PISH, lord, I wish this prologue was but Greek, Then young Cleonidas would boldly speak; But can Lord Buckhurst in poor English say, Gentle spectators, pray excuse the play! No, witness all ye gods of ancient Greece, Rather than condescend to terms like these, I'd go to school six hours on Christmas-day, Or construe Persius while my comrades play. Such work by hireling actors should be done, Who tremble when they see a critic frown; Poor rogues, that smart like fencers for their bread, And, if they are not wounded, are not fed. But, sirs, our labour has more noble ends, We act our tragedy to see our friends; Our generous scenes are for pure love repeated, And if you are not pleased, at least you're treated. The candles and the clothes ourselves we bought, Our tops neglected, and our balls forgot. To learn our parts, we left our midnight bed, Most of you snored whilst Cleomenes read; Not that from this confession we would sue Praise undeserved; we know ourselves and you: Resolved to stand or perish by our cause, We neither censure fear nor beg applause; For these are Westminster's and Sparta's laws. Yet, if we see some judgment well inclined, To young desert, and growing virtue kind, That critic by ten thousand marks should know, That greatest souls to goodness only bow; And that your little hero does inherit Not Cleomenes' more than Dorset's spirit. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHAMBER MUSIC: 33 by JAMES JOYCE SHAMEFUL DEATH by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) TO MY CHILDREN: 3 by DOLLIE CAROLINE MAITLAND RADFORD IF ONLY THOU ART TRUE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) PSALM 11. IN DOMINO CONFIDO by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES; A TRAGEDY by ROBERT BROWNING THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE SUMMONER'S TALE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER A POOR FRENCH SAILOR'S SCOTTISH SWEETHEART by WILLIAM JOHNSON CORY STANZAS PRINTED ON BILLS OF MORTALITY: 1789 by WILLIAM COWPER |