She now entreats indulgence to her fears,
Her inexperience, and her want of years—
The author's words and meaning to comprize,
To mark with truth the paffions as they rife,
And 'gainft untried embarrassments to guard,
In eight days limits, was a task full hard;
But not to fruftrate a dear friend's request,
She meets the peril, and submits the reft.

The fair Alicia, to the Drama new,

By me folicits your indulgence too:

As for the reft, I'll anfwer, to a man,

Tho' lately drill'd, they'll please you-if they can.

125

130

PRELUDE

то THE

SAILOR METAMORPHOSED;

OR, THE

ANIMATION OF HARLEQUIN;*

In which his myftic Presentation is now first elucidated.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY VI, MDCCXC.

SCENE, a defert Coaft; in the Back Ground a troubled Sea; clouded Moon, &c.—Thunder and Lightning-Screech Owl-Enter Witches feverally, flying down on different fides-Hecate from above, over a fkirt of the Sea.

[Showing her avand.

I come, I come, I come- -prepar'd you fee

What is't now, Beldames! you would have me do?

Bind up the Welkin, or a Tempeft brew?

Or fhrouded in the dufky cloak of night,

With myftic vifionry I'll glad your fight,

And show the poor dull-thoughted fons of care,
With true adepts how bootlefs to compare.

Say but the word.

M

A Witch.

Ift Witch.

-Sifter! we don't refufe

Your proffer'd aid; yet tempefts we'd excuse;
Disposed to night amufing scenes to raise,
And praise deserve from those deferving praise.

Hecate. Suppose we wake the mufic of the spheres, And with melodious founds enchant their ears

2d Witch. Why, fifter! that were well; but nothing new; For fkill is theirs; celeftial voices too; And I divine, ere fetting of the moon,

To more effect we may prefer the boon.

Hecate. Then let's invoke the fairies for a dance

3d Witch. Hum!-there again we ftand but little chance; The tiny elves that deftly foot the ground

Within our limits now are rarely found.

Hecate. I have hit it, crones -as hitherward I bow'd, Horsed on the fummit of a murky cloud,

I mark'd a fhipman o'er the ocean skim

In his tight veffel, rigg’d in gallant trim,
Plying off Howth, as conscious of her freight,
A Prince of mighty truft to bless Ierne's state.-
Το prove his courage, and his mind prepare
For rubs, which men in place are doom'd to bear,
I'll loose the winds, and on the rugged rock
Dash her proud keel-at the refiftlefs fhock,
Mafts, timbers, deck fhall shiver to your view;
This, aye! and more, I'll do! I'll do! I'll do !

All.

All. Good, fifter! good; we all to that agree: 1ft Witch. And thanks receive from me!

Storm.—Ship in diftrefs.—Wrecked.—Mariner caft afbore.—Re-enter

Witches, who examine the body lying on the beach.

ft. Witch. Gone!

ad Witch. Gone!

3d Witch.

Hecate.

Quite gone!

-Then here our paftime ends !

But let's unite our power, and stand his friends.
In life, efteem'd and lov'd, he bore a name,

And his revival will exalt our fame

;

For know, tho' little dreamt, this trunk within
A genius lives-no lefs than Harlequin!

Him I'll call forth, and with full powers invest,

To play his gambols o'er at your behest ;
But speedier to effect a deed so rare,
Call we our spirits hovering in the air,

Their choiceft lore and fovereign spells to bring,

While round, and round, and round, we dance the ring.

[Grotesque dance. The wood rifes, and discovers

a flaming cauldron.

Behold the cauldron there, my fifters three!

Immerse the body; ftir the pot with glee;

It

It fumes; it boils; with magic drugs replete,

To give him pulfe and vivifying heat.

The charm's wound up-enough-our labour's done,

And now, my fifters! recognize our fon.

Obey my fummons, child of whim and mirth!

And from this potent wand receive new birth;

[Thunder and lightning.

Rife, like another Phoenix, from the flame,
And by good conduct my protection claim―

But heedless youth as perils oft invade,

[Harlequin rifes,

Arm him, kind fifters! with your prefent aid ;
And that he better thro' the world may fhift,

Let each contribute fome peculiar gift.

1ft Witch. First, I this SWORD, for use not show, fupply, And tho' unmeet to catch a lady's eye,

Blade worthier thrift ne'er garnish'd coxcomb's thigh:
'Tis PERSEVERANCE hight-of temper fuch,
Force can't refift, nor fraud elude its touch;
By which empowered to ward impending ill,
All things fhall change obedient to thy will:

[Clap of thunder and lightning.

2d Witch. This HATI give thee-mean and poor in size, To thofe broad brims which fashion's flaves difguife; This-clep'd above INTELLIGENCE-a fence

With which vain mortals easily dispense→→

Will,