Drury-lane Prologue Spoken By Mr. Garrick Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEFFGGHH IIJJKKGGLLMM NNOOPPJJQQ RS TTUUVV WWQQXXYZ A2A2B2B2C2C2SS

When Learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foesA
First rear'd the stage immortal Shakespear roseA
Each change of many colour'd life he drewB
Exhausted worlds and then imagin'd newB
Existence saw him spurn her bounded reignC
And panting Time toil'd after him in vainC
His pow'rful strokes presiding Truth impress'dD
And unresisted Passion storm'd the breastD
-
Then Jonson came instructed from the schoolE
To please in method and invent by ruleE
His studious patience and laborious artF
By regular approach essay'd the heartF
Cold Approbation gave the ling'ring baysG
For those who durst not censure scarce could praiseG
A mortal born he met the general doomH
But left like Egypt's kings a lasting tombH
-
The Wits of Charles found easier ways to fameI
Nor wish'd for Jonson's art or Shakespear's flameI
Themselves they studied as they felt they writJ
Intrigue was plot obscenity was witJ
Vice always found a sympathetic friendK
They pleas'd their age and did not aim to mendK
Yet bards like these aspir'd to lasting praiseG
And proudly hop'd to pimp in future daysG
Their cause was gen'ral their supports were strongL
Their slaves were willing and their reign was longL
Till Shame regain'd the post that Sense betray'dM
And Virtue call'd Oblivion to her aidM
-
Then crush'd by rules and weaken'd as refin'dN
For years the pow'r of tragedy declin'dN
From bard to bard the frigid caution creptO
Till Declamation roar'd while Passion sleptO
Yet still did Virtue deign the stage to treadP
Philosophy remain'd though Nature fledP
But forc'd at length her ancient reign to quitJ
She saw great Faustus lay the ghost of witJ
Exulting Folly hail'd the joyful dayQ
And pantomime and song confirm'd her swayQ
-
But who the coming changes can presageR
And mark the future periods of the stageS
-
Perhaps if skill could distant times exploreT
New Behns new Durfoys yet remain in storeT
Perhaps where Lear has rav'd and Hamlet diedU
On flying cars new sorcerers may rideU
Perhaps for who can guess th' effects of chanceV
Here Hunt may box or Mahomet may danceV
-
Hard is his lot that here by Fortune plac'dW
Must watch the wild vicissitudes of tasteW
With ev'ry meteor of caprice must playQ
And chase the new blown bubbles of the dayQ
Ah let not censure term our fate our choiceX
The stage but echoes back the public voiceX
The drama's laws the drama's patrons giveY
For we that live to please must please to liveZ
-
Then prompt no more the follies you decryA2
As tyrants doom their tools of guilt to dieA2
'Tis yours this night to bid the reign commenceB2
Of rescu'd Nature and reviving SenseB2
To chase the charms of Sound the pomp of ShowC2
For useful Mirth and salutary WoeC2
Bid scenic Virtue form the rising ageS
And Truth diffuse her radiance from the stageS

Samuel Johnson



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