University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE: Wrote by Mr. Dennis, and spoken by Mr. Mills

The following Piece by fiery Lee was wrought,
And judg'd his strongest and his noblest Draught:
In which He shew'd, pronouncing Tarquin's Doom,
A Spirit Worthy Liberty and Rome.
His Pegasus sometimes attains a daring Height,
But often takes a wild ungovern'd Flight.
And soaring up too high for Mortal Eyes,
Is lost in Clouds, or lessens as He flies.
T'was this that mov'd our Author, with Desire,
To Temperate the Bards unruly Fire:
His well-proportion'd Raptures He retains,
But from his wild and frantick Starts refrains,
And his false whining Passion he disdains.
Poetick sacred Fire descends from High,
And Fire is regulated in the Skie.
Witness the Stars, that with their shining Force
Are just, and constant to their rapid Course.
Witness the God of Poetry and Day,
Who still exactly keeps his flaming Way;
Starting from which the World He overturns
And either freezes Human Kind, or burns.
Our Characters and Lee's are still the same,
Tho Brutus we have chang'd for Cosmo's Name;
For Anti-Regal Principles we must
Have else display'd; which would be now unjust.
For where is Liberty more charming seen
Than in the Reign of our Auspicious Queen?
Who mildly governing their Temperate Plains,
Her Happy Subjects but from Harm restrains,
And like strong Reason o'er the Passions reigns.