University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE.

Our Authoress trusting to a Brother's Pen,
(As who among us trust not faithless Men)
Has been deceiv'd—But that I need not say
She took his word, and then—you know your way,
Like you he kept his Promise—You must know it
She has no Epilogue—unless I prove a Poet;
But lest that hope shou'd fail, she bid me plead
How hard, how useless, is the Tax you've laid;
When Judgment you against a Play have past,
You'll not revoke for a fine Speech at last:
And if you're pleas'd—
How Cruel are you in exacting more,
From those who've just exhausted all their Store:
This dire Effects has caus'd!—For want of Matter,
Or in Revenge, they've rise in open Satyr,
Rail'd at their Tyrants, and if Truth they hit,
E'n thank your selves for urging desperate Wit.
Shou'd we now tell you we despair to gain you,
No Fighting, Shew—or Smut to entertain you,
Expose the Beaux, and Criticks, boldly say
You judge not by the Merits of a Play;
Can you blame us, if in defect of Sense,
When forc'd to speak, we stand on our defence;
Reproach you, that by Faction you are brought
To try ev'n Wit by Party—Hold that thought
May be of use—Was nothing on the Stage,
That cou'd a Party for our Play engage.
Let's see—
To Beron's Character all must be civil,
Who're bless'd with Wives, and wish 'em at the Devil;
They'll like the Justice of his Spouse's Fate,
'Tis true he's hang'd for't, and if so you hate,
You may be rid of yours at the same Rate.
Eloping Ladies we have all bespoke,
Christina's Cause wou'd be a useful Cloak;
But for her Management they'll all despise her,
With a young Hero they'd no doubt be wiser;
Expose her Life the Secret to conceal!
What Secret wou'd not they rather reveal!
Well, by this Pair we hope but few to gain,
May Arwide and Constantia more obtain,
Let all whom they by Sympathy cou'd move,
In their Applause of these kind Patterns, prove
That they like Arwide, and Constantia, Love.