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88
PROLOGUE TO MILTON'S COMUS,
PERFORMED BY SOME YOUNG GENTLEMEN, BEFORE THEIR PARENTS AND RELATIONS.
Not to outvy the heroes of the stage,
Or rise the little Garricks of the age,
Are our fond hopes, is our attempt design'd,
To narrower, but to nobler views confin'd.
To move with dignity, to speak with ease,
In life alike to profit and to please,
Warms our young breasts, our every bosom fires,
And prompts to toil, which future good inspires.
And can we then, such motives in our view,
Doubt or of candour, or regard from you?
Or rise the little Garricks of the age,
Are our fond hopes, is our attempt design'd,
To narrower, but to nobler views confin'd.
To move with dignity, to speak with ease,
In life alike to profit and to please,
Warms our young breasts, our every bosom fires,
And prompts to toil, which future good inspires.
And can we then, such motives in our view,
Doubt or of candour, or regard from you?
While virtue's generous pleadings we rehearse,
Fram'd by the blind bard in immortal verse,
From youth unskill'd arise whatever fears,
We know that parents have indulgent ears.
On these we trust our weakness to befriend,
And pardon faults we much desire to mend.
O that in just return for all your love,
Might our improvements with our years improve;
And your fond bosoms glow with generous joy,
While each with rapture hears his darling boy,
Or in Britannia's much lov'd cause harangue,
While on his lips the list'ning senates hang;
Or at the bar, with eloquence divine,
The Murrays of our age conspicuous shine;
Or with persuasion sweet and reason strong,
Confirm the pious and convince the wrong;
And bring the erring from the ways they trod
Destructive, home to happiness and God.
Fram'd by the blind bard in immortal verse,
From youth unskill'd arise whatever fears,
We know that parents have indulgent ears.
On these we trust our weakness to befriend,
And pardon faults we much desire to mend.
O that in just return for all your love,
Might our improvements with our years improve;
And your fond bosoms glow with generous joy,
While each with rapture hears his darling boy,
Or in Britannia's much lov'd cause harangue,
While on his lips the list'ning senates hang;
Or at the bar, with eloquence divine,
The Murrays of our age conspicuous shine;
Or with persuasion sweet and reason strong,
Confirm the pious and convince the wrong;
89
Destructive, home to happiness and God.
Thou blest religion, whatsoe'er's decreed,
What path of life soe'er we chance to tread;
Descend, bright guardian, and with gentle sway
Rule our whole lives, and guide our every way.
Thou too, fair virtue, on our steps attend,
Compassion humanize, and truth befriend.
From youth to manhood may we nobly rise,
Each day more virtuous, and each day more wise;
Glow more and more with generous warmth to prove
Worthy at once of your's, our God's, and country's love!
What path of life soe'er we chance to tread;
Descend, bright guardian, and with gentle sway
Rule our whole lives, and guide our every way.
Thou too, fair virtue, on our steps attend,
Compassion humanize, and truth befriend.
From youth to manhood may we nobly rise,
Each day more virtuous, and each day more wise;
Glow more and more with generous warmth to prove
Worthy at once of your's, our God's, and country's love!
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