PROLOGUE.
Hard Fate for us! still harder in th' Event;Our Authors Sin, but we alone Repent.Still they proceed, and, at our Charge, write worse;'Twere some Amends if they could reimburse:But there's the Devil, tho' their Cause is lost,There's no recov'ring Damages or Cost.Good Wits, forgive this Liberty we take,Since Custome gives the Losers leave to speak.But if provok'd, your dreadful Wrath remains,Take your Revenge upon the coming Scenes:For that damn'd Poet's spar'd who Damns a Brother,As one Thief scapes, that executes another.Thus far, alone does to the Wits relate;But from the rest, we hope a better Fate.To please and move, has been our Poets Theme,Art may direct, but Nature is his aim;And Nature miss'd, in vain he boasts his Art,For only Nature can affect the Heart.Then freely judge the Scenes that shall ensue,But as with Freedom, judge with Candour too.He wou'd not loose thro' Prejudice his Cause;Nor wou'd obtain precariously Applause.Impartial Censure, he requests from all,Prepar'd, by just Decrees to stand, or fall.
Personæ
