Читать книгу Ulysses - Nicholas Rowe - Страница 4

SIDNEY Lord GODOLPHIN,

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Lord High-Treasurer of England, and Knight of

the most Noble Order of the Garter.

My Lord,

If those cares in which the service of a great Queen, and the love of your country, have so justly engaged your Lordship, would allow any leisure to run back and remember those arts and studies, which were once the grace and entertainment of your Lordship's youth; I have presumption enough to hope, that this tragedy may, some time or other, find an hour to divert your Lordship. Poetry, which was so venerable to former ages, as in many places to make a part of their religious worship, and every where to be had in the highest honour and esteem, has miserably languished and been despised, for want of that favour and protection which it found in the famous Augustan age. Since then, it may be asserted without any partiality to the present time, it never had a fairer prospect of lifting up its head, and returning to its former reputation than now: and the best reason can be given for it, is, that it seems to have a particular hope from, and dependence upon your Lordship, and to expect all just encouragement, when those great men, who have the power to protect it, have so delicate and polite a taste and understanding of its true value. The restoring and preserving any part of learning, is so generous an action in itself, that it naturally falls into your Lordship's province, since every thing that may serve to improve the mind, has a right to the patronage of so great and universal a genius for knowledge as your Lordship's. It is indeed a piece of good fortune, upon which I cannot help congratulating the present age, that there is so great a man, at a time when there is so great an occasion for him. The divisions which your Lordship has healed, the temper which you have restored to our councils, and that indefatigable care and diligence which you have used in preserving our peace at home, are benefits so virtuously and so seasonably conferred upon your country, as shall draw the praises of all wise men, and the blessings of all good men upon your Lordship's name. And when those unreasonable feuds and animosities, which keep faction alive, shall be buried in silence and forgotten, that great public good shall be universally acknowledged, as the happy effect of your Lordship's most equal temper and right understanding. That this glorious end may very suddenly succeed to your Lordship's candor and generous endeavours after it, must be the wish of every good Englishman. I am,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient

Humble servant,

N. ROWE.

PROLOGUE.

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To-night, in honour of the marry'd life,
Our author treats you with a virtuous wife;
A lady, who, for twenty years, withstood
The pressing instances of flesh and blood;
Her husband, still a man of sense reputed,
(Unless this tale his wisdom have confuted,)
Left her at ripe eighteen, to seek renown,
And battle for a harlot at Troy town;
To fill his place, fresh lovers came in shoals,	}
Much such as now-a-days are Cupid's tools,
Some men of wit, but the most part were fools.
They sent her billets-doux, and presents many,
Of ancient tea and Thericlean china;
Rail'd at the gods, toasted her o'er and o'er,
Dress'd at her, danc'd and fought, and sigh'd, and swore;
In short, did all that man could do to have her,
And damn'd themselves to get into her favour;
But all in vain, the virtuous dame stood buff,
And let them know that she was coxcomb proof:
Messieurs the beaux, what think you of the matter?
Don't you believe old Homer given to flatter?
When you approach, and pressing the soft hand,	}
Favours, with well-bred impudence, demand,
Is it in woman's weakness to withstand?
Cease to be vain, and give the sex their due;
Our English wives shall prove this story true:
We have our chaste Penelope's, who mourn
Their widow'd beds, and wait their lord's return;
We have our heroes too, who bravely bear,
Far from their home, the dangers of the war;
Who careless of the winter season's rage,
New toils explore, and in new cares engage;
From realm to realm their chief unweary'd goes,
And restless journies on, to give the world repose.
Such are the constant labours of the sun,
Whose active, glorious course is never done;
And though, when hence he parts, with us 'tis night,
Still he goes on, and lends to other worlds his light.
Ye beauteous nymphs, with open arms prepare
To meet the warriors, and reward their care;
May you for ever kind and faithful prove,
And pay their days of toil with nights of love.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

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MEN.
Ulysses, king of Ithaca, concealed for some time under the name of Æthon.
Eurymachus, king of Samos.
Polydamas,	}
Thoon,	Neighbouring princes,
Agenor,	pretenders to the Queen.
Ephialtes,
Telemachus, son to Ulysses and Penelope.
Antinous, a nobleman of Ithaca, secretly in love with the Queen.
Cleon,	}	Friends to Antinous.
Arcas,
Mentor, tutor to Telemachus.
Eumæus, an old servant, and faithful to Ulysses.
Ceraunus, a Samian officer belonging to Eurymachus.
WOMEN.
Penelope, queen of Ithaca,	Mrs. Hunter.
Semanthe, daughter to Eurymachus.
Several Samian and Ithacan Officers and Soldiers, with other Attendants, Men and Women.
SCENE, ITHACA.