Broadside ballad entitled 'The Tragedy of Tony Aston, Stage-Player: or, His Last Speech to his Followers'

Transcription

TheTragedy of Tony Aston, Stage-Player :

OR,

His last SPEECH to his Followers ;

POOR Tony, have you serv'd the Devil so long?
Debauch'd the Youth with my lascivious Song ;
I was your faithful pimp, and stroll'd about,
To bring you Vassals, and I found them out.
O! I have gain'd three hundred in a Day,
Secur'd them in your Service   by a PLAY:
And yet, base Devil,   for all   my   faithful Work,
You suffer'd me for to be drum'd at   York ;
Then I despair'd for ever to have Bread,
Unless I pick'd it up be   North the Tweed;
I thought a People, who   their Country ---,
Wou'd love a Rogue, like me, and tip me Gold :
And so they wou'd, had not the preaching Train,
And pious MAGISTRATES my projects slain.
I rais'd Hell's Bulwark in it's chiefest Town;
But LAW and GOSPEL quickly pull'd it down;
I alter'd Love for Love in ev'ry Scene;
And made a modest Play, a Farce profane :
And mangl'd Hamlet Prince of Denmark so,
Surely his Ghost complain'd, and wrought my Woe ;
I was the Poet, and the Truth's Betrayer,
I've been the very Devil of a Player.

PITY me Sirs, for desperate is my Case;
I leave your City without Gold or Grace.
How cou'd I think to be a thriving Player,
Who fix'd my Kingdom in the House of Pray'r?

FAREWEL you Beaus and Belles, my faithful Flock
Throw off Hell's Chains, and take the Gospel Yoke.

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