Literature & Theatre > Prologue and epilogue to the new comedy, called Sir Courtly Nice, or, It cannot be

And we may go by his great Conduct Lead,
As far in Fame as our Fore-Fathers did.
At Home, he milder ways to Glory choſe;
God-like, by Patience, he Subdued his Foes:
Now they, arid their Deſigns are Ruin'd all,
Beneath their fallen accurſt Excluding Wall:
Theſe are not all the Bleſſings of this Iſle,
Heaven on our Nation in a Queen doth Smile,
Whoſe Venues, Grac'd by Beauty, ſhine ſo bright,
All the Fair Sex to Vertue ſhe'l Invite,
And all our Clouds turn to a Glorious day,
By this Illuſtrious pairs United Ray,
Who both Reform and Grace us by their Sway,

          The EPILOGUE.

TO plead for Freedome in ſo free a time,
May ſeem Impertinent, if not a Crime.
The Circling Sea, gives Limits to our Shores,
But nothing bounds our Rabble, Wives, or Whores.
In Spite of all Indulgent Sway can do,
Our Croud , their Luſt of Faction will perſue,
And either Sex will to their Joys go on,
Scorning all ills to Honour, Purſe, or Bone.
Nay, Parents now, not only can endure
Their Childrens Faults, but which is worſe, procure,
Of Old, Proud Mother, full of Parent Sway,
Kept Miſs a Vaſſal to her work all day;
And to the Wooing Spark, Miſs was not brought,
But ſome fine Golden thing, her Needle wrought.
Now you ſhall meet Young Lady and her Mother,
Rambling in Hackney-Coaches, Maſqu'd together.
Yes, and to Speak the Truth, to work they go,
Fine work, but ſuch as they will never ſhow ;
Except ſome Net to draw a Fool to Wed,
And then he find's Miſs rare at work—--aBed.
Nay, we have gotten other Schools of late,
As Mtſquerades, and the Jews Chocolate.
There Fowler like, a watching Gallant pores,
Behind his Glove, to get a Shot at Whores,
Whoſe Coach and Bones comes Ratling to the Dores.
Nearer he creeps, diſcharges ſome kind words,
And off he carries ſtreight the wounded Birds.
Another Gallant waits in the great Room,
Till a New Cargazon of Strumpets come;
And there with his own Face he Treats his Eyes;
What need he fee, he can Act Comedies ?
There by four Glaſſes plac'd, as for the nonce,
Sir Sparkish Acts four Coxcombs all at once.
Our Galleries were finely us'd of late,
Where Rooſting Maſques fate Cackling for a Mate ;
They came not to fee Plays, but Act their own,
And had throng'd Audiences when we had none:
Both Pit and Gallery was a Strumpet Fair,
Where Higling Whores, Sold Rotten Pumpions dear.
This Comedy throws all this Leudneſs down,
For Vertuous Liberty it pleads alone;
Promotes the Stage toth' ends at ſirft deſign'd,
At once to Profit and Delight the Mind.

LONDON, Printed for Tho. Benskia at the Corner Shop in
                    Little-Liocolns-Inn -Fields. 1685.