Excerpt from The Works of the English Poets, Vol. 66: With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical

The Rosciad.

Roscius deceas"d, each high aspiring play"r

Push"d all his int"rest for the vacant chair.

The buskin"d heroes of the mimic stage

No longer whine in love, and rant in rage;

The monarch quits his throne, and condescends

Humbly to court the favour of his friend;

For pity"s sake tells undeserv"d mishaps,

And, their applause to gain, recounts his claps.

Thus the victorious chiefs of ancient Rome.

To win the mob, a suppliant"s form assume,

In pompous strain sight o"er th" extinguish"d war,

And thew where honour bled in ev"ry fear.

But though bare merit might in Rome appear

The strongest plea for favour, "tis not here;

We form our judgement in another way;

And they will best succeed, who best can pay:

Those, who would gain the votes of British tribes,

What can an actor give? In ev"ry age

Cash hath been rudely banish"d from the stage;

Monarchs themselves, to grief of ev"ry play"r,

Appear as often as their image ther:

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