 | The Vestal-Virgin |  |
180
PROLOGUE.
Prologues
, like Forlorn-hopes, first face the Stage,
Before the main Battalions do engage:
Just so our Poet, doubtful of the day,
Ventures his Prologue first, and next his Play.
But stay, I fancy that I hear one call;
I'le step but to the door, and tell you all.
Troth 'tis the Poets voice, now danger's near;
He sends me back as his Commissioner,
To treat that he might fairly march away,
If you wou'd be content to have no Play.
He offers fair: Shou'd it prove very bad,
As like enough it will, you'd wish you had:
He has been wounded, proofs there need no more
Than what you know, that he has writ before;
For sure none ever scap'd that ever writ;
There's no being shot-free in the Wars of Wit:
Poets by dangers like old Souldiers taught,
Grow wise, and shun the fame which once they sought.
Before the main Battalions do engage:
Just so our Poet, doubtful of the day,
Ventures his Prologue first, and next his Play.
But stay, I fancy that I hear one call;
I'le step but to the door, and tell you all.
Troth 'tis the Poets voice, now danger's near;
He sends me back as his Commissioner,
To treat that he might fairly march away,
If you wou'd be content to have no Play.
He offers fair: Shou'd it prove very bad,
As like enough it will, you'd wish you had:
He has been wounded, proofs there need no more
Than what you know, that he has writ before;
For sure none ever scap'd that ever writ;
There's no being shot-free in the Wars of Wit:
Poets by dangers like old Souldiers taught,
Grow wise, and shun the fame which once they sought.
But if he must proceed—
Wou'd you wou'd tell him which of all the ways
You like in Prologues, us'd to help out Plays.
Some tell you stories of the former Age,
And swear that Faction now undoes the Stage:
Sure such believe you'l do as you are bid,
And that you paid your money to be chid.
Some craftier Poets at each other hit,
Knowing grave Rudeness has been took for Wit;
This does a wretched dearth of Wit betray,
When things of Kind on one another prey.
Some Prologues are more modestly address'd,
Just like Petitions, those he thinks are best;
For such a one he means that this shall be,
And therefore humbly shews as you shall see.
Wou'd you wou'd tell him which of all the ways
You like in Prologues, us'd to help out Plays.
Some tell you stories of the former Age,
And swear that Faction now undoes the Stage:
Sure such believe you'l do as you are bid,
And that you paid your money to be chid.
Some craftier Poets at each other hit,
Knowing grave Rudeness has been took for Wit;
This does a wretched dearth of Wit betray,
When things of Kind on one another prey.
Some Prologues are more modestly address'd,
Just like Petitions, those he thinks are best;
For such a one he means that this shall be,
And therefore humbly shews as you shall see.
| The Vestal-Virgin | |