EPIGRAM TO THE TWO NEW MEMBERS FOR BRAMBER, 1708.
HOUGH in the Commons Houfe you did prevail,
Tod Sir Cleeve Moore, and gentle Mafter Hale,
Yet on good luck be cautious of relying,
Burgess for Bramber is no place to die in.
Your predeceffors have been oddly fated;
Afgill and Shippen have been both translated.
VERSES MADE TO A SIMILE OF POPE'S.
HILE at our house the fervants brawl,
And raise an uproar in the hall;
When John the butler, and our Mary,
About the plate and linen vary :
Till the fmart dialogue grows rich,
In fneaking dog! and ugly bitch!
Down comes my lady like the devil,
And makes them filent all and civil.
Thus cannon clears the cloudy air,
And scatters tempefts brewing there :
Thus bullies fometimes keep the peace,
And one fcold makes another cease,
ON NICOLINI AND VALENTINI'S FIRST COMING TO THE HOUSE IN THE HAY-MARKET.
MPHION strikes the vocal lyre,
And ready at his call,
Harmonious brick and stone confpire
To raise the Theban wall.
In emulation of his praise
Two Latian Signors come,
A finking theatre to raise
And prop Van's tottering dome.
But how this last should come to pass
Muft ftill remain unknown,
Since these poor gentlemen, alas!
Bring neither brick nor stone.
EPILOGUE TO THE INCONSTANT: OR,
THE WAY TO WIN HIM:
A COMEDY. BY MR. FARQUHAR.
AS IT WAS ACTED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL IN DRURY-LANE, 1703.
SPOKEN BY MR. WILKS.
ROM Fletcher's great Original, to-day
We took the hint of this our Modern Play :
Our author, from his lines, has ftrove to paint
A witty, wild, inconftant, free gallant :
*See, The Wild-Goose Chace.
With a gay foul, with fenfe, and will to rove,
With language, and with softness fram'd to move,
With little truth, but with a world of love.
Such forms on maids in morning flumbers wait,
When fancy first instructs their hearts to beat,
When first they wish, and sigh for what they know
not yet.
Frown not, ye fair, to think your lovers may
Reach your cold hearts by fome unguarded way ;
Let Villeroy's misfortune make you wise,
There's danger ftill in darkness and surprize;
Though from his rampart he defy'd the foe,
Prince Eugene found an aqueduct below.
With easy freedom, and a gay address,
A preffing lover feldom wants success :
Whilft the respectful, like the Greek, fits down,
And wastes a ten years fiege before one town.
For her own fake let no forsaken maid,
Our wanderer for want of love, upbraid;
Since 'tis a fecret, none fhould e'er confefs,
That they have loft the happy power to please.
If you suspect the rogue inclin'd to break,
Break first, and swear you've turn'd him off a week
As princes when they refty states-men doubt,
Before they can surrender, turn them out.
What-e'er you think, grave ufes may be made,
As much, ev'n for Inconftancy be faid.
Let the good man for Marriage Rites defign'd,
With studious care, and diligence of mind,
Turn over every Page of Womankind;
Mark every Senfe, and how the Readings vary,
And when he knows the worst on't--let him marry.
PROLOGUE TO THE GAMESTER:
A COMEDY. BY MRS. CENTLIVRE.
AS IT WAS ACTED AT THE NEW THEATRE IN LIOCOLN'S-INN FIELDS, 1704.
SPOKEN BY MR. BETTERTON.
IF humble wives, that drag the marriage-chain
With curfed dogged husbands, may complain;
If turn'd at large to starve, as we by you,
They may, at least, for alimony fue.
Know, we refolve to make the cafe our own,
› Between the plaintiff stage, and the defendant town. When first you took us from our father's house, And lovingly our intereft did espouse,
You kept us fine, carefs'd, and lodg'd us here,
And honey-moon held out above three year;
At length, for pleasures known do feldom last,
Frequent enjoyment pall'd your sprightly taste;
And though at first you did not quite neglect,
We found your love was dwindled to respect.
Some times, indeed, as in your way it fell,
You ftopp'd, and call'd to see if we were well.
Now, puite eftrang'd, this wretched place you shun,
Like bad wine, bus'nefs, duels, and a dun.
Have we for this increas'd Apollo's race?
Been often pregnant with your wits embrace?
And borne you many chopping babes of grace?
Some ugly toads we had, and that 's the curse,
They were fo like you, that you far'd the worfe;
For this to-night, we are not much in pain,
Look on 't, and if you like it, entertain:
If all the midwife fays of it be true,
There are some features too like fome of you:
For us, if you think fitting to forsake it,
We mean to run away, and let the parish take it.
SPOKEN BY MRS. BARRY.
At the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, April the 7th, 1709, at her playing in LOVE FOR LOVE with Mrs. Bracegirdle, for the benefit of Mr. Betterton.
S fome brave knight, who once with fpear and
Had fought renown in many a well-fought field;
But now no more with facred fame infpir'd,
Was to a peaceful hermitage retir'd:
There, if by chance difaftrous tales he hears,
Of matrons wrongs, and captive virgins tears,
He feels foft pity urge his generous breast,
And vows once more to fuccour the diftrefs'd.
Buckled in mail, he fallies on the plain,
And turns him to the feats of arms again.
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