Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/448

 434- ANNUAL REGISTER, 1753.

In peace each bard prefers his doubtful claim,- And as he merits, meets, or miflcs, fame. 'Tvvas thus in Greece (when Greece fair Science bleft. And beav'n-born Arts their chofcn land poCC'.-Q.) Th' afiembk'd People fat with decent pride. Patient to hear, and iTcilful to decide; IJefs forward far to cenfure than to praife, Unxvillingly refus'd the rival bays. . Yes ; they whom candor and true tade infpire Blame not with half the pafiion they admire; Each little blemiOi with regret delcry, But mark the beauties with a raptur'd eye. Yet modeft fears invade our Author's breatl. With Attic lore, or Latian, all unblell ; Deny'd by fate thro' claffic fields to ftray. Where bloom thofe wreaths which never know decay ; Where arts from kindred arts new force acquire. And Poets catch from i^oets genial fire : Not thus he boaits the breart humane to prove: And touch thole fprings which generous palhons move. To melt the foul by fcenes of fabled woe. And bid the tear for fancy'd forrows flow ; Far humbler paths he treads in quell of fame. And trull: to Nature what from Nature came.

Epilogue to QhtO^'S.' As originally ivritlen by William Skenstone, Efq^\ floken by Mrs. BiLLAMY.

ELL, ladies fo much for the tragic ftile

And now, the cultom is — ' — to make you fmile. " Bellow fuch mighty paini— — to make us crj.
 * ' To make us fmile, 1 hear FUppania fay,
 * ' Yes — —we have y//i//'4' indeed — thro' half the play;
 * ' We a hi ays laugh ; when bards, demure and fly,
 * ' And truly to bring lorrow to a crifis,
 * • Mead-folk-!, and murdcr'd babes arc yi^r^av.:/ devices.

" The Captain gone three years -and //v/? to blame

" The vellal condcd of his virtuous dame !

" What French, what Englijh bride would think it treafon,

" Wh«n thus accus'd to give the brute fome reafon ?

" Out of my houfe this r^ij^ht, forfooth depart !

" A mO''ern wife had laid With all my heart :

" But think not, haughty Sir, I'll gn alone !


 * ' Order your coach condtd mc late to town — —

" Give me my jewels — wardrooe — and my maiJ —
 * And prav take care, my pin-moiiev be paid.

" Rife know, I wield a pen and, tor iis glory,


 * ' My dear's domeltic feati may Ihine in Uory I

«' Then