University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE.

Spoke by Mr. Betterton.
This of deep Tragedies is sure the Age,
When Mars each day displays with swelling Rage
His bloody Scenes upon the Worlds great Stage.
Ye Brittons, from your Thames's Silver Flood
Turn, turn your Eyes to Streams distain'd with Blood;
And to discover Scenes of mortal Woe,
Survey the Rhine, the Danube and the Poe.
No fancy'd Tragedies are acting there,
There the distracted Native rends his Hair,
And shrieks and wrings his Hands in true Despair.
While no vexatious Griefs to you are known,
But here you meet t'attend our pleasing moan,
And gently sigh with Sorrow not your own.
By grateful Turns, with Fear and Pity seiz'd,
And when most terrify'd are then most pleas'd;
But Tragick Scenes may come where this Delight
Shall yield to Horrour and to mortal Fright:
When impious Mars shall with a dreadful Roar
Descend to visit pale Britannia's Shore.
Already Treason whispers come away,
And clamorous Discord cries make no delay.
That Hour would shew a Tragedy indeed,
Whose sad Spectators would not weep but bleed.
Which to prevent all Patriots should contend,
These Scenes were wrought to serve so just an end;
To shew our inbred Foes ere 'tis too late
That they and theirs must share the common Fate.
For France its Blood exhausts, its Wealth expends
T'obtain its own and not our Plotters ends.
They who their Country for themselves enthrall,
Will see themselves and Children with it fall.
Would they reflect on this while yet they may
Themselves and Children they would ne'er betray,
As in the following Scenes we shew to Day.
For what Remains—
To please and to instruct we've done our best,
Then boldly let us make this just Request,
With silent care to the first Act attend,
Then you with Pleasure may perhaps unbend.