104:01,000[' ]| 104:01,000[A ]| 104:01,000[A ]| 104:01,000[A ]| 104:01,001[A ]| The mighty army now assembled here 104:01,002[A ]| Of dreadful critics might well make us fear; 104:01,003[A ]| But, sir, to your protection we retire, 104:01,004[A ]| No foe (we know) will at your quarters fire. 104:01,005[A ]| Though ne'er so bad, if you but grace our play, 104:01,006[A ]| We and our poet shall be safe today; 104:01,007[A ]| Your royal stamp can make all money pass 104:01,008[A ]| And none dares clip your coin, though but of brass. 104:01,009[A ]| Our valiant heroes, like their ladies, quake 104:01,010[A ]| And they (poor souls) all wish they now could take<10> 104:01,011[A ]| Morocco's deepest black their cheeks to hide 104:01,012[A ]| That when they blush, it might by none be spied. 104:01,013[A ]| Like bashful brides called to the marriage bed 104:01,014[A ]| They can't go back, and dare not forward tread. 104:01,015[A ]| But you, great sir, may soon remove their fear 104:01,016[A ]| And ease those hearts where you've the greatest share; 104:01,017[A ]| You with a smile can troubled minds assure 104:01,018[A ]| As with a touch you sickly bodies cure. 104:01,019[A ]| 104:01,020[A ]| Now gallants, something should to you be said, 104:01,021[A ]| But beauty better much the wit can plead;<20> 104:01,022[A ]| None will this fair petitioner withstand, 104:01,023[A ]| I can but only beg, she may command. 104:02,000[' ]| 104:02,000[' ]| 104:02,001[A ]| Athens and Rome, from whence this trade was brought, 104:02,002[A ]| Who best knew how to value what they taught, 104:02,003[A ]| With that true zeal their poets did adore 104:02,004[A ]| That scarce their conquerors themselves had more. 104:02,005[A ]| And the same wreath, that did in peace adorn 104:02,006[A ]| The poet's brow, 104:02,007[A ]| Was by the victor in his triumphs worn. 104:02,008[A ]| Wit then was sacred, and less awe was paid 104:02,009[A ]| To Caesar living than to Virgil dead. 104:02,010[A ]| But the degenerate world has changed the scene:<10> 104:02,011[A ]| Wit ne'er must see those golden days again; 104:02,012[A ]| The reverend stage has lost its native use 104:02,013[A ]| And is become a bridewell to a muse. 104:02,014[A ]| For here she must from testy critic bear 104:02,015[A ]| More lashes than poor punk from beadle there; 104:02,016[A ]| Censure's your game, and when you've roused a play, 104:02,017[A ]| How loud the numerous pack of coxcombs bay. 104:02,018[A ]| The grateful music echoes through the town 104:02,019[A ]| And, open-mouthed, you run the poet down; 104:02,020[A ]| So snarlingly to your delights you move,<20> 104:02,021[A ]| That you see plays e'en just as cats make love. 104:02,022[A ]| Here three dull hours in the afternoon you pass 104:02,023[A ]| With those cramped looks and with that damned grimace, 104:02,024[A ]| In so much pain, so much against your will, 104:02,025[A ]| As if your morning bolus grumbled still. 104:02,026[A ]| The ladies too, who should relieve the stage, 104:02,027[A ]| Will damn an author as they chide a page; 104:02,028[A ]| Severe to man in all respects they prove, 104:02,029[A ]| Are neither satisfied with wit nor love, 104:02,030[A ]| But think their drudges in both labours dull<30> 104:02,031[A ]| Unless, like miser's coffers, always full. 104:02,032[A ]| But be ill-natured all, hiss rail, exclaim: 104:02,033[A ]| Nay, let each fop against his conscience damn. 104:02,034[A ]| Alas! This will not do. Your noise and rage 104:02,035[A ]| Does rather cherish than destroy the stage. 104:02,036[A ]| Scribblers, in spite, will still write on: for know, 104:02,037[A ]| Poets, like mushrooms, by your thunder grow. 104:03,000[' ]| 104:03,000[' ]| 104:03,001[A ]| What have we left untried to please this age, 104:03,002[A ]| To bring it more in liking with the stage? 104:03,003[A ]| We sunk to farce, and rose to comedy, 104:03,004[A ]| Gave you high rants, and well-writ tragedy: 104:03,005[A ]| Yet Poetry, of the success afraid, 104:03,006[A ]| Called in her sister Music to her aid, 104:03,007[A ]| And, lest the gallery should diversion want, 104:03,008[A ]| We had cane chairs to dance 'em a courant. 104:03,009[A ]| But that this play may in its pomp appear, 104:03,010[A ]| Pray let our stage from thronging beaux be clear:<10> 104:03,011[A ]| For whate'er cost we're at, whate'er we do, 104:03,012[A ]| In scenes, dress, dances, yet there's many a beau 104:03,013[A ]| Will think himself a much more taking show. 104:03,014[A ]| How often have you cursed these new beau-screens 104:03,015[A ]| That stand betwixt the audience and the scenes? 104:03,016[A ]| I asked one of 'em t'other day: Pray, sir, 104:03,017[A ]| Why do ye the stage before the box prefer? 104:03,018[A ]| He answered: Oh! There I ogle the whole theatre, 104:03,019[A ]| My wig, my shape, my leg I there display, 104:03,020[A ]| They speak much finer things than I can say.<20> 104:03,021[A ]| These are the reasons why they crowd the stage 104:03,022[A ]| And make the disappointed audience rage. 104:03,023[A ]| Our business is to study how to please, 104:03,024[A ]| To tune the mind to its expected ease; 104:03,025[A ]| And all that we expect is but to find, 104:03,026[A ]| Equal to our expense, the audience kind.