PROLOGUE, TO THE ELECTION OF THE MANAGERS. Spoken by MR. PALMER. June, 1784

" CURST be the verse, how well so e'er it flow, That tends to make one worthy man my foe; Gives Virtue Scandal, Innocence a Fear! Or from the soft-eyed virgin steals a Tear!" Thus sung sweet Pope, the vigorous Child of Satire; Our Bayes less Genius boasts, not less Good-Nature No poison'd shaft he darts with partial aim— Folly and Vice are fair and general game: No Tale he echoes, on no Scandal dwells, Nor plants on one Fool's head the Cap and Bells: He paints the living Manners of the time, But lays at no man's door Reproach or Crime.

Yet some with Critick nose, and eye too keen, Scent double-meanings out and blast each Scene; While squint Suspicion holds her treacherous lamp, Fear moulds base coin, and Malice gives the stamp. Falsehood's vile gloss converts the very Bible To Scandalum Magnatum, and a Libel.

Thus once, when sick, Sir Gripus, as we're told, In grievous usury grown rich and old, Bought a good book, that on a Christian plan Inculcates the whole Duty of a Man, To every sin a sinner's name he tack'd, And through the parish all the vices track'd; And thus, the comment and the text enlarging, Crouds all his friends and neighbours in the margin. Pride, was my Lord; and Drunkenness, the 'Squire; My Lady, Vanity and loose Desire; Hardness of Heart, no misery regarding, Was Overseer—Luxury, Churchwarden. All, all he damn'd; and carrying the farce on, Made Fraud, the Lawyer—Gluttony, the Parson.

'Tis said, when winds the troubled deep deform, Pour copious streams of oil, 'twill lay the storm: Thus here, let Mirth and frank Good-humour's balm Make censure mild, scorn kind, and anger calm! Some wholesome Bitters if the Bard produces, 'Tis only Wormwood to correct the juices.

In this day's contest, where, in colours new, Three Play-House Candidates are brought to view, Our little Bayes encounters some Disgrace: Should You reject him too, I mourn his Case— He can be chosen for no other Place.