 | The Successful Pyrate |  |
EPILOGUE. Spoke by Mr. NORRIS.
Gentlemen
of the Jury—You have heard
What has from all our Witnesses appear'd.
Now give me Leave the Evidence to summ,
And leave poor Bays from you to hear his Doom.
What has from all our Witnesses appear'd.
Now give me Leave the Evidence to summ,
And leave poor Bays from you to hear his Doom.
The Poet stands indicted, for that he
Combin'd with a grand Theif, one Avery,
Illegally seducing Half a Crown
From ev'ry Lover of a Play in Town;
That he has neither brought you Plot nor Wit,
Nor ought that is diverting—That you're bit.
Combin'd with a grand Theif, one Avery,
Illegally seducing Half a Crown
From ev'ry Lover of a Play in Town;
That he has neither brought you Plot nor Wit,
Nor ought that is diverting—That you're bit.
Now, Sirs, the Statute of the first of Phœbus
Says Wit shou'd not be cramm'd—in omnibus rebus.
So in the fourth of Horace, Let your Bully,
Says that Wit-Lawyer, rage and beat his Cully;
Old Soldiers brag, Slaves lie, and Clowns be dull,
And each Man in his Character a Fool.
The Ancients wou'd have look'd with Scorn and Pity
Upon a Wretch unseasonably witty.
Well, if you find him then excus'd from Wit,
Inquire if all be pertinently writ.
That Serjeant Aristotle says is good,
And in his fourth Reports 'tis so allow'd.
And so th'aforesaid Horace more than once,
Scribendi rectè sapere est & principium & fons.
Says Wit shou'd not be cramm'd—in omnibus rebus.
So in the fourth of Horace, Let your Bully,
Says that Wit-Lawyer, rage and beat his Cully;
Old Soldiers brag, Slaves lie, and Clowns be dull,
And each Man in his Character a Fool.
The Ancients wou'd have look'd with Scorn and Pity
Upon a Wretch unseasonably witty.
Well, if you find him then excus'd from Wit,
Inquire if all be pertinently writ.
That Serjeant Aristotle says is good,
And in his fourth Reports 'tis so allow'd.
And so th'aforesaid Horace more than once,
Scribendi rectè sapere est & principium & fons.
Now, Gentlemen, he says in his Defence,
He travell'd far, was at a large Expence,
And for your Sterling Mony gave you Sterling Sense.
He travell'd far, was at a large Expence,
And for your Sterling Mony gave you Sterling Sense.
That you must try, you are the Standard here,
'Tis current thro' the World, if it your Touchstone bear.
'Tis current thro' the World, if it your Touchstone bear.
This is the Sum; Culprit must stand or fall,
Then as your Consciences direct—judge all.
I have advis'd him, if you find it bad is,
To bring a Certiorari to the Ladies.
If to that brilliant Court he moves his Cause,
And they approve, can you deny Applause?
Then as your Consciences direct—judge all.
I have advis'd him, if you find it bad is,
To bring a Certiorari to the Ladies.
If to that brilliant Court he moves his Cause,
And they approve, can you deny Applause?
Ladies, be kind, maintain your Empire still,
And prove your Eyes can Save, as well as Kill.
And prove your Eyes can Save, as well as Kill.
FINIS.
| The Successful Pyrate | |