| Citation |
MG-A(G.760.019
6 Mar 1760:31,32 (774)
Monday last the theatre in this city was open'd, when the
tragedy of the Orphan, and Lethe (a dramatic satire) were
perform'd, in the presence of his Excellency the Governor,
to a polite and numerous audience, who all express'd a
general satisfaction. The principal character, both in the
play and entertainment, were perform'd with great justice,
and the applause which attended the whole representation,
did less honour to the abilities of the actors than to the
taste of their auditors. For the amusement and emolument of
such of our readers as were not present, we here insert the
Prologue and Epilogue, both written by a Gentleman in this
province, whose poetical works have render'd him justly
admir'd by all encouragers of the liberal arts.
PROLOGUE, spoken by Mr. Douglass.
Lo! to new worlds th'advent'rous muse conveys
The moral wisdom of dramatic lays!
She bears thro' ocean Phoebus' high command,
And tunes his lyre in fair Maria's land:
. . . [16 lines]
Let no nice sparks despise our humble scenes,
Half-buskin'd Monarchs, and itin'rant Queens!
Triflers! who boast, they once in tragic fury
Heard Garrick thund'ring on the Stage of Drury!
Or view'd, exulting, o'er each gay machine,
The feats of Covent-Garden's Harlequin!
Athens from such beginnings, mean and low!
Saw Thespis' cart a wond'rous structure grow;
Saw theatres spire, and with surprize,
Ghosts, Gods, and Daemons, or descent or rise!
. . . [6 more lines]
EPILOGUE, spoken by Mrs. Douglass.
Well! --since the dreadful bus'ness is all over--
How strange a creature is your furious lover?
Your hot-brain'd spark! --who, for a little jilting,
Blasphemes the sex, swaggers and runs a tilting!
. . . [12 lines]
Who pin-money's secur'd, if they turn Hectors,
We'll plague them worse than by stale curtain-lectures: --
With play, rout, op'ra, masquerade and ball;
And the nocturnal joys of dear Vaux-hall!
But, you, provincial fair ones, with meek merit
Detest such practices of female spirit!
. . . [24 more lines]
[Both passages have additional references to characters and
plays.]
|