 | Original poems on several subjects |  |
233
PROLOGUE,
Spoken at the Representation of the Recruiting-Officer, by the young Gentlemen of Dungannon in Ireland; the profits of which were appropriated to relieve the necessities of the poor, during the almost universal scarcity of the year 1757.
This night, untutor'd for the buskin'd stage,
Alike (alas) regarding skill and age,
A comic play we offer to your view,
Humbly submitting our attempts to you.
If they your favour and applause obtain,
Your grateful debtors largely we remain;
If not, the good intention will ensure
Success, what our deserts can ne'er procure.
The gen'rous bosom, and the feeling heart,
Will plead excuse for each defective part.
Alike (alas) regarding skill and age,
A comic play we offer to your view,
Humbly submitting our attempts to you.
If they your favour and applause obtain,
Your grateful debtors largely we remain;
If not, the good intention will ensure
Success, what our deserts can ne'er procure.
The gen'rous bosom, and the feeling heart,
Will plead excuse for each defective part.
See yonder wretches (let their cries prevail)
The starving mother with her children pale!
Misfortune pictur'd in each ghastly look!
Almost by gracious Heav'n itself forsook!
In each sunk feature misery is trac'd,
Humanity's own image near defac'd.
Hard penury chills ev'ry torpid heart,
And nought but anguish their swoln sighs impart.
Clouds of despondence hang on each sad brow,
And big despair half forms the horrid vow.
Distressful times!—say, can the Muse behold
The triumphs joint of hunger and of cold,
And yet suppress the sympathetic sigh,
Yet stop the tear that trickles from the eye;
Those genuine tributes on soft Pity's side,
When others more substantial are deny'd?
With Plenty's loaded board to feast the eye,
Us'd only want and wretchedness to spy;
On each wan cheek to paint Health's roseate bloom,
And bid each look its wonted smile assume;
Life's last remains of vigour to preserve,
Strengthen the limb, and brace anew the nerve;
Thus ev'ry breast with gratitude to fire,
And with delight the melting heart inspire;
Can true Ambition e'er the mind dispose
To worthier deeds, to nobler acts than those?
Such claim the highest honours as their due,
And such not vainly we expect from You.
The starving mother with her children pale!
Misfortune pictur'd in each ghastly look!
Almost by gracious Heav'n itself forsook!
234
Humanity's own image near defac'd.
Hard penury chills ev'ry torpid heart,
And nought but anguish their swoln sighs impart.
Clouds of despondence hang on each sad brow,
And big despair half forms the horrid vow.
Distressful times!—say, can the Muse behold
The triumphs joint of hunger and of cold,
And yet suppress the sympathetic sigh,
Yet stop the tear that trickles from the eye;
Those genuine tributes on soft Pity's side,
When others more substantial are deny'd?
With Plenty's loaded board to feast the eye,
Us'd only want and wretchedness to spy;
On each wan cheek to paint Health's roseate bloom,
And bid each look its wonted smile assume;
Life's last remains of vigour to preserve,
Strengthen the limb, and brace anew the nerve;
Thus ev'ry breast with gratitude to fire,
And with delight the melting heart inspire;
Can true Ambition e'er the mind dispose
To worthier deeds, to nobler acts than those?
Such claim the highest honours as their due,
And such not vainly we expect from You.
| Original poems on several subjects | |