A PROLOGUE Written and Spoken by THE POET LABERIUS, A Roman Knight whom CESAR forced upon the Stage. PRESERVED BY MACROBIUS. * W HAT! no way left to fhun the inglorious stage, And fave from infamy my finking age. Scarce half alive, opprefs'd with many a year, What in the name of dotage drives me here? A time there was, when glory was my guide, Nor force nor fraud could turn my steps afide; Unaw'd by pow'r, and unappal'd by fear, With honeft thrift I held my honour dear : * This Tranflation was first printed in one of our Author's earliest works," The prefent State of Learning in Europe." 12mo. 1759 But this vile hour difperfes all my store, THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION. A TALE. SECLUDED from domestic strife, Jack Book-worm led a college life; Such pleasures unallay'd with care, Could Cupid's fhaft at length transfix, Mifs frown'd, and blush'd, and then was-married. |