Britons, attend: be worth like this approv'd, And show, you have the virtue to be mov'd. With honest scorn the first fam'd Cato view'd Rome learning arts from Greece, whom she fub

du'd;

40

Your scene precariously subsists too long
On French translation, and Italian fong.
Dare to have sense yourselves; affert the stage,
Be justly warm'd with your own native rage :
Such Plays alone should win a British ear, 45
As Cato's felf had not disdain'd to hear.

EPILOGUE

TO

Mr. ROWE'S JANE SHORE.

Designed for Mrs. OLDFIELD.

Prodigious this!

Play

the Frail-one of our From her own Sex should mercy find to-day!

You might have held the pretty head aside, Peep'd in your fans, been serious, thus, and cry'd, The Play may pass----but that strange creature,

Shore,

5

I can't---indeed now---I so hate a whore---
Just as a blockhead rubs his thoughtless skull,
And thanks his stars he was not born a fool;
So from a fister sinner you shall hear,
"How strangely you expose yourself, my dear ?"
But let me die, all raillery apart,
Our sex are still forgiving at their heart;
And, did not wicked custom so contrive,
We'd be the best, good-natur'd things alive.

II

There are, 'tis true, who tell another tale, 15 That virtuous ladies envy while they rail; Such rage without betrays the fire within; In fome close corner of the foul, they fin; Still hoarding up, most scandaloufly nice, Amidst their virtues a referve of vice. The godly dame, who fleshly failings damns, Scolds with her maid, or with her chaplain crams. Would you enjoy soft nights and folid dinners ? Faith, gallants, board with faints, and bed with

finners.

20

• Well, if our Author in the Wife offends, 25 He has a Husband that will make amends :

He draws him gentle, tender, and forgiving, And fure such kind good creatures may be living. In days of old, they pardon'd breach of vows, Stern Cato's self was no relentless spouse : 30 Plu---Plutarch, what's his name, that writes his

life?

Tells us, that Cato dearly lov'd his Wife :
Yet if a friend, a night or so, should need her,
He'd recommend her as a special breeder.
To lend a wife, few here would scruple make, 35
But, pray, which of you all would take her back?
Tho' with the Stoic Chief our stage may ring,
The Stoic Husband was the glorious thing.

1

The man had courage, was a sage, 'tis true, 39
And lov'd his country,---but what's that to you?
Those strange examples ne'er were made to fit ye,
But the kind cuckold might instruct the City :
There, many an honest man may copy Cato,
Who ne'er saw naked sword, or look'd in Plato,
If, after all, you think it a disgrace,
That Edward's Miss thus perks it in your face;
To fee a piece of failing flesh and blood,
In all the rest so impudently good;
Faith, let the modest Matrons of the town

45

49

Come here in crouds, and stare the strumpet down.

END of the FIRST VOLUME.

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