Poems on Several Occasions By J. Robertson |
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PROLOGUE
Spoken by Mr. W---n on opening the Theatre
under the Sanction of his Majesty's Patent.
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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PROLOGUE Spoken by Mr. W---n on opening the Theatre under the Sanction of his Majesty's Patent.
Too long the Muse an Alien had been deem'd;
By Stealth alone on York her influence beam'd;
Her wings curtail'd—by Law forbad to roam,
And proud Augusta doom'd her partial Home;
Scorning restraint, yet driven to submit,
And forc'd, alas! to smuggle Sense and Wit;
But still the Muse was lawless and disguis'd,
Hated by Fools—or worse—by Fools despis'd;—
York's ancient Genius griev'd the sight to view,
His Pride, his Honor rous'd, like lightning flew—
Indignant flew—and kneeling at the Throne,
To Britain's Sov'reign made his sorrows known:—
Ebor's complaint our Sov'reign soon redrest;—
Our Sovereign reigns—to make his Subjects blest:
The Muse exulting clapp'd her magic wings,
And, after bending to the best of Kings,
Swell'd her prophetic raptures, whilst around
Ebor's exulting Vales re-echoed the glad sound.
By Stealth alone on York her influence beam'd;
Her wings curtail'd—by Law forbad to roam,
And proud Augusta doom'd her partial Home;
Scorning restraint, yet driven to submit,
And forc'd, alas! to smuggle Sense and Wit;
But still the Muse was lawless and disguis'd,
Hated by Fools—or worse—by Fools despis'd;—
York's ancient Genius griev'd the sight to view,
His Pride, his Honor rous'd, like lightning flew—
Indignant flew—and kneeling at the Throne,
To Britain's Sov'reign made his sorrows known:—
Ebor's complaint our Sov'reign soon redrest;—
Our Sovereign reigns—to make his Subjects blest:
The Muse exulting clapp'd her magic wings,
And, after bending to the best of Kings,
Swell'd her prophetic raptures, whilst around
Ebor's exulting Vales re-echoed the glad sound.
“On these bright plains belov'd by ev'ry Muse,
“Which Phœbus daily blesses as he views,
“The Sister Muses, patroniz'd by Laws,
“Shall pour their Magic in fair Virtue's cause;
“Their Mirror and their Lash aloft shall rear,
“While Vice and Folly cringe with coward fear;
“And York, as second in Britannia's Isle,
“Shall with Augusta share their genial smile.
“Which Phœbus daily blesses as he views,
“The Sister Muses, patroniz'd by Laws,
“Shall pour their Magic in fair Virtue's cause;
“Their Mirror and their Lash aloft shall rear,
“While Vice and Folly cringe with coward fear;
“And York, as second in Britannia's Isle,
“Shall with Augusta share their genial smile.
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“Nor shall the grateful Muse forget what's due,
“To King, to Laws, to Country, and—to You.
“Henceforth each circling year, on this glad day,
“Cithæron's Groves shall swell the festive lay,
“And ev'ry Flow'r and Sweet Parnassus yields,
“The Muse will plant in Ebor's smiling fields,
“Garlands of which, compos'd from Taste's rich bed,
“She'll weave in wreaths to grace each Patron's head.”
“To King, to Laws, to Country, and—to You.
“Henceforth each circling year, on this glad day,
“Cithæron's Groves shall swell the festive lay,
“And ev'ry Flow'r and Sweet Parnassus yields,
“The Muse will plant in Ebor's smiling fields,
“Garlands of which, compos'd from Taste's rich bed,
“She'll weave in wreaths to grace each Patron's head.”
Long have I wish'd for, what with joy I see,
The Thespian Muse once more at liberty:
My little All I ventur'd in her cause,
And the reward I wish—is—your Applause;
On your known Candor chearful I depend,
And hope a Sanction from each gen'rous Friend.
The Thespian Muse once more at liberty:
My little All I ventur'd in her cause,
And the reward I wish—is—your Applause;
On your known Candor chearful I depend,
And hope a Sanction from each gen'rous Friend.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |