Chapter XXI: Prologue: ,

SPOKEN BY A WOMAN.

The judge removed, though he's no more my lord,
May plead at bar, or at the council-board:
So may cast poets write; there's no pretension
To argue loss of wit, from loss of pension.
Your looks are chearful; and in all this place
I see not one that wears a damning face.
The British nation is too brave, to show
Ignoble vengeance on a vanquished foe.
At last be civil to the wretch imploring;
And lay your paws upon him, without roaring.
Suppose our poet was your foe before,
Yet now, the business of the field is o'er;
'Tis time to let your civil wars alone,
When troops are into winter-quarters gone.
Jove was alike to Latian and to Phrygian;
And you well know, a play's of no religion.
Take good advice, and please yourselves this day;
No matter from what hands you have the play.
Among good fellows every health will pass,
That serves to carry round another glass:
When with full bowls of Burgundy you dine, }
Though at the mighty monarch you repine, }
You grant him still Most Christian in his wine. }
Thus far the poet; but his brains grow addle,
And all the rest is purely from this noddle.
You have seen young ladies at the senate-door,
Prefer petitions, and your grace implore;
However grave the legislators were,
Their cause went ne'er the worse for being fair.
Reasons as weak as theirs, perhaps, I bring;
But I could bribe you with as good a thing.
I heard him make advances of good nature;
That he, for once, would sheath his cutting satire.
Sign but his peace, he vows he'll ne'er again
The sacred names of fops and beaus profane.
Strike up the bargain quickly; for I swear,
As times go now, he offers very fair.
Be not too hard on him with statutes neither; }
Be kind; and do not set your teeth together, }
To stretch the laws, as coblers do their leather. }
Horses by Papists are not to be ridden,
But sure the muses' horse was ne'er forbidden;
For in no rate-book it was ever found
That Pegasus was valued at five pound[1]:
Fine him to daily drudging and inditing:
And let him pay his taxes out in writing.

Footnote:
1. Alluding to the act for disarming the Catholics, by which, _inter
alia_, it is enacted, "that no Papist, or reputed Papist, so
refusing, or making default, as aforesaid, at any time after the
15th of May, 1689, shall, or may have, and keep in his own
possession, or in the possession of any other person for his use,
or at his disposition, any horse or horses, which shall be above
the value of L.5."--1st William and Mary, c. 15.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

_Don_ SEBASTIAN, _King of Portugal._
MULEY-MOLUCH, _Emperor of Barbary._
DORAX, _a noble Portuguese, now a renegade; formerly Don_ ALONZO DE
SYLVERA, _Alcade, or Governor of Alcazar._
BENDUCAR, _chief Minister, and favourite to the Emperor._
_The Mufti_ ABDALLA.
MULEY-ZEYDAN, _brother to the Emperor._
_Don_ ANTONIO, _a young, noble, amorous Portuguese; now a slave._
_Don_ ALVAREZ, _an old counsellor to Don_ SEBASTIAN; _now a slave also._
MUSTAPHA, _Captain of the Rabble._
_Two Merchants._
_Rabble._
_A Servant to_ BENDUCAR.
_A Servant to the Mufti._

ALMEYDA, _a captive Queen of Barbary._
MORAYMA, _daughter to the Mufti._
JOHAYMA, _chief wife to the Mufti._

SCENE,--_In the Castle of Alcazar._

DON SEBASTIAN,

KING OF PORTUGAL.