 | The Heroine of the Cave |  |
PROLOGUE.
Spoken by Mr. REDDISH.
Prologues in gen'ral are a kind salute,
Hoping the author's work your taste may suit;
And if so lucky as to 'scape your frown,
He struts the fav'rite poet of the town:
Thanking dame Nature that has been so kind
T'endow him with a more Parnassian mind,
Than shines in dramas of his dull compeers,
Whom in news-paragraphs he slily fleers.—
Licentious vehicles of gross abuse,
That, snakes—(anonymous) each day let loose;
Sparing nor birth, nor worth, nor high degree,
Their venom dart at all—nay, ev'n so low as me!
If 'cause my efforts, to approve, you deign;
I'll be more guilty,—still encrease their pain;
New whet their rancour—more provoke their sallies,
If you're my patrons, need I dread their malice?
Hoping the author's work your taste may suit;
And if so lucky as to 'scape your frown,
He struts the fav'rite poet of the town:
Thanking dame Nature that has been so kind
T'endow him with a more Parnassian mind,
Than shines in dramas of his dull compeers,
Whom in news-paragraphs he slily fleers.—
Licentious vehicles of gross abuse,
That, snakes—(anonymous) each day let loose;
Sparing nor birth, nor worth, nor high degree,
Their venom dart at all—nay, ev'n so low as me!
If 'cause my efforts, to approve, you deign;
I'll be more guilty,—still encrease their pain;
New whet their rancour—more provoke their sallies,
If you're my patrons, need I dread their malice?
Now from the actor to the author turn,
Whose proud ideas with vain-glory burn;
Declaring, loth to praise, but prone to slight,
“No!—We're but few now qualified to write,
“What numbers scribble in Apollo's spite!
“Had the dull fellow shewn his play to me,
“I had giv'n't life, at least in some degree,
“And made it crawl out nights, to three times three.”
Whose proud ideas with vain-glory burn;
Declaring, loth to praise, but prone to slight,
“No!—We're but few now qualified to write,
“What numbers scribble in Apollo's spite!
“Had the dull fellow shewn his play to me,
“I had giv'n't life, at least in some degree,
“And made it crawl out nights, to three times three.”
But if a piece of his in turn shou'd fail,
How chang'd his tone, how bitter does he rail!
Swears, as away he pen, ink, paper flings,
There is no certainty in human things!—
How chang'd his tone, how bitter does he rail!
Swears, as away he pen, ink, paper flings,
There is no certainty in human things!—
Yet here, success or failure oft proceeds,
Not from fair judgment, but unmanly deeds,
Of vi'lent parties, forming a cabal,
The one to raise—the other to appal!
Men hir'd to roar out prostituted praise—
And honour dulness with an ideot gaze!
Yet still more shameful, who through selfish ends
Of foes malignant,—or of jealous friends,
Waiting the signal, in dark ambush sit,
To act the worst of murders,—that of wit!
None such we trust are here!—but if there shou'd,
They'll by a candid audience be withstood.
Cruel oppression shocks an English ear;
From your known equity we banish fear!—
Not from fair judgment, but unmanly deeds,
Of vi'lent parties, forming a cabal,
The one to raise—the other to appal!
Men hir'd to roar out prostituted praise—
And honour dulness with an ideot gaze!
Yet still more shameful, who through selfish ends
Of foes malignant,—or of jealous friends,
Waiting the signal, in dark ambush sit,
To act the worst of murders,—that of wit!
None such we trust are here!—but if there shou'd,
They'll by a candid audience be withstood.
Cruel oppression shocks an English ear;
From your known equity we banish fear!—
The leading author of our scenes to-night,
Has been long since remov'd from either plight.
Out of the reach of censure or applause,
He'll tremble not, as up the curtain draws.
This tribute to his muse, let Essex plead,
A farewel sprig of laurel round his head,
Nor hate, nor envy combat with the dead!
Has been long since remov'd from either plight.
Out of the reach of censure or applause,
He'll tremble not, as up the curtain draws.
This tribute to his muse, let Essex plead,
A farewel sprig of laurel round his head,
Nor hate, nor envy combat with the dead!
| The Heroine of the Cave | |