Prologue to His Royal Highness, upon his first appearance at the Duke's Theatre since his return from Scotland. Written by Mr. Dryden. Spoken by Mr. Smith

Prologue to His Royal Highness, upon his first appearance at the Duke's Theatre since his return from Scotland. Written by Mr. Dryden. Spoken by Mr. Smith

Table of contents

PROLOGUE To His ROYAL HIGHNESS, Upon His first appearance at the DƲKE'S THEATRE since his Return from SCOTLAND.

§

[Page]

PROLOGUE To His ROYAL HIGHNESS, Upon His first appearance at the DƲKE'S THEATRE since his Return from SCOTLAND.

Written by Mr. Dryden.

Spoken by Mr. Smith.

IN those cold Regions which no Summers chear,

When brooding darkness covers half the year,

To hollow Caves the shivering Natives go;

Bears range abroad, and hunt in tracks of Snow:

But when the tedious Twilight wears away,

And Stars grow paler at th' approach of Day,

The longing Crowds to frozen Mountains run,

Happy who first can see the glimmering Sun!

The surly Salvage Off-spring disappear;

And curse the bright Successour of the Year.

Yet, though rough Bears in Covert seek defence,

White Foxes stay, with seeming Innocence:

That crafty kind with day-light can dispense.

Still we are throng'd so full with Reynard's race,

That Loyal Subjects scarce can find a place:

Thus modest Truth is cast behind the Crowd:

Truth speaks too Low; Hypocrisie too Loud.

Let 'em be first, to flatter in success;

Duty can stay; but Guilt has need to press.

Once, when true Zeal the Sons of God did call,

To make their solemn show at Heaven's White-hall,

The fawning Devil appear'd among the rest,

And made as good a Courtier as the best.

The Friends of Job, who rail'd at him before,

Came Cap in hand when he had three times more.

Yet, late Repentance may, perhaps, be true;

Kings can forgive if Rebels can but sue:

A Tyrant's Pow'r in rigour is exprest:

The Father yearns in the true Prince's Breast.

We grant an Ore'grown Whig no grace can mend;

But most are Babes, that know not they offend.

The Crowd, to restless motion still enclin'd,

Are Clouds, that rack according to the Wind.

Driv'n by their Chiefs they storms of Hail-stones pour:

Then mourn, and soften to a silent showre.

O welcome to this much offending Land

The Prince that brings forgiveness in his hand!

Thus Angels on glad Messages appear:

Their first Salute commands us not to fear:

Thus Heav'n, that cou'd constrain us to obey,

(With rev'rence if we might presume to say,)

Seems to relax the rights of Sov'reign sway:

Permits to Man the choice of Good and Ill;

And makes us Happy by our own Free-will.

§

§

London, Printed for J. Tonson, at the Judge's Head in Chancery-lane, 1682.

Information about this book

Title statement

Prologue to His Royal Highness, upon his first appearance at the Duke's Theatre since his return from Scotland. Written by Mr. Dryden. Spoken by Mr. Smith

Dryden, John, 1631-1700.

Edition statement

1682

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A81771

ID [STC]

Wing D2335

ID [STC]

ESTC R29818

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99899970

ID [PROQUEST]

99899970

ID [VID]

135053

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A81771)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 135053)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2482:10)

Source

— Prologue to His Royal Highness, upon his first appearance at the Duke's Theatre since his return from Scotland. Written by Mr. Dryden. Spoken by Mr. Smith, Dryden, John, 1631-1700..

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.)

printed for J. Tonson, at the Judge's Head in Chancery-lane,. London :: 1682.. (Verse - "In those cold regions which no summers chear,".) (A variant of the edition lacking publisher's address and publication date in imprint.) (Reproduction of original in the Folger Shakespeare Library.)

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