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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| LVIII. | LVIII PROLOGUE TO THE WARY WIDDOW OR SIR NOISY PARRAT
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 | The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley |  |
50
LVIII
PROLOGUE TO THE WARY WIDDOW OR SIR NOISY PARRAT
Envy and Faction rule this Grumbling Age,
The State they cannot, but they shake the Stage,
This barren trade some woud engross, still hopeing
From our poor Port to banish Interloping:
And like the plodding Lawyers take great care
To elbow blooming merit, from the Bar:
In every Age there were a sort of Men,
As you do now, damn'd all was written then.
Thousands before 'em less provok'd their Pride
Then one poor rivall straining by their side,
Such vermin Critticks we expect to find,
For Nature knows not how to loose a kind
The stinking Poll Cat, nor the Mole that's Blind.
But against old as well as new to rage,
Is the peculiar Phrensy of this Age.
Shackspear must down, and you must praise no more
Soft Desdemona, nor the Jealous Moor:
Shackspear whose fruitfull Genius, happy Wit
Was fram'd and finisht at a lucky hit
The Pride of Nature, and the shame of Schools,
Born to Create, and not to learn from Rules;
Must please no more, his Bastards now deride
Their Fathers Nakedness they ought to hide,
But when on Spurs their Pegasus they force,
Their faded Muse is distanc'd in the Course:
All that is now has been before tis true,
And yet the Art, the Fashion may be new:
Tho' old Materials the large Pallace raise,
The skillfull Architect deserves his praise.
If nothing please, you are not nice, but sick,
'Tis want of stomack, ever to dislike.
On our Past Poets, petty Juries sit,
51
As if this were the doomsday of all wit.
But Beaus and Ladies for your selves be wise
You'l break our Lottery if none draw a Prize[.]
For this one night, do as kind Lovers use[,]
Tye up strict Judgement and let fancy loose.
| The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley | |