Prologue.

Lest any of you wonder, why the Bard To an old actor hath assign'd the part Sustain'd of old by young performers; that I'll first explain: then say what brings To-day, a whole play, wholly from the Greek, We mean to represent:- The Self-Tormentor: Wrought from a single to a double plot.

Now therefore that our comedy is new, And what it is, I've shown: who wrote it too, And whose in Greek it is, were I not sure Most of you knew already, would I tell. But, wherefore I have ta'en this part upon me, In brief I will deliver: for the Bard Has sent me here as pleader, not as Prologue; You he declares his judges, me his counsel: And yet as counsel nothing can I speak More than the Author teaches me to say, Who wrote th' oration which I now recite.

As to reports, which envious men have spread, That he has ransack'd many Grecian plays, While he composes some few Latin ones, That he denies not, he has done; nor does Repent he did it; means to do it still; Safe in the warrant and authority Of greater bards, who did long since the same. Then for the charge, that his arch-enemy Maliciously reproaches him withal, That he but lately hath applied himself To music, with the genius of his friends, Rather than natural talents, fraught; how true, Your judgment, your opinion, must decide. I would entreat you, therefore, not to lean To tales of slander, rather than of candor. Be favorable; nurse with growing hopes The bards, who give you pleasing novelties;Pleasing I say, not such as His I mean, Who lately introduc'd a breathless slave, Making the crowd give way - But wherefore trace A dunce's faults? which shall be shown at large, When more he writes, unless he cease to rail.

Attend impartially! and let me once Without annoyance act an easy part; Lest your old servant be o'er-labor'd still With toilsome characters, the running slave, The eating parasite, enrag'd old man, The bold-fac'd sharper, covetous procurer; Parts, that ask pow'rs of voice, and iron sides. Deign then, for my sake, to accept this plea, And grant me some remission from my labor. For they, who now produce new comedies, Spare not my age! If there is aught laborious, They run to me; but if of little weight, Away to others. In our piece to-day The style is pure: now try my talents then In either character. If I for gain, Never o'er-rated my abilities; If I have held it still my chief reward To be subservient to your pleasure; fix In me a fair example, that our youth May seek to please you, rather than themselves.