store,

PROLOGUE

EPILOGUE
TO THE NEW COMEDY, CALLED

TO THE SAME.
• ERRORS EXCEPTED.'

WRITTEN BY JOIN LITCHFIELD, E Sg.

SPOKEN BY MRS. LITCHFIELD,
Written by Mr. Charles Dildin, jun. and
spoken by Mr. Young

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'VE oft heard say, PERUSE the fuirest page, and still you'll An Author's like a Merchant, and his play trace,

The bark in which is loag'd his precious
That crror is the lot of human race;
E'en with the best, at Nature's last repose, Freighted and descin'd for some distant sbore.

Errors excepted, the account must close. Our Author's vessel's small, and light his
No living man without some folly made is : cargo,
And tho'siern truth wont even spare the ladies, And what he dreads the most is your en.

et to their lot should trifling crrors fall, bargo.
* Look in their faces, you'll except them all!' Just now, behind the scenes, the poor man
Wisdom herself may err as well as Wit,

press'd me, Law's writ of error is not boly wri!.

And s..id, all trembling, that if I address'i
The Doctor too has faults, but, happy lot,

ye,
Physic's faux pas, when buried, are forgot! He would engage, however 'tempest tost,'
In seeking Fortune's all-desir'd abode, His agitated bark should not be lost;'
We meet cross raihs of error on the road. I smild of course, and told the Hattering
Placarded invitacions meet the eye

rogue,
Ac every turn, with Now's your time to I knew not how to speak an Epilogue
buy,'

But here I am on deck, and thus before ye,
And the mysterious charm of B. C. Y.; I'll cry in Sailor's language to implore ye:
All to insure you, when the wheel goes for, though I never sciri'd a foot from shore,
round,

I've learnt some lessons from the Commodore.
Of blunes excepted, ninety thousand pound. So as a Gunvoy, thuugh no man of war,
Authors to critical exceptions bow;

Let me look out, and see how matters are.
And Critics candidly must allow,
That, while they lash the faules of scribbling And first I'll try my soundings in the Pit;
elves,

Lurks there no rock on which our brig may
Txere well from error to clear themselves.

split? (toibe Audience) whose approbation to No quicksands, shoals, or flats, nor no leeobtain

shore, Our bard has sought, and sometimes not in Where many a vessel has been wreck'd

before!
His cause he offers, as at Mercy's shrine, In yonder quarter (upper end of the Pits lo! a
To err is human-to forgive, divine :'

storm seems brewing
Lei Mercy's influence, then, your bosains That threatens to involve us all in ruin;

A ship prepares for action--oh! beware,
Ex:opt his errors, but asup his play,

An enemy bus ta'er is statiou there

a

Tog

vain;

sway;

His name is Critic-e'tis, I see him now, How different is the rest of him
I know him by the Gorgon at his prow; Whose mind is fraught with deadly sin!
A heavy sailer, but his tire is galling,

He rises from his restless bed,
And no one ventures near without a mauling: His soul convuls'd with secret dread;
His head all snakes--no wonder that the shot Wild fancy forms umnumber'd woes,
Sent from his cannon comes so hissing hot: To end this life the maniac goes.
See how he lowers his jib-nay,do not frown, The moon had gain'd a little height,
Nor cut our rigging up-nor run us down. And threw around her silver light,
( To the Front Boxes) That in the offing there When, lo! I saw, it made me shrink,
is call'd the Rover,

This wretch was at the horrid brink, Who never fights but when he's half-seas Forward I rush'd and seiz'd his arm, over;

And forc'd him back, secure from harm. And is well known on our dramatic ocean Amaz'd, I cried, • O insect man! By his rough sailing and unsteady motion. How wav'ring is thy every pian; He has but just left port, for well I wot Thinkst thou the fury of an hour His upper works are damag'd by grape-shot. Can all thy ills of life devour? Two other signs he has, howe'er he got 'eni, How much mistaken is thy pride, A head well brazen'd, and a copper bottom That does in that false hope contide, (pointing to tbe boels).

Since God has form'd our dying day; (To the Gallery) But you, my honest friends, Reflect on that, and go thy way:.. stow'd in the shrouds,

With that I left grim misery's child; Who speak in thunder from your birth, the His eye-balls fash'd, he scornful smil'd. clouds;

Contemptuous reas'ner,' loud he cried, You, like true sai'ors, never hardly press And core a picture from his side: When you behold a vessel in distress, Behold you this! O emblem dear, For well you know, who rule the subject of sainted angels we revere ! wave,

My love by death to heav'n has filed, When it is time to punish, when to save- Her body number'd with the dead. Eager the haughty open fne to bend,

Think after this that I'll exist!' As to chastise a neutral hollow friend: His tears flow'd fast-the shade he kiss'd. If our ship's crazy, take her into low, . Come, clasp me fast, now welcome Deatha' Safely she'll sail under your weather bow; The king of terrors caught the breath, For should she prove, alas! a cast-away, For, lo! he sprang the dreadful steep, Our bard's third night will be a banyan day. In heav'n to love or hell to weep. (To the Side Boxes)--I.adies, between decks, Confus'd and fix'd each trembling limb, if your favouring gales

My soul pour'd only thoughts on bım. You lend to fill the Poet's trembling sails, He's gone-he's dead! a heartfelt sigh His summer voyage won't turn out a dream; O'ercame my soul, and tears each eye. • His boat sails freely boch with wind and So when amid the Ganges' roar, stream;?

The nighty eagle in his soar Early the Critic sea she's wafted o'er, Views the young bird with piercing eyes And gains triumphantly the wish'd-for shore. And, pouncing, dooms the thing to die, I'll to the Author, and dispel his fear, The sailor hears its tender cries, And say, his goods have found a market And pity darkens both his eyes. here;

With sorrow'd heart my senses trac'd, I'll say, too, for I think I guess aright, Nature by this foul deed defac'd. Here you will rendezvous to-morrow night. I sigh'd a pray’r, to save his soul;

For pray'r o'er Mercy las controul.-
Homewards I took my thoughtful was,
My memory here will often stray:

Sweet hope shall hover with her wings,
THE SUICIDE.
And mercy bring from King of kings,

I SI
WHEN Twilight drew ber mantle c'er,
And Day clos'd up his golden door,
My musing, solemo way I took
Where craggy rocks a stream o'erlook;
The dismal Owl, with hollow voice,

ODE
Proclaim'd that darkness was her choice;
The Fox, with prowling tearful mien,

ON THE SURRENDER OF DANTZIC.
Now pac'a che dewy, silent, green,
With hopes in sleep to catch his foes; FAIR, heav'nly maid, immortal Poetry,
How like a murdering wretch he goes! Romantic child of thought, I sing to thee;
In peace the peasant takes his rest;

And, mounting on thy golden wings, With visions fair may he be blest!

I strike my humble-sounding lyre; Contentment fans his rosy face,

And, kindling with etherial fire, On her attends each blooming grace :

Aloft my spirit springs. He sleeps, the man by Heaven chose

And soaring to Parnassus' blooming plains To picture health and sweet reposcom I hail thee, daughter of inspiring straps!

a

And then, while Picy's tear obscures my eye,

Come Death, the weary wretch's friend, For hapless Dantzic's fate I'll deeply sigh.

Come quick to my relief; Once noble city! proud and free,

Open the grave, and make me room,

And let me be at peace. Blest with fair Liberty, thou stood : But war and carnage, stain'd with blood, Yet ah, be hush'd each murmuring words Their lances aimed at thee.

and cach rebellious sigh be still: Then fled bright Freedom with unsteady wing, Father, I bow beneath Thy rod, And thy brave Poles obey'd a Prussian king.

And yield my wishes to Thy will.

Sorula TROUGHTON Then didst thou murmur, and with high

disdain Scorn the proud victor, and despise his rein. Burt, now, far greater woes are thine; THE POOR MAN'S COMPLAINT.

In terrors clad, chy foes surround And hurt thy turrets to the ground,

| Addressed to the assessor, on bis requiring him With many a fatal mine.

to destroy bis dog, or to enter it, in order to And see, like Nero, false Napoleon stands,

pay for it.) Fell son of Mars, the bane of happy lands. WHILE the rich and the great in their

luxuries roll, Lo! D'Enghien's death hangs low'ring on his

And fortune's indulgences prove; brow,

Oh how can you wish to deprive me of peace, With Austria, Hanover, and Prússia's woe.

And take the poor dog that I love!
See murder, fraud, and cruelty,
Exulting in his deadly frown,

Misfortune on me all her vials has pour'd; Tear or displace each cott'ring crown;

And Law, with his aspect so grim, And monace woe to thee.

Has robb’d' me of all that could comfort For o'er thy cow'rs the tyrant rears his bestow, sword,

And nothing is left but poor Trim. And death, or mean submission, is the word.

By a landlord severe I was curn'd from my

farm, And, ah! thy fainting warriors strive in vain

From comfort and competence hurl'd; The ills of doubtful battle to sustain.

A flaw in my lease gave the villain a plea No ally, now, can succour send

To turn me adrift on the world.
The chiefs upon thy walls appear,
An olive bough of peace they rear,

Two boys, the dear product of conjugal love, Unable to contend.

When they saw me gaunt Poverty's prey, Wide are thy portals to the victors thrown; Left me and my cot, and betook to the seas, And, ah! a tyrant's will becomes thine own.

And fell in Trafalgar's proud day.

The wife of my bosom, whom twenty years Affrighted, from the mournful view I turn,

since The rage of fickle Gallia's sons to mourn.

Hled blushing to Hymen's blest fane, And oh Thou Power that rul'se the seas!

O'erwhelin'd by the tidings, her mind felt a Protect Britannia's gallant band,

shock, And save their navy-girdled land From horrors such as these;

And, to heighten my grief, grew insane. And grant their soy'reign, from his native What misforcune has left, and stern law throne,

would not take, May see the wiles of ev'ry foe o'erthrown! Can you more inhuman desire ? MARY ELIZABITH

Can justice, or reason, or policy claim

The sacrifice which you require?
Nine years the poor cur my companion has

béen,
LINES

There's no one can charge him with ill;

He never at midnight's still hour sought the WRITTEN BY MOONLICHT.

fold,

The innocent lambkin to kill,
WHEN shall my sorrows have an end,
When will my misery cease!

Ye sportsmen, my Trim never mari'd your
Where can I hope to be at rest,
Or where to meet with peace?

He never destroy'd a poor hare;.

Nor e'er did my hand place the mischievous The midnight hour strikes on my ear, The world is sunk in sleep;

The game which you prize to ensnare. But I my watchful vigils keep,

Now whilst you assess, forbear to oppress, Yet only wake ts weep.

Nor strive to augment my thick gloom. Far absent every friend from me,

Why seek to destroy the small pitcance of And every joy is filed;

joy And keen Despair dwells in my breast, That is granted on this side the tomb. For even Hope is dead.

Haverhill, August 10, 1807, Joux W53

lov'd sports,

wire

FOREIGN NEWS.

1

East Prussia, July 14. July, in Kronstadt, by the resident ON the 11th instant, their majesties Americans, about forty in number, the king and queen of Prussia arrived Lewet Harris, the general consul of again at Memel.-The emperor Alex- the Uoited States, presided. Various ander passed through Riga on his return Russian officers were present, and toasts to Petersburgh on the same day. in honour of America and Russia were

St. Petersburgh, July 18. The em- drank; the last of those enumerated is, peror Alexander arrived here at eleven " The Freedom of the Seas.' in the evening of the 16th instant, and Since the 1st July, 0. S. the mani. not on the morning of the 15th, as was festo of last January, respecting the asserted. The mistake arose from a merchants of Russia, has been put in discharge of capnon at four on the execution to its full extent. morning of the isth, which was ima- Warsaw, July 20. The Austrian plea gined to proceed from the arrival of the nipotentiary, zeneral St. Vincent, left emperor, but which, as we afterwards this city on the 15th instant for Vienna. learned, announced the celebration of Baron Von Stutterheim, who had been peace. On the 15th, thanksgivings sent to Tilsit with particular instrucwere offered up in every church on ac- tions, arrived there on the gth, after count of the peace." Their majesties, the peace with Russia and Prussia had the empresses Elizabeth and Maria, been already concluded. Two days afwith the grand dukes and duchesses, terwards he again left Tilsit. repaired in the state carriage, accom. The queen of Prussia continued in panied by all the attendants of the Tilsit only twenty-four hours; she was court, out of the Taurus Palace, to the received at some distance from the town cathedral church of the Holy Virgin, by a battalion of French horse guards, where a solemn service was performed; who escorted her to the quarters at and in the evening the whole city was which she alighied with thể honours illuminated.