How can he show his manhood, if you bind him Yet, though the stage's traffic is undone, You whip them out, like school-boys, till they gig ; And much good malice is so meanly drest, 235 30 Heaven drew out all the gold for us, and left your dross behind. Beauty for valour's best reward he chose; Peace, after war; and after toil, repose. 35 Hence, ye profane, excluded from our sights; Go, make your best of solitary nights. And, charmed by day with honour's vain delights, Our sex is still your over-match in wit: Recant betimes, 'tis prudence to submit ; 40 To make fine fools of you, and all your parts. EPILOGUE. I'm thinking (and it almost makes me mad) Idolatry was even their gods' own trade: They worshipped the fine creatures they had made. And love was all the fashion in the skies. When the sweet nymph held up her lily hand, 5 471 * Julian was a low fellow, a hawker of lampoons and coarse ballads. A poem addressed to him under the title "A Familiar Epistle to Mr. Julian, Secretary to the Muses," appears in the "Miscellany Poems" (vol. vi. edition of 1716), being ascribed to Dryden, there cannot be a doubt incorrectly. See p. 298. The sense has been spoilt here by most editors, including Scott and R. Bell, changing we into our The treasury of heaven was ne'er so bare Mark, too, when he usurped the husband's name, ΙΟ The secret joys of love he wisely hid; 15 But you, sirs, boast of more than e'er you did. You tease your cuckolds, to their face torment 'em : But Jove gave his new honours to content 'em, And, in the kind remembrance of the fair, On each exalted son bestowed a star. And always does, when we no more can sin. To get young godlings, and so mend our breed. PROLOGUE TO "MISTAKES, OR THE FALSE REPORT."* 1690. Enter MR. BRIGHT. Gentlemen, we must beg your pardon; here's no Prologue to be had to-day. Our new play is like to come on without a frontispiece; as bald as one of you young beaux without your periwig. I left our young poet snivelling and sobbing behind the scenes, and cursing somebody that has deceived him. Enter MR. BOWEN. Hold your prating to the audience: here's honest Mr. Williams just come in, half mellow, from the Rose Tavern. He swears he is inspired with claret, and will come on, and that extempore too, either with a prologue of his own, or something like one. O here he comes to his trial, at all adventures; for my part, I wish him a good deliverance. [Excunt MR. BRIGHT and MR. BOWEN. Enter MR. WILLIAMS, Save ye, sirs, save ye! I am in a hopeful way. I should speak something, in rhyme, now for the play : 5 *This was a tragi comedy of which Joseph Harris, the comedian, was the ostensible author; it is a piece of no merit. KING ARTHUR. So far I'm sure 'tis rhyme-that needs no granting: And, if my verses' feet stumble-you see my own are wanting. In which though much of art there does not lurk, It may hold out three days, and that's as long as Cork. But, for this play-(which, till I have done, we show not.) And if his crackers light among your pelf, You are blown up; if not, then he's blown up himself. 15 By this time, I'm something recovered of my flustered madness: And now, a word or two in sober sadness. Ours is a common play; and you pay down 20 A common harlot's price-just half-a-crown. You'll say, I play the pimp, on my friend's score; But since 'tis for a friend, your gibes give o'er, For many a mother has done that before. 25 How's this? you cry: an actor write?—we know it; But Shakespeare was an actor, and a poet. Has not great Jonson's learning often failed, But Shakespeare's greater genius still prevailed? 30 To tell the truth, when our old wits are tired, Not one of us but means to be inspired. Let your kind presence grace our homely cheer; 35 So much for that-and the devil take small beer. 473 PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO "KING ARTHUR, OR THE BRITISH WORTHY."† 1691. PROLOGUE. SURE there's a dearth of wit in this dull town, * See "The Hind and the Panther," part 3, line 759, and note. t "King Arthur, or the British Worthy," called by Dryden "a dramatic opera," was produced at the Theatre Royal in 1691. The music was by Purcell, and the opera was a great success. Dryden had often meditated an epic poem on King Arthur, but the necessity, as he has himself said, of working for subsistence, and probably even more his nature, which made him work impulsively and under excitement, prevented the fulfilment of his design. This opera had been originally composed, like "Albion and Albanius," at the end of Charles II.'s reign: it was much Mr. R. Bell has turned it into favourably. changed before it was produced in the reign of William and Mary. t Savourly, printed savourily by Scott. Happy is he, who in his own defence No sooner named, than one cries out,-These stagers 25 If these would have their prayers be heard, or no ; For, in great stakes, we piously suppose, Men pray but very faintly they may lose. Leave off these wagers; for, in conscience speaking, The city needs not your new tricks for breaking : 45 And if you, gallants, lose, to all appearing, You'll want an equipage for volunteering; When you should draw the sword, you draw the guinea. From fops, and wits, and cits, and Bow-street beaux : This Epilogue was spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle, an actress of great beauty and unblemished character. Some from Whitehall, but from the Temple more: I have not yet read all; but, without feigning, But swear henceforward to renounce all writing, As you love ease, and hate campaigns and fighting. At the kind couch above in Bridges-street. [Pulls out one. Oh sharping knave! that would have-you know what, 19 Now, in the name of luck, I'll break this open, [Pulls out Because I dreamt last night I had a token; another. The superscription is exceeding pretty, "To the desire of all the town and city." Now, gallants, you must know, this precious fop Is foreman of a haberdasher's shop: 25 One who devoutly cheats, demure in carriage, And courts me to the holy bands of marriage; But, with a civil innuendo too, My overplus of love shall be for you. "Madam, I swear your looks are so divine, [Reads. 30 "When I set up, your face shall be my sign; Though times are hard-to show how I adore you, "Here's my whole heart, and half a guinea for you. But, have a care of beaux; they're false, my honey; But I know better things of some among ye. My wisest way will be to keep the stage, 35 40 PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE TO "CLEOMENES, OR THE SPARTAN HERO."* 1692. PROLOGUE. I THINK, or hope at least, the coast is clear; That none but men of wit and sense are here; *The tragedy of "Cleomenes was first represented in May 1692. There had been some delay in bringing it out; Queen Mary, who was acting as Regent during William's absence in Ireland, |