 | The Adventures of Five Hours |  |
THE PROLOGUE AT COURT.
He Addresses himself to the Pit.This refers to the Authors purpose of Retirement, at that time when his Majesty recommended this Plot to him.
Gives a new Blaze, and makes it live a while;
So th'Author seeing his decaying Light,
And therefore thinking to retire from sight,
Was hindred by a Ray from th'upper Sphere,
Just at that time he thought to disappear;
He chanc'd to hear his Majesty once say
He lik'd this Plot: he staid; and writ the Play;
So should Obsequious Subjects catch the Minds
Of Princes, as your Sea-men do the Winds.
If this Attempt then shews more Zeal, than Light,
'T may teach you to Obey, though not to Write.
He looking up and seeing the King starts.
Ha! he is there himself. He Kneels. He Rises.
Pardon my sight,
My Eyes were dazled with Excess of Light;
Even so the Sun, who all things else displays,
Is hid from us i'th' Glory of his Rays;
Will You vouchsafe Your Presence? You, that were given
To be our Atlas, and support our Heaven?
Will You (Dread Sir) Your Pretious Moments lose
To Grace the first Endeavours of our Muse,
This with Your Character most aptly suits
Even Heaven it self is pleas'd with the first Fruits.
Ha! he is there himself. He Kneels. He Rises.
Pardon my sight,
My Eyes were dazled with Excess of Light;
Even so the Sun, who all things else displays,
Is hid from us i'th' Glory of his Rays;
Will You vouchsafe Your Presence? You, that were given
To be our Atlas, and support our Heaven?
Will You (Dread Sir) Your Pretious Moments lose
To Grace the first Endeavours of our Muse,
This with Your Character most aptly suits
Even Heaven it self is pleas'd with the first Fruits.
| The Adventures of Five Hours | |