University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE Spoken to Anna Bullen, written by a Person of Quality.

To all Impartial Judges in the Pit,
And ev'ry beauteous Patroness of Wit;
I'm sent to plead the Poets Cause, and say,
There's not one Slander in his modest Play:
He brings before your Eyes a modern Story,
Yet meddles not with either Whig, or Tory.
Was't not enough, vain Men of either side,
Two Roses once the Nation did divide?
But must it be in danger now agen,
Betwixt our Scarlet, and Green-Ribbon Men?
Who made this diff'rence, were not Englands Friends;
Be not their Tools to serve their Plotting Ends.
Damn the State-Fop, who here his Zeal discovers,
And o're the Stage, like our ill Genius, hovers:
Give us a Pit of Drunkards, and of Lovers;
Good Sanguine Men, who ruind no State Affair,
But bid a base World of it self take Care.
We hope there lives not so abhorr'd a Thing,
But loves his Country, and wou'd serve his King.
But in your Parties, why should we engage,
Or meddle with the Plots of a mad Age?
We lose enough by those upon the Stage.
Welcome Mask-Teazer, Peevish Gamster, Huffer:
All Fools, but Politicians, we can suffer;
A Gods name, let each keep to his Vocation;
Our Trade is to mend You, and not the Nation:
Besides, our Author has this further End,
'Tis not enough if but One Side's his Friend;
He needs you All, his weakness to defend:
And to oblige you to't, hopes he has shown
No Country has Men braver than your own,
His Hero's all to England are confin'd;
To your own Fathers (sure) you will be kind.
He brings no Forreigners to move your Pity,
But sends them to a Jury of the City.