The search after happiness a pastoral drama |
PROLOGUE. (Spoken by a Young Lady at a private Representation.) |
 | The search after happiness |  |
PROLOGUE. (Spoken by a Young Lady at a private Representation.)
With trembling diffidence, with modest fear,
Before this gentle Audience we appear.
Ladies, survey us with a tender eye;
Put on good-nature, and lay judgment by.
No deep-laid plot adorns our humble page,
But scenes adapted to our sex and age.
Simplicity is all our Author's aim;
She does not write, nor do we speak for fame.
To make Amusement and Instruction friends,
A lesson in the guise of play she sends.
She claims no merit but her love of truth;
No plea to favour—but her sex and youth:
With these alone to boast, she sends me here
To beg your kind, indulgent, partial ear.—
Of Critic Man she could not stand the test;
But You—with softer, gentler hearts are blest.
With Him she dares not rest her feeble cause:
A mark too low for satire or applause.
Before this gentle Audience we appear.
Ladies, survey us with a tender eye;
Put on good-nature, and lay judgment by.
No deep-laid plot adorns our humble page,
But scenes adapted to our sex and age.
Simplicity is all our Author's aim;
She does not write, nor do we speak for fame.
To make Amusement and Instruction friends,
A lesson in the guise of play she sends.
She claims no merit but her love of truth;
No plea to favour—but her sex and youth:
With these alone to boast, she sends me here
To beg your kind, indulgent, partial ear.—
Of Critic Man she could not stand the test;
But You—with softer, gentler hearts are blest.
With Him she dares not rest her feeble cause:
A mark too low for satire or applause.
Ladies, protect her—do not be satiric;
Spare censure—she expects not panegyric.
Spare censure—she expects not panegyric.
| The search after happiness | |