(The Prologue to
The Contrast, the first American play in history):
EXULT...EACH PATRIOT HEART! THIS NIGHT IS SHEWN--
A PIECE WHICH WE MAY FAIRLY CALL OUR OWN...
WHERE THE PROUD TITLES OF "MY LORD! YOUR GRACE!"
TO HUMBLE
MR. AND PLAIN
SIR GIVE PLACE.
OUR AUTHOR PICTURES NOT FROM FOREIGN CLIMES
THE FASIONS OR THE FOLLIES OF THE TIMES,
BUT HAS CONFIN'D THE SUBJECT OF HIS WORK
TO THE GAY SCENES--THE CIRCLES OF NEW YORK.
ON NATIVE THEMES HIS MUSE DISPLAYS HER POW'RS;
IF OURS THE FAULTS, THE VIRTUES TOO ARE OURS.
WHY SHOULD OUR THOUGHTS, TO DISTANT COUNTRIES ROAM,
WHEN EACH REFINEMENT MAY BE FOUND...AT HOME?
WHO TRAVELS NOT TO APE THE RICH OR GREAT,
TO DECK AN EQUIPPAGE AND ROLL IN STATE;
TO COURT THE GRACES, OR TO DANCE WITH EASE,
OR BY HYPOCHRISY TO STRIVE TO PLEASE?
OUR FREE-BORN ANCESTORS SUCH ARTS DESPIS'D;
GENUINE SINCERITY ALONE THEY PRIZ'D;
THEIR MINDS, WITH HONEST EMULATION FIR'D;
TO SOLID GOOD--NOT ORNAMENT--ASPIR'D;
OR, IF AMBITION ROUS'D A BOLDER FLAME,
STEN VIRTUE THROVE, WHERE INDOLENCE WAS SHAME.
BUT MODERN YOUTHS, WITH IMITATIVE SENSE
DEEM TASTE IN DRESS THE PROOF OF EXCELLENCE;
AND SPURN THE MEANNESS OF YOUR HOMESPUN ARTS,
SINCE HOMESPUN HABITS WOULD OBSCURE THEIR PARTS;
WHILST ALL, WHICH AIMS AT SPLENDOUR AND PARADE,
MUST COME FROM EUROPE,
AND BE READY MADE.
STRANGE! WE SHOULD THUS OUR NATIVE WORTH DICLAIM,
AND CHECK THE PROGRESS OF OUR RISING FAME.
YET
ONE, WHILST IMITATION BEARS THE AWAY,
ASPIRES TO NOBLER HEIGHTS, AND POINTS THE WAY.
BE ROUSED! MY FRIENDS, HIS BOLD EXAMPLE VIEW--
LET YOUR OWN BARDS BE PROUD TO COPY
YOU!
SHOULD RIGID CRITICS REPROBATE OUR PLAY,
AT LEAST THE PATRIOTIC HEART WILL SAY,
"GLORIOUS OUR FALL, SINCE IN A NOBLE CAUSE,
THE BOLD
ATTEMPT ALONE DEMANDS APPLAUSE."
STILL MAY THE WISDOM OF THE COMIC MUSE
EXALT YOUR MERITS, OR YOUR FAUTS ACCUSE.
BUT THINK NOT, 'T IS HER AIM TO BE SEVERE;--
WE ARE ALL MORTALS, AND AS MORTALS ERR.
IF CANDOR PLEASES, WE ARE TRULY BLEST;
VICE TREMBLES, WHEN COMPELL'D TO STAND CONFESS'D.
LET NOT LIGHT CENSURE ON YOUR FAULTS OFFEND,
WHICH AIMS NOT TO EXPOSE THEM, BUT AMEND.
THUS DOES OUR AUTHOR TO YOUR CANDOR TRUST;
CONCIOUS, THE
FREE ARE GENEROUS, AS JUST.
(takes a bow to the thunderous applause)
