PROLOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR. GARRICK, At the Opening of the Theatre Royal, DRURY LANE, 1747. WHEN Learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foes Then Jonfon came, inftructed from the school, The wits of Charles found eafier ways to fame, Nor wifh'd for Jonfon's art, or Shakspeare's flame, Themfelves they ftudied, as they felt they writ; Intrigue was plot, obfcenity was wit. Vice always found a fympathetic friend; They pleas'd their age, and did not aim to mend, Yet bards like thefe afpir'd to lafting praise, And proudly hop'd to pimp in future days. Their caufe was gen'ral, their fupports were ftrong, Their flaves were willing, and their reign was long: Till Shame regain'd the poft that Senfe betray'd Then, crush'd by rules, and weaken'd as refin'd, Perhaps (for who can guefs th' effects of chance?) * Hunt, a famous boxer on the stage; Mahomet, a ropedancer, who had exhibited at Covent-Garden Theatre the winter before, faid to be a Turk. "Tis 'Tis Yours, this night, to bid the reign commence Of rescued Nature and reviving Sense; To chafe the charms of Sound, the pomp of Show, Bid fcenic Virtue form the rifing age, |