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> [!SUMMARY]
> [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester]] wrote a prologue for her friend Sir Lumley Skeffington for his book _Friends and Enemies_.
> [!QUOTE] [[Thraliana]] entry 17 June 1804 by [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury]]
> Mr Skeffington[^1], the Macaroni playwright. His play never appeared under this name.") has written a Play call’d _Friends & Enemies_--he beg’d a Prologue & I gave him _this_.
>
> > To appease his **Enemies** and cheer his Friends,
> Your Bard the Customary [Prologue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prologue) sends;
> True to old usages--but one we lack,
> Your ancient Prologues all came cloth'd in Black.
>
> > Rough were the critics then, & coarse the Times,
> Want dictated, and Fear pronounc'd the Rhymes:
> More elegant the Authors of our Day,
> Ten write for Pleasure now--to one for Pay.
>
> > Amus'd--protected thus by Volunteers,
> [Britannia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia) and her **Friends** can feel no Fears:
> Upon her **Enemies** let shame and Sorrow
> Fall;--but we leave such Topics till tomorrow.
>
> > Pleasure's the Order of this Hour at least,
> And let it be Your Pleasure--to be pleas'd.
> These cheerful Months all springing Thoughts excite
> In those that sing, why not in those that write?
>
> > The Birds to **feather each His Nest**--prepare
> And form their fragile **Castles in the Air**.
> Borne on the Wings of Hope we see them rise,
> The Lark half viewless carols to the Skies,
>
> > And humbler Swallows skim the Pool for Flies.
> Appropriate Labour gives appropriate Joy,
> And Who could wish such Labour to destroy?
> Babies that know no better, break their Legs
>
> > Climbing high trees to blow poor Raven's Eggs;
> But Scholars will be wiser, and remember
> It is not always safe to trust such Timber.
> **They know** that Palates dead to all Delight
>
> > Prove no fine Taste but Loss of Appetite;
> **They** say that in the Chemists Fire which glows
> Great Works to analyse and decompose;
> Each **baser** Metal quarrels with his Brother
>
> > But Gold amalgamates with every other.
> Besides: those Critics who no Faults will spare,
> Cramp future Poets by their Over-Care:
> And nail their Trees so tight--They'll nothing **bear**.
>
> > Watch not for Faults then on this night's Occasion,
> Good Humour's better far than Penetration;
> When met on purpose to be happy--He
> Who **groans** for **’Spite** is his **own Enemy**;
>
> > Give us but Candid Hearing to the End
> Then let each **Enemy** go hence a **Friend**.
## See also
![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]]
#history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741
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[^1]: [Sir Lumley St. George Skeffington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumley_Skeffington)