| Citation |
NHG-P.776.009
22 Jun 1776:41 (5)
The following prologue was spoken at the opening of the
Theatre, by the Ministerial Army at Boston.
PROLOGUE TO THE TRAGEDY OF ZARA.
By General Burgoyne.
In Britain once, (it stains th' historic page)
Freedom was vital struck with petty rage,
Cromwell the fever watch'd, the knife supply'd,
She madden'd, and by suicide she died:
Amidst her groans sunk ev'ry liberal art,
That polish'd life, or humaniz'd the heart.
There sunk the stage, quell'd by the bigot's roar,
Truth fled with sense, and Shakespear charm'd no more.
To sooth the times too much resembling those,
And lull the care-tir'd thought, this stage arose;
Proud if you hear, rewarded if you're pleas'd,
We come to minister to minds diseas'd.
. . . [8 more lines]
The commic muse presides o'er social life,
And forms the parent, husband, friend and wife;
. . .[14 more lines]
A PARODY ON GEN. BURGOYNE'S PROLOGUE TO THE TRAGEDY OF
ZARA.
In Boston once, ('twill stain th' historic page,)
Freedom was sunk, opprest with tyrant rage;
North, chief assassin, then the sword supplied,
And stab'd by ministerial hand--she died:
. . . [32 more lines]
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