Our Poets tax you still with want of Sence?

pence.

Sharp Citizens a wiser way can go;

They make you Fools, but never call you so. They, in good Manners, seldom make a slip, But treat a Common Whore with Ladyship: But here each sawcy Wit at Random writes, And uses Ladies as he uses Knights.

10

Our Author, Young and Grateful in his Nature,

Vows that from him no Nymph deserves a
Satyr.

Nor will he ever Draw-I mean his Rhime
Against the sweet Partaker of his Crime.
Nor is he yet so bold an Undertaker
To call MEN Fools, 'tis railing at their
MAKER.

Besides, he fears to split upon that Shelf;
He's young enough to be a FOP himself :'

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, 1684. 28 nose] noise 1702 and edd. till Christic.

DISAPPOINTMENT, 1684. Text from the original of 1684. The play is by Southern. The Epilogue is printed in some editions as Dryden's. It was rightly rejected by Christie on the ground of its

Face;

And often they supply'd your Mother's

place.

20

Yet now,

30

II

Ignoble vengeance on a vanquish'd foe. At least be civil to the Wretch imploring; And lay your Paws upon him without roaring: Suppose our Poet was your foe before, the bus'ness of the Field is o'er ; 'Tis Time to let your Civil Wars alone, When Troops are into Winter-quarters gone. Jove was alike to Latian and to Phrygian; And you well know, a Play's of no Religion. Take good advice, and please your selves this Day

No matter from what hands you have the Play. Among good Fellows ev'ry health will pass, That serves to carry round another glass: 20

When with full bowls of Burgundy you dine,' Tho at the Mighty Monarch you repine, You grant him still most Christian, in his Wine.

Thus far the Poet; but his brains grow Addle,

And all the rest is purely from this Noddle. You've seen young Ladies at the Senate door

Prefer Petitions, and your grace implore;
However grave the Legislators were,
Their Cause went ne're the worse for being
fair.

29

Reasons as weak as theirs, perhaps I bring; But I cou'd bribe you with as good a thing, I heard him make advances of good Nature, That he for once, wou'd sheath his cutting Satyr:

Sign but his Peace, he vows he'll ne'er again

The Sacred Names of Fops and Beaus profane.

Strike up the Bargain quickly; for I swear, As Times go now, he offers very fair.

Be not too hard on him with Statutes neither;

Be kind; and do not set your Teeth together,

To stretch the Laws, as Coblers do their Leather.

40 Horses by Papists are not to be ridden, But sure the Muses Horse was ne're for

bidden;

For in no Rate-Book it was ever found That Pegasus was valued at Five-pound : Fine him to dayly Drudging and Inditing; And let him pay his Taxes out in Writing.

EPILOGUE.

Spoken betwixt Antonio and Morayma. Mor. I Quak'd at heart for fear the Royal Fashion

Shou'd have seduc'd Us two to Seperation : To be drawn in, against our own desire, Poor I to be a Nun, poor You a Fryar.

Ant. I trembled when the Old Man's hand was in,

He would have prov'd we were too near of kin,

19

'Twere fitter that we follow'd their Example. And since all Marriage in Repentance ends, 'Tis good for us to part while we are Friends. To save a Maids Remorses and Confusions, E'en leave me now, before We try Conclusions.

Ant. To copy their Example first make certain

Of one good hour, like theirs, before our parting;

Make a debauch o're Night of Love and Madness;

And marry, when we wake, in sober sadness. Mor. I'le follow no new Sects of your inventing.

One Night might cost me nine long months repenting :

30

First wed, and, if you find that Life a Fetter, Dye when you please, the sooner Sir the better: My wealth wou'd get me love e're I cou'd ask it ;

Oh there's a strange Temptation in the Casket :

All these Young Sharpers would my grace importune,

And make me thundring Votes of Lives and Fortune.

Epilogue 36 Votes] The editors impertinently Lives The editors give Life