Epilogue to the King and Queen
New ministers when first they get in place
Must have a care to please; and that's our case.
Some laws for public welfare we design,
If you, the power supreme, will please to join.
There are a sort of prattlers in the pit,
Who either have, or who pretend to wit.
These noisy sirs so loud their parts rehearse
That oft the play is silenced by the farce.
Let such be dumb, this penalty to shun,
Each to be thought my lady's eldest son.
But stay: methinks some vizard mask I see
Cast out her lure from the mid gallery.
About her all the flutt'ring sparks are ranged,
The noise continues though the scene is changed;
Now growling, sputtering, wauling, such a clutter
'Tis just like puss defendant in a gutter:
Fine love no doubt, but ere two days are o'er ye
The surgeon will be told a woeful story.
Let vizard mask her naked face expose,
On pain of being thought to want a nose:
Then for your lackeys, and your train beside
(By whate'er name or title dignified)
They roar so loud you'd think behind the stairs
Tom Dove and all the brotherhood of bears:
They're grown a nuisance beyond all disasters—
We've none so great but their unpaying masters.
We beg you, sirs, to beg your men, that they
Would please to give you leave to hear the play.
Next, in the playhouse spare your precious lives;
Think, like good Christians, on your bairns and wives:
Think on your souls—but by your lugging forth
It seems you know how little they are worth.
If none of these will move the warlike mind,
Think on the helpless whore you leave behind!
We beg you last, our scene-room to forbear,
And leave our goods and chattels to our care.
Alas, our women are but washy toys,
And wholly taken up in stage employs;
Poor willing tits they are, but yet I doubt
This double duty soon will wear 'em out.
Then you are watched besides, with jealous care;
What if my lady's page should find you there?
My lady knows t' a tittle what there's in ye;
No passing your gilt shilling for a guinea.
Thus, gentlemen, we have summed up in short
Our grievances from country, town and court:
Which humbly we submit to your good pleasure;
But first vote money, then redress at leisure.
Must have a care to please; and that's our case.
Some laws for public welfare we design,
If you, the power supreme, will please to join.
There are a sort of prattlers in the pit,
Who either have, or who pretend to wit.
These noisy sirs so loud their parts rehearse
That oft the play is silenced by the farce.
Let such be dumb, this penalty to shun,
Each to be thought my lady's eldest son.
But stay: methinks some vizard mask I see
Cast out her lure from the mid gallery.
About her all the flutt'ring sparks are ranged,
The noise continues though the scene is changed;
Now growling, sputtering, wauling, such a clutter
'Tis just like puss defendant in a gutter:
Fine love no doubt, but ere two days are o'er ye
The surgeon will be told a woeful story.
Let vizard mask her naked face expose,
On pain of being thought to want a nose:
Then for your lackeys, and your train beside
(By whate'er name or title dignified)
They roar so loud you'd think behind the stairs
Tom Dove and all the brotherhood of bears:
They're grown a nuisance beyond all disasters—
We've none so great but their unpaying masters.
We beg you, sirs, to beg your men, that they
Would please to give you leave to hear the play.
Next, in the playhouse spare your precious lives;
Think, like good Christians, on your bairns and wives:
Think on your souls—but by your lugging forth
It seems you know how little they are worth.
If none of these will move the warlike mind,
Think on the helpless whore you leave behind!
We beg you last, our scene-room to forbear,
And leave our goods and chattels to our care.
Alas, our women are but washy toys,
And wholly taken up in stage employs;
Poor willing tits they are, but yet I doubt
This double duty soon will wear 'em out.
Then you are watched besides, with jealous care;
What if my lady's page should find you there?
My lady knows t' a tittle what there's in ye;
No passing your gilt shilling for a guinea.
Thus, gentlemen, we have summed up in short
Our grievances from country, town and court:
Which humbly we submit to your good pleasure;
But first vote money, then redress at leisure.
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