To know the origin from whence you came,
And the frail fashion of this human frame,
Pause o'er those monuments with pensive eye,
Where purpled tyrants, proud oppressors lie;
All who could boast wealth, wisdom, beauty, birth,
Here meet, and mingle with one common earth:
Yet these no bright accomplishments could save
From Fate's dread sentence to the gloomy grave:
There while you read the frailty of your frame,
Learn from what vile original you came.

This Night we represent a modern Play,
Short, plain, and simple, in the ancient Way:
Instead of Ornament, and borrow'd Grace,
The Unities of Action, Time, and Place.
We raise no Ghosts, call down no gay. Machines,
Nor tempt you with Variety of Scenes:
With no rich, pompous Pageantry surprise,
Nor, to secure your Hands, delude your Eyes:
On Thought we now rely, and hope Success
From easy Words, and natural Distress.
In early Ages with no Charms but these.
The Fathers of the Drama sought to please ;
By Nature Nature's Passions they refin'd,

When I say unto the Wicked, O wicked Man, thou shalt surely die, if thou dost not speak, to warn the Wicked from his Way, that wicked Man shall die in his Iniquity: but his Blood will I require at thine Hand.
Where is the Warning that our Watchmen give.
Who side the Wicked, and with Sinners live?
Wink at Prosaneness, nay the Crime applaud
Which they should labour, to make us avoid?
What need have we, to pay a lazy Tribe
Of Priests, whom Satan easily can bribe
To let unwary Souls, unheeded, stray
Into the Snares the Enemy doth lay?

Say, ye gracious Pow'rs, if purer
Sentiments inform a Breast;
Or if Nymph was e'er securer
Of a tender Heart possest.

Mine for Silvia , owns a Passion.
By no sordid Views deform'd;
Love inspir'd, by Inclination,
That by Sense and Virtue warm'd.

In my Silvia , Nature sheweth
All her wonted Skill to please;
Blest her Work, who thus endoweth
So much Charms, with so much Ease.

If e'er my humble muse melodious sings.
'Tis when you animate and tune her strings;
If e'er she mounts 'tis when you prune her wings.
You, like the sun, your glorious beams display,
Deal to the darkest orb a friendly ray,
And clothe it with the lustre of the day.
Mean was the piece, unelegantly wrought,
The colours' faint, irregular the draught;
But your commanding touch, your nicer art,
Rais'd ev'ry stroke, and brighten'd ev'ry part.
So when Luke drew the rudiments of man,
An angel finish'd what the saint began;

Sly Dick took his new Spouse to Bed ,
And counted on her Maidenhead ;
For she was scarce Fourteen:
But hear! the Zone , he judg'd so tight ,
Was found unty'd and loosen'd quite.
What may this Wonder mean?
Poor Sylvia , who had her Cue ,
From his Embrace Frighted, with-drew,
And beg'd, he wou'd not chide:
With Colin romping th' other Day,
The Bird got out , and fled away;
No Fault of mine, she cry'd.

Oh Fate! where was thy mighty arm,
When beauty call'd thy aid?
Oh! Neptune! was thy potent charm,
Mysterious by thee laid?

Perhaps your eyes with savage joy
Saw Ocean swell around,
Bade waiting syrens quick destroy,
And bring the Halsewell down.

Ah, yes! the fatal morn was dark,
The misty snow thick fell;
The gale encreas'd, her planks they start,
Distraction round did yell.

How! cost a Week , before you made it?
Yet Damn'd you say, the Night they play'd it?
Your Pardon, Master Bayes , I doubt it!
You cou'd not be so long about it.

Judge Omnipotent thou, of Pow'r immense,
Thou true Discerner of our human Sense;
Thou great Protector, and thou only Friend
On whom, for all Things, I alone depend,
Divest my Soul of ev'ry frail Design,
And make it spotless, pure and only Thine;
From ev'ry erring Thought, O! set it free,
And let me speak, or think, of naught but Thee.

Ah! soft wanton zephyrs soft blow,
On th' bank is Miranda reclin'd;
Disturb not those hillocks of snow,
Which alternate rise with the wind.

Distil from each fragrant flower,
The sweets which your breath can impart;
And Love, let her feel thy soft pow'r,
But cautiously wound with thy dart.

Be certain you strike not too deep,
Nor give her fair bosom a pain;
And, ah! when awaken'd from sleep,