Prologue For The Women, When They Acted at the Old Theatre, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields
John Dryden 1631 (Aldwincle) – 1631 (London)
Were none of you, gallants, e'er driven so hard,
As when the poor kind soul was under guard,
And could not do 't at home, in some by-street
To take a lodging, and in private meet?
Such is our case; we can't appoint our house,
The lovers' old and wonted rendezvous,
But hither to this trusty nook remove;
The worse the lodging is, the more the love.
For much good pastime, many a dear sweet hug,
Is stolen in garrets, on the humble rug.
Here's good accommodation in the pit;
The grave demurely in the midst may sit,
And so the hot Burgundian on the side,
Ply vizard mask, and o'er the benches stride:
Here are convenient upper boxes too,
For those that make the most triumphant show;
All, that keep coaches, must not sit below.
There, gallants, you betwixt the acts retire,
And, at dull plays, have something to admire:
We, who look up, can your addresses mark,
And see the creatures coupled in the ark:
So we expect the lovers, braves, and wits;
The gaudy house with scenes will serve for cits.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 57 sec read
- 145 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AABBCDEFGGHHIIDJJKKLLMC |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,002 |
Words | 186 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 23 |
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"Prologue For The Women, When They Acted at the Old Theatre, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Oct. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/22686/prologue-for-the-women,-when-they-acted-at-the-old-theatre,-lincoln's-inn-fields>.
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