The essence of theatrical wit being a select collection of the best and most admired prologues and epilogues [T113755]

DMI number:

1566

Publication Date:

1768

Volume Number:

1 of 1

ESTC number:

T113755

EEBO/ECCO link:

N/A

Shelfmark:

BL 642.c.29

Full Title:

THE | ESSENCE | OF | THEATRICAL WIT: | BEING | A SELECT COLLECTION | Of the best and most admired | Prologues and Epilogues, | That have been delivered from the Stage. | With the Addition of some that were never | made public before. | [ornament] | LONDON: | Printed for P. WICKS, in Middle-Row, Holborn, and | may be had of the Booksellers in Town and Country. | MDCCLXVIII.

Place of Publication:

London

Genres:

Collection including drama

Format:

Octavo

Pagination:

[2], [1]-54 (p.44 mispaginated p.48).

Related People

Publisher:

P Wicks

Confidence:

Absolute (100%)

Comments:

Printed for P. WICKS, in Middle Row, Holborn

Content/Publication

First Line:

An old trite proverb let me quote

Page No:

pp.[1]-2

Poem Title:

Prologues on Prologue, Written by Mr, Garrick, and spoken by Mr. King, at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, on performing a Farce called The Musical Lady.

Attribution:

by Mr. Garrick

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

To wake the soul by tender strokes of art

Page No:

pp.3-4

Poem Title:

The Original Prologue to Cato. Written by Mr. Pope, spoken by Wilks.

Attribution:

Written by Mr. Pope

Attributed To:

Alexander Pope

First Line:

Behold a wonder for theatric story

Page No:

pp.4-6

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Apprentice... spoken by Mr. Murphy, the author of The Apprentice.

Attribution:

Written by Mr. Garrick.

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

A very pretty bill as I'm alive

Page No:

pp.6-7

Poem Title:

The Epilogue. Spoken by Mrs. Clive. Enters reading the Play-Bill.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Well if thou art my boy a little mellow

Page No:

pp.8-9

Poem Title:

Prologue, Spoken by Mr. Garrick, in the Character of a Sailor fuddled, and talking to himself. Enter singing, How pleasant a sailor's life passes,---

Attribution:

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

From the earliest times the business of the stage

Page No:

pp.10-11

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, Acted at the Castle, at Kentish-Town, by the Gentlemen of Mr. Rey's Boarding-School. Spoken by Master Shiers, in the Character of Howard.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

A moment stop your tuneful fingers pray

Page No:

pp.11-13

Poem Title:

Prologues to the Fairies, An Opera, taken from Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night's Dream.

Attribution:

Written and spoken by Mr. Garrick.

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

If in these days of luxury and ease

Page No:

pp.13-14

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Tragedy of Agis... Spoken by Mr. Garrick.

Attribution:

Written by a Friend.

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

A king in bloom of youth for freedom die

Page No:

pp.14-15

Poem Title:

Epilogue to Agis. Spoken by Mrs. Pritchard.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Twas once the mode inglorious war to wage

Page No:

pp.15-16

Poem Title:

Prologue to the tragedy of Cleone... spoken by Mr. Ross.

Attribution:

by William Melmouth, Esq;

Attributed To:

William Melmoth

First Line:

Well ladies so much for the tragic style

Page No:

pp.16-18

Poem Title:

Epilogue to Cleone... spoken by Mrs. Bellamy.

Attribution:

William Shenstone

Attributed To:

William Shenstone

First Line:

With doubt joy apprehension almost dumb

Page No:

pp.18-19

Poem Title:

Prologue, Spoke to Much Ado about Nothing, Acted by Command of his Majesty, [...] Being his first appearance on the Stage, after his Return from Italy.

Attribution:

By Mr. Garrick.

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

Some strange caprice forever rules the stage

Page No:

pp.20-21

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Citzen, a Farce... Spoken by Mr. Obrien.

Attribution:

By A. Murphy, Esq;

Attributed To:

Arthur Murphy

First Line:

Oh George George George tis such rakes as you

Page No:

pp.21-23

Poem Title:

Epilogue to the Citizen, Spoekn by Mr. Shuter and Mr. Woodward, in the Characters of Old Philpot and Young Philpot.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Before you see one of your stage directors

Page No:

pp.23-24

Poem Title:

Prologue, Spoken by Mr. Powell, And said to be written by Mr. G------, on the Opening of the Bristol Theatre.

Attribution:

by Mr. G------

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

In days of yore it was a constant rule

Page No:

pp.25-26

Poem Title:

Epilogue, Spoken by Mr. Arthur, one of the Managers.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Too long by some fatality misled

Page No:

pp.26-27

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Englishman at Bourdeaux, Performed, since the Conclusion of the Peace, with universal Applause, at Paris.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

The anxious struggle happily overpast

Page No:

pp.27-28

Poem Title:

Epilogue.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

The paths of truth with fancy's flowers to strow

Page No:

pp.28-29

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Comedy of the Dupe... Spoken by Mr. Harvard.

Attribution:

Written by the late Mrs. Sheridan.

Attributed To:

Frances Sheridan [nee Chamberlaine]

First Line:

Ladies methinks I hear you all complain

Page No:

pp.29-30

Poem Title:

Epilogue... Spoken by Mrs. Clive.

Attribution:

by a Friend.

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Since my good friends though late are pleased at last

Page No:

pp.30-31

Poem Title:

Mr. Garrick's Address to the Town, In the Character of the Busy Body.

Attribution:

Mr. Garrick's

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

While modern tragedy by rule exact

Page No:

pp.32-33

Poem Title:

Prologue to Philaster... On Mr. Powell's first Appearance on the Stage.

Attribution:

Written by George Colman.

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

With much reluctance they have brought me here

Page No:

pp.33-34

Poem Title:

Prologue... As it was spoken to the Comedy of the Merry Midnight Mistake, as acted at Chelmsford, nine successive Nights, by a Set of Young Gentlemen for their Amusement.

Attribution:

by G. S. Carey,

Attributed To:

George Saville Carey

First Line:

I tell you I will plague on it I am so teased

Page No:

p.35

Poem Title:

The Epilogue.

Attribution:

By the Author of the Prologue.

Attributed To:

George Saville Carey

First Line:

Were it not sirs impossible to find

Page No:

pp.36-37

Poem Title:

Prologue to Redowald, a Masque, (written by a Young Gentleman of Sixteen.)

Attribution:

By G. S. Carey.

Attributed To:

George Saville Carey

First Line:

Should some grave wit our author's piece decry

Page No:

p.37

Poem Title:

The Epilogue.

Attribution:

By the Same.

Attributed To:

George Saville Carey

First Line:

Poets and painters who from nature draw

Page No:

p.38

Poem Title:

Prologue To the Clandestine Marriage, [...] spoken by Mr. Holland.

Attribution:

Written by Mr. Garrick

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Ladies with leave | pass | pass | you must do more

Page No:

pp.39-48 [i.e. p.44]

Poem Title:

Epilogue.

Attribution:

Written by Mr. Garrick.

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

To lead attention through five acts of prose

Page No:

p.45

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Double Mistake. Spoken by Mr. Smith.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

I had an epilogue to speak tonight

Page No:

pp.46-47

Poem Title:

Epilogue. Spoken by Miss Wilford, in the Character of Lady Louisa.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Nay but I must I must indeed papa

Page No:

pp.47-48

Poem Title:

Epilogue, Spoken at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-lane, April 30, 1765, by Miss Hopkins, a child of six Years old, at the Benefit of Mr. Hopkins, Prompter, and Mrs. Hopkins.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

News news good folks rare news and you shall know it

Page No:

pp.48-49

Poem Title:

Epilogue. To Mr. Jones's Tragedy of the Earl of Essex.

Attribution:

Attributed To:

Not attributed

First Line:

Severe each poet's lot but sure most hard

Page No:

pp.50-51

Poem Title:

Prologue to the Earl of Warwick... Spoken by Mr. Bensley.

Attribution:

Written by George Colman, Esq;

Attributed To:

George Colman

First Line:

Exhausted quite with prisons racks and death

Page No:

pp.51-52

Poem Title:

Epilogue... spoken by Mrs. Yates.

Attribution:

written by Mr. Garrick.

Attributed To:

David Garrick

First Line:

When with the comic muse a bard hath dealing

Page No:

pp.53-54

Poem Title:

Epilogue to the New Comedy of False Delicacy... spoken by Mrs. Dancer.

Attribution:

Written by David Garrick, Esq;

Attributed To:

David Garrick