Prologue Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEFFGGHHBBIIJJKK LLLLMMNOOLLII BLPPIILL| The piece to night is of peculiar kind | A |
| For which the appropriate name is hard to find | A |
| No Comedy 'tis clear nor can it be | B |
| With strictest truth pronounced a Tragedy | B |
| Since though predominant the tragic tone | C |
| It reigns not uniformly and alone | C |
| Then that its character be best proclaim'd | D |
| A Tragic drama let the piece be named | D |
| - | |
| But do not Critics rashly hence conclude | E |
| 'Tis a mere Farce incongruous and rude | E |
| Where incidents in strange confusion blend | F |
| Without connexion interest or end | F |
| Not so far different was the bard's design | G |
| For though at times he ventures to combine | G |
| With grave Melpomene's impassion'd strain | H |
| The gay Thalia's more enlivening vein | H |
| As all mankind with one consent agree | B |
| How strong the charms of sweet variety | B |
| Yet Reason's path he still with care observes | I |
| And ne'er from Taste with wilful blindness swerves | I |
| His plot conducting by the rules of art | J |
| And above all he strives to touch the heart | J |
| Knowing that void of pathos and of fire | K |
| Art Reason Taste are vain and quickly tire | K |
| - | |
| Be mindful then ye Critics of the intent | L |
| The poet means not here to represent | L |
| The tragic Muse in all her terrors drest | L |
| With might tempestuous to convulse the breast | L |
| Nor in her statelier unrelaxing mien | M |
| To stalk in buskin'd pomp through every scene | M |
| But with an air more mild and versatile | N |
| Where fear and grief sometimes admit a smile | O |
| Now loftier humbler now the changing style | O |
| Resembling in effect an April night | L |
| When from the clouds by fits the moon throws forth her light | L |
| And louder winds by turns their rage appease | I |
| Succeeded by the simply whispering breeze | I |
| - | |
| But in few words our author ends his plea | B |
| Already tending to prolixity | L |
| To paint from Nature was his leading aim | P |
| Let then the play your candid hearing claim | P |
| Judge it impartial by dramatic laws | I |
| If good reward it with deserved applause | I |
| If bad condemn yet be it still exempt | L |
| From your severer blame for 'tis a first attempt | L |
Thomas Oldham
(1)
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