A PROLOGUE, WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, A ROMAN KNIGHT, WHOM CÆSAR FORCED UPON THE STAGE. PRESERVED BY MACROBIUS.* WHAT! no way left to shun th' inglorious stage, And save from infamy my sinking age! Scarce half-alive, oppress'd with many a year, What in the name of dotage drives me here? A time there was, when glory was my guide, Nor force nor fraud could turn my steps aside; Unaw'd by power, and unappall'd by fear, With honest thrift I held my honour dear: But this vile hour disperses all my store, And all my hoard of honour is no more; For ah! too partial to my life's decline, Cæsar persuades, submission must be mine; Him I obey, whom heaven itself obeys, Hopeless of pleasing, yet inclin'd' to please. Here then at once I welcome every shame, And cancel at threescore a life of fame; No more my titles shall my children tell, The old buffoon will fit my name as well; This day beyond its term my fate extends, For life is ended when our honour ends. *This translation was first printed in one of our Author's earliest works, "The Present State of Learning in Europe." 12mo. 1759; but was omitted in the second edition which appeared in 1774. THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION. A. TALE.* SECLUDED from domestic strife, Could Cupid's shaft at length transfix The raptures of the bridal night? *This and the following poem were published by Dr. Goldsmith in his volume of Essays, which appeared in 1765. And, though she felt his usage rough, The honey-moon like light'ning flew, In short, by night, 'twas fits or fretting; While all their hours were pass'd between Thus, as her faults each day were known, He thinks her features coarser grown; He fancies every vice she shews, How wide her mouth, how wild her eyes; Her face is grown a knowing phyz; Now, to perplex the ravell'd noose, The glass, grown hateful to her sight, Reflected now a perfect fright: Each former art she vainly tries To bring back lustre to her eyes. In vain she tries her paste and creams, To smooth her skin, or hide its seams; Her country beaux and city cousins, Lovers no more, flew off by dozens: The 'squire himself was seen to yield, And e'en the captain quit the field. Poor madam now condemn'd to hack The rest of life with anxious Jack, Perceiving others fairly flown, Attempted pleasing him alone; Jack soon was dazzled to behold Her present face surpass the old ; With modesty her cheeks are dy'd, Humility displaces pride; |