 | The Fatal Constancy |  |
187
PROLOGUE.
Spoken by the late Mr. BOOTH.
This Night we represent a modern Play,
Short, plain, and simple, in the ancient Way:
Instead of Ornament, and borrow'd Grace,
The Unities of Action, Time, and Place.
We raise no Ghosts, call down no gay Machines,
Nor tempt you with Variety of Scenes:
With no rich, pompous Pageantry surprise,
Nor, to secure your Hands, delude your Eyes:
On Thought we now rely, and hope Success
From easy Words, and natural Distress.
In early Ages with no Charms but these
The Fathers of the Drama sought to please;
By Nature Nature's Passions they refin'd,
Search'd their own Hearts, to gain the Hearer's Mind,
And from their own Emotions mov'd Mankind.
But, O, for such a Muse, and such a Eire,
As did of old the Grecian Bards inspire!
While Athens from the manly Scene grew Sage,
And sat whole Days attentive to the Stage.
When Theatres were Schools, and the pleas'd Youth
Was kindly cheated into Sense, and Truth.
Then might our Author too demand Applause,
And boldly trust in Aristotle's Laws,
Sure to instruct, as sure to give Delight,
And Art with Nature happily unite.
| The Fatal Constancy | |