The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
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Epilogue,
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 | The Works of the Late Aaron Hill |  |
Epilogue,
for a Lady, who acted Eudocia, in the Siege of Damascus, represented at the Duke of Bedford's, at Wooburn.
I've heard of maids, who first resolve, too fast,
And then weigh arguments, when facts are past:
Young, tho' my reason is, not so, it stray'd;
But, first, found pleadings, for the part, I play'd.
And then weigh arguments, when facts are past:
Young, tho' my reason is, not so, it stray'd;
But, first, found pleadings, for the part, I play'd.
130
Play'd, said I?—second thought that word retracts;
Fancies and follies play, but passion acts:
Passion! the spring, that all life's wheels employs,
Winds up the working thought—and heightens joys.
Passion! the great man's guide, the poor man's blame;
The soldier's lawrel, and the sigher's flame.
Passion! that leads the grave, impels the gay,
Bids the wise tremble, and the fool betray.
Ev'n at this hour, what's here our pastime made,
Gives the court business, and the kingdom, trade;
When factions quarrel, or when statesmen fall,
Each does but act his part, at passion's call.
Like our's, to night, Lord Passion sets their task;
Their fears, hopes, flatt'ries—all are passion's masque.
The world's wide stage, for this one practice, fill'd,
Sees some act, nobly, others play unskill'd.
Triflers, and smarts, who toy time's dream away,
Sots, beaux, and hounds of party, these but play.
Sons of their country's hope, sublimely, rackt,
For other's rest.—These do not play, but act.
Fancies and follies play, but passion acts:
Passion! the spring, that all life's wheels employs,
Winds up the working thought—and heightens joys.
Passion! the great man's guide, the poor man's blame;
The soldier's lawrel, and the sigher's flame.
Passion! that leads the grave, impels the gay,
Bids the wise tremble, and the fool betray.
Ev'n at this hour, what's here our pastime made,
Gives the court business, and the kingdom, trade;
When factions quarrel, or when statesmen fall,
Each does but act his part, at passion's call.
Like our's, to night, Lord Passion sets their task;
Their fears, hopes, flatt'ries—all are passion's masque.
The world's wide stage, for this one practice, fill'd,
Sees some act, nobly, others play unskill'd.
Triflers, and smarts, who toy time's dream away,
Sots, beaux, and hounds of party, these but play.
Sons of their country's hope, sublimely, rackt,
For other's rest.—These do not play, but act.
131
Who play the poorest parts?—the bought, the vain,
The light believer, and the perjur'd swain;
The dull, dry joker, the coarse, ill-bred bear,
The friends of folly, and the foes of care.
The light believer, and the perjur'd swain;
The dull, dry joker, the coarse, ill-bred bear,
The friends of folly, and the foes of care.
Who act their parts, with praise—the firm, the just,
Who sell no sentiments, and break no trust;
The learn'd, the soft, the social, and the kind,
The faithful lover, and the plain good mind.
Who sell no sentiments, and break no trust;
The learn'd, the soft, the social, and the kind,
The faithful lover, and the plain good mind.
Such the bect actors—form'd for honour's stage!
Who play no farces, and disgrace no age.
But, copying nature, with true taste, like ours,
Please, and are pleas'd, and wing the guiltless hours.
Who play no farces, and disgrace no age.
But, copying nature, with true taste, like ours,
Please, and are pleas'd, and wing the guiltless hours.
| The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | |