Themselves 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 these afpir'd to lasting Praise, And proudly hop'd to pimp in future Days. Their Caufe was gen'ral, their Supports were strong; Their Slaves were willing, and their Reign was long;
Till Shame regain'd the Post that Sense betray'd, And Virtue call'd Oblivion to her Aid.
Then crush'd by Rules, and weaken'd as refin'd, For Years the Power of Tragedy declin'd: From Bard to Bard the frigid Caution crept Till Declamation foar'd, while Paffion flept. Yet ftill did Virtue deign the Stage to tread, Philofophy remain'd, though Nature fled. But forc'd at length her ancient Reign to quit, She faw great Fauftus lay the Ghost of Wit; Exulting Folly hail'd the joyful Day, And Pantomime and Song confirm'd her Sway. But who the coming Changes can prefage, And mark the future Periods of the Stage? Perhaps if Skill could diftant Times explore, New Bhens, new Durfeys, yet remain in Store. Perhaps, where Lear has rav'd, and Hamlet dy'd, On flying Cars new Sorcerers may ride, Perhaps (for who can guefs the Effects of Chance?) Here Hunt may box, or Mahomet may dance.
Hard is his Lot, that here by Fortune plac'd, Muft watch the wild Viciffitudes of Tafte, With every Meteor of Caprice must play, And chace the new-blown Bubbles of the Day. Ah! let not Cenfure term our Fate, our Choice: The Stage but echoes back the public Voice, The Drama's Laws, the Drama's Patrons give, For we that live to pleafe, must please to live.
Then prompt no more the Follies you decry, As Tyrants doom their Tools of Guilt to die: 'Tis yours this Night to bid the Reign commence Of refcu'd Nature, and reviving Senfe;
To chace the Charms of Sound, the Pomp of Show, For ufeful Mirth and falutary Woe,
Bid Scenic Virtue form the rifing Age, And Truth diffufe her Radiance from the Stage.
E glitt'ring Train! whom Lace and Velvet blefs,
Sufpend the foft Sollicitudes of Dress; From grov'ling Bufinefs and fuperfluous Care, Ye Sons of Avarice! a Moment spare: Vot'ries of Fame and Worshippers of Pow'r! Difmifs the pleafing Phantoms for an Hour. Our daring Bard, with Spirit unconfin'd, Spreads wide the mighty Moral for Mankind. Learn here how Heav'n fupports the virtuous Mind, Daring, tho' calm; and vigorous, tho' refign'd. Learn here what Anguish racks the guilty Breast, In Pow'r dependent, in Success depreft.
Learn here that Peace from Innocence must flow; All elfe is empty Sound, and idle Show.
If Truths like thefe with pleafing Language join; Ennobled, yet unchang'd, if Nature fhine: If no wild Draught depart from Reafon's Rules, Nor Gods his Heroes, nor his Lovers Fools: Intriguing Wits! his artless Plot forgive; And fpare him, Beauties! tho' his Lovers live.
Be this at leaft his Praife; be this his Pride; To force Applaufe no modern Arts are try'd. Shou'd partial Cat-calls all his Hopes confound; He bids no Trumpet quell the fatal Sound. Shou'd welcome Sleep relieve the weary Wit, He rolls no Thunders o'er the drowsy Pit,
No Snares to captivate the Judgment spreads; Nor bribes your Eyes to prejudice your Heads. Unmov'd tho' Witlings fneer and Rivals rail: Studious to please, yet not afham'd to fail. He fcorns the meek Address, the fuppliant Strain, With Merit needlefs, and without it vain. In Reason, Nature, Truth he dares to truft; Ye Fops be filent! and ye Wits be just!
SPOKEN BY
ARRI CK,
Thursday, April 5, 1750,
At the REPRESENTATION of
For the Benefit of Mrs. ELIZABETH FOSTER, MILTON'S Grand-daughter, and only furviving Defcendant.
E patriot Crouds, who burn for England's Fame, Ye Nymphs, whofe Bofom's beat at Milton's Name,
Whofe gen'rous Zeal, unbought by flatt'ring Rhimes, Shames the mean Penfions of Auguftan "Times; Immortal Patrons of fucceeding Days, Attend this Prelude of perpetual Praife! Let Wit, condemn'd the feeble War to wage With clofe Malevolence, or public Rage; Let Study, worn with Virtue's fruitlefs Lore, Behold this Theatre, and grieve no more. This Night, diftinguifh'd by your Smile, fhall tell That never Briton can in vain excel;
The flighted Arts Futurity fhall trust, And rifing Ages haften to be just.
At length our mighty Bard's victorious Lays
Fill the loud Voice of universal Praise,
And baffled Spite, with hopeless Anguish dumb, Yields to Renown the Centuries to come.
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