 | Phaedra and Hippolitus |  |
THE EPILOGUE. Spoken by Mrs. Oldfield.
Ladies
, to Night your Pity I implore
For One who never troubled you before:
An Oxford Man, extreamly read in Greek,
Who from Eu—ripides makes Phædra speak;
And comes to Town to let us Moderns know
How Women lov'd two thousand Years ago.
If that be all, said I, e'en burn your Play;
I gad we know All That as well as they:
Show us the youthful handsome Charioteer,
Firm in his Seat, and running his Carreer;
Our Souls wou'd kindle with as gen'rous Flames,
As e'er inspir'd the ancient Grecian Dames:
Ev'ry Ismena wou'd resign her Breast,
And ev'ry dear Hippolitus be blest.
For One who never troubled you before:
An Oxford Man, extreamly read in Greek,
Who from Eu—ripides makes Phædra speak;
And comes to Town to let us Moderns know
How Women lov'd two thousand Years ago.
If that be all, said I, e'en burn your Play;
I gad we know All That as well as they:
Show us the youthful handsome Charioteer,
Firm in his Seat, and running his Carreer;
Our Souls wou'd kindle with as gen'rous Flames,
As e'er inspir'd the ancient Grecian Dames:
Ev'ry Ismena wou'd resign her Breast,
And ev'ry dear Hippolitus be blest.
But, as it is, six flouncing Flanders Mares
Are e'en as good as any two of theirs;
And if Hippolitus can but contrive
To buy the guilded Chariot, John can drive.
Are e'en as good as any two of theirs;
And if Hippolitus can but contrive
To buy the guilded Chariot, John can drive.
Now of the Bustle you have seen to Day,
And Phædra's Morals in This Scholar's Play;
Something, at least, in Justice shou'd be said,
But this Hippolitus so fills ones Head.—
Well! Phædra liv'd as chastly as she cou'd,
For she was Father Jove's own Flesh and Blood;
Her aukward Love, indeed, was odly fated,
She and her Poly were too near related;
And yet that Scruple had been laid aside,
If honest Theseus had but fairly dy'd:
But when he came, what needed he to know,
But that all Matters stood in Statu quo:
There was no harm, you see, or grant there were,
She might want Conduct, but He wanted Care.
'Twas in a Husband little less than rude,
Upon his Wife's Retirement to intrude:
He shou'd have sent a Night or two before,
That he wou'd come exact at such an Hour;
Then he had turn'd all Tragedy to Jest,
Found ev'ry thing contribute to his Rest;
The Picquet Friend dismiss'd, the Coast all clear,
And Spouse alone, impatient for her Dear.
And Phædra's Morals in This Scholar's Play;
But this Hippolitus so fills ones Head.—
Well! Phædra liv'd as chastly as she cou'd,
For she was Father Jove's own Flesh and Blood;
Her aukward Love, indeed, was odly fated,
She and her Poly were too near related;
And yet that Scruple had been laid aside,
If honest Theseus had but fairly dy'd:
But when he came, what needed he to know,
But that all Matters stood in Statu quo:
There was no harm, you see, or grant there were,
She might want Conduct, but He wanted Care.
'Twas in a Husband little less than rude,
Upon his Wife's Retirement to intrude:
He shou'd have sent a Night or two before,
That he wou'd come exact at such an Hour;
Then he had turn'd all Tragedy to Jest,
Found ev'ry thing contribute to his Rest;
The Picquet Friend dismiss'd, the Coast all clear,
And Spouse alone, impatient for her Dear.
But if these gay Reflexions come too late
To keep the guilty Phædra from her Fate,
If your more serious Judgment must condemn
The dire Effects of her unhappy Flame:
Yet, ye chast Matrons, and ye tender Fair,
Let Love and Innocence engage your Care;
My spotless Flames to your Protection take,
And spare poor Phædra for Ismena's Sake.
To keep the guilty Phædra from her Fate,
If your more serious Judgment must condemn
The dire Effects of her unhappy Flame:
Yet, ye chast Matrons, and ye tender Fair,
Let Love and Innocence engage your Care;
My spotless Flames to your Protection take,
And spare poor Phædra for Ismena's Sake.
| Phaedra and Hippolitus | |