ADVERTISEMENT.
The Epilogue which follows was writ by Mr. Cibber, and spoke by Mrs.
Oldfield. I never could get a sight of it before it was spoke, and when it
was spoke, I heard it at such a distance from Mrs. Oldfield, that I heard it
very imperfectly. When I came to read it, I found it to be a wretched Medley
of Impudence and Nonsense. As I saw he had made exceeding bold with me,
so I found, that like a very honest Gentleman, he had betray'd the Trust repos'd
in him, and endeavour'd to give the Audience an ill Impression of the
Play. At the latter end of the Epilogue, there is an appearance of Loyalty, which
sav'd the whole from the Fate which had otherwise attended it. But 'tis as easy for
Mr. Cibber at this time of Day to make a Bounce with his Loyalty, as 'tis for
a Bully at Sea, who had lain hid in the Hold all the time of the Fight, to come
up and swagger upon the Deck after the Danger is over. I would fain hear of
some Proof that he gave of his Zeal for the Protestant Succession, before the
King's Accession to the Crown, or some Proof which he has given since by any
Action which was not to get him Money, and bring the Court to his Play. I
am perfectly satisfied that any Author who brings a Play to Drury-Lane, must,
if 'tis a good one, be sacrificed to the Jealousie of this fine Writer, unless he
has either a powerful Cabal, or unless he will flatter Mr. Robert Wilks, and
make him believe that he is an excellent Tragedian; which would be as Ridiculous
and as absurd, as it would be to Compliment a Fellow in a Fair upon
his walking on the High Rope, who is only a Tumbler; or as it would be to
compliment Mr. Cibber upon his Masterpieces in Tragedies, Perolla, and the
Heroick Daughter, which are as full of Nonsense and False English even as this
Epilogue, and are full of stiff, awkward, affected Stuff, and Lines that make
as hideous a Noise, as if they were compos'd in an Itinerant Wheel-Barrow.
To end as I began with the Epilogue; if any Reader can tell me the
meaning of some Lines in it, erit mihi magnus Apollo.
