Fond of his dress, fond of his perfon grown, 365 370 375 380 Hence hath the town fo often feen display'd, Beau in burlesque, high life in masquerade. But when bold wits, not fuch as patch up plays Cold and correct, in thefe infipid days, Some comick character, ftrong featur'd, urge 385 To probability's extremeft verge, Where modeft judgment her decree fufpends, By turns transform'd into all kind of shapes, His ftrokes of humour, and his bursts of fport, 399 - 395 400 Doth Doth a man stutter, look afquint, or halt, 405 And find that Nature's errors are my own. Shadows behind of Foote and Woodward came, Wilkinson this, Obrien was that name. 410 Strange to relate, but wonderfully true, 415 To put on Woodward in each mangled part; Adopts his fhrug, his wink, his ftare; nay, more, His voice, and croaks; for Woodward croak'd before. 420 When, to enforce fome very tender part, 435 Auk Aukward, embarrafs'd, ftiff, without the skill ; Some errors, handed down from age to age, 440 445 450 When Falstaff stands detected in a lye, Why, without meaning, rolls Love's glaffy eye? Why there's no cause at least, no cause we know→→→ It was the fashion twenty years ago. Fashion! a word which knaves and fools may use, 455 Their knavery and folly to excufe. To copy beauties, forfeits all pretence To fame; to copy faults, is want of sense. 460 When 'tis not deem'd so great a crime, by half, To violate a vestal, as to laugh; Rude mirth may hope prefumpt'ous to engage 465 An act of toleration for the stage; And courtiers will, like reasonable creatures, Sufpend vain fashion, and unscrew their features; Old Falstaff, play'd by Love, fhall please once more, Actors I've feen, and of no vulgar name, Who being from one part poffefs'd of fame, 470 Whether Whether they are to laugh, cry, whine, or bawl, Here, Love, be cautious-ne'er be thou betray'd 475 For Falftaff fram'd-himself the first and last- 480 Tho' the knight wears the weeds of Dominick ; And Boniface, disgrac'd, betrays the smack, 485 IN ANNO DOMINE, of Falstaff's fack. Arms crofs'd, brows bent, eyes fix'd, feet marching flow, Wrapt in conceit's impenetrable fog, Which pride, like Phoebus, draws from ev'ry bog, 490 They curse the managers, and curfe the town, Whose partial favour keeps fuch merit down. But if fome man, more hardy than the reft, Should dare attack these gnatlings in their nest, 495 Whet their small ftings, and buzz about the stage. • "Tis breach of privilege!-Shall any dare • To arm fatirick truth against a play'r? Prescriptive rights we plead, time out of mind; • Actors, unlash'd themselves, may lash mankind.' What! fhall Opinion, then, of Nature free, 500 And lib'ral as the vagrant air, agree To ruft in chains like these, impos'd by things Which, less than nothing, ape the pride of kings? No-tho' half poets with half players join, 505 To curfe the freedom of each honest line ; Tho' rage and malice dim their faded cheek, What the Muse freely thinks, fhe'll freely speak; With just difdain of ev'ry paltry fneer, In purpose fix'd, and to herself a rule, 510 Austin would always gliften in French filks; Ackman would Norris be-and Packer, Wilks; For who, like Ackman, can with humour please? Who can, like Packer, charm with sprightly ease ¿ Higher than all the reft, fee Branby ftrut, A mighty Gulliver in Lilliput! A man fo very high, fo very low." Ludicrous Nature! which at once could fhow If I forget thee, Blakes, or if I fay Let criticks, with a fupercilious air, 520 Aught hurtful, may I never fee thee play! Decry thy various merit, and declare Frenchman is ftill at top-but fcorn that rage, 525 Which, in attacking thee, attacks the age. French follies, univerfally embrac'd, At once provoke our mirth, and form our taste. At random cenfur'd, wantonly abus'd, 530 Have Britons drawn their fport; with partial view Which, from their country banish'd, feek our own. 535 From alleys here and there contriv❜d to raise, 540 Flush'd with vaft hopes, and certain to fucceed, With wits who cannot write, and fearce can read. Vet'rans no more fupport the rotten cause, No more from Elliot's worth they reap applause; Each |