 | The Play-House to be Let |  |
EPILOGUE.
Since
you at Land no more can hurry'd be,
The shifted Scene should turn us now to Sea?
Where our small Bark does strike, where we d'spy
You're the Admiral, with your Main-Top high.
Our Pilot-Poet should his Laurel vayl,
(Which is his Flag) as low as we our Sayl.
The shifted Scene should turn us now to Sea?
Where our small Bark does strike, where we d'spy
You're the Admiral, with your Main-Top high.
Our Pilot-Poet should his Laurel vayl,
(Which is his Flag) as low as we our Sayl.
To shew you things yet newer, we did mean
To represent a Mermaid in that Scene;
Not proudly combing, with a Comb of Goul,
Her long wet hair, till the vain wretch takes cold,
(For so she's painted by each bungling Rogue)
But in her hand an humble Epilogue;
Which thee by signs (for Mermayds seldom speak)
Should recommend to Criticks on the Deck:
And by a court'sie, should a Plaudit beg;—
Note, female fishes, never make a leg.
But that's an observation by the by.
And now, methinks, I hear some ask me why
That observation's made? Our Author says
'Tis just like those which Criticks make at Plays.
He said he wisht for our sakes, not his own,
(Yet that's a charity but rarely known)
Such Audiences as learning doe forbear;
I mean, who never strive to shew it here.
To represent a Mermaid in that Scene;
Not proudly combing, with a Comb of Goul,
Her long wet hair, till the vain wretch takes cold,
(For so she's painted by each bungling Rogue)
But in her hand an humble Epilogue;
Which thee by signs (for Mermayds seldom speak)
Should recommend to Criticks on the Deck:
And by a court'sie, should a Plaudit beg;—
Note, female fishes, never make a leg.
But that's an observation by the by.
And now, methinks, I hear some ask me why
That observation's made? Our Author says
'Tis just like those which Criticks make at Plays.
He said he wisht for our sakes, not his own,
(Yet that's a charity but rarely known)
Such Audiences as learning doe forbear;
I mean, who never strive to shew it here.
This Landtschap of the Sea (but by the way)
That's an expression which might hurt our Play,
If the severer Criticks were in Town;
This Prospect of the Sea, cannot be shown:
Therefore be pleas'd to think, that you are all
Behind the Row, which men stile Portugal.
The title at our dores was that which drew
You hither by the charm of being new.
You'l spoil the jest, unless the Play succeed;
For then we may, e'en let our House indeed.
That's an expression which might hurt our Play,
If the severer Criticks were in Town;
This Prospect of the Sea, cannot be shown:
Therefore be pleas'd to think, that you are all
Behind the Row, which men stile Portugal.
The title at our dores was that which drew
You hither by the charm of being new.
You'l spoil the jest, unless the Play succeed;
For then we may, e'en let our House indeed.
FINIS.
| The Play-House to be Let | |