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Show EPILOGUE. WHat Sophocles could undertake alone , Our Poets found a Work for more than one; .And therefor* Two lay tugging at the Piece, (Greece. With all their force, to draw the pondrous Mat from A u ivht that hent even Seneca'* ftrong Mufe ,- lAnd which Cornetlle'i Shoulders did refufe. So hard it is the Athenian Harp to [Iring! So much Two.Confuls yield to one juft K^ng. Terror and Pity this whole Poem jway ; The mtghtieft Machines that can mount a Play: How heavy will thofe vulgar Souls be found, Whom Two fueh Engines cannot move from Ground? When Greece and R o m e have fmil'd upon this Birth, You can but damn for one poor ftot of Earth : ^4ndWhrn your Children find your judgment fuch, They'll fcorn their Sires, and wifh themfelves born Dutch. Each haughty Poet will infer with eafe, How much his Wit muft under-wnte to pleafe. <As fome ftrong Churle would brandifhin^ advance The monumental Sword that conquer'd France ,- So you by judging this, your Judgments teach, Thus far you like, that is, thus far you reach. Since then the Vote of full Two thoufand Years Has Crown d this Plot, and aU the Dead are theirs; Think it a Debt you pay , not <Jlm< you give, ^indin your own defence, let this Play live. Think 'em not v * m ; when Sophocles is Ihown, To praife his worth they humbly doubt their own. Yet as weak States each others Pow'r affure, Weak Poets , by conjunBion are fecure. Their Treat is what your Pallots rehfh moft . Charm ' Song! and Show! a Murder, and a Ghofi! We how not what you can defire or hope, To pleafe you more, but burning of a Pope. FINIS. |