So flow Melpomene's cold numbers creep,
Here dullnefs feems her drowfy court to keep,
And we, are fearce awake, whil you are faft afleep.
Thalia, once fo ill-behav'd and rude,

Reform'd; is now become an arrant prude,
Retailing nightly to the yawning pit,
The pureft morals, undefil'd by wit!
Our Author offers in thefe motley fcencs,
A flight remonftrance to the Drama's queens,
Nor let the goddeffes be over nice;

Free fpoken fubjects give the beft advice.
Although not quite a novice in his trade,
His caufe to-night requires no common aid.
1 To this, a friendly, juft, and pow'rful court,
I come Ambaffador to beg fupport.

Can he undaunted, brave the critic's rage
In civil broils, with brother bards engage?
Hold forth their errors to the public eye,
Nay more, e'en News-papers themselves dify ?
Say, muft his fingle arm encounter all?

By numbers vanquish'd, e'en the brave may fall;
And though no leader fhould fuccefs difruft,
IVhofe troops are willing, and whofe caufe is jufl;
To bid fuch hofts of angry foes defiance,

His chief dependance muft be, your alliance.

F 2

Guards, Conftable, Servants, Chorus, Rivers, Attendants,

THE

CRIT I C.

ACT I. SCENE I...

Mr. and Mrs. DANGLE at Breakfaft, and reading

66+

Newspapers.

Dangle (reading.)

"BRUTUS to Lord North."-" Letter the fecond," on the State of the Army."-'Phaw!" To the "firft L dash D. of the A- dash Y."-" Ge"nuine Extract of a Letter from St. Kitt's.""Coxheath Intelligence."" It is now confidently afferted that Sir Charles Hardy."-Pfhaw! -Nothing but about the fleet, and the nation!-and I hate all politics but theatrical politics. Where's the Morning Chronicle?

Mrs. Dan. Yes, that's your gazette.

Dan. So, here we have it..

"Theatrical intelligence extraordinary,”—“We "hear there is a new tragedy in rehearsal at DruryLane Theatre, call'd the Spanish Armada, faid

"to be written by Mr. Puff, a gentleman well known "in the theatrical world; if we may allow ourselves "to give credit to the report of the performers, "who, truth to fay, are in general but indifferent judges, this piece abounds with the moft ftriking "and received beauties of modern compofition."So I am very glad my friend Puff's tragedy is in fuch forwardnefs.-Mrs. Dangle, my dear, you will be very glad to hear that Puff's tragedy

Mrs. Dan. Lord, Mr. Dangle, why will you plague me about fuch nonsense?—Now the plays are begun I fhall have no peace.—Isn't it fufficient to make yourself ridiculous by your paffion for the theatre, without continually teazing me to join you? Why can't you ride your hobby-horfe without defiring to place me on a pillion behind you, Mr. Dangle?

Dan. Nay, my dear, I was only going to read—

Mrs. Dan. No, no; you never will read any thing that's worth liftening to:-you hate to hear about your country; there are letters every day with Roman fignatures, demonftrating the certainty of an invafion, and proving that the nation is utterly undone-But you never will read any thing to entertain

one.

Dan. What has a woman to do with politics, Mrs. Dangle?

Mrs. Dan. And what have you to do with the theatre, Mr. Dangle? Why fhould you affect the character of a Critic? I have no patience with you !— haven't you made yourself the jeft of all your acquaintance by your interference in matters where you have