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Britons, attend: be worth like this approv'd, And show, you have the virtue to be mov'd. With honeft fcorn the firft fam'd Cato view'd

Rome learning arts from Greece, whom she sub

du'd ;

40

Your scene precariously fubfifts too long
On French tranflation, and Italian fong.
Dare to have sense yourselves; affert the stage,
Be justly warm'd with your own native rage:
Such Plays alone should win a British ear,
As Cato's felf had not disdain'd to hear.

NOTES.

45

VER. 46. As Cato's felf, etc.] This alludes to that famous story of his coming into the Theatre, and going out again.

EPILOGUE

то

Mr. Rowe's JANE SHORE.

PR

Defigned for Mrs. OLDFIELD.

Rodigious this! the Frail-one of our Play From her own Sex fhould mercy find to-day! You might have held the pretty head afide, Peep'd in your fans, been serious, thus, and cry'd, The Play may pass----but that strange creature,

Shore,

I can't---indeed now---I fo hate a whore--

5

Juft as a blockhead rubs his thoughtless skull,
And thanks his stars he was not born a fool;
So from a fifter finner you shall hear,
"How strangely you expose yourself, my dear ?”
But let me die, all raillery apart,

Our sex are still forgiving at their heart;
And, did not wicked custom fo contrive,
We'd be the best, good-natur'd things alive.

II

There are, 'tis true, who tell another tale, 15 That virtuous ladies envy while they rail; Such rage without betrays the fire within; In fome close corner of the foul, they fin; Still hoarding up, moft fcandaloufly nice, Amidft their virtues a referve of vice. The godly dame, who fleshly failings damns, Scolds with her maid, or with her chaplain crams. Would you enjoy foft nights and folid dinners? Faith, gallants, board with faints, and bed with finners.

20

Well, if our Author in the Wife offends, 25
He has a Husband that will make amends:
He draws him gentle, tender, and forgiving,
And fure fuch kind good creatures may be living.
In days of old, they pardon'd breach of vows,
Stern Cato's felf was no relentless spouse: 30
Plu---Plutarch, what's his name, that writes his
life?

Tells us, that Cato dearly lov❜d his Wife :
Yet if a friend, a night or fo, fhould need her,
He'd recommend her as a special breeder.
To lend a wife, few here would fcruple make, 35
But, pray,
which of you
all would take her back?
Tho' with the Stoic Chief our stage may ring,

The Stoic Husband was the glorious thing.

The man had courage, was a fage, 'tis true, 39
And lov'd his country,---bu what's that to you?
Those strange examples ne'er were made to fit ye,
But the kind cuckold might instruct the City :
There, many an honest man may copy Cato,
Who ne'er faw naked fword, or look'd in Plato,
If, after all, you think it a disgrace,
That Edward's Mifs thus perks it in

45.

your face;

To fee a piece of failing flesh and blood,
In all the rest so impudently good;

Faith, let the modeft Matrons of the town

49

Come here in crouds, and stare the strumpet down.

END of the FIRST VOLUME.

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