Brings her in triumph, with her portion down, Poor spouse at home as ragged as a colt is. The doughty bullies enter bloody drunk, ૩૦ Call sons of whores, and strike, but ne'er lug out: XVI. 55 63 64 PROLOGUE to the King and Queen, upon the union of the two companies in 1686. SINCE Faction ebbs, and rogues grow out of fashion, Their penny scribes take care t' inform the nation How well men thrive in this or that plantation: How Pennsylvania's air agrees with Quakers, Both e'en too good for madmen and for traitors, 5 Truth is, our land with saints is so run o'er, That now there's need of two New England's more. What's this you'll say, to us and our vocation? The factious natives never could agree, for property. Some say they no obedience paid of late, 10 15 Plain sense, without the talent of foretelling, 19 When men will, needlessly, their freedom barter For lawless pow'r, sometimes they catch a Tartar ; There's a damn'd word that rhymes to this call'd Charter. But since the victory with us remains, You shall be call'd to twelve in all our gains, 25 Old men shall have good old plays to delight 'em, And you, fair ladies and gallants! that slight 'em, We'll treat with good new plays, if our new wits can write 'em. We'll take no blund'ring verse, no fustian tumor; ვა For, faith, some of 'em such vile stuff have made, 35 We've giv'n you tragedies all sense defying, All these disasters we will hope to weather; 40 XVII. PROLOGUE TO THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. By Mr. N. LEE, 1689. LADIES! (I hope there's none behind to hear) I long to whisper something in your ear; $ A secret which does much my mind perplex; A man that's false to love, that vows and cheats, 5 A rogue in mode (I dare not speak too broad) 10 Out on him, traitor! for a filthy beast But men are dipt for soul and body too: And when found out excuse themselves, pox cant 'em, With Latin stuff, perjuria ridet amantûm. I'm not book-learn'd, to know that word in vogue, I'm sure I never heard that screech-owl hollow'd 21 25 Yet, by their favour, when they have been kissing,30 We can perceive the ready money missing. Well; we may rail; but 'tis as good e'en wink; Something we find, and something they will sink. But since they're at renouncing, 'tis our parts To trump their di❜monds as they trump our hearts. 35 XVIII. PROLOGUE to THE WIDOW RANTER. By Mrs. BENN, 1690. HEAV'N Save ye, Gallants! and this hopeful age, O'erstocks the Town so much, and thrives so well, s When each has a plantation of his own. His cause ne'er fails, for whatsoe'er he spends, There's still God's plenty for himself and friends,10 Should men be rated by poetic rules, Lord! what a poll would there be rais'd from fools! As if 'twere made some French commodity. 15 |