief and Congreve's wit.
With him a chosen band agree
To make the stage what it should be,
The serious moral to impart,
To cheer the mind and mend the heart.
To make the stage what it should be,
The serious moral to impart,
To cheer the mind and mend the heart.
The manners of the age t'improve,
To enforce the power of virtuous love,
Chaste morals in the soul t'implant
Which most admire, and many want.
To enforce the power of virtuous love,
Chaste morals in the soul t'implant
Which most admire, and many want.
On such a plan, theatric shows
Do honor to the thespian muse,
Impart a polish to the mind;
Instruct and civilize mankind.
Do honor to the thespian muse,
Impart a polish to the mind;
Instruct and civilize mankind.
Ye sages who in morals deal,
But all the pleasing side conceal,
From hence confess that morals may
As surely take the brilliant way.
But all the pleasing side conceal,
From hence confess that morals may
As surely take the brilliant way.
With such an object in our view
Let Thespis all her art pursue,
When autumn brings the lengthening nights
And reason to her feast invites.—
Let Thespis all her art pursue,
When autumn brings the lengthening nights
And reason to her feast invites.—
1815
| Poems of Freneau | |