Spoken By Mr. Digges, on Opening the Edinburgh Theatre in 1763

SPOKEN BY MR. DIGGES, ON OPENING THE EDINBURGH THEATRE IN 1763.

T O rectify some errors that of late
Had crept into the bosom of our state;
To court Propriety, a matron chaste!
To make strong leagues 'twixt Novelty and Taste;
To alter — to adopt — to plan — revive,
To spare no pains to make the drama thrive;
These are the labours that to-night commence,
By Beauty sanction'd, and approv'd by Sense

Suppose some Corydon — some country swain,
Enamour'd of some Phillis of the plain,
At early dawn should seek the dappled glade,
To form a nosegay for the fav'rite maid;
When he had cropt the beauties of the banks,
And cull'd the fairest from the flow'ry ranks,
He'd range in order ev'ry blooming sweet,
And lay the little chaplet at her feet.

So the fair fields of Fancy we'll explore,
And search the gardens of dramatic lore,
Of choicest fragrance and of various hue,
To form those chaplets we compose for you.

Now to attack you in a martial strain:
We hope to gather laurels this campaign;
And that our plan of action may succeed,
Have march'd fresh forces from beyond the Tweed.
Yet, as young soldiers may be damp'd by fear,
(Though universal patronage be here)
Let me bespeak, before the curtain rise,
Some kind impressions for our new supplies.