A Prologue

"'Tis said that you, the judges of the town,

Would pass a vote to put all prologues down.

For who can show me, since they first were writ,

They e'er converted one hard-hearted wit.

Yet London's mended well; in former days

Good prologues were as scarce as now good plays.

Our poet hopes you ladies will not find

His rhyme and prose to be so ill designed.

Or contemplate that, once the prologue's done;

The wit is ended ere the play's begun!"

- Nell Gwynn, a play by Jessica Swayle.

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