University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE, Spoken by the Boy and Girl, by way of Dialogue.

Curtain falls.
Girl.
Hold , hold, is the Play done?

Boy.
Ay, pretty Rogue.

Girl.
What a New PLAY without an Epilogue?

Boy.
Lausaria's dead, Panthea too is slain,
And wou'd you have dead Bodies rise again?
That were indeed a very pretty Fact,
You had enough of that in the First Act.

Girl.
Why, what d'you make of Mr. Betterton?

Boy.
The Curtain's dropt, and he is glad he's gone;
The Poet too, has loaded him so sore,
He scarce has breath enough for one word more.
Since most of the Old Actors then are kill'd,
And the Great Hero has forsook the Field;
What if we did, to cover such a Blot,
Address our selves toth' Audience?

Girl.
That's well thought,
And since we must say something, pray begin,
You to the Ladies, I the Gentlemen.

Boy.
Ladies, if you will to our PLAY be kind,
May every one, their dear last Wishes find;
May Virgins those enjoy they value best,
And Wives their Husbands kindness to the last.
At Bassett may your Good Luck so continue,
And win the Gamester's Heart, as well as Guiney.

Girl.
And Gentlemen, if you will like our PLAY,
May this good Fate attend you ev'ry day.
Let no rude Boreas, from his Boisterous Cell,
Prophane the Curl that on your Wigg sits well.
Nor brush the Sacred Powder from the Cloaths
Of two such Sights of dainty dapl'd Beaux.
May nothing bring you out of humour hither,
Nor Hackney-Coach be wanting in wet weather.

Boy.
Ladies, w'are almost sure of your good Natures,
'Twere Cruel to deny such Little Creatures.

Girl.
And if the Men mislike, or make a puther,

Boy.
Evads we'll fit 'em for't one way or other.
'Tis a wise Child that knows its Father, Sirs
For ought we know, we may be some of yours,
Wee'll come and lay our selves before your Doors.