A Word to the Wise
585 Words
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A Word to the Wise
Prologue to the comedy of "A Word to the Wise" spoken by Mr Hull.
This night presents a play which public rage,
Or right, or wrong, once hooted from the stage;
From zeal or malice now no more we dread,
For English vengeance wars not with the dead.
A generous foe regards with pitying eye
The man whom Fate has laid--where all must lie.
To Wit, reviving from its author's dust,
Be kind, ye judges! or at least be just.
For no renew'd hostilities invade
The oblivious grave's inviolable shade. 10
Let one great payment every claim appease,
And him who cannot hurt, allow to please;
To please by scenes unconscious of offence,
By harmless merriment, or useful sense.
Where aught of bright or fair the piece displays,
Approve it only--'tis too late to praise.
If want of skill, or want of care appear,
Forbear to hiss--the poet cannot hear.
By all like him must praise and blame be found,
At best a fleeting dream, or empty sound. 20
Yet then shall calm Reflection bless the night
When liberal Pity dignified delight;
When Pleasure fired her torch at Virtue's flame,
And Mirth was Bounty with an humbler name.
* * * * * * *
About Samuel Johnson
Text
Summary
Introduction
The Life of Samuel Johnson
London
The Vanity of Human Wishes
Prologues
The Opening of Drury Lane Theatre
The Masque of Comus
The Good Natured Man
A Word to the Wise
Odes
Spring
Midsummer
Autumn
Winter
Miscellaneous
Stella in Mourning
To Stella
Verses Written at the Request of a Gentleman..
To Lady Firebrace, at Bury Assizes
To Lyce, an Elderly Lady
On the Death of Mr Robert Levett, a Practiser in Physic
Epitaph on Claude Phillips, an Itinerant Musician
Epitaph on Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart.
On the Death of Stephen Grey, F.R.S., the Electrician
To Miss Hickman, Playing on the Spinnet
Paraphrase of Proverbs, Chap. iv. Verses 6-11
Horace, Lib. iv. Ode vii. Translated
On Seeing a Bust of Mrs Montague
Anacreon, Ode Ninth
Lines Written in Ridicule of certain Poems published in 1777
Parody of a Translation..
Burlesque on the Modern Versification of Ancient Legendary Tales..
Epitaph for Mr Hogarth
A Translation..
To Mrs Thrale:
Impromptu Translation..
Lines Written under a Print representing Persons Skaiting
Translation of a Speech..
Impromptu on Hearing Miss Thrale..
Translation of Virgil, Pastoral I
Translation of Horace, Book i. Ode xxii.
Translation of Horace, Book ii. Ode ix.
Dialogue between Hector and Andromache
To Miss****..
Evening: an Ode
To the Same
To a Friend
To a Young Lady, on her Birthday
Epilogue intended to have been Spoken by a Lady..
The Young Author
Friendship: an Ode
Imitation of the Style of ****
One and Twenty
Epigram on George II. and Colley Cibber, Esq.
Stella in Mourning
The Winter's Walk
To Miss **** on Her Giving the Author a Gold and Silk Network Purse
Lopez de Vega
Baretti's Easy Phraseology
Duke of Modena
M. Benserade
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