Gallants, we never yet produc'd a PlayWith greater Fears than this we act to-day;Barren of all the Graces of the Stage,Barren of all that entertains this Age.No Hero, no Romance, no Plot, no Shew,No Rape, no Bawdy, no Intrigue, no Beau:There's nothing in't with which we use to please ye;With downright dull Instruction w'are to tease ye;The Stage turns Pulpit, and the World's so fickle,The Play-House in a Whim turns Conventicle.But Preaching here must prove a hungry Trade;The Patentees will find so, I'm afraid:For tho' with heavenly Zeal you all abound,As by your Lives and Morals may be found;Tho' every Female here o'erflows with Grace,And chasteDiana's written in her Face;Tho' Maids renounce the Sweets of Fornication,And one lewd Wife's not left in all the Nation;Tho' Men grow true, and the foul Fiend defy;Tho' Tradesmen cheat no more, nor Lawyers lye;Tho' not one Spot be found onLevi's Tribe,Nor one soft Courtier that will touch a Bribe;Yet in the midst of such religious Days,Sermons have never borne the Price of Plays.
Gallants, we never yet produc'd a PlayWith greater Fears than this we act to-day;Barren of all the Graces of the Stage,Barren of all that entertains this Age.No Hero, no Romance, no Plot, no Shew,No Rape, no Bawdy, no Intrigue, no Beau:There's nothing in't with which we use to please ye;With downright dull Instruction w'are to tease ye;The Stage turns Pulpit, and the World's so fickle,The Play-House in a Whim turns Conventicle.But Preaching here must prove a hungry Trade;The Patentees will find so, I'm afraid:For tho' with heavenly Zeal you all abound,As by your Lives and Morals may be found;Tho' every Female here o'erflows with Grace,And chasteDiana's written in her Face;Tho' Maids renounce the Sweets of Fornication,And one lewd Wife's not left in all the Nation;Tho' Men grow true, and the foul Fiend defy;Tho' Tradesmen cheat no more, nor Lawyers lye;Tho' not one Spot be found onLevi's Tribe,Nor one soft Courtier that will touch a Bribe;Yet in the midst of such religious Days,Sermons have never borne the Price of Plays.