EPILOGUE

TO THE COMEDY OF THE

SISTER S.

WHAT? five long acts-and all to make us wifer!

Our authorefs fure has wanted an adviser.
Had fhe confulted me, she should have made
Her moral play a fpeaking masquerade;
Warm'd up each bustling fcene, and in her rage
Have emptied all the green-room on the stage.
My life on't, this had kept her play from sinking;
Have pleas'd our eyes, and fav'd the pain of thinking.
Well, fince fhe thus has fhewn her want of skill,
What if I give a masquerade ?—I will.

But how? ay, there's the rub! [paufing]—I've got my

cue:

The world's a masquerade! the mafquers, you, you, [To Boxes, Pit, and Gallery.

you.

Lud! what a group the motley scene discloses!·
Falfe wits, falfe wives, falfe virgins, and falfe spouses!
Statesmen with bridles on; and, clofe befide 'em,

Patriots in party-colc ur'd fuits that ride 'em.

There

There Hebes, turn'd of fifty, try once more
To raise a flame in Cupids of three score.
These in their turn, with appetites as keen,
Deferting fifty, faften on fifteen.

Mifs, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon,
Flings down her fampler, and takes up the woman:
The little urchin fmiles, and fpreads her lure,
And tries to kill, ere fhe's got power to cure,
Thus 'tis with all-their chief and conftant care
Is to feem every thing-but what they are.
Yon broad, bold, angry fpark, I fix my eye on,
Who feems t' have robb'd his vizor from the lion;
Who frowns, and talks, and fwears, with round parade,
Looking, as who fhould fay, dam'me! who's afraid?
[Mimicking.

Strip but this vizor off, and fure I am
You'll find his lionship a very lamb.
Yon politician, famous in debate,

Perhaps, to vulgar eyes, beftrides the flate;
Yet, when he deigns his real fhape t' affume,
He turns old woman, and beftrides a broom.
Yon patriot, too, who preffes on your fight,
And feems to every gazer, all in white,
If with a bribe his candour you attack,
He bows, turns round, and whip-the man is black!
Yon critic, too-but whither do I run ?

If I proceed, our bard will be undone !
Well then a truce, fince fhe requests it too:
Do you spare her, and I'll for once spare you.

THE