"Tis not our want of wit that keeps us poor; Such are the authors, who have run us down, Yet these are pearls to your lampooning rhimes, Let each knight-errant, who has wrong'd a dame, PRO PROLOGUE To the LOYAL BROTHER: Or, The PERSIAN PRINCE'. [By Mr. SOUTHERN E, 1682.] OETS, like lawful monarchs, rul'd the ftage, Till critics, like damn'd Whigs, debauch'd our age. Mark how they jump: critics would regulate Our theatres, and Whigs reform our state: Both pretend love, and both (plague rot them!) hate. The critic humbly feems advice to bring; The fawning Whig petitions to the king: But one's advice into a fatire slides ; T'other's petition a remonftrance hides. These will no taxes give, and those no pence; Critics would ftarve the poet, Whigs the prince. The critic all our troops of friends discards; Juft fo the Whig would fain pull down the guards. Guards are illegal, that drive foes away, As watchful fhepherds, that fright beafts of prey. I The Loyal Brother; or, the Perfian Prince, Mr. Southern's first play, was acted at Drury-lane in 1682. The character of the Loyal Brother was a compliment intended for the duke of York. This prologue is a continued invective against the Whigs. Dryden also wrote the epilogue. He was at this time famous for prologue and epilogue writing; for which reafon Southern here begged his affiftance at the ufual price, which was either five or fix guincas. Dryden refused it under ten: the young bard answered, it was more than he had ever heard he demanded before. Ay, (replied the Laureat) "but it is not more than the thing's worth: the players have hitherto had my work too cheap; and I am refolved hereafter to be paid 4 for it.' Kings, who difband fuch needlefs aids as these, Leads up the fhow, and milks their maudlin eyes. But guiltless blood to ground muft never fall; The devil, who brought him to the fhame, takes part; The word is given, and with a loud huzza 2 Queen Befs's night. At the King's-head tavern, the corner of Chancery-lane, and oppofite the inner-Temple-gate, the principal opponents to the court-meafures and the chiefs of the Whig-party aflembled, under the name of the King's-head Club, and afterwards the Green-ribbon Club, from ribbons of that colour which they wore in their hats. Here they fubfcribed a guinea a-piece for a bonfire, in which the effigies of the pope was to be burnt on the 17th of November, being the anniverfary of Queen Elizabeth's birth, with more than ordinary pemp; for it was heretofore an annual ceremony, ufually made without any remarkable parade. The proceffion now confifled of one representing the dead body of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, carried on a horfe, with a perfon preceding it ringing a bell, to remind people of his murder: then followed a mob of fellows, dressed like carmelites, jefuits, bishops, cardinals, &c. and feveral boys with incenfe pots furrounding an image of the pope, with that of the devil juft behind him. In this manner they marched from Bishopfgate to the corner of Chancery-lane, where they committed the inoffenfive effigies to the flames; while the balconies and windows of the King's head were filled with people of confequence, who countenanced the tumult. On On the flain corps contending nations fall: What if fome one, infpir'd with zeal, should call, } } EPILOGUE to the fame. A Virgin poet was ferv'd up to-day, Who, till this hour, ne'er cackled for a play, But, like a girl, whom feveral would enjoy, A commonwealth founds like a common whore. 3 By the Bartholomew act, not more than five diffenters were allowed to commune together at one time, VOL. II. S If If any factious fpirit fhould rebel, Our fex with eafe can every rifing quell. Whigs at their poets never take offence; They fave dull culprits, who have murder'd fenfe. The vehicle call'd Faction makes it pass. Here, where their madness can have no pretence, Of this damn'd grievance ev'ry Whig complains ; PRO |