University of Virginia Library

Epilogue.

With how much patience have you heard to day
The whining noise of a dull Rhiming Play?
This obstinate in corrigible Rhime,
Though lasht by all the Criticks of the time;
Our dullest writers can no more forbear,
Then your ill faces Vizard Mascks to wear,
Yet you appear'd so grave and so devout,
You neither hist nor stamp to put us out,
A thing our Criticks would no more ha' done,
Then to a dull Phanatick meeting gone;
And there amongst a serious whining Throng,
Stay'd out a holding forth of nine hours long.
As for the Play our Author will not dare,
Like you good men of Trade to praise his Ware:
But unskill'd Customers he may advise;
Then Sirs, since on your verdict it relies,
Resolve to save the Play before you go,
For fear it shuld be good for ought you know.
How 'ere it makes Heroick Virtue shine
In Royal Breasts, where it shews most Divine.
And so does Kings and Monarchy advance,
Nay guarded with the names of Charles and France,
Names that now shake the world, sure you'l not dare
To damn a Play, where these united are;
Let it be ne're so bad, who dares arrest
The meanest slave, that wears the Royal Crest?
Joyn not with small Caballs of wit, that pry,
How they may damn the Play, and no one spye;
Being much ashamed in these tame Wars t'appear,
when their high mettle may be shewn elsewhere.
Now they'r divided let's have aid from you,
Them and their factious party to subdue;
Then e're the Parliament of Wits that sate,
And govern'd here like a proud petty State,
Return from Sea in a triumphant rage,
We'l get a full possession of the Stage;
Mean while our Poet with your Forces joyn'd,
May damn the Rump of Wits that stay behind.