His goods, he hopes, are prime, and brought from far, Equally fit for gallantry and war. What, no reply to promises so ample?.... I'd best step back....and order up a sample. EPILOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR. LEE LEWES IN THE CHARACTER OF HARLEQUIN, AT HIS BENEFIT. HOLD! Prompter, hold! a word before your non sense; I'd speak a word or two, to ease my conscience. My heels eclips'd the honours of my head; Or ever thought that jumping was a jest. [Takes off his mask. Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth? The joy that dimples, and the woe that weeps. How hast thou fill'd the scene with all thy brood, Of fools pursuing, and of fools pursu❜d! Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses, Whose cnly plot it is to break our noses; And shall I mix in this unhallow'd crew? May rosin'd lightning blast me if I do! No....I will act, I'll vindicate the stage: Oh! for a Richard's voice to catch the theme: Give me another horse! bind up my wounds!....soft.... 'twas but a dream. Aye, 'twas but a dream, for now there's no retreat ing; If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating. 'Twas thus that Æsop's stag, a creature blameless, Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless, Once on the margin of a fountain stood, And cavill'd at his image in the flood. "The deuce confound," he cries, "these drumstick shanks; "They neither have my gratitude nor thanks: "They're perfectly disgraceful! strike me dead! "But for a head....yes, yes, I have a head. "How piercing is that eye! how sleek that brow! 66 My horns! I'm told horns are the fashion now." Whilst thus he spoke, astonish'd! to his view, Near, and more near, the hounds and huntsmen drew. Hoicks! hark forward! came thundering from behind, He bounds aloft, outstrips the fleeting wind: He quits the woods, and tries the beaten ways; He starts, he pants, he takes the circling maze. At length, his silly head, so priz'd before, Is taught his former folly to deplore; Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free, [Taking a jump through the stage-door. EPILOGUE TO THE COMEDY OF THE SISTERS. WHAT! five long acts....and all to make us wiser! Our authoress, sure, has wanted an adviser. Had she consulted me, she should have made Warm'd up each bustling scene, and in her rage What if I give a masquerade?....I will. But how? ay, there's the rub! [pausing]....I've got my cue: The world's a masquerade! the masquers, you, you, you. [To Boxes, Pit, and Gallery. |