444 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790 
Whilft one o’erwhelm’d, yet dreadful to the feft, © 
Nods the dire plumes that threatene’er his creft } 
Not quite fo young, yet, ay we hope, more fit, ‘=f 
Lo! we attempt, before’ this crowded pit, 
Jn feudal arms, and. royal roves, to ftalk 
With tragic dignity of mien and waik; 
And, deck’d with terrors from theatric foelves,. 
Start at the phantoms we have rais’d ourfelves. 
Yet, let not harfh feverity deride 
Thefe early efforts of ingenuous pride: 
Think, but how oft, with more inglorious art, 
Men mimick us, and acta boyi/h part. 
Whoe’er in trifles, or in trafh delights— 
In truant fport confumes his days and nights— 
Is fill a boy, however he may brag, 
And well deferves to ride on Bufby’s nag. 
Heavens, how they multiply by this new rule! 
England itfelf is one great public fchool! 
With many wicked boys O! dire difafter 
Spite of the good example of its Mafter!— 
Pardon our flippant wit—the fcene, the flage ~ —* 
Infpire, perhaps, this pert fatyric rage 
We lath not you, whom rather*we mutt court, 
To ftoop your manly judgments to our fport! 
Nor with you punifhment, as things now ftand,. 
Except a little c/apping on the hand. 
PROLOGUE # HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS, performed 
by the fame. Spoken by Mr.Buneury. ~ 
WHEN firft thefe fcenes our author’s pen defign’d, 
The force of ton was partial and confin’d ; 
Yet, even then, while fafhion yet was young,, 
Her rage was catching, and her influence ftrong— 
Swift from the travell’d beau and titled dame . 
Lacquies and Abigails confefs’d the flame. 
The vaft ambition fires the menial band, 
And retail folies bloom at fecond-hand. 
* Does Lowelace drink or game? The op beftows: 
His caff-off vices with his caff-off clothes. 
Does: he rédeem his lofles at Duke’s-place, 
And raife fupplies from J/rael’s flinty race ? 
His gentleman purfucs the fame: career— 
And, “ Damme—is diftrefs’d like any peer ;’” i 
Follows thro’ diffipation’s various ftages, 
Takes money on reverfionary wages: 
Like Lovelace” felf, his wafting purfe recruits, 
And grants po/f-obits upon birth-day fuits.. 
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