The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley Collected and Edited from the Old Editions: With a preface on the text, explanatory and textual notes, an appendix containing works of doubtful authenticity, and a bibliography: By V. de Sola Pinto |
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 | The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley |  |
LV
PROLOGUE
Since glorious Dryden has withdrawn his Light,
Some glimmering Stars relieve our gloomy Night;
Poets of different Magnitudes advance,
In humble Confidence of Song and Dance;
Ballon and Tumblers please, tho' Poets fail;
At a strong Back She-Criticks never rail.
When a good Place is void, we all pretend,
Some on their Merit, some their Purse [dep]end:
Our Friend can boast of neither, yet his Play
He hopes at least may live out his third Day;
Adorn him with one Sprig, like Christmas-Brawn,
His farther Plea to Bays shall be withdrawn.
In Courts of Law, under Delays we groan,
But here our Poets are too sone undone;
Plays are half seen, half heard, less understood,
When the dead Warrant issues from the Crowd;
Some are so void of Wit they'll relish none:
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Tho' outwardly they seem to carry it fair,
The Wits are alwayes in a state of War.
This Play's so chast, so void of Pagan Wit,
It might have been by a Reformer writ;
Fops, Beauxs and Parsons, shall this Night be safe,
We bring the other Sex to make you laugh.
| The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley | |