The Sun.
London, England, 1819-09-16 00:00:00

PROLOGUE

TO
.THE NEW COMEDY OF " THE STEWARD."
srdiiEN iy MR. CONNOR.
When birds new-fledg'd first quit their native trees;
ad spread their tender pinions to the, breeze;
The_ parent wing supports them in their flight,
Add guides them safely to the destin'd height.
SO, obr young Bard—unpi-aCtied arid Unknown,
-Afraid to brave the Drama's
Afrait, nnhelp'd, to meet the cr•itit sneer,
That stops so many in the *satire career;
Front liot.euores nervous wing haS pltick'd tn-night;
The Strength he trusts to, in his daring 4ight
'Twas thus the sun of MB:talus essay%l
Tn stem the wimis on wings another made;
And safely through the fields of tether flew;
But, when "Ipollu's realma appeared in view,
Hie mad ambition led the beiO on,
In vain attempt, to reach hisdaizling throne;
Bdt soon his pinions -draopcd beneath the gIOW,
Which hurled him-headlong to the depths below
And our poor Bard an c4hjeCt bete hash viewed,
As bright as that which Icarus.pursued
tint oh, he trusts your hand will deign to teach,
It is not qtiite so far bet-nod his reach.
•
The son hr aims at, shines in your applause;
Your smiles olitain'dour Pout gains his cause ;
And shelrerid thus by Firmettores hononr'd name,
Plain's the first dower in -his wreath•of farire -

E PI LO“ LTE.

i4Pn•$E4 BY MRS. DAVISON.

'My kracitoosl •was ever any thlng,SO shooting •
Jitit half undrest—and going homeprortiking-4
• Thus to be .eali'd and.finiiid from 'my •ronro, • •
And then sent here, to leafii ouf Poet's doom':
And be besetLbY Author—Pronipterall agog •
That I, forsooth, should weak the Epilogue,
And praise the Play-1 thought I'd done enough,
To act, and speak their sentimental stuff.
" So, hires me, MaSter Bard," said you see
I'm half untir-,est."—" Quite in the mode," said
Why, Str;',said I—" a line or two—or so— •
But theta, lve taken out my feather and you know''—..
", I do," tbe,Authur cries—" that wornates-chiefest boast,.
Is, unadoin'd, to he adorn'd'the most
•• So, speak my Epilogue,".—and then the saucy chap .'
• ,Said--." that ,you must place 'a feather in my cap." • -
Thus said our Bard—and Bards have winning ways
When round their brows they wish to twine the bays; •
Or when the magic: of their flattering art,
Would twine themselves round fdolish woman's heart,
A Bard—htiOluld.Lperhap's yotitio not -know it,
Thai our pour Bart to night's but half a poet :
He found a s'Miikte/4efi Denighter on the shelf,
And took the pretty.creature to himself.
You must not think the action,worthv
Since, where's the.M.vN that would nut do the same:
.But whole or half, the truth I still must tell,
I do out think he's used me quite so well:
. alai of the pride of fashionable life,. . .
At last to make a dull domestic wife,,.
• Like thase•dear sober souls who never swerve,
But pickles snake, heir !unhands, to preserve. •
You'll say, 'tis not quite fair; that' I, who'rame- •
rd plead the Poet's cause, shiltild stop to blame— •
But yet, no matter—l told them they were wrong, " 7
To trust a woman's never-ceasing totigue.
So to our theme--•-Y-on Critic SeetTarti-Cslt
Why bas the Poet altered thuS`the iltay ?
To which I answer, exactly as the'ease 'is— '
That the old Bard ruadeladieThide their faces,
• 13y laying all.his scenes in naui:htiplaces.,
If to,our Poet's reasons still the CI itie deaf is,
Ile begs he'll buy the
,Play, awl read his Preface.
Now twiny message—poes your sanction give.
Permission for our Comedy to live?.
If those kind hands support the'Poet's cause,
And our polo efforts merit your applause, ,
Your smiles to-night, in Gratitude's account, ,
• Will add,one Item to the greatamonnt. • „ ,