Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/442



HE enclosed prologue is formed upon the story of the secretary's not suffering you to act, unless you would pay him 300l. per annum; upon which, you got a license from the lord mayor to act as strollers.

The prologue supposes, that, upon your being forbidden to act, a company of country strollers came and hired the playhouse, and your clothes, etc., to act in.

Our set of strollers, wandering up and down, Hearing the house was empty, came to town; And, with a license from our good lord mayor, Went to one Griffith, formerly a player; Him we persuaded, with a moderate bribe, To speak to Elrington and all the tribe, To let our company supply their places, And hire us out their scenes, and clothes, and faces. Is not the truth the truth? Look full on me; I am not Elrington, nor Griffith he. When we perform, look sharp among our crew, There's not a creature here you ever knew. The former folks were servants to the king; We, humhle strollers, always on the wing. Now, for my part, I think upon the whole, Rather than starve, a better man would stroll. Stay!