EPILOGUE

TO

THE APPEAL,

SPOKEN BY MRS. H. SIDDONS.

A CAT of yore (or else old Æsop lied)
Was changed into a fair and blooming bride,
But spied a mouse upon her marriage day,
Forgot her spouse and seiz'd upon her prey;
Even thus my bridegroom lawyer, as you saw,
Threw off poor me and pounc'd upon papa.
His neck from Hymen's mystic knot made loose,
He twisted round my sire's the literal noose.

Such are the fruits of our dramatic labour

Since the New Jail became our next door neighbour.*

* It is necessary to mention, that the allusions in this piece are all local, and addressed only to the Edinburgh audience. The new prisons of the city, on the Calton Hill, are not far from the Theatre.

Yes, times are changed, for in your fathers' age

The lawyers were the patrons of the stage;

However high advanced by future fate,

There stands the bench (points to the Pit) that first

receiv'd their weight.

The future legal sage, 'twas ours to see,

Doom though unwigg'd, and plead without a fee.

But now astounding each poor mimic elf,

Instead of lawyers comes the Law herself,
Tremendous neighbour! On our right she dwells,
Builds high her towers and excavates her cells;
While on the left, she agitates the town

With the tempestuous question, Up or down ?*

* At this time the public of Edinburgh was much agitated by a law-suit betwixt the magistrates and many of the inhabitants of the city, concerning the range of new buildings on the western side of the North Bridge; which the latter insisted should be removed as a deformity.

"Twixt Scylla and Charybdis thus stand we,

Law's final end and law's uncertainty.

But soft! who lives at Rome the Pope must flatter,

And jails and lawsuits are no jesting matter.

Then just farewell! we wait with serious awe
Till your applause or censure gives the law,

Trusting our humble efforts may assure ye,

We hold you Court and Counsel, Judge and Jury.

THE END.

OFLCIAN

EDINBURGH:

Printed by James Ballantyne & Co.