A PROLOGUE, WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, .A ROMAN KNIGHT, WHOM CESAR FORCED UPON THE STAGE. PRESERVED BY MACROBIUS 1. WHAT! no way left to shun th' inglorious stage, 1 This translation was first printed in one of our author's earliest works, "The present State of Learning in Europe," 12mo. 1759. Unaw'd by pow'r, and unappal'd by fear, PROLOGUE TO THE TRAGEDY OF ZOBEIDE. In these bold times, when learning's sons explore And quit for Venus many a brighter here; With Scythian stores and trinkets deeply laden, He this way steers his course, in hopes of trading Yet ere he lands has order'd me before, To make an observation on the shore. Where are we driven? our reck'ning sure is lost! This seems a rocky and a dangerous coast. Lord! what a sultry climate am I under! Yon ill-foreboding cloud seems big with thunder: [Upper gallery. There mangroves spread, and larger than I've seen 'em [Pit. Here trees of stately size-and billing turtles in 'em Here ill-condition'd oranges abound— [Balconies. [Stage. [Tasting them. And apples, bitter apples, strew the ground: Th' inhabitants are cannibals I fear: I heard a hissing-there are serpents here! O, there the people are-best keep my distance; Our captain (gentle natives) craves assistance; Our ship's well stor'd-in yonder creek we've laid her, His honour is no mercenary trader. This is his first adventure; lend him aid, And we may chance to drive a thriving trade. His goods, he hopes, are prime, and brought from far, Equally fit for gallantry and war. What, no reply to promises so ample? -I'd best step back-and order up a sample. EPILOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR. LEE LEWES, IN THE CHARACTER OF HARLEQUIN, AT HIS BENEFIT. HOLD! prompter, hold! a word before your non sense; I'd speak a word or two to ease my conscience. My heels eclips'd the honours of my head; [Takes off his mask. Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth? Nature disowns, and reason scorns thy mirth; |