PrologueSpokenAtTheTheatreOfDumfries

prologuespokenatthetheatreofdumfries

onnewyear'sdayevening,1790.

nosongnordanceibringfromyongreatcity,

thatqueensito'erourtaste—themore'sthepity:

tho'bythebye,abroadwhywillyouroam?

goodsenseandtastearenativeshereathome:

butnotforpanegyriciappear,

icometowishyouallagoodnewyear!

oldfathertimedeputesmeherebeforeye,

notfortopreach,buttellhissimplestory:

thesage,graveancientcough'd,andbademesay,

“you'reoneyearolderthisimportantday,”

ifwisertoo—hehintedsomeestion,

but'twouldberude,youknow,toaskthequestion;

andwithawould-beroguishleerandwink,

said—“sutherland,inoneword,bidthemthink!”

yesprightlyyouths,quiteflushwithhopeandspirit,

whothinktostormtheworldbydintofmerit,

toyouthedotardhasadealtosay,

inhissly,dry,sententious,proverbway!

hebidsyoumind,amidyourthoughtlessrattle,

thatthefirstblowiseverhalfthebattle;

thattho'somebytheskirtmaytrytosnatchhim,

yetbytheforeclockistheholdtocatchhim;

thatwhetherdoing,suffering,orforbearing,

youmaydomiraclesbypersevering.

last,tho'notleastinlove,yeyouthfulfair,

angelicforms,highheaven'speculiarcare!

toyouoldbald-patesmootheshiswrinkledbrow,

andhumblybegsyou'llmindtheimportant—now!

tocrownyourhappinessheasksyourleave,

andoffers,blisstogiveandtoreceive.

foroursincere,tho'haplyweakendeavours,

withgratefulprideweownyourmanyfavours;

andhowsoe'erourtonguesmayillrevealit,

believeourglowingbosomstrulyfeelit.