University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE. Written by Sir James Bland Burges, AND SPOKEN BY MR. EYRE.

'Mid the wide ruins of imperial Rome,
The cradle once of genius, now the tomb,
If chance a sculptur'd fragment should disclose,
Some Jove or Phœbus without arms or nose,
With emulation rival artists strive
It's shape and just proportions to revive,
'Till when restor'd its symmetry and grace,
With added beauties both of form and face,
In the completed mass the critic sees
The band of Phideas or Praxiteles.
So, 'mid our British stores neglected lie
Dramas, which might the touch of time defy,
But that the taint of a licencious age
Forbids them to disgrace our purer stage.
Our ancestors thro' five long acts could sit,
Mistaking gross indecency for wit,
And even females, 'neath a vizor's shade,
Intrepidly the shameless stage survey'd.
More pure the manners now, more chaste the treat
At which the muse invites you now to meet;
Whether at folly or at vice she fly,
This praise is her's, she flies with decency.
High 'mongst the bards once better known to same
Still stands recorded Massinger's proud name,
Who close to Shakespeare's matchless genius soar'd,
Who, next to Jonson, from true learning's hoard
With skilful hand his rich materials drew,
To manners faithful, and to nature true,
Yet who with grossness so debas'd his verse,
What he dar'd write we dare not now rehearse.
Still, since replete his lines with vig'rous thought,
Since glows the fire from inspiration caught,
Let us, on his behalf, your favour pray,
While from oblivion's gulph we snatch this play.
Clear'd from the dross which it's pure ore debas'd,
The fault of fashion, or the lapse of haste,
It's rank growth prun'd with no unsparing hand,
It's morals mended, and it's scenes new plann'd,
It trusts to you it's renovated cause,
And waits your verdict,—censure or applause.