| Citation |
MJ.782.088
16 Jul 1782:41 (9/29 463)
A FAREWELL EPILOGUE
Written by Mr. Davids, and spoken by Mr. Willis, on the
shutting up the Baltimore Theatre for this season.
[Inserted by particular request.]
From London, your honour, to Stratford I'm come;
Pray stop, my dear Sir, indeed you are wrong*;
The devil I am! Let me see, by this light
'Tis a farewell epilogue must be spoken this night.
To close the campaign, our Gen'rals have sent
Your obsequious servant here, to represent,
That in gratitude bound they shall ever continue,
With the actors in general, and all their retinue.
Next season we hope to produce some rare flowers,
Your senses to charm, and beguile the dull hours;
With harlequins, witches, machinery too,
With dresses and characters entirely new,
Pageants and jubilees, with funeral processions,
And every fine scene to affect the sweet passions.
Enter a servant with a bill.
Why this is address'd to 'Sieurs Lindsay and Wall;
Tell bearer hereof in two hours to call.
Reads - "To forty days labour, nails, timber, and painting,
"Four hundred pounds," 'Sdeath keep me from fainting.
Enter a messenger.
Mess. Here are fifty more duns now at the stage-door,
The devil there are! Why there let them roar.
The public perhaps may next season discharge it;
And then for this house, we intend to enlarge it.
To please is our wish, boxes, gallery, pit;
To banish ill-nature, and introduce wit.
As all things grow perfect by practice and care,
And school-boys con lessons by study and fear,
So young in our drams, our faults pray excuse,
By gradual advances we'll humour the muse.
Dispers'd for a time, some far and some near,
Wherever we go, our hearts will be here,
And the Baltimore audience we shall always revere.
*Spoke by an actor in the balcony.
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