Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PROLOGUE, by JOHN WILMOT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PROLOGUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gentle reproofs have long been try'd in vain
Last Line: To fright away the vermin of the age.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of


GENTLE Reproofs have long been try'd in vain,
Men but despise us while we but complain:
Such numbers are concern'd for the wrong side;
A weak resistance still provokes their Pride,
And cannot stem the fierceness of the Tide.
Laughers, Buffoons, with an unthinking Crowd
Of gaudy Fools, impertinent and loud,
Insult in every Corner: Want of Sense,
Confirm'd with an outlandish Impudence,
Among the rude Disturbers of the Pit,
Have introduc't ill Breeding, and false Wit;
To boast their Lewdness here young Scourers meet,
And all the vile Companions of a Street;
Keep a perpetual bawling near that Door
Who beat the Bawd last night, who bilk't the Whore:
They snarle, but neither Fight nor pay a Farthing,
A Play-house is become a mear Bear-Garden;
Where every one with Insolence enjoys
His Liberty and Property of Noise.
Should true Sense, with revengeful Fire, come down,
Our Sodom wants Ten Men to save the Town:
Each Parish is infected, to be clear
We must loose more than when the Plague was here;
While every little Thing perks up so soon,
That at Fourteen it hectors up and down,
With the best Cheats and the worst Whores i' th' Town;
Swears at a Play, who should be whipt at School,
The Foplings must in time grow up to rule,
The Fashion must prevail to be a Fool.
Some powerful Muse, inspir'd for our defence,
Arise, and save a little common Sense:
In such a Cause let thy keen Satyr bite,
Where Indignation bids thy Genius write:
Mark a bold leading Coxcomb of the Town,
And single out the Beast and hunt him down;
Hang up his mangl'd Carcass on the Stage,
To fright away the Vermin of the Age.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net