EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY DALINDA.

Now, in good manners, nothing should be said
Against this play, because the poet's dead †.
The prologue told us of a moral here:
Would I could find it! but the devil knows where.

If in my part it lies, I fear he means

To warn us of the sparks behind our scenes.
For, if you'll take it on Dalinda's word,
'Tis a hard chapter to refuse a lord.
The poet might pretend this moral too,—
That when a wit and fool together woo,
The damsel (not to break an antient rule)
Should leave the wit, and take the wealthy fool.
This he might mean: but there's a truth behind,
And, since it touches none of all our kind
But masks and misses, 'faith, I'll speak my mind.
What if he taught our sex more cautious carriage,
And not to be too coming before marriage;
For fear of my misfortune in the play,
A kid brought home upon the wedding day?
I fear there are few Sancho's in the pit,
So good as to forgive, and to forget;
That will, like him, restore us into favour,
And take us after on our good behaviour.
Few, when they find the money-bag is rent,
Will take it for good payment on content.
But in the telling, there the difference is,
Sometimes they find it more than they could wish.
Therefore be warned, you misses and you masks,
Look to your hits, nor give the first that asks.
Tears, sighs, and oaths, no truth of passion prove;
True settlement, alone, declares true love.
For him that weds a puss, who kept her first,

I say but little, but I doubt the worst.
The wife, that was a cat, may mind her house,
And prove an honest, and a careful spouse;
But 'faith I would not trust her with a mouse.

See the lines in the prologue,

He dies, at least to us and to the stage,
And what he has, he leaves this noble age.

}

PROLOGUE, SONG,

SECULAR MASQUE, & EPILOGUE,

WRITTEN FOR

THE PILGRIM,

REVIVED FOR DRYDEN'S BENEFIT, IN 1700.

PROLOGUE, SONG,

SECULAR MASQUE, AND EPILOGUE,

WRITTEN FOR

THE PILGRIM,

REVIVED FOR DRYDEN'S BENEFIT, IN 1700.

OUR Author's connection with the Theatre only ended with his life. The pieces, which follow, have reference to the perfor mance of "The Pilgrim," a play of Beaumont and Fletcher, which was revived in 1700. Vanburgh, a lively comic writer, who seems to have looked up to Dryden with that veneration which was his due, added some light touches of humour, to adapt this play to the taste of the age. The aged poet himself furnished a Prologue and Epilogue, a Song, and Secular Masque; and, with these additions, the piece was performed for the benefit of Dryden. It seems dubious, whether the kind intentions of Vanburgh and the players actually took effect in favour of our author himself, or in that of his son. It is certain, that, if he did not die before the representation, he did not survive it many weeks, as the play* was not published till after his death.

Mr Malone supposes the play to have been acted on the 25th March, 1700; Dryden died on the 1st of May following. The play was advertised for publication in the London Gazette of 17th June, 1700. The following is the full title :

"The Pilgrim, a Comedy, as it is acted at the Theatre-royal in Drurylane, written originally by Mr Fletcher, and now very much altered, with several additions; likewise, a Prologue, Epilogue, Dialogue, and Masque, written by the late great poet, Mr Dryden, just before his death, being the last of his works. Printed for Benjamin Tooke, near the Middle Temple Gate, in Fleet-street. 1700."

In the published copy our author is mentioned as dead :-" Governor. I hope before you go, sir, you'll share with us an entertainment, the late great