Literature & Theatre > Prologue to Mr Lacy's new play, Sir Hercules Buffoon or Poetical esquire

                        THE
                 PROLOGUE
                        TO
Mr. LACY'S New play, Sir HERCULES
BUFFOON or the Poetical Eſquire.

      Written by THO. DURFEY, Gent.

           Spoken by Mr. HAYNES.

YE Scribling Fops, (cry mercy if I wrong ye)
But without doubt, there be muſt ſome among ye
Know, that fam'd Lacy, Ornament o'th' Stage,
That Standard of true Comedy in our Age ;
Wrote this new Play,
And if it takes not, all that we can ſay on't,
Is we have his Fiddle, not his Hands to play on'c :
Againſt our Intereſt, he to do you right,
Your Foes, the Poets, has abus'd to night ;
And made us like rude Birds our Neſt Beſh—te.}
We know,
If you would Write us Plays, they'd loſe their ends,
Kind Parties ſtill would make your pains amends ;
For there's no Fop but has a world of friends :}
Who will like City-Whiggs help one another,
And every noiſie Fool cry up his Brother :
No more then rack for Prologue or for Song,
Such Trifles, to dull Quality belong ;
Nor Lampoon Ladies, that your Virtues truſt,
That Bask in the hot Malls Pulvillio duſt ;
Whoſe low hung Fringes, with Attractive Arts,
Sweep heaps of ſtraws, 'mongſt Crowds of Lovers Hearts ;
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