 | Regulus |  |
EPILOGUE. Written by Mr. GARRICK. Spoken by Mrs. Woffington.
If
one could credit what these Poets tell us,
These Greeks and Romans were surprizing Fellows?
But when compar'd with Heroes now-a-Days;
Who can believe one Word our Author says:
These Greeks and Romans were surprizing Fellows?
But when compar'd with Heroes now-a-Days;
Who can believe one Word our Author says:
To Night fam'd Regulus appear'd before you,
Brimful of Honour and his Country's Glory;
So fraught with Virtue and with Patriot Zeal,
He laid down Life to serve the Publick Weal:
Bless me! was ever Man so wildly frantick!
We have no Patriots now are so Romantick;
We've no State Quixots as they had of Yore;
Our Patriots huff, 'tis true, and rant and roar,
And talk of this and that—but nothing more.
Brimful of Honour and his Country's Glory;
So fraught with Virtue and with Patriot Zeal,
He laid down Life to serve the Publick Weal:
Bless me! was ever Man so wildly frantick!
We have no Patriots now are so Romantick;
We've no State Quixots as they had of Yore;
Our Patriots huff, 'tis true, and rant and roar,
And talk of this and that—but nothing more.
Their Ladies too were form'd with strange Ingredients,
They lov'd their Husbands, and were all Obedience,
And tho' their Mates for many Years wou'd roam,
The constant Doves wou'd stay till they came home.
They lov'd their Husbands, and were all Obedience,
And tho' their Mates for many Years wou'd roam,
The constant Doves wou'd stay till they came home.
Martia, if what they say can gain Belief,
For Loss of Husband almost dy'd with Grief;
And what is stranger still, they all agree,
That Regulus was turn'd of Sixty-three.
Wou'd any modern Lady break her Heart,
Because an aged Spouse resolves to part?
Wou'd she to thwart his Will, be so uncivil?
O no—the Man might go to Carthage—or the Devil,
What mighty Stuff compos'd those Sons of Freedom,
The Classicks say (I'm told by those who read 'em)
That they were Mortals of such wond'rous Merit
That e'en when old they fought and lov'd with Spirit.
Romans at Sixty-three, as I'm alive,
Were better Men than ours at thirty-five.
In short, if all that's said and wrote be true,
And they when old such mighty Feats cou'd do
O Lord! they play'd the Devil sure at twenty-two.
For Loss of Husband almost dy'd with Grief;
vii
That Regulus was turn'd of Sixty-three.
Wou'd any modern Lady break her Heart,
Because an aged Spouse resolves to part?
Wou'd she to thwart his Will, be so uncivil?
O no—the Man might go to Carthage—or the Devil,
What mighty Stuff compos'd those Sons of Freedom,
The Classicks say (I'm told by those who read 'em)
That they were Mortals of such wond'rous Merit
That e'en when old they fought and lov'd with Spirit.
Romans at Sixty-three, as I'm alive,
Were better Men than ours at thirty-five.
In short, if all that's said and wrote be true,
And they when old such mighty Feats cou'd do
O Lord! they play'd the Devil sure at twenty-two.
Thus far with trifling Jests to please the Age,
And to preserve the Custom of the Stage,—
But now let serious, nobler Thoughts impart
The warmest Wishes to each English Heart;
May every Matron, Martia's Truth approve,
And every Maid like constant Clelia love,
May every Decius find a faithful Friend,
And every Corvus meet the Villain's End;
May every Briton hold his Country dear,
And Truth, not Party, every Action steer;
May Regulus's Conduct point the Way,
And no false Glitter lead our Youths astray;
May every Virtue be transplanted home,
And Britain boast the Worth of ancient Rome.
And to preserve the Custom of the Stage,—
But now let serious, nobler Thoughts impart
The warmest Wishes to each English Heart;
May every Matron, Martia's Truth approve,
And every Maid like constant Clelia love,
May every Decius find a faithful Friend,
And every Corvus meet the Villain's End;
May every Briton hold his Country dear,
And Truth, not Party, every Action steer;
May Regulus's Conduct point the Way,
And no false Glitter lead our Youths astray;
May every Virtue be transplanted home,
And Britain boast the Worth of ancient Rome.
| Regulus | |