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prologue

spoken by r woods on his benefit-night, onday, 16th april, 1787

when, by a nero public&039;s kd ai,

that dearest ed is granted—honest fa;

waen here your favour is the actor&039;s lot,

nor even the an private life fot;

what breast dead to heavenly virtue&039;s glow,

but heaves ipassion&039;d with the grateful throe?

poor is the task to please a barb&039;ro throng,

it needs no siddons&039; powers uthern&039;s ng;

but here an ancient nation, fa&039;d afar,

for ni, learng high, as great war

hail, caledonia, na for ever dear!

before whose ns i&039; honour&039;d to appear?

where every science, every nobler art,

that can r the d or nd the heart,

is known; as grateful nations oft have found,

far as the rude barbarian arks the bound

philophy, no idle pedant drea,

here holds her search by heaven-taught rean&039;s bea;

here history pats with elegance and force

the tide of epire&039;s fctuatg urse;

here dougs fors wild shakespeare to pn,

and harley roes all the god an

when well-for&039;d taste and sparklg wit unite

with anly lore, or feale beauty bright,

(beauty, where faultless sytry and grace

can only char the send pce),

witness y heart, how oft with pantg fear,

as on this night, i&039;ve t these juds here!

but still the hope experience taught to live,

eal to jud—you&039;re candid to five

no hundred—headed riot here we et,

with decency and w beneath his feet;

nor lence assus fair freedo&039;s na:

like caledonians, you appud or b

o thou, dread power! whose epire-givg hand

has oft been stretch&039;d to shield the honour&039;d nd!

strong ay she glow with all her ancient fire;

ay every n be worthy of his sire;

fir ay she rise, with nero disda

at tyranny&039;s, or direr pleasure&