Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

But what to-day will take away,

To-morrow will restore.

Thus at the heighth we love and live, And fear not to be poor.

PROLOGUE TO THE MISTAKES

OR, THE FALSE REPORT

[This play, a tragi-comedy by Joseph Harris, a comic actor of no great note, was probably acted in 1690; it was published early in 1691, being entered in the Term Catalogue for Hilary Term (February). According to Giles Jacob, in The Poetical Register, or The Lives and Characters of all the English Poets, 1723, this play was "originally composed by another person; but being put into his [Harris's] hands, he, by altering, spoiled it."]

Enter MR. BRIGHT

GENTLEMEN, we must beg your pardon; here's no prologue to be had to-day; our on without a new play is like to come frontispiece, as bald as one of you young beaux without your periwig. I left our young poet sniveling and sobbing behind the scenes, and cursing somebody that has deceiv'd 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 inspir'd 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.

[Exeunt 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:

But the deuce take me, if I know what

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

But swear henceforwards to renounce all writing,

And take this solemn oath of my inditing,

As you love ease, and hate campaigns and fighting.

Yet, faith, 't is just to make some few examples:

What if I shew'd you one or two for samples?

(Pulls one out.) Here's one desires my ladyship to meet

At the kind couch above in Bridges Street. O sharping knave! that would have you know what,

For a poor sneaking treat of chocolate. (Pulls out another.) Now, in the name of luck, I'll break this open,

20

Because I dreamt last night I had a token:
The superscription is exceeding pretty:
To the desire of all the town and city.
Now, gallants, you must know, this pre-
cious fop

Is foreman of a haberdasher's shop:
One who devoutly cheats, demure in carriage,
And courts me to the holy bands of mar-
riage;

But with a civil innuendo too,
My overplus of love shall be for you.
(Reads.) "Madam, I swear your looks are

so divine,

30

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Man sings. O SIGHT, the mother of desires,

What charming objects dost thou yield! 'Tis sweet, when tedious night expires,

To see the rosy morning gild

The mountain-tops, and paint the field!
But when Clorinda comes in sight,

She makes the summer's day more bright;
And when she goes away, 't is night.

Chorus. When fair Clorinda comes in sight, &c.

Woman sings. 'Tis sweet the blushing morn to view;

And plains adorn'd with pearly dew;

But such cheap delights to see,

Heaven and nature

Give each creature;

They have eyes, as well as we;

This is the joy, all joys above,

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

19

Chorus. This is the joy, all joys above, &c.

Man sings. And, if we may discover, What charms both nymph and lover, 'Tis when the fair at mercy lies,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

[These lines were written in honor of Frances, fourth daughter of Sir William Brooke (alias Cobham) and sister of the second wife of Sir John Denham, the poet. The lady married, first (before May, 1665), Sir Thomas Whitmore of Bridgenorth and Buddwas, who died in 1682; and, second, Matthew Harvey, Esq., of Twickenham, who died in 1693: she herself died in 1690. (See G. E. C.: Complete Peerage of England, etc., ii, 320, 321.) The Reverend Henry P. Prosser, vicar of Twickenham, writes to the present editor as follows:

"There is in the lobby of our church a massive monument, a pedestal with an urn upon it. On one side of the base it is thus inscribed,

« EdellinenJatka »