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And, mixing with buffoons and pimps prophane,
Tainted the Stage, for fome small fnip of gain.
For they, like harlots, under bawds profeft,
Took all th' ungodly pains, and got the leaft.
Thus did the thriving malady prevail,
The court its head, the Poets but the tail.
The fin was of our native growth, 'tis true;
The fcandal of the fin was wholly new.
Miffes they were, but modeftly conceal'd;
White-hall the naked Venus firft reveal'd.
Who ftanding as at Cyprus, in her fhrine,
The ftrumpet was ador'd with rites divine.
Ere this, if faints had any secret motion,
'Twas chamber-practice all, and clofe devotion.
I pass the peccadillos of their time;
Nothing but open lewdnefs was a crime.

A monarch's blood was venial to the nation,
Compar'd with one foul act of fornication.
Now, they would filence us, and shut the door,
That let in all the bare-fac'd vice before.
As for reforming us, which fome pretend,
That work in England is without an end :
Well may we change, but we fhall never mend.
Yet, if you can but bear the present Stage,
We hope much better of the coming age.
What would you fay, if we should first begin
To ftop the trade of love behind the scene:
Where actreffes make bold with married men ?
For while abroad fo prodigal the dolt is,
Poor spouse at home as ragged as a colt is.

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In short, we'll grow as moral as we can,
Save here and there a woman or a man:
But neither you, nor we, with all our pains,
Can make clean work; there will be fome remains,
While you have ftill your

Oats, and we our Hains.

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OF THE

NINETEENTH VOLUME.

THE Hind and the Panther, in three Parts.

Part I.

Page 1

Part II.

27

Part III.

52

Britannia Rediviva, a Poem on the Prince, born on

the 10th of June, 1688

97

Mac-Flecnoe

109

EPISTLES.

Epiftle I. To Sir Robert Howard
II. To Dr. Charleton

III. To the Lady Castlemain

IV. To Mr. Lee

V. To the Earl of Rofcommon

117

121

123

125

127

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XIII. To John Dryden, Efq. of Chesterton 144

XIV. To Sir Godfrey Kneller

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151

ELEGIES

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