| Citation |
NHG-P.760.002
18 Jan 1760:22 (172)
From the Boston-Post Boy, Jan. 7. The Gentlemen who had
proposed to amuse themselves, and friends, by the
representation of a play, with the wise men of Boston is
understood that the piece they had made choice of for that
purpose was Mr. Addison's Cato, and that they are very sorry
they should have been expected to be promoters of vice,
impiety, immorality, &c. And as it was intended to have
been introduced by the original prologue, a little alter'd ,
to adapt it to the times, I send you a copy thereof to
insert in your next paper.
PROLOGUE to Cato, intended to be spoke in the character of
an officer of the army.
To wake the soul by tender strokes of art,
To raise the genius, and to mend the heart;
To make mankind in conscious virtue bold,
Live o'er each scene, and be what they behold;
For this the tragic muse first trod the stage,
Commanding tears to stream thro' ev'ry age:
Tyrants no more their savage nature kept,
And foes to virtue wonder'd how they wept.
. . . [34 more lines]
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