The works of John Dryden Illustrated with notes, historical, critical, and explanatory, and a life of the author, by Sir Walter Scott |
 | IX. |
 | X. |
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PROLOGUE TO ARVIRAGUS AND PHILICIA.
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| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV, XV. |
 | The works of John Dryden |  |
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PROLOGUE TO ARVIRAGUS AND PHILICIA.
BY LODOWICK CARLELL, ESQ.
SPOKEN BY MR. HART.
With sickly actors, and an old house too,We're matched with glorious theatres, and new;
And with our alehouse scenes, and clothes bare worn,
Can neither raise old plays, nor new adorn.
If all these ills could not undo us quite,
A brisk French troop is grown your dear delight;
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To laugh and break your buttons at their play;
Or see some serious piece, which, we presume,
Is fallen from some incomparable plume;
“And therefore, Messieurs, if you'll do us grace,
Send lacqueys early to preserve your place.”
We dare not on your privilege intrench,
Or ask you, why you like them?—they are French.
Therefore, some go with courtesy exceeding,
Neither to hear nor see, but show their breeding;
Each lady striving to outlaugh the rest,
To make it seem they understood the jest.
Their countrymen come in, and nothing pay,
To teach us English where to clap the play:
Civil, egad! our hospitable land
Bears all the charge for them to understand:
Meantime we languish, and neglected lie,
Like wives, while you keep better company;
And wish for your own sakes, without a satire,
You 'd less good breeding, or had more good nature.
| The works of John Dryden | |