University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE Spoke by Mr. Griffith. Written by Mr. Shadwell.

So thank my Stars, the Buskin Tale is past
And all the Dead, are come to Life at last;
Just now I heard the Kings and Princess say,
They hoped to Live, to Die, another Day,
Provided you Resolve to like the Play.
Our Poet swears, by all that's Great and Good;
No more he'll dip his Hands in Humane blood,
It is his first Effort in Tragick Strains,
And knows not how it came within his Brains,
It is a vile Ill-natured Thing, to keep,
Such Things in Plays, as make the Ladies weep.
For when a Female puts on sower Faces;
She looses fifty of her Airs and Graces.
But give her something that will make her Smile,
Oh! how she Conquers, how she does beguile:
Now, 'tis observ'd, our Friends two story High,
Do always Laugh, when other People cry,
And murdering Scenes, to them are Comedy.
The Middle Region, seldom mind the Plot,
But with a Vizard chat, of you know what,
And are not better'd by the Play one Jot.
But you great Judges of the Pit, who come;
In Order to be sent with Pleasure home.
Are like the Water-Man that looks two Ways,
You first observe the Ladies, then our Plays.
With them you please your Eye, with us your Ear,
And could we always keep those Fair Ones here,
Whole Shoals of pritty: Fellows would appear.
To you bright Nymphs, who in that Circle sit,
Who with a look can Govern all the Pit:
Bid 'em be to our Author's Writings kind,
Bid 'em be to his Faults a little Blind;
Do but say something in the Man's behalf,
And Faith when next he writes he'll make you Laugh.