Chapter L: Prologue: TO

ARVIRAGUS AND PHILICIA.

BY LODOWICK CARLELL, ESQ.

SPOKEN BY MR HART.

_Lodowick Carlell, according to Langbaine, was an ancient courtier,
being gentleman of the bows to King Charles I., groom of the king
and queen's privy chamber, and servant to the queen-mother many
years. His plays, the same author adds, were well esteemed of, and
acted chiefly at the private house in Blackfriars. They were seven
in number. "Arviragus and Philicia" consisted of two parts, and was
first printed in 8vo, 1639. The prologue, which was spoken upon
the revival of the piece, turns upon the caprice of the town, in
preferring, to the plays of their own poets, the performances of
a troop of French comedians, who, it seems, were then acting both
tragedies and comedies in their own language._

With sickly actors, and an old house too,
We're matched with glorious theatres, and new;
And with our alehouse scenes, and clothes bare worn,
Can neither raise old plays, nor new adorn.
If all these ills could not undo us quite,
A brisk French troop is grown your dear delight;
Who with broad bloody bills call you each day,
To laugh and break your buttons at their play;
Or see some serious piece, which, we presume,
Is fallen from some incomparable _plume_;
"And therefore, Messieurs, if you'll do us grace,
Send lacquies early to preserve your place."
We dare not on your privilege intrench,
Or ask you, why you like them?--they are French.
Therefore, some go with courtesy exceeding,
Neither to hear nor see, but show their breeding;
Each lady striving to outlaugh the rest,
To make it seem they understood the jest.
Their countrymen come in, and nothing pay,
To teach us English were to clap the play:
Civil, egad! our hospitable land
Bears all the charge for them to understand:
Mean time we languish, and neglected lie,
Like wives, while you keep better company;
And wish for your own sakes, without a satire,
You'd less good breeding, or had more good nature.