![[Header#^header-embed]] > [!SUMMARY] > In May 1778, [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury]] wrote these verses about the talented actress [Sarah Siddons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Siddons). > [!QUOTE] [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Thrale]] wrote in [[Thraliana]] on 1 May 1788: > I have written an [extempore](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/extempore) [Prologue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prologue), or rather an occasional Prologue—(tho’ I did make it in half an hour) for the Regent to come out again with after Siddons’s Illness; it alludes to the new Exhibition of a beautiful Woman one Mrs Wells[^1], who has diverted the Town by Imitations of our great Actress, while She was laid up with ill Health & Grief. > > I do think that [Mrs Siddons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Siddons) for Vigour of Action, pathetic Tone of Voice, & a sort of Radiance which comes round her in Scenes where strong heroic Virtues are displayed, _never had her Equal_. > > For Versatility of Genius, or Comprehension of various Characters, [Pritchard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Pritchard) was greatly her Superior: Add to this, that our present Idol is eminently handsome—dear Pritchard’s Person came against her perpetually—but what a Mind She had! > > Here is my Prologue … They have shelfed it tho’; under pretence that no Epilogue had been made to keep it Company. > > > When every Bird begins to build & sing, > And with new Notes salute the smiling Spring, > Our Bard—who fain would feather too his Nest, > Sends me before your Favour to request. > His little Fabrick pleas’d you in its Plan, > But [Shakespear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare) says—Such is the Lot of Man. > Fearful at first to give his Wishes Scope, > He scarce put forth the tender Leaves of Hope, > When your kind Culture liveliest Blossoms shed, > And heap’d the blushing honours on his Head. > Oh then reflect what Happiness was lost, > When the **third Night** there came a **Killing Frost**: > Nipt all his op’ning Pleasures in their Bloom, > And Tyrant-like reversed a People’s Doom. > Well! Well! no more we’ll fear this wintry Blast, > The storm is overblown, the Danger past. > As with fresh Vigour glows the rising Day, > While imitative Planets[^2] fade away; > Bright Venus’ Self with false reflected Light > Sinking unnoticed to oblivious Night > Nerv’d with recruited Strength our Tragic Muse > Her Course unrivalled thro’ these Scenes persues, > The Cause of Virtue with fresh Pow’r maintains > And most Applause deserves while most She gains. > All anxious thus, in Virgil’s classic Page > We see the fainting Hero quit the stage, > With Agitation wait the wish’d for Cure, > And rival Arts indignantly endure; > Till Fate proclaims him Heavn’s peculiar Care, > And sends the willing Chief renew’d to War. ![[Sarah-Siddons-by-Joshua-Reynolds-in-1784.jpg]] <div class="caption">Sarah Siddons by Sir Joshua Reynolds. 1784.</div> ## See also ![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]] #history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741 #history/person/SIDDONS/sarah-born-1755 ![[Footer#^footer-embed]] [^1]: Mary Wells, also known as Becky or Cowslip. who made a living from parodying Sarah Siddons. [^2]: Allusion to [Mary Wells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wells_(actress)) (1762-1829.