 | The Fatal Vision : Or, The Fall of Siam |  |
THE PROLOGUE.
When
rising Discord spreads her baleful Wing,
With chearless Voice the shadow'd Muses sing;
While captious Faction wrests the wrong'd Intent,
And ev'ry Accent bears a partial Bent;
What shall the Stage in this Dilemma do?
Shall we at once court Truth and Falshood too?
Shall we assume the thriving Courtier's way?
And, flatt'ring both Sides, both alike betray?
Or, rather shall we, mindful of our Art,
Fearless, and just, make Vice in all Shapes start?
Unty'd to any Cause, but That alone,
Which Honour, Virtue, Truth, and Justice, own,
Bravely unbias'd, draw the Sword of Wit,
And strike all Follies which all Sides commit?
With chearless Voice the shadow'd Muses sing;
While captious Faction wrests the wrong'd Intent,
And ev'ry Accent bears a partial Bent;
What shall the Stage in this Dilemma do?
Shall we at once court Truth and Falshood too?
Shall we assume the thriving Courtier's way?
And, flatt'ring both Sides, both alike betray?
Or, rather shall we, mindful of our Art,
Fearless, and just, make Vice in all Shapes start?
Unty'd to any Cause, but That alone,
Which Honour, Virtue, Truth, and Justice, own,
Bravely unbias'd, draw the Sword of Wit,
And strike all Follies which all Sides commit?
Bold in this Aim, our Author bids me say,
The Tragic Muse has long mistook her Way,
Fall'n to Contempt, her Poets justly smart;
The fawning Wretches have undone their Art.
The Tragic Muse has long mistook her Way,
Fall'n to Contempt, her Poets justly smart;
The fawning Wretches have undone their Art.
In ancient Times the Drama's gen'rous Fire,
Did fearless Faith, and Strength of Soul inspire;
Taught Crest-fall'n Pride to blush with late learnt Shame,
And conscious Worth to weigh down guilty Fame;
Taught Poverty the Safety of Content,
And call'd none happy but the Innocent;
Made fond Ambition feel her slipp'ry State,
And shew'd the Littleness of being Great.
Did fearless Faith, and Strength of Soul inspire;
Taught Crest-fall'n Pride to blush with late learnt Shame,
And conscious Worth to weigh down guilty Fame;
Taught Poverty the Safety of Content,
And call'd none happy but the Innocent;
And shew'd the Littleness of being Great.
Then 'twas a glorious Toil for Bards to write,
And Pray'rs, and Praises did that Toil requite;
Then their Apollo was the reigning God,
And Tyrants trembled at the Poets Rod;
But now, base-Flatt'ry stains the sinking Stage,
And Prostitution has extinguish'd Rage:
Now mercenary Brows pollute the Bays;
And he, who pays the Scribbler, wears his Praise:
Now, Pegasus is grown a Hackney-Jade,
And Hero's rise and fall, like Stocks in Trade.
And Pray'rs, and Praises did that Toil requite;
Then their Apollo was the reigning God,
And Tyrants trembled at the Poets Rod;
But now, base-Flatt'ry stains the sinking Stage,
And Prostitution has extinguish'd Rage:
Now mercenary Brows pollute the Bays;
And he, who pays the Scribbler, wears his Praise:
Now, Pegasus is grown a Hackney-Jade,
And Hero's rise and fall, like Stocks in Trade.
Disdainful of these sordid Views, to Night,
The Author strict Attention would invite;
On China's distant Coast the Scene he draws,
A Nation famous for her, Arts and Laws:
No doubtful Hint, no Party-glances, here
Shall, to disturb divided Minds, appear;
While in our Plot the Punishment you see
Of Superstition, Rage and Cruelty,
Whose Moral thoughtless Youth may well apply,
And safely steer their stormy Passions by:
Sit and observe, and if you, mov'd, depart,
Let wish'd Applauses own a feeling Heart.
The Author strict Attention would invite;
On China's distant Coast the Scene he draws,
A Nation famous for her, Arts and Laws:
No doubtful Hint, no Party-glances, here
Shall, to disturb divided Minds, appear;
While in our Plot the Punishment you see
Of Superstition, Rage and Cruelty,
Whose Moral thoughtless Youth may well apply,
And safely steer their stormy Passions by:
Sit and observe, and if you, mov'd, depart,
Let wish'd Applauses own a feeling Heart.
| The Fatal Vision : Or, The Fall of Siam | |