Читать книгу The Perplex'd Lovers - Susanna Centlivre - Страница 7

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In these good Times when War is like to cease, And Europe soon expects a gen'ral Peace; Ye Beaux, Half-Wits, and Criticks, all may know I from Apollo come a Plenipo; Who well inclin'd to treat, by me thinks fit To send Proposals from the State of Wit; Against such strong Confederates engag'd, An unsuccessful War he long has wag'd; And now declares, if you will all submit To pay the Charges of his Box and Pit, He will no more Hostilities commit. In all their Works his Poets shall take Care Never to represent you, as you are. But on the Critick, Judgment shall bestow, Sense on the Witling, Beauty on the Beau. This for the Men: next he assures the Fair, He grieves that ever he with them made War; Or ever in his Plays attack'd their Fame, Or any thing disclos'd unfit to name; Or Characters of faithless Women drew, And shew'd feign'd Beauties, so unlike the true. But in all future Scenes the Sex shall see Themselves as charming as they wish to be; For them he will ordain new Comick Rules, And never more will make them doat on Fools: And when he rises to the Tragick Strain, None but true Heroes shall their Favours gain; Such as that Stranger who has grac'd our Land, Of equal Fame for Council and Command. A Prince, whose Wisdom, Valour, and Success, The gazing World with Acclamations bless; By no great Captain in past Times outdone, And in the present equall'd but by ONE. These fair Conditions will, I hope, compose All Wars between the Poets and their Foes. Come sign the Peace, and let this happy Age Produce a League in favour of the Stage: But shou'd this fail, at least our Author prays A Truce may be concluded for six Days.