To Mr. GARRICK. William Whitehead Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.002 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. II. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 253-257. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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To Mr. GARRICK . By the Same . ON old PARNASSUS , t' other day , The Muses met to sing and play ; Apart from all the rest were seen The tragick and the comick queen , Engag'd , perhaps , in deep debate , On RICH'S , or on FLEETWOOD'S fate . When , on a sudden , news was brought That GARRICK had the patent got , And both their ladyships again Might now return to Drury-lane . They bow'd , they simper'd , and agreed They wish'd the project might succeed , 'Twas very possible , the case Was likely too , and had a face — A face ! Thalia titt'ring cry'd , And cou'd her joy no longer hide ; Why , sister , all the world must see How much this makes for you and me ; No longer now shall we expose Our unbought goods to empty rows , Or meanly be oblig'd to court From foreign aid a weak support ; No more the poor polluted scene Shall teem with births of Harlequin ; Or vindicated stage shall feel The insults of the dancer's heel . Such idle trash we'll kindly spare To operas now — they'll want them there ; For Sadler's-Wells , they say , this year Has quite undone their engineer . Pugh , you're a wag , the buskin'd prude Reply'd , and smil'd ; besides 'tis rude To laugh at foreigners , you know , And triumph o'er a vanquish'd foe : For my part , I shall be content If things succeed as they are meant ; And should not be displeas'd to find Some changes of the tragick kind . And say , THALIA , mayn't we hope The stage will take a larger scope ? Shall he whose all-expressive powers Can reach the heights that SHAKESPEAR soars , Descend to touch an humbler key , And tickle ears with poetry ; Where every tear is taught to flow Thro' many a line's melodious woe , And heart-felt pangs of deep distress Are fritter'd into similes ? — O thou , whom nature taught the art To pierce , to cleave , to tear the heart , Whatever name delight thine ear , OTHELLO , RICHARD , HAMLET , LEAR , O undertake my just defence , And banish all but nature hence ! See , to thy aid with streaming eyes The fair afflicted Mrs. Cibber . CONSTANCE flies ; Now wild as winds in madness tears Her heaving breasts and scatter'd hairs ; Or low on earth disdains relief With all the conscious pride of grief . My PRITCHARD too in HAMLET'S queen — The goddess of the sportive vein Here stop'd her short , and with a sneer , My PRITCHARD , if you please , my dear ! Her tragick merit I confess , But surely mine's her proper dress ; Behold her there with native ease , And native spirit , born to please ; With all MARIA'S charms engage , Or MILWOOD'S arts , or TOUCHWOOD'S rage , Thro' every foible trace the fair , Or leave the town , and toilet's care To chaunt in forests unconfin'd The wilder notes of ROSALIND . O thou , where-e'er thou fix thy praise , BRUTE , DRUGGER , FRIBBLE , RANGER , BAYS ! O join with her in my behalf , And teach an audience when to laugh . So shall buffoons with shame repair To draw in fools at Smithfield fair , And real humour charm the age , Tho' Mr. Quin , inimitable in that character , who was then leaving the stage . FALSTAFF should forsake the stage . She spoke . MELPOMENE reply'd , And much was said on either side ; And many a chief , and many a fair , Were mention'd to their credit there . But I'll not venture to display What goddesses think fit to say . However , GARRICK , this at least Appears , by both a truth confess'd , That their whole fate for many a year But hangs on your paternal care . A nation's taste depends on you — Perhaps a nation's virtue too . O think how glorious 'twere to raise A theatre to virtue's praise . Where no indignant blush might rise , Nor wit be taught to plead for vice : But every young attentive ear Imbibe the precepts , living there . And every unexperienc'd breast There feel its own rude hints express'd , And , waken'd by the glowing scene , Unfold the worth that lurks within . If possible , be perfect quite ; A few short rules will guide you right . Consult your own good sense in all , Be deaf to fashion's fickle call , Nor e'er descend from reason's laws To court what you command , applause .