PROLO G U E.

HE who writ this, not without Pains and Thought,

From French and English Theaters has brought

Th' exactest Rules by which a Play is wrought.

II.

The Unities of Action, Place, and Time;
The Scenes unbroken; and a mingled Chime
Of Johnfon's Humour, with Corneille's Rhyme.

III.

But while dead Colours he with Care did lay,
He fears his Wit, or Plot he did not weigh,
Which are the living Beauties of a Play.

IV.

Plays are like Towns, which howe'er fortify'd
By Engineers, have ftill fome weaker fide
By the o'er-feen Defendant unefpy'd.

V.

And with that Art you make Approaches now;
Such skilful Fury in Affaults you fhow,
That every Poet without fhame may bow.

7

VI.

Ours therefore humbly would attend your Doom,
If Soldier-like, he may have Terms to come
With flying Colours, and with beat of Drum.

The Prologue goes out, and stays while a Tune is play'd, after which he returns again.

I

Second PROLOGUE.

Had forgot one half, I do proteft,

And now am fent again to speak the reft.

He

He bows to every great and noble Wit,
But to the little Hectors of the Pit
Our Poet's sturdy, and will not fubmit.
He'll be before-hand with 'em, and not stay
To fee each peevish Critick ftab his Play:
Each puny Cenfor, who his Skill to boast,
Is cheaply witty on the Poet's Coft.

No Critick's Verdict should, of right, ftand good,
They are excepted all as Men of Blood:

And the fame Law shall shield him from their Fury,
Which has excluded Butchers from a Fury.

You'd all be Wits

But Writing's tedious, and that way may fail;
The most compendious Method is to rail:
Which
you fo like, you think your felves ill us'd
When in fmart Prologues you are not abus’d.
A civil Prologue is approv'd by no Man ;
You hate it as you do a civil Woman:
Your Fancy's pall'd, and liberally you pay
To have it quicken'd ere you fee a Play.
Just as old Sinners worn from their Delight,
Give Mony to be whip'd to Appetite.
But what a Pox keep I fo much ado
To fave our Poet? He is one of you;
A Brother Judgment, and as I hear fay,
A curfed Critick as e'er damm'd a Play.
Good falvage Gentlemen your own Kind spare,
He is, like you, a very Wolf or Bear;
Yet think not he'll your ancient Rights invade,
Or ftop the Courfe of your free damning Trade.
For be, (he Vows) at no Friend's Play can fit,
But he muft needs find Fault to fhew his Wit:
Then, for his fake, ne'er flint your own Delight;
Throw boldly, for he fits to all that write;
With fuch he ventures on an even lay,
For they bring ready Mony into Play.
Those who write not, and yet all Writers niek,
Are Bankrupt Gamefters, for they damn on Tick.

Dramatis

Enter Celadon, and Afteria, meeting each other, be in riding Habit, they embrace.

D

CELADON,

EAR Afteria!

Afteria. My dear Brother, welcome; a thoufand Welcomes: Methinks this Year you have been absent, has been so tedious! I hope as you have made a pleasant Voyage, fo you have brought your good Humour back again to Court.

Cel. I never yet knew any Company I could not be merry in, except it were an old Woman's.

Aft. Or at a Funeral.

Cel.

Cel. Nay, for that you fhall excufe me; for I was never merrier than I was at a Creditor's of mine, whofe Book perished with him: But what new Beauties have you at Court? How do Melissa's two fair Daughters?

Aft. When you tell me which of 'em you are in love with, I'll anfwer you.

Cel. Which of 'em, naughty Sifter, what a Question's there? With both of 'em, with each and fingular of 'em. Aft. Blefs me! you are not ferious!

Cel. You look as if it were a Wonder to fee a Man in love: Are they not handsome?

Aft. Ay, but both together

Cel. Ay, and both afunder; 'why, I hope there are but two of 'em, the tall finging and dancing one, and the little innocent one?

Aft. But you cannot marry

both?

Cel. No, nor either of 'em I trust in Heav'n; but I can keep them Company, I can fing and dance with 'em, and treat 'em; and that, I take it, is fomewhat better than mufly marrying them: Marriage is poor Folks Pleafure, that cannot go to the Coft of Variety: But I am out of Danger of that with these two, for I love 'em fo equally, I can never make Choice between 'em. Had I but one Miftrefs, I might go to her to be merry, and he, perhaps, be out of Humour; there were a Vifit loft: But here, if one of 'em frown upon me, the other will be the more obliging, on purpose to recommend her own Gaiety, befides a thousand things that I could name.

Aft. And none of 'em to any purpose.

Cel. Well, if you will not be cruel to a poor Lover, you might oblige me by carrying me to their Lodgings. Aft. You know I am always bufie about the Queen. Cel. But once or twice only, 'till I am a little flush'd in my Acquaintance with other Ladies, and have learn'd to prey for my felf. I promife you I'll make all the hafte I can to end the Trouble, by being in love fomewhere elfe.

Aft. You would think it hard to be deny'd now. Cel. And reafon good: Many a Man hangs himself for the lofs of one Miftrefs: How do you think then I fhould

bear