PROLOGUE To the POSITIVE MAN, A FARCE written by Mr. O'KEEFFE, Spoken by Mr. EDWIN in the Character of LINGO…

Once more before you Lingo, sirs, you see! His lesson now—The Positive Degree. Comparativò, what's our author's head! Weigh it! 'twill prove superlativò—lead. Malus, melior, pessimus—in brief, Nominativò, he is called—O'Thief! I am not the First Person, the Second, nor Third, Who in this School of Nonsense his Nonsense has heard: Noun Adjective Stuff, that alone could not stand, Without a Noun Substantive Fiddle at Hand! But now without Musick he thinks to stand Neuter, And that Farce, tho' Imperfect, may please you in Future.

O you! to whom Poets must ever surrender! Beauties, Wits, of the Masculine and Feminine Gender! Ye Plurals, a singular Art who can teach, And make Actors and Authors learn All Parts of Speech, For once lay by the Rod, and your Flogging decline! That what we mean for Gerunds may not prove Supine! —Perhaps I'm too wise, and too larned good folks! So a truce with our science, a truce with our jokes! And in good sober sadness one word let me say: Do but think that the School-boys have broke up To-day; Forgive them their frolicks, and laugh at their play! In th' Imperative Mood, should you view the Bard's face, His Present Tense proves the Accusative Case; But should you be Dative of favour—like Stingo, Your Active Voice Passive will cheer Him and Lingo.