PROLOGUE

TO THE TRAGEDY OF EDWINA,*

THURSDAY, MARCH XXIX, MDCCXCII.

SPOKEN BY MR. MIDDLE TO N.

AT feafons meet, deck'd in obfequious rhyme,
Prologues have been, from immemorial time,
Brought out by all retainers to the Stage,

To palliate faults and ftem the critic's rage;

An arduous task !—and to complete the bore

We are doom'd to glean where others reap'd before :

Yet to comply with custom, as all should,

With customs well establish'd, wife and good,

I for my client in this cause appearing,
Solicit now a favourable hearing.

To night-with deference to begin my story—
By me a suppliant Author comes before ye.
Shall I, low bending, in a bondman's key,

5

10

Thus, forma pauperis, put in my plea?

Or, vi et armis, in Theatric fury,

15

Brow-beat, as oft, the scheme is, judge and jury?

No

No-this were arrogant, and that were mean,
And, tho' well meant, more serious blots to fcreen,
Inftead of foothing, might provoke your spleen.

A first attempt, our author bade me fay,
To candid breasts may find a fitter way;
Little confiding in Dramatic power,

20

He but requests the indulgence of an hour;
So, with the sunshine of your favour grac'd,

Fresh fruits may grow and ripen to your taste.

23

His is a tale of woe, tho' well he knows

All are not touch'd alike with other's woes;

The laughing Muse you with applause pursue,

On nobler grounds her elder fifter's due.
There lives a charm in fympathetic grief,

To foften care and give the mind relief.

When from compaffion's eye the dew-drops start,
Mild grows the temper and humane the heart;

The ftrong, the weak, the lowly and the high
Are born to fuffer, as they're born to die;
And not the happiest individual here

But owes to martyr'd innocence a tear.

From poor EDWINA's fate the unpractifed maid,
May learn, whate'er her good intents perfuade,
Virtue itfelf's an infufficient fhield,

When paffion sways, and prudence quits the field.
As to the merits of our venturous Bard,
Sufpend your judgment 'till the cause you've heard:

30

33

40

A lover,

A lover, hufband, mistress and a wife,

In error's maze involved, he draws from life;
The dire delufions that their peace deftroy'd,
Trac'd to their fource, he wills you to avoid,
And trufts, from rigid rule fhou'd he depart
To follow nature, you'll dispense with art.

45

Thus he relies on plain and fimple truth;

૩૦

Modeft you'll own and promifing in youth:

Yet by descent were merit to be tried,

Facts might appear to countenance fome pride,
And evidence, allowing envy scope,

To curb detraction and encourage hope;

55

Better perhaps in other climates shown;

A prophet meets leaft honour in his own.
But all in all fo little we prefume,

Man but a rush you strike the trembler dumb;
O'erwhelm'd in dread fufpenfe, the worst of ftates,

60

He patiently your high decifion waits;—
There, in fome nook belike, fequefter'd ftands;
Difpel his fears and cheer him with your hands.

EPILOGUE

ΤΟ THE TRAGEDY OF

E D WIN A,

SPOKEN BY MRS.

KENNEDY.

DEUCE take these authors! what a fet they are!
My part scarce over, I muft ftraight prepare
To speak an Epilogue-and what's the end on't?
To stop your clamours ;-no, not it, depend on't.-
Is it mere cuftom, or a point of right,
That men the prologues, we must these recite?
Or is it wife, and covertly intended,

That all is buzz, unless we come to mend it?

5

Confefs you then, however you may flout us,
You can't effect your purposes without us.
You have all, who doubts it? budgets full of learning;
We boaft our powers to please, and quick discerning :
Then, if to science you dispute our claim,

10

Ours, 'tis confefs'd, the lofs-be yours the fhame,-
And yet those towering heads there in the pit,
Seem to proclaim our judgment, taste, and wit;
Or elfe I am fure 'twere mightily to wrong ye,
By crowding fo unseasonably among ye.

But, Ma'am ! exclaims the Poet, to the question,
The town is nice, and queafy of digeftion;

P

15

20

And

And if you muft your rhetoric display,

Exert your talents now to fave the play,

Three Court-days more at leaft; for, Ma'am! d'y'fee? Bards are all partial to the number three.

Move an arreft of judgment, now's the time,
Pray a rehearing, and demur in rhyme.

25

Piha! ftale device !-who can anticipate What chance may govern, or avert his fate? Unlefs, as wits oft proudly make relation,

They were indeed endued with inspiration.
For inftance now, suppose the piece go down,

30

And full applause our fanguine hopes should crown ; To build on fuch a frail, foregone conclufion,

Might, ten to one, redound to our confufion :

For tho' by friends and flatterers promise cramm'd, 35

If by ill luck the bantling should be damn'd

Weak and difpirited, on what pretence

Could I confront the visage of offence?

"Twas never yet our sex's part believ'd,

40

To boaft of favours which they ne'er receiv'd;
And, tho' French fashions fometimes may betray 'em,
They, when they're vanquifh'd, never fing Te Deum.

These things premised, I to our Author said,

Who Author-like, look'd wife, and shook his head,

If after all you disapprove my plan,

45

Point out the path, I'll ferve you if I can ;

And