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Article STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS ← Page 2 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures On Public Amusements
O , Jest they perish in this boasted age , Once more the victims of barbarian rage , Her shield to guard them let Britannia rear , And fix in safety their asylum here ! Here , where mild Reason holds her temp ' rate sway , Where willing subjects equal laws obey , Firm to that wellrpois'd system , which unites
With Order ' s blessings , Freedom ' s sacred rights . 'Mid wrecks of empires , England , be it thine , A bright example to the world to shine , Where Lgw , on Liberty ' s just basis rear'd . Of all the safeguard , is by all rever'd , And stems alike , when clouds of discord lowr , The storms of faction , and the strides of pow'r . Hence have the Muses on the lists of Fame
With pride recorded many a British name ; And on their vot ' ries , in this lov'd abode , Bright wreaths of never-fading bays bestow'd ; . True to the cause of ev'ry English bard , 'Tis yours the just inheritance to guard . What though his vaulting Pegasus disdain . - The servile check of too severe a rein ,
Like untaught coursers of the Arab race , He moves with freedom , energy , and grace ; With caution , then , the-gen ' rous ardour tame , Lest , while you chasten , you repress the flame j Some licence temper'd judgment will permit To Con ' greve ' s , Wycherly ' s , or Vanburgh ' s wit } Nor , for an ill-tim'd ribald jest , refuse ' A tear to Otway ? s , or to Southern ' s Muse ;
But chief with reverence watch his hallow'd bays , To whom this night a monument we raise ; Beyond what sculptur'd marble can bestow- — The silent tribute ' of surviving wo ' e-r- « Beyond the pow ' rs of undecaying brass , Or the proud pyramid ' s unmeaning mass ; A shrine more worthy of his fame We give , Whereunimpair'dhis genius still may live ;
, , Where , though his fire the critic's rule transgress , The glowing bosom shall his cause confess j Where Britain ' s sons , through each succeeding age , Shall hail the founder of OUR ENGLISH STAGE , And from the cavils of pedantic spleen , Defend the glories of their SHAKESPEARE ' scene .
EPILOGUE . -JVRITTEN BY GEORGE COLMAN , JUN . XStl , AND SPOKEN BY MISS FARREN . WHAT part can speak—0 , tell me , while I greet your * What character joy to meet you 1
express my But Feeling says , no character assume ; Let impulse dictate , and the soul have room . Tame glides the smoothest poem ever sung , To the Heart's language , gushing o ' er the tongue ; Cold the address the ablest scholar drew , To the ' warm glow of . crying—Welcome , YOU !
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures On Public Amusements
O , Jest they perish in this boasted age , Once more the victims of barbarian rage , Her shield to guard them let Britannia rear , And fix in safety their asylum here ! Here , where mild Reason holds her temp ' rate sway , Where willing subjects equal laws obey , Firm to that wellrpois'd system , which unites
With Order ' s blessings , Freedom ' s sacred rights . 'Mid wrecks of empires , England , be it thine , A bright example to the world to shine , Where Lgw , on Liberty ' s just basis rear'd . Of all the safeguard , is by all rever'd , And stems alike , when clouds of discord lowr , The storms of faction , and the strides of pow'r . Hence have the Muses on the lists of Fame
With pride recorded many a British name ; And on their vot ' ries , in this lov'd abode , Bright wreaths of never-fading bays bestow'd ; . True to the cause of ev'ry English bard , 'Tis yours the just inheritance to guard . What though his vaulting Pegasus disdain . - The servile check of too severe a rein ,
Like untaught coursers of the Arab race , He moves with freedom , energy , and grace ; With caution , then , the-gen ' rous ardour tame , Lest , while you chasten , you repress the flame j Some licence temper'd judgment will permit To Con ' greve ' s , Wycherly ' s , or Vanburgh ' s wit } Nor , for an ill-tim'd ribald jest , refuse ' A tear to Otway ? s , or to Southern ' s Muse ;
But chief with reverence watch his hallow'd bays , To whom this night a monument we raise ; Beyond what sculptur'd marble can bestow- — The silent tribute ' of surviving wo ' e-r- « Beyond the pow ' rs of undecaying brass , Or the proud pyramid ' s unmeaning mass ; A shrine more worthy of his fame We give , Whereunimpair'dhis genius still may live ;
, , Where , though his fire the critic's rule transgress , The glowing bosom shall his cause confess j Where Britain ' s sons , through each succeeding age , Shall hail the founder of OUR ENGLISH STAGE , And from the cavils of pedantic spleen , Defend the glories of their SHAKESPEARE ' scene .
EPILOGUE . -JVRITTEN BY GEORGE COLMAN , JUN . XStl , AND SPOKEN BY MISS FARREN . WHAT part can speak—0 , tell me , while I greet your * What character joy to meet you 1
express my But Feeling says , no character assume ; Let impulse dictate , and the soul have room . Tame glides the smoothest poem ever sung , To the Heart's language , gushing o ' er the tongue ; Cold the address the ablest scholar drew , To the ' warm glow of . crying—Welcome , YOU !