Prologue To The Rival Ladies.

    'Tis much desired, you judges of the town
    Would pass a vote to put all prologues down:
    For who can show me, since they first were writ,
    They e'er converted one hard-hearted wit?
    Yet the world's mended well; in former days
    Good prologues were as scarce as now good plays.
    For the reforming poets of our age,
    In this first charge, spend their poetic rage:
    Expect no more when once the prologue's done:
    The wit is ended ere the play's begun.
    You now have habits, dances, scenes, and rhymes;
    High language often; ay, and sense, sometimes.
    As for a clear contrivance, doubt it now;
    They blow out candles to give light to the plot.
    And for surprise, two bloody-minded men
    Fight till they die, then rise and dance again,
    Such deep intrigues you're welcome to this day:
    But blame yourselves, not him who writ the play;
    Though his plot's dull, as can be well desired,
    Wit stiff as any you have e'er admired:
    He's bound to please, not to write well; and knows
    There is a mode in plays as well as clothes;
    Therefore, kind judges....


    A SECOND PROLOGUE ENTERS.

    2. Hold; would you admit
    For judges all you see within the pit?

    1. Whom would he then except, or on what score?

    2. All who (like him) have writ ill plays before;
    For they, like thieves condemn'd, are hangmen made,
    To execute the members of their trade.
    All that are writing now he would disown,
    But then he must except--even all the town;
    All choleric, losing gamesters, who, in spite,
    Will damn to-day, because they lost last night;
    All servants, whom their mistress' scorn upbraids;
    All maudlin lovers, and all slighted maids;
    All who are out of humour, all severe;
    All that want wit, or hope to find it here.

John Dryden

John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England’s first Poet Laureate in 1668. His work dominated the literary life of Restoration England and he is seen as a major figure in the literary history of the period. Dryden's notable works include the satirical poem 'Absalom and Achitophel' and the mock-heroic 'Mac Flecknoe.'

John Dryden

Epilogue To The Indian Emperor, By A Mercury.

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

To My Friend Mr J. Northleigh, Author Of "The Parallel," On His "Triumph Of The British Monarchy."

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

Epilogue To "All For Love."

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

Epilogue, Spoken By The Same.

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

English

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Prologue To "The Loyal General;" By Mr Tate, 1680.

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Prologue To "Don Sebastian." Spoken By A Woman.

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Prologue To "Aurengzebe."

    Our author, by experience, finds it true,
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Prologue To "King Arthur." Spoken By Mr Betterton.

    Sure there's a dearth of wit in this dull town,
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Prologue To "Limberham."

    True wit has seen its best days long ago;
    It ne'er look'd up, since we were dipp'd in show:
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    And dulness flourish'd at the actors' cost.
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Prologue To "The Mistakes." By Joseph Harris, Comedian, 1690. (Written By Some Other.)

[Enter Mr Bright.]

Gentlemen, we must beg your pardon; here's no Prologue to be had
to-day; our new play is like to come on, without a frontispiece;
as bald as one of you young beaux, without your periwig. I left
our young poet, snivelling and sobbing behind the scenes, and
cursing somebody that has deceived him.

[Enter Mr Bowen.]

Hold your prating to the audience: here is honest Mr Williams,
just come in, half mellow, from the Rose Tavern. He swears he is
inspired with claret, and will come on, and that extempore too,
either with a prologue of his own or something like one. Oh,
here he comes to his trial, at all adventures: for my part I
wish him a good deliverance.

[Exeunt Mr Bright and Mr Bowen.]

[Enter Mr William...

John Dryden