PROLOGUE to t…e Ordi…ary.

FR…m you g…ve men of …n…s and …f trade
W…o w…re f…r indust…y, n… pl…sure, made
We …eldom do imp…o…e, or h…pe for aid.
F…r w… bu… rarely …re …bligd by y…u,
Y…u com… but when y…v… no…i…g else to do;
… fi…es, our Wit to yo… n…e…s no …x…us…,
For you all Wit do l…ke a Mystri…s u…e;
A thing you sel…m …e, w…ile some are cloy'd
With Wit, as with a Wise too o…t enj…y'd;
Nay, you will think that Wit which is …o…,
A Quibble, or a little Punn takes …;
… …llness does men for business prepare,
Whi… Wit delights in ease, and hates all care
But to the young brisk men who think it fit,
To spend no Afternoon but in the Pit,
Whether we will or no we must submit.
Some come with lusty Burgundy half-drunk,
T'eat China Oranges, make love to Punk;
And briskly mount a bench when th' Act is done,
And comb their much-lov'd Pe…iwigs to the tune,
And can sit out a Play of three houres long,
Minding no part of't but the Dance or Song;
These are our trusty friends, but some there are,
Most bloody Judges, who no Poets spare;
But I have heard som… injur'd Authors say,
That th…se m…st parlou… …e…ers of a …ay,
With littl… Wit which they so much employ,
Which by R…fl…ction only th…y enjoy,
Would even those from whom they took't destroy.
So does the fam'd E…lightne… of the Night,
Ecli…se the Sun, from whom sh'ad all her light;
And these Mock … hiss and whistle loud,
And with their noise cut-vie Bear-baiti…g Croud.
But Ladies, you are sweet, and soft, and fair,
And will the Poet and the Actors spare;
But b…sy men and Sparks are welcome now,
T…e little Miss…s and great Ladies too,
You altogether make a Noble S…ow.
Y'ave paid fo…'t, and whatever Poets say,
Think or say what you please of this our Pl…y.