Page:Songs compleat, pleasant and divertive (Wit and mirth or, Pills to purge melancholy).djvu/372

 No, we must do't, come, here's my Cap off taken, Gill. My Curchy then as well as che can make one; Crab. Be pleas'd good Sirs to praise what makes ye laugh? Gill. And chear the Poet with a Smile and half Crab. Crab then at Home with Stout shall make ye merry, Gill. And Gillian bid ye welcome to her Dairy; Crab. I'll grubble all my Jokes up to Delight ye, Gill. And I'll divert ye with my Hoyty toyty; With Fortune's choicest Blessings may regale ye, And Wealth, and Wine, and Women, never fail ye.

A PROLOGUE.

To my Play, the French.

AS in Intrigues of Love we find it true, Stale Faces pall, whilst we are charm'd with new Our Poet thinking tho' some in Wit prevails,     } Fearing to tire ye with more English Tales,      } Has laid his Scene in the French Court Versailes: } Thus chang'd your Diet for Variety,            } From Cheese and Butter of our dull degree,     } To fragrant Angelote, and cher fromage de Brie: } He doubts not, many that sit here to Day, } That have observ'd the Title to his Play, } Suppose it for some Politick Essay. } 'Gainst that he says a Proverb gives him Rules, 'Tis never safe to meddle with edg'd Tools; For Railery, a Comick Theam is best, War's but a Dull Occasion for a Jest: And as in Cudgel Play, there comes no Joke, From either Party when both Heads are broke; But then perhaps it may expected be,             } That he should fall upon French Foppery;         } 'Tis true, they have Fools, egad, and so have we. }