EPILOGUE. By Dr. GARTH. SPOKEN BY MRS. PORTER. WHAT odd fantastic things we women do! To give you pain, themselves they punish most. Blame not our conduct, since we but pursue Oh, may once more the happy age appear, TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES, WITH THE TRAGEDY OF CATO, Nov. 1714. THE muse that oft, with sacred raptures fir'd, No longer shall the widow'd land bemoan a Engaged great Cato in her country's cause,] Some little disingenuity has been charged on the author, from this line (see Pope's Works, Ep. to Aug. v. 215, Mr. Warburton's edition,) nor can I wholly acquit him of it. The truth, however, seems to be this: Mr. A. had no partyviews in composing this tragedy; and he was only solicitous (whatever his friends might be) to secure the suffrage of both parties, when it was brought on the stage. But the public would only see it in a political light and was it to be wondered at, that a poet, in a dedication too, should take advantage of the general voice, to make a merit of his imputed patriotism, with the new family? How spotless must that muse be, that, in passing through a court, had only contracted this slight stain, even in the opinion of so severe a censor and casuist as Mr. Pope! Supplying charms to the succeeding age, Shalt quell the fierce and captivate the fair. Pleas'd with the prospect of successive reigns, To milder sounds each muse shall tune the lyre, And teach the nation their new monarch's praise, And Cæsar's power with Cato's virtue join'd. Meanwhile, bright Princess, who, with graceful ease And native majesty, are form'd to please, Behold those arts with a propitious eye, That suppliant to their great protectress fly! |