Event Comment: Receipts: #86 (Account Book). Charges #81 15s. Profit to Society #4 5s., plus #106 17s. from tickets (Box 242; Pit 309) (Account Book). Benefit for Use of the Society at the
Thatched-House Tavern For the release
and discharge of persons imprisoned for small debts. [The
Epilogue was written by
Cumberland. (See
Folger Library Theatrical Clippings). The Curtain rises
and discovers a prison; at some distance a woman, poorly habited,
and in a disconsolate attitude; after st
anding some time montionless, in a posture of fixed attention she speaks]: @Woman: Thou loathsome dungeon in whose dreary womb@The pining Debtor finds a living tomb;@Where 'midst the Clank of Chains
and Dismal yells@Of shakled felons my sad husb
and dwells;@From his dark cell, oh give him to my view!@Let him look forth
and take a last adieu.@ [As she advances towards the prison, a person in Gentleman's apparel accosts her.] @Man: Stay, Child of Sorrow, thou whose piercing groans@Might move to pity e'en these senseless stones.@Why dost thou bend thy melancholy way@To that Drear Dungeon? Child of Sorrow stay.@Woman: Why should I stay, or my sad Griefs impart?@Can there be pity in a Human heart?@Away
and let me die.@ [...The Man suggests a Human heart can have pity] @Woman: If there be such, O lead me to their sight,@
And let me plead a wretched sufferer's right:@Can there be Truth, Humanity or Sense@In laws that make Misfortune an offence?@ [Her husb
and was a
God-fearing weaver who fell ill for 10 weeks, lost his job
and was seized upon by a relentless creditor.] @Steel'd to their trade,
and deaf to all our cries,@Relentless ruffians seize their legal prize;@From my fond arms a dying Husb
and tear@
And plunge their victims in a dungeon there!@Man: Enough! go speak the healing words of peace@To thy sad mate,
and bear him this release;@Tell him the Muse, which on these Scenes attend@That balsam to his wounded spirit sends.@
And Know this Truth thyself, 'tis not alone@The Preacher's pulpit
and the Monarch's throne@That Charity frequents; but in this age,@She guides the Theatre
and treads the stage;@Lo! She is present, cast your eyes around,@
And here in each Spectator's heart she's found.