31 You must have Mamamouchi, such a Fop Sure there's some spell our Poet never knew, 40 But that he hopes I'm Fool enough to please ye. Some Sister, Playing at Content alone. This they did hope; the other Side did fear; And both, you see, alike are Couzen'd here. Some thought the Title of our Play to blame; They liked the thing, but yet abhorr'd the Name: Like modest Puncks, who all you ask afford, But, for the World, they would not name that word. Yet, if you'll credit what I heard him say, 20 And, sure, behind our Scenes you'll look for none. PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO AMBOYNA, OR THE CRUELTIES OF THE DUTCH TO THE ENGLISH MERCHANTS. What injuries soe'r upon us fall, Be gull'd no longer; for you'l find it true, EPILOGUE. A Poet once the Spartan's led to fight, And made 'em conquer in the Muses right: So would our Poet lead you on this day, Showing your tortur'd Fathers in his Play. To one well born th' affront is worse and more, When he's abus'd and baffled by a Bore: Interest's the God they worship in their With an ill Grace the Dutch their mischiefs do, State; 19 They've both ill Nature and ill Manners too. Well may they boast themselves an antient Nation, And you, I take it, have not much of that. No Map shows Holland truer then our Play: And lest hope Wit; in Dutchmen that would be As much improper as would Honesty. For they were bred e're Manners were in fashion: ΙΟ And their new Commonwealth has set 'em free, Their Sway became 'em with as ill a Meen, And onely two Kings' touch can cure the As Cato did his Affricque Fruits display, PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY PROLOGUE. Spoken by MR. HART at the acting of the WHAT Greece, when learning flourish'd, onely (Athenian Judges,) you this day renew. PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1673. Printed in 1684, again in 1692. Th' illiterate Writer, Emperique like, applies To Minds diseas'd, unsafe, chance Remedies: The Learn'd in Schools, where Knowledge first began, Studies with Care th' Anatomy of Man; Sees Vertue, Vice, and Passions in their Cause, And Fame from Science, not from Fortune, draws. So Poetry, which is in Oxford made Could ne'er spell Grammar, would be reading Such build their Poems the Lucretian way; And their gay Nonsense their own Citts admire. Our Poet, could he find Forgiveness here, Would wish it rather than a Plaudit there. He owns no Crown from those Prætorian Bands, 40 But knows that Right is in this Senates Hands. Not impudent enough to hope your Praise, Low at the Muses Feet, his Wreath he lays, And, where he took it up, resigns his Bays. Kings make their Poets whom themselves think fit. But 'tis your Suffrage makes Authentique Wit. EPILOGUE. Spoken by MR. HART. No poor Dutch Peasant, wing'd with all his Fear, Flies with more haste, when the French Arms draw near, Than we with our Poetique Train come down, For Refuge hither from th' infected Town ; Heaven for our Sins this Summer has thought fit To visit us with all the Plagues of Wit. PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE Spoken at the opening of the New House, MARCH 26, 1674. Is better than to be by tarnisht gawdry known. They, who are by your Favours wealthy made, With mighty Sums may carry on the Trade; We, broken Banquiers, half destroy'd by Fire, With our small Stock to humble Roofs retire ; Pity our Loss, while you their Pomp admire. For Fame and Honour we no longer strive; 21 They give the Law to our Provincial Stage. Great Neibours enviously promote Excess, While they impose their Splendor on the less; But only Fools, and they of vast Estate, cravat. Yet if some Pride with want may be allow'd, We in our plainness may be justly proud; Our Royal Master will'd it should be so; 30 Whate'er he's pleased to own can need no show; PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE AT THE OPENING, 1674. First printed in 1684. PROLOGUE. Spoken by MR. HART. POETS, your Subjects, have their Parts assign'd, T' unbend and to divert their Sov'reign's Mind: When, tyr'd with following Nature, you think fit To seek repose in the cool shades of Wit, And from the sweet Retreat, with Joy survey What rests, and what is conquer'd, of the way. Here, free your selves from Envy, Care, and Strife, You view the various Turns of humane Life; PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY 40 Safe in our Scene, through dangerous Courts you go, And undebauch'd the Vice of Cities know. 10 Blest sure are you above all Mortal Kind, Content to see, and shun, those ills we show, And beg from you the value of their Wit: 20 That Shakespear's, Fletcher's, and great Johnson's Claim OF OXFORD, 1674. Printed twice over in the May be renew'd from those who gave them Miscellanies of 1684. Fame. |