Prologue to the Man of Mode

Like dancers on the ropes poor poets fare: Most perish young; the rest in danger are. This (one would think) should make our authors wary; But, gamester like, the giddy fools miscarry. A lucky hand or two so tempts them on, They cannot leave off play till they 're undone. With modest fears a Muse does first begin, Like a young wench newly entic'd to sin: But, tickled once with praise, by her good-will, The wanton fool would never more lie still. 'Tis an old mistress you 'll meet here to-night, Whose charms you once have look'd on with delight; But now of late such dirty drabs have known you, A Muse o' th' better sort 's asham'd to own you. Nature well drawn, and wit, must now give place To gaudy nonsense, and to dull grimace: Nor is it strange that you should like so much That kind of wit, for most of yours is such. But I 'm afraid that, while to France we go, To bring you home fine dresses, dance, and show, The stage, like you, will but more foppish grow. Of foreign wares why should we fetch the scum, When we can be so richly serv'd at home? For, heaven be thank'd, 'tis not so wise an age, But your own follies may supply the stage. Though often plough'd, there's no great fear the soil Should barren grow by the too frequent toil; While at your doors are to be daily found Such loads of dunghill to manure the ground. 'Tis by your follies that we players thrive, As the physicians by diseases live, And as each year some new distemper reigns, Whose friendly poison helps t' increase their gains: So among you, there starts up every day, Some new unheard-of fool for us to play. Then for your own sakes be not too severe; Nor what you all admire at home, damn here. Since each is fond of his own ugly face, Why should you, when we hold it, break the glass?