University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE. Spoken by Mrs. Oldfield.

Well , Sirs! you've seen a Prodigy to day:
Two Lovers true! in this old-fashion'd Play;
But these were Romans: Our more modish Age
No such Examples shews, but on the Stage:
Of all the Sparks, that sigh and ogle here,
(Hold! let me see—) the Chief are There, and There.
[Pointing to the Side-Boxes.
Shew me but one that wou'd expose his Life,
To gain that Comfortable Thing, a Wife:
But here, how many Husbands do I see
[The Pit.
Wou'd gladly venture Hanging to get free!
I wish Perolla may not soon increase
The dismal Melancholick List of these:
Our Hearts, when marry'd, we but ill defend,
For that's the Time to gratifie a Friend;
Maids are unpractis'd, nice, and blush to try
What most they wish, and fear they know not why:
But Wives grow bold, and find when better taught,
The Danger's not so great, as once they thought.
Such Wives there may be, Sirs, but Oh! how few
Of us are false, compar'd to sinful You.
The Faults, that by our injur'd Sex are done,
Are owing to the Vices of your own:
Fond to Provoke, you take the Manly way,
To Swear and Lye, to Flatter and Betray;
Such is your Humour, or your Weakness such,
You cannot bear to be Belov'd too much:
But roving on, new Conquests only prize,
Giving to All what scarce wou'd One suffice;
And such tame Fools do you our Sex believe,
Not to requite the Favours we receive.
Wou'd ye Gallants but fairly Play your Parts,
And know the Value of our faithful Hearts;
Wou'd ye the Grounds of our Complaints remove,
And make Returns of Constancy and Love;
You then wou'd find us Objects fit to trust,
For we are true, when ever you are just:
You then wou'd live with greater Pleasures blest,
Than e're in Love's soft Empire were possest;
For every Lover in his Fair wou'd find
True English Charms with Roman Virtue joyn'd.