The prologue and epilogue to the city politicks

THE Prologue and Epilogue TO THE City POLITICKS .

The PROLOGUE spoken by Mr. SMITH . GOOD Heaven be thank'd , the frenzy of the Nation Begins to cure , and Wit to grow in fashion : Long the Two Theatres did proudly jarr , And for chief sway , like two Republicks Warr ; When of the sudden a devouring Host Of dreadful Knights , ( I say not of the Post ) But strange tongue Warriors over-run the Town , And blew the Stage , almost the Kingdom down . And with the Stage the Poets must expire , For Bells will melt , if Steeples be on Fire ; Then Coffee-houses Theatres were grown , Where Zealots acted in a furious tone Oliver 's Porter , Damming Babylon . But they more Mad ; for he in his worst Fit Was ne're so Mad as to talk TREASON yet . 'T is strange those Men should wish the POPE such evil , Who are so kind to the POPE's Friend , the DEVIL ! They Drink , they Whore , and at there Rulers Rant , And all is well in a True PROTESTANT . These follies have the Nation long employ'd , And almost all the POETS Trade destroy'd . That they may justly seek Reprizals now , And Board those Pirates which brought them so low , Seize on that Ware by which some Men by stealth , Promote the Traffick of a Common-wealth : Ware some believe by Priests and Jesuits Spunn , They Weave the Cloath , FANATICKS put it on . But some will say , a POET mend the Age ! In these high matters how dare they engage ? Why , SIRS , a Poets Reformation scorn ; Since the Reformers now all Poets turn ? And by their awkard jangling Rhimes proclaim , Like Bells rung backward , that the Towns on Flame ? The City Whiggs such cursed Poets chuse , For that alone they should their CHARTER lose . He is a wretched Coxcomb , who believes Muses , like JURIES , will be pack'd by SHERIFFS . But their ill Palate no fine dressing needs , All stuff that any Whiggish fancy breeds , They swallow down , and live like Ducks on Weeds . These things give all the Nations round delight , Sure at our Fools to laugh we have most right . Let 's not our mirth to foraign Kingdoms send , But here the growth of our own Country spend . Heaven knows that sums the CAUSE has cost this Town ! Here you may have it all for Half-a-Crown .

The EPILOGUE spoken by Mr. LEE in the Character of Bartaline the Old Lawyer . Enter a Gentleman to Bartaline . 1. Gent.

SIR , I come to you from certain worthy Gentlemen the world is pleased to call Whiggs .

Bar. Whiggs ?

Sir , they are the Props and Pillars of the Nation .

1. Gent.

Sir , There is a Poet has been so bold as to write a Play against 'em , in which several of 'em think themselves abused ; now , Sir , they desire to know if they have not an Action of Slander against the Poet ?

Bar.

Ay , ay , Sir , he 's a Rascal .

1. Gent.

And may not have considerable dammages ?

Bar.

Oh! very considerable —

1. Gent.

Here are Two Pieces .

Bar.

Two Pieces — ? pretty indifferent dammages — I believe they may have some Dammages .

1. Gent.

Here 's one great person thinks himself much abus'd , and has sent you 20 Pieces .

Bar.

Sir , he shall have great Dammages , he shall trounce the Poet , a Rascal to abuse great persons .

1 Gent.

He tell him . —

Ex. Enter a second Gent. 2.

Sir , I come to you from a person that wants your Councel , but he is a swingeing Tory.

Bar.

Well , he 's ne're the worse man , provided he has a swingeing Purse .

Sir , he has writ a Play against Faction , and some Whiggs think themselves hit home in it , and they are bringing Actions of Slander against him to punish him .

Bar.

Sir , if he has hit the Whiggs home he is a good Marks-man , for now they are all upon the Wing .

Sir , he desires to know whether there lies an Action of Slander against him or no ? and so , whether he had best compound the business in time , or go through with it ?

Bar.

Oh! let him go through with it .

And you will assist him ?

Bar.

Ay , ay , in private .

But he has no Money , he must Sue in Forma Pauperis .

Bar.

Forma Pauperis ? Oh! damn'd Rogue , does he abuse great men and has he no Money ? Tell him I have consider'd it , and I won't defend a slanderous Rascal in abusing honest men .

You said you would help him through with it .

Bar.

Ay , through the Pillory . A Rascal without Money abuse great men , and then Sue in Forma Pauperis — Come the Court is sat — I must Plead for the Plaintiff .

YOU Learned , Reverend Judges in this place , I come to Plead here in a weighty Case ; And I beseech you quickly make an end on 't , The WHIGGS are Plaintiffs , POET is Defendant . I 'me for the Plaintiffs , they have Coyn good store ; Poets are in the wrong , because they 're poor . And I ne're mind a Cause but as I 'me Feed , Like Quacks , we Cure no Man that will not bleed . WHIGGS are my Clyents ; And , my Lords , I say , They have been scandaliz'd in a damn'd Play , Which those good men for busy Fop's does jear , Who vigilant for Church and State appear . What if such men should have no wit at all ? Pray did not Geese once save the Capital ? But say these honest men be in the wrong , Railing does to no private men belong ; Boldly to Rail is one of the chief spriggs Of the Prerogative of Prince of Whiggs ; TITUS the first , who did that Power attain , — I take it — Anno primo — of his Reign — From WHIGGS , to whom by Custome it bolongs , WHIGGS are all Freeholders of their Tongues , And Pens too . — I 'le prove it out of Janeway 's Reports , And the Decrees of sev'ral Coffee-Courts . The POET his no title then to rail , Let him be seiz'd , nor let Wit be his Bayl. Wit is a Tory , ne're with us would joyn , Wit never help d the Whiggs to write one Line . 'T has been accus'd , and in our Writings sought ; But still the Coroner Non inventus brought . But Learned Judges , I leave all to you , If you 're for TORIES , I will be so too . Noint Witches , they will fly , though ne're so old ; I 'le be as nimble too , noint me with Gold : I 'le quickly to the Tory party skip , Greaze my Fist well , I 'le let our Faction slip .

FINIS .