![[Header#^header-embed]] > [!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 ![[Footer#^footer-embed]] [^1]: [Sir Lumley St. George Skeffington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumley_Skeffington)