PROLOGUE to the GAMSTER: A

Comedy. As it was acted at the New
Theatre in Lincolns-Inn Fields.

Spoken by Mr. BETTERTON. humble Wives, that drag the Marriage Chain,

With cursed dogged Husbands may complain; If turn'd at large to starye, as we by you, They may, at least, for Alimony fues. Know, we refolve to make the Cafe our own, Between the Plantik Stage and the Defendane Town, When first you took us from our Father's House, And lovingly our Interest did efpoufe, You kept us fine, capesa'd, and lodgd us hers, And Honey-Moon held out above three Year;. At length, för Pleafures known do feldom Iaft, Frequent Enjoyment palled your sprightly Taste; And tho’at first you did not quite neglect, We found your Love was dwindled to Refpect Sometimes, indeed, as in your way it fell, You stoppd, and call'd to see if we were well.

Now,

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Now, quite estrang’d, this wretched Place you shun,
Like bad Wine, Business, Duels, and a Dun.
Have we for this increas'd Apollo's Race ?
Been often pregnant with your Wits Embrace ?
And born you many chopping Babes of Grace?
Some ugly Toads we had, and that's the Curse,
They were so like you, that they far'd the worse ;
For this to Night, we are not much in Pain,
Look on't, and if you like it, entertain;
If all the Midwife says, of it, be true,
There are some Features too like some of you ;
For us, if you think fitting to fór fake it,
We mean to run away, and let the Parish take iti

EPILOGUE spoken by Mrs. BARRI,

at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Larie April the 7th, 1789, at her

playing in Love for Love

with Mrs., BRACE GIRDLE, for the Benefit:of. Mr. BETTERTON.

A

S some brave Knight, who once with Spear and

Shield
Had fought Renown in many a well-fought Field;
But now no niøre with-sacred Fame inspird,
Was to a peaceful Hermitage retird :
There, if by Chance disast'rous. Tales he hears,
Of Matrons Wrongs, and captive Virgins Tears, ,
He feels loft Pity urge his gen'rous Breast
And vows once more to succour the Distress'j.
Buckl'd in Mail, he rallies on the Plain,
And turns him to the Feats of Arms again.

So we, to former Leagues of Friendship true, Have bid once more our peaceful Homes adieu, To aid old THOMAS, and to pleasure you..

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now,

*

Like errant Damsels, boldly we engage,
Arm’d, as you see, for the defenceless Stage.
Time was, when this good Man' no Help did lacka.
And scorn’d that'any. She should hold his Back į
But [& Age and Frailty have ordain'd,
By

two at once he's forc'd to be sustain'd. You see what Failing Naturë brings Manto;

yet let none insult, for'dught we know,
She may not wear so well with some of you.
Tho’old, you find his Strength is not clean paft,
But true as Steel he's Metele to the last.
If better he perform'd in Days of Yore,
Yet now he gives you all that's in his Pow'r ;
What can the youngest of you all do more?

And

2

?

What he has been, tho'prefent Praild be dumb, Shall haply be a Theme in Times to come, As now we talk of ROSCIUS, and of Rome. Had you with-held your Favours on this Night, Old SHAKESPEAR's Ghost had risen to do himn Right. With Indignation had you seen him frown Upon a worthless, witlefs, taftless Town; Griev'd and repining, you had heard him say, Why are the Muses Labours caft away? Why did I write what only he could play? But since, like Friends to Wit, thus throng'd you meet, Go on and make the gen’rous Work compleat;

* Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Bracegirdle clasp bim round the

Waste.

Be

Be true to Merit, and still own his Cause,
Find something for him more than bare Applaule,
In just Reniembrance of your Pleasures past,
Be kind, and give him a Discharge at last.
In Peace and Ease Life’s Remnant let him wear,
And hang his consecrated Buskin here.

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