Chapter I: Prologue: ,

Written by THOMAS VAUGHAN, Esq.

Spoken by Mr. HOLMAN.

How say you, critic Gods[1], and you below[2];
Are you all friends?--or here--and there--a foe?
Come to protect your _literary_ trade,
Which Mrs. _Scribble_ dares _again_ invade--
But know you not--_in all_ the fair ones do,
'Tis not to please themselves alone--but you.
Then who so churlish, or so cynic grown,
Would wish to change a _simper_ for a _frown_?
Or who so jealous of their own _dear_ quill,
Would point the paragraph her fame to kill?
Yet such there are, in this all-scribbling town, }
And men of letters too--of some renown, }
Who sicken at all merit but their own. }
But sure 'twere more for Wit's--for Honour's sake,
To make the Drama's _race_--_the give and take_.
[_Looking round the house._
My hint I see's approv'd--so pray begin it,
And praise us--_roundly_ for the _good things_ in it,
Nor let severity our faults expose,
When godlike Homer's self was known to doze.
But of the piece--Methinks I hear you hint,
Some dozen lines or more should give the tint--
"Tell how _Sir John_ with _Lady Betty_'s maid
Is caught intriguing at a masquerade;
Which Lady Betty, in a jealous fit,
Resents by flirting with _Sir Ben_--the cit.
Whose _three_-feet spouse, to modish follies bent,
Mistakes a _six_-feet Valet--for a Gent.
Whilst Miss, repugnant to her Guardian's plan,
Elopes in Breeches with her fav'rite man."
Such are the _hints_ we read in _Roscius'_ days,
By way of Prologue ushered in _their_ plays.
But _we_, like Ministers and cautious spies,
In _secret measures_ think--the merit lies.
Yet shall the Muse thus far unveil the plot--
This play was _tragi-comically_ got,
Those sympathetic sorrows to impart
Which harmonize the feelings of the heart;
And may at least this humble merit boast,
A structure founded on fair _Fancy_'s coast.
With you it rests that judgement to proclaim,
Which _in the world_ must raise or sink it's fame.
Yet ere her judges sign their last report,
'Tis you [_to the boxes_] must recommend her to the Court;
Whose smiles, like _Cynthia_, in a winter's night,
Will cheer our wand'rer with a gleam of light.

1. Galleries. 2. Pit.

ACT I.

SCENE, _The Island of Sumatra, in East India_.

CHARACTERS.

MEN.

_Sultan_, Mr. Farren,
_Lord Flint_, Mr. Davies,
_Sir Luke Tremor_, Mr. Quick,
_Mr. Twineall_, Mr. Lewis,
_Mr. Haswell_, Mr. Pope,
_Elvirus_, Mr. Holman,
_Mr. Meanright_, Mr. Macready,
_Zedan_, Mr. Fearon,
_First Keeper_, Mr. Thompson,
_Second Keeper_, Mr. Cubitt,
_First Prisoner_, Mr. Helme,
_Second Prisoner_, Mr. Gardener.
_Guard_, Mr. Blurton,
_Messenger_, Mr. Ledger.

WOMEN.

_Lady Tremor_, Mrs. Mattocks,
_Aurelia_, Miss Wilkinson,
_Female Prisoner_, Mrs. Pope.

_Time of Representation, Twelve Hours._

SUCH THINGS ARE.

A PLAY.

IN FIVE ACTS.