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Subject Area: Literature
Collection: Banned Books

PROLOGUE, - Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, The Marriage of Figaro (or the Follies of a Day) [1784]

Edition used:

The Follies of a Day; or, the Marriage of Figaro. A Comedy, as it is now performing at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. From the French of M. de Beaumarchais by Thomas Holcroft (London: G.G. and J.J. Robinson, 1785).

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PROLOGUE,

Spoken by Mr. DAVIES.

    • TO-NIGHT, a Child of Chance is hither brought,
    • Who could be neither borrow’d, begg’d, nor bought;
    • Nay, so alert was said to be the Droll,
    • ’Twas well affirm’d he was not to be stole;
    • But hence dispatch’d, back’d by Apollo’s warrant,
    • A messenger has kidnapp’d this Wag-errant;
    • Poetic Fugitive, has hither dragg’d him,
    • And, safely here arriv’d, has now ungagg’d him,
    • To plead before this Court, his whole amenance;
    • Where, should you sentence him to public Penance,
    • Oh, sad reverse! how would he foam and fret,
    • And sigh for Paris and his sweet Soubrette!
    • Where twice ten thousand tongues are proud to greet him,
    • And wing’d Applause, on tip-toe, stands to meet him;
    • Where the grim Guard, in nightly rapture, stands,
    • And grounds his musquet to get at his hands;
    • Where the retentive Pitt, all prone t’ adore him,
    • Repeat his Bon mots half a bar before him;
    • While every Bel-Esprit, at every hit,
    • Grows fifty-fold more conscious of his Wit.
    • If far fetch’d and dear bought give Trifles worth,
    • Sure you’ll applaud our Figaro’s second birth.
    • Nought of his present merit must we say;
    • Bear but in mind, our Day’s a Spanish Day.
    • Cupid, in warmer Climes, urg’d by the Grape,
    • Calls not each petty violence a Rape!
    • But oft his Votaries leaves intoxicate,
    • Hence Figaro himself is illegitimate.
    • Sanction’d by you, howe’er, this little Blot,
    • So much in fashion, will be soon forgot;
    • That Signature which each kind hand bestows,
    • Shall make him well receiv’d where’er he goes!