Page:Songs compleat, pleasant and divertive (Wit and mirth or, Pills to purge melancholy).djvu/355

 Orations, Poems, Prologues, and Epilogues, on several Occasions.

A Poetical Oration,

Written in Queen 's Reign, in Honour of the Ladies, intended for a New Comedy call'd, a Wife worth a Kingdom: And Spoken by me on the Publick in, June the 7th, 1714.

IN this wise Town two Games precedence get, The Game of Politicks, the Game of Wit; The first, the Heads profound, with Art pursue,  } But since with State Affairs, I've nought to do, } I leave that Winning for the Lord knows who:     } The Game of Wit suits more my own Affair,        } Time was an Author in an Elbow Chair,            } Sate on the Stage as Judge, find fault, who dare? } But now ('tis hard) that things should alter so, } Poor I stand here, with posture humbly low:      } To beg each Tyrant Critick, not to be my Foe,    } In my own Person sue, to change the mood, Which truly I should blush for, if I could: Yet Parent Thespis, oft harangu'd the Throng, And to Augustus, tuneful Ovid sung; Nor did fam'd Shakespear Buskin'd here, his noble Genius wrong, In honour of bright Beauty then I come, To entertain the Fair, now thus presume; Smile you, and dart an influencing Ray, I shall perform as once, when Young And Gay: Oh Heaven! that Ray's enough to fix Renown, On envious Carpers now I dare look down;