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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SPANISH CURATE: PROLOGUE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: To tell ye, gentlemen, we have a play
Last Line: You are worthy judges, and you crown the play.
Subject(s): Plays & Playwrights ; Dramatists


To tell ye, gentlemen, we have a play,
A new one too, and that 'tis launched to-day,—
The name ye know, that's nothing to my story;—
To tell ye, 'tis familiar, void of glory,
Of state, of bitterness—of wit, you'll say,
For that is now held wit that tends that way,
Which we avoid;—to tell ye too, 'tis merry,
And meant to make ye pleasant, and not weary;
The stream that guides ye, easy to attend;
To tell ye that 'tis good, is to no end,
If you believe not; nay, to go thus far,
To swear it, if you swear against, is war:
To assure you any thing, unless you see,
And so conceive, is vanity in me;
Therefore I leave it to itself; and pray,
Like a good bark, it may work out to-day,
And stem all doubts; 'twas built for such a proof,
And we hope highly: if she lie aloof
For her own vantage, to give wind at will,
Why, let her work, only be you but still
And sweet-opinioned; and we are bound to say,
You are worthy judges, and you crown the play.





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