 | Valentinian |  |
Prologue to VALENTINIAN. Spoken by Mrs. Cook the second Day.
'Tis
not your easiness to give Applause,
This long hid Jewel into publick draws
Our matchless Author, who to VVit gave Rules,
Scorns Praise, that has been prostitute to Fools.
To factious Favour, the sole Prop and Fence
Of Hackney-Scriblers, he quits all Pretence,
And for their Flatteries brings you Truth and Sence.
Things we our selves confess to be unfit
For such side-Boxes, and for such a Pit.
To the fair Sex some Complement were due,
Did they not slight themselves in liking you;
How can they here for Judges be thought fit,
VVho daily your soft Nonsence take for VVit;
Do on your ill-bred Noise for Humour doat,
And choose the Man by the embroider'd Coat?
Our Author lov'd the youthful and the fair,
But even in those their Follies could not spare;
Bid them discreetly use their present store,
Be Friends to Pleasure, when they please no more;
Desir'd the Ladies of maturer Ages,
If some remaining Spark their Hearts enrages,
At home to quench their Embers with their Pages.
Pert, patch'd, and painted, there to spend their days;
Not crowd the fronts of Boxes at new Plays:
Advis'd young sighing Fools to be more pressing,
And Fops of Forty to give over dressing.
By this he got the Envy of the Age,
No Fury's like a libell'd Blockhead's Rage.
Hence some despis'd him for his want of VVit,
And others said he too obscenely writ.
Dull Niceness, envious of Mankind's Delight,
Abortive Pang of Vanity and Spite!
It shows a Master's Hand, 'twas Virgil's Praise,
Things low and abject to adorn and raise.
The Sun on Dunghils shining is as bright,
As when his Beams the fairest Flowers invite,
But all weak Eyes are hurt by too much Light.
Let then these Owls against the Eagle preach,
And blame those Flights which they want VVing to reach.
Like Falstaffe let 'em conquer Heroes dead,
And praise Greek Poets they cou'd never read.
Criticks should personal Quarrels lay aside,
The Poet from the Enemy divide.
'Twas Charity that made our Author write,
For your Instruction 'tis we Act to night;
For sure no Age was ever known before,
VVanting an Æcius and Lucina more.
This long hid Jewel into publick draws
Our matchless Author, who to VVit gave Rules,
Scorns Praise, that has been prostitute to Fools.
To factious Favour, the sole Prop and Fence
Of Hackney-Scriblers, he quits all Pretence,
And for their Flatteries brings you Truth and Sence.
Things we our selves confess to be unfit
For such side-Boxes, and for such a Pit.
To the fair Sex some Complement were due,
Did they not slight themselves in liking you;
How can they here for Judges be thought fit,
VVho daily your soft Nonsence take for VVit;
Do on your ill-bred Noise for Humour doat,
And choose the Man by the embroider'd Coat?
Our Author lov'd the youthful and the fair,
But even in those their Follies could not spare;
Bid them discreetly use their present store,
Be Friends to Pleasure, when they please no more;
If some remaining Spark their Hearts enrages,
At home to quench their Embers with their Pages.
Pert, patch'd, and painted, there to spend their days;
Not crowd the fronts of Boxes at new Plays:
Advis'd young sighing Fools to be more pressing,
And Fops of Forty to give over dressing.
By this he got the Envy of the Age,
No Fury's like a libell'd Blockhead's Rage.
Hence some despis'd him for his want of VVit,
And others said he too obscenely writ.
Dull Niceness, envious of Mankind's Delight,
Abortive Pang of Vanity and Spite!
It shows a Master's Hand, 'twas Virgil's Praise,
Things low and abject to adorn and raise.
The Sun on Dunghils shining is as bright,
As when his Beams the fairest Flowers invite,
But all weak Eyes are hurt by too much Light.
Let then these Owls against the Eagle preach,
And blame those Flights which they want VVing to reach.
Like Falstaffe let 'em conquer Heroes dead,
And praise Greek Poets they cou'd never read.
Criticks should personal Quarrels lay aside,
The Poet from the Enemy divide.
'Twas Charity that made our Author write,
For your Instruction 'tis we Act to night;
For sure no Age was ever known before,
VVanting an Æcius and Lucina more.
| Valentinian | |