EPILOGU E, SPOKEN BY Mr. Lee Lewes IN THE CHARACTER OF HARLEQUIN, AT HIS BENEFIT. HOLD! prompter, hold! a word before your nonsense; I'd speak a word or two to ease my conscience. My heels eclipsed the honours of my head; [Takes off his Mask. Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth? The joy that dimples, and the woe that weeps. Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses ; Give me another horse! bind up my wounds!-soft'twas but a dream. Ay, 'twas but a dream, for now there's no retreating; If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating. 'Twas thus that Æsop's stag, a creature blameless, Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless, Once on the margin of a fountain stood, And cavil'd at his image in a flood. "The deuce confound," he cries, "these drumstick shanks, They neither have my gratitude nor thanks: They're perfectly disgraceful! strike me dead! How piercing is that eye! how sleek that brow! He quits the woods, and tries the beaten ways; He starts, he pants, he takes the circling maze. Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free, [Taking a jump through the Stage Door. EPILOGUE ΤΟ Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's COMEDY OF THE SISTER. WHAT! five long acts—and all to make us wiser! Out authoress sure has wanted an adviser. [my cue: But how? ay, there's the rub! [pausing]-I've got The world's a masquerade; the maskers, you, you, you. [To Boxes, Pit, and Gallery. Lud! what a group the motley scene discloses ! False wit, false wives, false virgins, and false spouses! Patriots in party-colour'd suits that ride them. To raise a flame in Cupids of threescore. Miss, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon, And tries to kill, ere she's got power to cure. Yon broad, bold, angry spark, I fix my eye on, Who frowns, and talks, and swears, with round parade, Looking, as who should say, damme! who's afraid? [Mimicking. Strip but his vizor off, and sure I am You'll find his lionship a very lamb. |