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PROLOGUE TO THE COMEDY OF A WORK TO THE WISE [a] SPOKEN BY MR. HULL.

This night presents a play, which publick rage,
Or right, or wrong, once hooted from the stage [b].
From zeal or malice, now, no more we dread,
For English vengeance wars not with the dead.
A gen’rous foe regards, with pitying eye,
The man whom fate has laid, where all must lie.
To wit, reviving from its author’s dust,
Be kind, ye judges, or at least be just.
For no renew’d hostilities invade
Th’ oblivious grave’s inviolable shade.
Let one great payment ev’ry claim appease;
And him, who cannot hurt, allow to please;
To please by scenes, unconscious of offence,
By harmless merriment, or useful sense.
Where aught of bright, or fair, the piece displays,
Approve it only–’tis too late to praise.
If want of skill, or want of care appear,
Forbear to hiss–the poet cannot hear.
By all, like him, must praise and blame be found,
At best a fleeting gleam, or empty sound.
Yet, then, shall calm reflection bless the night,
When lib’ral pity dignify’d delight;
When pleasure fir’d her torch at virtue’s flame,
And mirth was bounty with an humbler name.

NOTES:
[a] Performed at Covent garden theatre in 1777, for the benefit of Mrs. Kelly, widow of Hugh Kelly, esq. (the author of the play,) and her children.

[b] Upon the first representation of this play, 1770, a party assembled to damn it, and succeeded.