Horfes and mules ne'er pace the narrow street, Where crowded walkers elbow all they meet: No carts and coaches o'er the pavement clatter; Ladies, priefts, lawyers, nobles, go by water: Light boats and Gondolas transport them all, Like one eternal party to Vauxhall. Now hey for merriment !-hence grief and fear! The jolly Carnival leads in the year; Calls the young loves and pleasures to its aid; A three-months Jubilee and Masquerade! With gaiety the throng'd piazza glows, Mountebanks, Jugglers, Boxers, Puppet-Shows: Mask'd and disguis'd the ladies meet their sparks, While Venus hails the mummers of St. Mark's. There holy friars turn gallants, and there too, Nuns yield to all the frailties-" Flesh is heir to." There dear Ridottos conftantly delight, And sweet Harmonic Meetings ev'ry night! Once in each year the Doge afcends his barge, Fine as a London Mayor's, and thrice as large; Throws a huge ring of gold into the sea, And cries, "Thus we, thy fovereign, marry thee; “Oh "Oh may'ft thou ne'er, like many a mortal spouse, "Prove full of ftorms, and faithlefs to thy vows!" One word of Politicks-and then I've done The ftate of Venice Nobles rule alone. Three ranks must join to make us bless'd and great. PROLOGUE, PROLOG To the Comedy of A WIFE IN THE RIGHT. BY March, 1772. Y your leave, Criticks!-'Tis a Female Play: A Female Prologue may prepare the way. Among the chronicles' of modern fame Who has not read of gentle Frances' name? Henry and Frances! a fond loving pair, Whose soft epiftles ftill amuse the fair.* Some nights ago our couple, all alone, A Fire-fide tête-à tête-true Darby and Joan- And breaks 'twixt us and them the modeft bounds. Some in the army lift as grenadiers ! * LETTERS BETWEEN MR, AND MRS. GRIFFITH, under the names of HENRY and FRANCES. 4 Others, Others write hift'ries, ftate-intrigues unriddle, Gently, cries Frances; truce with your reproaches! Women in vain to keep their place have striven; From ev'ry trade, from each profession driven. Men-Midwives fwarm; men mantuas make, make stays, Drefs hair, drefs meat-let women then write plays! Let Let Females then compofe, as well as play, ! And ftrive to please you in the noblest way! } Thus Frances fpoke, and bid her Dear good. night And Henry own'd, His Wife was in the Right, PROLOGUE |