PROLOGUE and EPILOGUE to ALFRED, a Mafque, lately afted with Applause at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. (See P. 99.)

PROLOGUE.

By a FRIEND.
Spoken by Mr. GARRICK.

N arms renown'd, for arts of peace
ador'd,

IN

Alfred, the nation's father, more than lord, A British author has prefum'd to draw, Struck deep, even now, with reverential

awe:

And fets the godlike figure fair in viewO may difcernment find the likeness true. When Danish fury, with wide-wasting hand, [land, Had fpread pale fear, and ravage o'er the This prince arifing bade confufion cease, Bade order fhine, and bleft his ifle with peace;

Taught liberal arts to humanize the mind, And heaven-born fcience to fweet freedom join'd.

United thus, the friendly fifters fhone,

And one fecur'd, while one adorn'd his throne.

Amidit these honours of his happy reign, Each Grace and every Mufe compos'd his

devil;

Tie all your bufy tongues up, one by one, And turn what share of brains you haveto stone:

The beau's foft fcull convert to folid rockWhat then?-the wig will always have its block.

But for the men of fad and folemn face, The deep dark fages in or out of place, Who much in port and politicks delight, Small change, God knows, will make them ftatues quite. [fneerThe ladies too-but now thefe withings No, fair ones, you fhall meet no infult here :

I only hint my power-that, if I lift,

I yet can charm you two long hours from whift.

But, cards are ready, you are all bespokeTo fpoil a dozen drums, would be no

joke.

Befides, 'twould be mere arbitrary (way : Such as, of old, was us'd at Nero's play, Who, when he fung and fiddled to the town, Still, as his fubjects yawn'd, would knock them down.

No,

134

teize :

[pleafe. Who would engage it, firft fhould aim to This part be mine: and, if I now fucceed To my own with, you will be pleas'd indeed.

Then-for a trial: thus, I wave my hand, To prove the power of this inchanting wand.

On waving her wand, the fcene opens, and discovers a beautiful valley, bordered on each hand by forest trees, rifing irregularly, and forming from space to space various groves. The profpect behind is a landscape of woodlands, and of mountains that afcend above one another, till the laft feem to lofe themselves in the fky. From the fummit of the nearest hill a river pours down, by feveral falls, in a natural cafcade. The warbling of birds is heard.Then enter, firft, a husbandman, his wife, and family; afterwards, a fhepherd and hepherdess; and laftly, folders: All of them finging the bleffings of freedom and peace.

The lowing herd winds flowly o'er the lea, The plowman homewards plods his weary way, [to me.

And leaves the world to darkness and Now fades the glimm'ring landskip on the fight,

And all the air a folemn ftillness holds; Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,

[folds: Or drowzy tinklings lull the distant Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r, The moping owl does to the moon complain [bow'r,

Of fuch, as wand'ring near her fecret Moleft her antient fohtary reign. Beneath these rugged eims, that yew-tree's made, [ing heap, Where heaves the turf in many a mould'rEach in his narrow cell for ever laid,

The rude forefathers of the hamlet nleep.

The breezy call of incenfe-breathing morn, The swallow twitt'ring from the strawbuilt shed, [horn The cock's fhrill clarion, or the echoing No more fhall rouze-them from their lowly bed. For them no more the blazing hearth mall Or busy house. wife ply her evening care, No children run to lifp their fire's return, Or climb his knees the envy'd kiss to hare.

[burn,

Oft did the harvest to their fickle yield, Their harrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke ; [field ! How jocund did they drive their team aHow bow'd the woods beneath their

Aturdy ftroke!

Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys and destiny obfcure, Nor grandeur hear with a difdainful fmile The fhort and ample annals of the

Can honour's voice provoke the filent duft, Or flatt'ry footh the dull cold ear of death?

Perhaps in this neglected spot’is laid,
Some heart once pregnant with celestial
fire:
[fway'd,
Hands that the reins of empire might have
Or wake to extafy the living lyre.
But knowledge to their eyes her ample page,
Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er

unroll;

Chill penury reprefs'd their noble rage,

And froze the genial current of the foul. Full many a gem of pureft ray ferene

The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear, [reen, Full many a flow'r is born to bluth un. And wafte its fweetness on the defart air. [breaft Some village Hampden, that with dauntless The little tyrant of his fields withstood, Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood. [mand, Th' applaufe of liftening fenates to comThe threats of pain and ruin to defpife, To fcatter plenty o'er a fmiling land,

And read their hift'ry in a nation's eyes, Their lot forbad: nor circumfcrib'd alone Their growing virtues, but their crimes

confin'd,

For bad to wade thro' flaughter to a throne, And hut the gates of mercy on mankind,

The ftruggling pangs of confcious truth to hide, [shame, To quench the blushes of ingenuous Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride With incenfe kindled at the mufe's Aame.

ftrife,

Their fober wishes never learn'd to stray; Along the cool fequefter'd vale of life,

They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. Yet ev'n thefe bones from infult to protect

Some frail memorial still erected nigh, With uncouth rhymes, and shapeless culture deckt,

Implores the paffing tribute of a figh, Their name, their years (pelt by th' unletter'd muse

The place of fame and elegy fupply, And many a holy text around the ftrews, That teach the ruftick moralift to die. For who to dumb forgetfulness a prey,

This pleafing anxious being e'er re. fign'd,

Left the warm precincts of the chearful day, [hind? Nor caft one longing, ling'ring look beOn fome fond breast the parting foul relies,

Some pious drops the clofing eye requires;

Ev'n from the tomb the voice of nature cries,

Awake and faithful to her wonted fires, For thee, who, mindful of th' unhonour'd

dead,

Doft in these lines their a tlefs tale relate, If chance by lonely contemplation led,

Some kindred spirit thall inquire thy

fate; Haply fome hoary-headed fwain may say, "Oft have we feen him at the peep of dawn

"lawn.

"Brushing with hafty steps the dews away, "To meet the fun upon the upland [" beech, "There at the foot of yonder nodding "That wreaths its old fantastick roots "fo high, ["Atretch, "His liftlefs length at noon-tide would he "And pore upon the brook that babbles by. [" in fcorn, "Hard by yon wood, now fmiling as "Mutt'ring his wayward fancies, he "would rove : [" forlorn, "Now drooping, woeful, wan, like one "Or craz'd with care, or cross'd in "hopeless love.

"One morn I mifs'd him on the custom'd "hill, [" tree, "Along the heath, and near his fav'rite "Another came, nor yet befide the rill, "Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he :

"The next, with dirges due, in fad array, "Slow thro' the church-way path we

"faw him borne ; [the lay "Approach and read (for thou can't read) "Grav'd on the tone beneath yon aged • thora."

year,

"By hands unfeen, are fhowers of vio

"The red-breaft loves to build and war["ground.

"ble there,

"And little footsteps lightly print the

abode,

(There they alike in trembling hope repofe) The bofom of his father and his God.

Strip-Me-Naked, or Royal Gin for ever. A PICTURE. MUST, I will have Gin !-that skillet

take :[bake. Pawn it :-No more I'll roaft, or boil, or This juice immortal will each want supply. Starve on (ye brats !) fo I but bụng my eye. Starve! No!-This Gin does mother's milk excel; [repel.

Will paint the cheeks, and hunger's darts
The skillet's pawn'd already.-Take this
cap ;
[lap.-
Round my bare head I'll yon brown paper
Ha! half my petticoat was tore away
By dogs (I fancy) as I maudlin lay.
How the winds whistle thro' each broken

pane !

[rain ! Thro' the wide-yawning roof how pours the My bedftead's crack'd; the table goes hiphop.[dial drop i

But fee! the Gin!-Come, come thou corThou fovereign balfam to my longing heart! Thou hufband! children! -all - We must not part! [lane it goes [Drinks.] Delicious!-O!--Down the red Now I'm a queen, and trample on my woes. Infpir'd by Gin, I'm ready for the road; Cou'd fhoot my man, or fire the king's abode. [round and round : Ha! my brain's crack'd.-The room turns Down drop the platters, pans :-I'm on the ground; [care I? My tatter'd gown flips from me :-what I was born naked, and I'll naked die.

The HEROINES: er, Modern Memoirs. N ancient times, fome hundred winters [were chaste, When British dames for confcience fake

IN arpaft,

136

fway'd,

From virtue's paths incontinent had stray'd;
When banish'd reason re-affum'd her place,
The confcious wretch bewail'd her foul dif-
grace;
[years

Fled from the world and pass'd her joyless
In decent folitude and pious tears:
Veil'd in fome convent made her peace
[given.

with heav'n,

And almost hop'd-by prudes to be forNot fo of modern wh-s th'illuftrious train,

Renown'd Conftantia, Pilkington, and-,
Grown old in fin, and dead to am'rous joy,
No acts of penace their great fouls em-
ploy;
[vance,
Without a blush behold each nymph ad-
The luscious horoine of her own romance;
Each harlot triumphs in her loss of fame,
And boldly prints and publishes her shame.

T

On Mifs P――y H—

ELL me no more of Celia's face,

Of Chloe's locks, or Cynthia's air ; Venus has lavish'd ev'ry grace On the more beautecus P-y H—.

Adieu, ye city belles; no more
Your ftudied charms have pow'r to move :
Take, ye fantastick beaus! the store;
'Tis Polly I alone can love.

No coral, jet, nor damask rose
Shall paint her lips, or cheeks, or hair
Not all the products Flora fhows,
Can with fair Polly's charms compare.
Upon her beauteous face is fix'd
The queen of love's triumphant sway;
While Cupid and the Graces mix'd
Around her eyes for ever play.

Ah! why fo many charms confefs'd,
In one angelick form fo fair?

This now, perhaps, is wrong-yet this we know,

'Twas fenfe and truth a century ago: When Britain with tranfcendent glory crown'd,

For high atchievements, as for wit renown'd, [part, Cull'd from each growing grace the purest And cropt the flowers from every blooming art.

[task Our nobleft youth would then embrace the Of comick humour, or the myftick masque. 'Twas theirs t'encourage worth, and give

to bards

What now is fpent in boxing and in cards! Good fenfe their pleasure-virtue ftill their guide,

And English magnanimity-their pride.
Methinks, I fee, with fancy's magick eye,
The fhade of Shakespear, inyon azure sky.
On yon high cloud behold the bard advance,
Grafping all nature with a fingle glance:
In various attitudes arcund him ftand
The paffions, waiting for his dread com-
mand.

First kneeling love before his feet appears,
And mufically fighing melts in tears.
Near him fell jealoufy with fury burns,
And into forms the amorous breathings
turns;
[draws near,
Then hope with heaven-ward look, and joy
While palfied terror trembles in the rear.

Such Shakespear's train of horror and

delight,

And fuch we hope to introduce to night. But if, tho' juft in thought, we fail in fact, And good intention ripens not to act, Weigh our defign, your cenfure ftill defer When truth's in view, 'tis glorious e'en to

err.

EPILOGUE. Spoken by DESDEMONA.

TRUE

RUE woman to the last-my peroration

I come to speak in (pight of fuffocation; To fhew the prefent and the age to come, We may be choak'd, but never can be dumb. Well now, methinks, I fee you all run out, And hate away to lady Bragwell's rout; Each modifh fentiment to hear and weigh, Of those who nothing think, and all things fay.

Prudella firft in parody begins. (For nonfenfe and buffoonery are twins) Can beaux the court for theatres exchange? [firange "Ifwear by heaven 'tis ftrange, 'tis passing "And very whimsical, and mighty dull, "And pitiful, and wondrous pitiful: "I wish I bad not heard it-Bieffed dame!** Whene'er the speaks, her audience wish the

fame.

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