That he's more wit than any man i' th' play; 30 But of so ill a mingle with the rest, As when a parrot's taught to break a jest. Thus, aiming to be fine, they make a show, As tawdry squires in country churches do. Things well consider'd, 't is so hard to make A comedy which should the knowing take, That our dull poet, in despair to please, Does humbly beg, by me, his writ of ease. "T is a land tax, which he 's too poor to pay; You therefore must some other impost lay. 40 Would you but change, for serious plot and PROLOGUE, EPILOGUE, AND SONGS FROM SIR MARTIN MAR-ALL OR, THE FEIGN'D INNOCENCE [This comedy is an adaptation of Molière's L'Étourdi. Downes states that the Duke of Newcastle gave Dryden a bare translation from Molière, which our poet adapted for the English stage. Pepys saw the play on August 16, 1667, when he terms it "the_new_play acted yesterday . . . made by my Lord Duke of Newcastle, but, as everybody says, corrected by Dryden." It was entered on the Stationers' Register June 24, 1668 (Malone, I, 1, 93), as the Duke's play, and published anonymously in that year. Dryden's name did not appear on the title-page until 1691. The first song is printed also in Westminster Drollery; or, a Choice Collection of the Newest Songs and Poems, 1671.] Since The Alchemist was acted in 1610, there is no possible truth in Dryden's assertion in lines 5-10.] To say, this comedy pleas'd long ago, And Jonson, of those few the best, chose this, As the best model of his masterpiece. Here he was fashion'd, and we may sup But, gentlemen, you're all concern'd in this; You are in fault for what they do amiss: For they their thefts still undiscover'd think, And durst not steal, unless you please to wink. Perhaps, you may award by your decree, They should refund; but that can never be. For should you letters of reprisal seal, These men write that which no man else would steal. PROLOGUE, EPILOGUE, AND SONGS FROM AN EVENING'S LOVE OR, THE MOCK ASTROLOGER [Mrs. Pepys saw this "new play " by Dryden on June 19, 1668. It was entered on the Stationers' Register on November 20 of that year (Malone, I, 1, 93), but was not printed until 1671, when two slightly different editions appeared. The fourth song is printed also in Westminster Drollery; or, a Choice Collection of the Newest Songs and Poems, 1671.] PROLOGUE WHEN first our poet set himself to write, Like a young bridegroom on his weddingnight He laid about him, and did so bestir him, Among the rest they kept a fearful stir trot. Up starts a Mounsieur, new come o'er and warm In the French stoop, and the pull-back o' th' arm: "Morbleu," dit-il, and cocks, "I am a rogue, But he has quite spoil'd The Feign'd Astrologue." "Pox," says another, "here's so great a stir With a son of a whore farce that's regular; A rule, where nothing must decorum shock! Damme 'ts as dull as dining by the clock. 20 An evening! Why the devil should we be vex'd Whether he gets the wench this night or next?" When I heard this, I to the poet went, Told him the house was full of discontent, And ask'd him what excuse he could in vent. He neither swore nor storm'd as poets do, But, most unlike an author, vow'd 't was true; Yet said, he us'd the French like enemies, |