PROLOGUE TO THE RIVAL LADIES. 'TIS much defir'd, you judges of the town Would pafs a vote to put all prologues down; For who can fhow me, fince they firft were writ, They e'er converted one hard-hearted wit? Yet the world's mended well; in former days 5 Good prologues were as fcarce as now good plays. For the reforming poets of our age, In this first charge, fpend their poetic rage: rhimes; 10 High language often; ay, and sense, sometimes. 15 Such deep intrigues you're welcome to this day: But blame yourselves, not him who writ the play; 20 Though his plot's dull, as can be well desired, There is a mode in plays as well as clothes; A SECOND PROLOGUE ENTERS. 2. Hold; would you admit For judges all you fee within the pit? 1. Whom would he then except, or on what fcore? 2. All, who (like him) have writ ill plays be fore; For they, like thieves condemn'd, are hangmen made, 5 To execute the members of their trade. All fervants, whom their miftrefs' fcorn up braids; All maudlin lovers, and all flighted maids; 11 PROLOGUE TO THE INDIAN QUEEN. As the mufic plays a soft air, the curtain rifes flowly, and difcovers an Indian boy and girl fleeping under two plantain-trees; and, when the curtain is almost up, the mufic turns into a tune expreffing an alarm, at which the boy awakes, and speaks: BOY. WAKE, wake, Quevira! our soft rest muft cease, And fly together with our country's peace! Where bounteous nature never feels decay, 5 As much as they can hope for by fuccefs?— None can have moft, where nature is fo kind, As to exceed man's use, though not his mind. 11 Boy. By ancient prophecies we have been told, Our world shall be fubdued by one more old ;And, fee, that world already's hither come. QUE. If these be they, we welcome then our doom! Their looks are such, that mercy flows from thence, More gentle than our native innocence. 15 Boy. Why fhould we then fear thefe, our enemies, That rather feem to us like deities? QUE. By their protection, let us beg to live; They came not here to conquer, but forgive.— If fo, your goodness may your power express, And we shall judge both beft by our fuccess. |