![[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
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[^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.