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　　PROLOGUE TO SHERIDAN KNOWLES' COMEDY, "THE WIFE"

　　(1833)

　　Untoward fate no luckless wight invades

　　More sorely than the Man who drives two trades;

　　Like Esop's bat, between two natures placed,

　　Scowl'd at by mice, among the birds disgraced.

　　Our author thus, of two-fold fame exactor,

　　Is doubly scouted,—both as Bard, and Actor!

　　Wanting in haste a Prologue, he applied

　　To three poetic friends; was thrice denied.

　　Each glared on him with supercilious glance,

　　As on a Poor Relation met by chance;

　　And one was heard, with more repulsive air,

　　To mutter "Vagabond," "Rogue," "Strolling Player!"

　　A poet once, he found—and look'd aghast—

　　By turning actor, he had lost his caste.

　　The verse patch'd up at length—with like ill fortune

　　His friends behind the scenes he did importune

　　To speak his lines. He found them all fight shy,

　　Nodding their heads in cool civility.

　　"There service in the Drama was enough,

　　The poet might recite the poet's stuff!"

　　The rogues—they like him hugely—but it stung 'em,

　　Somehow—to think a Bard had got among 'em.

　　Their mind made up—no earthly pleading shook it,

　　In pure compassion 'till I undertook it.

　　Disown'd by Poets, and by Actors too,

　　Dear Patrons of both arts, he turns to you!

　　If in your hearts some tender feelings dwell

　　From sweet Virginia, or heroic Tell:

　　If in the scenes which follow you can trace

　　What once has pleased you—an unbidden grace—

　　A touch of nature's work—an awkward start

　　Or ebullition of an Irish heart—

　　Cry, clap, commend it! If you like them not,

　　Your former favours cannot be forgot.

　　Condemn them—damn them—hiss them, if you will—

　　Their author is your grateful servant still! The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 4