Whereas we cannot much lament our lofs, Who neither carry'd back, nor brought one crofs. We look'd what reprefentatives would bring; And though the first was facrific'd before, 21 25 30 PROLOGUE TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, UPON HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE DUKE'S THEATRE, AFTER HIS RETURN FROM SCOTLAND, 1682. IN thofe cold regions which no fummers chear, But when the tedious twilight wears away, fence, White foxes ftay, with feeming innocence: That crafty kind with day-light can dispense. 5 10 Still we are throng'd fo full with Reynard's race, 15 That loyal fubjects scarce can find a place : 21 hall, The fawning devil appear'd among the reft, And made as good a courtier as the best. The friends of Job, who rail'd at him before, Came cap in hand when he had three times more. 25 Yet late repentance may, perhaps, be true; mend; 30 But moft are babes, that know not they offend. pour; Then mourn, and foften to a filent fhower. 35 O welcome to this much-offending land, The prince that brings forgiveness in his hand! Thus angels on glad meffages appear: Their firft falute commands us not to fear: Thus Heaven, that could conftrain us to to obey, 40 (With reverence if we might prefume to fay)( Seems to relax the rights of fovereign sway : Permits to man the choice of good and ill, And makes us happy by our own free-will. PROLOGUE TO THE EARL OF ESSEX. [BY MR. J. BANKS, 1682.] SPOKEN TO THE KING AND THE QUEEN AT THEIR WHEN firft the ark was landed on the shore, And Heaven had vow'd to curfe the ground no more; When tops of hills the longing patriarch faw, And the new scene of earth began to draw; The dove was fent to view the waves decrease, And first brought back to man the pledge of peace. 'Tis needless to apply, when those appear, Who bring the olive, and who plant it here. 6 10 |