Event Comment: Prologue written by
Macklin: (
Cooke,
Memoirs of Charles Macklin, pp. 150-51.) From scheming, pelting, famine,
and despair, Behold to grace restored an exil'd Play'r: Your Sanction yet his fortune must compleat,
And give him privilege to laugh
and eat. No revolution plots are mine again; You see, thank Heaven, the quietest of men. I pray that all domestic feuds might cease;
And beggar'd by the war, solicit peace; When urg'd by wrongs,
and prompted to rebel; I sought for freedom,
and for freedom fell; What could support me in the sevenfold dame? I was no Shadrak
and no angel came. Once warn'd, I meddle not with state affairs; But play my part, retire
and say my pray'rs. Let nobler spirits plan the vast design, Our green-room swarms with longer heads than mine; I take no part-no private jars foment, But hasten from disputes I can't prevent; Attack no rival brother's fame, or ease;
And raise no struggle, but who most shall please. United in oursdlves, by you approv'd. Tis ours to make the slightest muse belov'd; So may the
stage again its use impart,
And ripen Virtue, as it warms the heart. May discord, with her horrid trump, retreat, Nor drive the frighted Beauty from her seat; May no contending parties strive for sway, But judgmemt govern,
and the
stage obey