University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE Spoken by Mr Lacy, who is suppos'd to enter as intending to speak the Epilogue for the Tragedy.

By your leave Gentleme—How! what do I see!
How! all alive! Then there's no use for me.
'Troth, I rejoyce you are reviv'd agen;
And so farewel, good living Gentlemen.

1.
Nay Mr Lacy.

La.
What wou'd you have with me?
I can't speak Epilogues ex tempore:
The Poet has done craftily to day;
H'as spoild my Epilogue, perhaps his Play;
H'as cur'd 'um all; a very pretty prank!
And from a Poet turn'd a Mountebank.
Well,—If nothing pleases but Variety,
I'le turn Rageu into a Tragedy.
When Lacy, like a whining Lover, dies,
Though you hate Tragedies 'twill wet your eyes.
Letters of Marque are granted every where,
And one Prize-Office is kept always here:
All that are Phlegmatick are Enemies,
Which makes Poets and Dutchmen certain Prize.
All that I wish is that the Dutch may fight
With as ill fortune as we Poets write.
I thought to have spoke somthing of the Play;
But you'l think what you please, what'ere I say.