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TIS 1 much desird, you Judges of the Town | |
Would pass a vote to put all Prologues down; | |
For who can show me, since they first were writ, | |
They er converted one hard-harted Wit? | |
Yet the Worlds mended well; in former Days | 5 |
Good Prologues were as scarce as now good Plays. | |
For the reforming Poets of our Age | |
In this first Charge spend their poetique rage. | |
Expect no more when once the Prologues done; | |
The wit is ended ere the Plays begun. | 10 |
You now have Habits, Dances, Scenes, and Rhymes, | |
High Language often, ay, and Sense sometimes. | |
As for a clear Contrivance, doubt it not; | |
They blow out Candles to give Light to th Plot. | |
And for Surprize, two Bloody-minded Men | 15 |
Fight till they dye, then rise and dance again. | |
Such deep Intrigues youre welcome to this Day: | |
But blame your Selves, not him who writ the Play. | |
Though his Plots dull as can be well desird, | |
Wit stiff as any you have er admird, | 20 |
Hes bound to please, not to write well, and knows | |
There is a mode in Playes as well as Cloaths; | |
Therefore, kind Judges
A Second Prologue enters. 2. Hold! would you admit | |
For Judges all you see within the Pit? | |
1. Whom would he then except, or on what Score? | 25 |
2. All who (like him) have writ ill Plays before; | |
For they, like Thieves condemnd, are hangmen made | |
To execute the Members of their Trade. | |
All that are writing now he would disown, | |
But then he must exceptevn all the Town; | 30 |
All Cholrique losing Gamesters, who in spight | |
Will damn to Day, because they lost last Night; | |
All Servants, whom their Mistress Scorn upbraids, | |
All Maudlin Lovers, and all slighted Maids, | |
All who are out of Humour or severe, | 35 |
All that want Wit, or hope to find it here. | |