A PROLOGUE , By way of SATYR , spoke before King CHARLES II . at New-Market . EXpect no more th' old fawning Prologue way , For the rash spleenful Poet writes to day Something of you , Gallants , and not the Play . Since freedom's given to each man here resorts , He takes the priviledge t' abuse your sports ; Then thus begins , this Court's a Theatre , And every Jockey is an Actor here , From the dull Knight up to the bawling Peer . New-Market is in general a Place , Made of Crimp and Chouse of Cocks and Race , Much Noise , much Nonsence , little Wit , or Grace , Where Men all seem as Nature had design'd 'em , To lose their Wits , then Gallop hard to find 'em : Pray where's the Jest , for Faith I fain would know In Yap , hoh , pugh , they start , they come , they go , Chattering one's Teeth the while in Frost and Snow . This and Fox-Hunting , th' Ancients did detest , Where you Ride ten or twenty Miles at least , Following the eager Chase in busie Swarms , O'r Hedge and Ditch , ventring Legs , Necks & Arms To kill , when at the Journeys end you come A stinking Creature not worth bringing home : This may be your Delight , but 'tis to me , As th' Monsieur says , Diable de Plasire ; Yet one thing we must own , no Sport us found In th' World like that , to try if Men are sound ; Therefore all you that carry tender Fleeces , Shun this rude Sport , or gad you'll shake to pieces ; Another thing I know is worth your Care , Claps are all fatal in New-Market Air : This caus'd an Amorous Groom that knew the danger Lately to Hang himself over a Manger , And though a Vassal suffer'd this Disaster , My Friends , 'tis Ominous to every Master . Drink Brimmers then , Wine makes your bliss compleat , Locket's a Loyal Fellow , let him Cheat , Though stum'd Wine at three shillings be too dear , Bacchus has safer Joys than Venus here , Especially for you who to your cost Kept Running Nags all the late bitter Frost . Jesting's in fashion , 'tis the Modish way And for Example , if you please you may At the King's Dinner , hear 'em every day : Jests shew a Wit , if Modestly they come , But such as bluntly and too high presume , Make Learning & good Manners quit the Room . Yet you all laugh , and in as pleas'd a Fit , As if your Panegyrick had been writ . So in a Village have I seen a Clown With broken Noddle lay the Cudgels down , And Sneer to feel his bloody mangled Scull , As if the Blow had dignify'd the Fool . Iockeys , Joke on then , without fear or awe , Cheat on , be Friends , do any thing but draw , Crimp is no Treason , by New-Market Law .