Event Comment: BBarry's
Occasional Prologue printed in
the General Advertiser.@ When Vice or Folly over-runs a State@Weak Politicians lay
the blame on Fate.@When Rulers useful subjects cease to prize,@'And damn for arts that caus'd
themselves to rise:'@When jealousies and fears possess
the throne,@And kings allow no merit--but
their own,@Can it be strange that men for flight prepare,@And strive to raise a Colony elsewhere?@This custom has prevail'd in every Age,@And has been sometime practis'd on
the Stage.@ For--Entre Nous--
these Managers of Merit,@Who fearless arm,--"and take
the Field with Spirit,"@Have curb'd as Monarchs with
their haughty Mien,@And Herod--have out Heroded--within (Pointing to
the Green Room)@O!
they can torture twenty-thousand ways:@Make bouncing Bajazet retreat from Bayes.@
The Ladies too with every power to charm@Whose face and fire an anchorite might warm@Have felt
the fury of
the Tyrant's arm.@By selfish arts expell'd our ancient Seat,@In search of Candour--and in search of Meat,@We, from your favour, hope for this retreat.@If
Shakespear's passion, or if
Johnson's art@Can fire
the Fancy, or can warm
the heart,@That task be ours;--But if you damn
their scenes@And heroes must give way to Harlequins,@We too, can have recourse to mime and dance,@Nay,
there I think, we have
the better chance,@And should
the Town grow weary of
the Mute,@Why--we'll produce a Child upon
the flute.@But be
the food as 'twill, 'tis you that treat!@Long have
they feasted--permit us now to eat!