PROLOGUES of old, the learn'd in language fag,
Were merely introductions to the play,
Spoken by gods, or ghofts, or men who knew
Whate'er was previous to the fcenes in view ;
And complaifantly came to lay before ye
The feveral beads, aud windings of the ftory..
But modern times and British rules are fuch,
Our bards beforehand muft not tell too much;
Nor dare awe, like the neighb'ring French, admit
Ev'n confidantes, who might inftruct the pit,
By afking queftions of the leading few,
And bearing fecrets, which before they knew.
Yet what we can to help this antique piece
We will attempt. Our fcene to-night is Greece.
And, by the magic of the poet's rod,
This flage the temple of the Delphic God!
Where kings, and chiefs, and fages came of old,
Like modern fools, to have their førtunes told;
And monarchs were enthron'd, or nations freed,
As an old prieft, or wither'd maid decreed.
Yet think not all were equally deceiv'd,
Some knew, more doubted, many more believ❜d,
In fhort, thefe oracles, and witching rbimes
Were but the pious frauds of ancient times;
Wifely contriv'd to keep mankind in arve,
When faith was wonder, and religion law!
Thus much premis'd, to every feeling breaft
We leave the fcenes themselves to tell the reft.
-Yet fomething fure was to the critics faid,
Which I forget, fome invocation made!
Te critic bands, like jealous guardians plac'd
To watch th' encroachments on the realms of tafte,
From you our author would two boons obtain,
Not wholly diffident, nor wholly vain:
Two things be afks; 'tis modeft fure, from you
Who can do all things, to requeft but two :
Firft, to bis fcenes a kind attention pay,
Then judge with candour judge—and we obey.