Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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A PROLOGUE,
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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A PROLOGUE,
Spoke at the Opening of the Theatre at York, after it was elegantly enlarged.
Once on a time his earthly rounds patrolling,
(Your heathen gods were always fond of strolling)
Jove rambled near the cot of kind Philemon,
When night, attended by a tempest, came on;
And as the rain fell pattering, helter skelter,
The deity implor'd the hind for shelter.
(Your heathen gods were always fond of strolling)
Jove rambled near the cot of kind Philemon,
When night, attended by a tempest, came on;
And as the rain fell pattering, helter skelter,
The deity implor'd the hind for shelter.
Philemon plac'd his godship close beside him,
While goody Baucis made the fire that dry'd him;
With more benevolence than one that's richer,
He spread the board, he fill'd the friendly pitcher;
And, fond to give his guest a meal of pleasure,
Sung a rough song, in his rude country measure.
While goody Baucis made the fire that dry'd him;
With more benevolence than one that's richer,
He spread the board, he fill'd the friendly pitcher;
And, fond to give his guest a meal of pleasure,
Sung a rough song, in his rude country measure.
Jove was so pleas'd with these good-natur'd sallies,
Philemon's cot he conjur'd to a palace.
Philemon's cot he conjur'd to a palace.
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Taste, like great Jupiter, came here to try us,
(Oft from the boxes we perceiv'd her spy us)
Whether she lik'd us and our warm endeavours,
Whether she found that we deserv'd her favours,
I know not: But 'tis certain she commanded
Our humble theatre should be expanded.
(Oft from the boxes we perceiv'd her spy us)
Whether she lik'd us and our warm endeavours,
Whether she found that we deserv'd her favours,
I know not: But 'tis certain she commanded
Our humble theatre should be expanded.
The orders she pronounc'd were scarcely ended,
But, like Philemon's house, the stage extended:
And thus the friendly goddess bids me greet ye;
'Tis in that circle [pointing to the boxes]
she designs to meet ye:
Pedants would fix her residence with heathens,
But she prefers old York to Rome or Athens.
But, like Philemon's house, the stage extended:
And thus the friendly goddess bids me greet ye;
'Tis in that circle [pointing to the boxes]
she designs to meet ye:
Pedants would fix her residence with heathens,
But she prefers old York to Rome or Athens.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |