PROLOGUE TO BONDS WITHOUT JUDGEMENT, OR THE LOVES OF BENGAL. George Monck Berkeley Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T142950 K111746.000 Berkeley, George Monck, 1763-1793. Poems: by the late George-Monck Berkeley, Esq. ... With a preface by the editor, consisting of some anecdotes of Mr. Monck Berkeley and several of his friends. London printed by J. Nichols; and sold by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby; Mr. Edwards; Mr. Cooke, Oxford; Mr. Todd, York; Messrs. Simmons and Co.; Messrs. Flackton, Marrable, and Claris; and Mr. Bristow, Canterbury 1797 pp. 106-108. viii,DCXXXII,212p.,plate: port.; 4⁰.

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PROLOGUE TO BONDS WITHOUT JUDGEMENT , OR THE LOVES OF BENGAL . SPOKEN BY MR. HOLMAN . WITH shaft satyric shot from Phoebus' bow 'Gainst Wisdom's foes to aim th' unerring blow , To check the rising follies of the age , May well be deem'd the Province of the Stage . Here , whilst their gentle breasts indignant burn , Here Fashion's offspring may some moral learn . This night on India's shore our scene we lay , Though not for want of game so far we stray . When here in vain on Beaux our Beauties smile , Enrag'd they vow to quit the tasteless Isle , And , though 'gainst venal love they loudly rail , Yet , blushing , for the Land of Husbands Mr. B. received a smart trimming from his Mother for being prevailed on by — — to write this Prologue ; — she constantly asserting , that the unportioned industrious daughters of gentlemen , who go to India to obtain a comfortable settlement in life , only resemble the idle lasses who go every night to Ranelagh . Both mean to get good husbands ; the Ranelagh misses generally fail ; the sea-nymphs seldom ; for men of sense and worth rarely choose a wife that cannot spend an evening at home , who , according to Dr. Young , " Deem one moment unamus'd a misery , " &c. &c. No man esteemed women of sense and merit more than Mr. B. sail , Whilst Neptune's self indignant bears the weight , And with reluctance wafts th' unworthy freight . When India's guilty shore these damsels reach , Unnumber'd Nabobs throng the golden beach , Who , whilst their feeble frames scarce stand the gale , Explore the beauties of each living bale . To you , ye Fair , belongs th' important cause , 'Tis you must vindicate blest Hymen's laws ; For , if from th' East this fashion we import , And Arcot's customs lead the British court , To Flutus soon your ancient sway must yield , And vanquish'd Love shall quit fair Albion's field . Were this the case , should some rich Heiress start , Whose countless thousands charm each throbbing heart , The fond enraptur'd youth who wish'd to win her Must e'en go flirt with Christie or with Skinner . The Peer , by adverse dice compell'd to wed , From ways and means to Hymen's altar led , May ask his friend , " Pray where bought you your rib ? " Whilst he replies , " Why , faith , I dealt with Squib ; And , as your courtship I am somewhat slow in , I got her at the hammer — " Just a going . " On you , ye Fair , who haply scorn the plan , To seek so far that faithless creature , man , Who , spurning Plutus and his sordid art , For Love alone exchange the generous heart , On your support our anxious Bard relies , And hopes to take his plaudits from your eyes ; For , if your critic frowns do not confound him , He smiles at all the Nabobs that surround him .