MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. OCCASIONAL EPILOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR. CORRY, IN THE CHARACTER OF VAPID, AFTER THE PLAY OF THE DRAMATIST, AT THE KILKENNY THEATRE. (Entering as if to announce the Play.) LADIES and Gentlemen, on Monday night, poor author's ear, when three times three The only bill on which his name will pass ! Through box and gallery waft your well-known name, While critic eyes the happy cast shall con, 'Tis said our worthy Manager* intends To help my night, and he, you know, has friends. There's nothing like him! wits, at his request, With such a manager we can't but please, Tho' London sent us all her loud O. P.'s†, *The late Mr. Richard Power. The brief appellation by which those persons were distinguished who, at the opening of the new theatre of Covent Garden, clamoured for the continuance of the old prices of admission. You, on our side, R. P. * upon our banners, doubt In all our plays, the Riot-Act's cut out; And, while we skim the cream of many a jest, Oh gently thus, when three short weeks are past, * The initials of our manager's name. This alludes to a scenic representation then preparing for the last night of the performances. EXTRACT FROM A PROLOGUE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE AUTHOR, AT THE OPENING OF THE KILKENNY THEATRE, OCTOBER, 1809. YET, even here, though Fiction rules the hour, Forgive this gloom-forgive this joyless strain, * The late Mr. John Lyster, one of the oldest members and best actors of the Kilkenny Theatrical Society. |