Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Fa u s T. PRELUDE AT THE THEATRE. Manager. Dramatic Poet. Mr. Merryman. Manager. My two good friends, on whom I have depended, At all times to assist me atid advise; Aid your old friend once more?to-night he tries (And greatly fears the: fate that may attend it) For German lands a novel enterprise. To please the public I am most desirous j
Live and let live, has ever been their maxim, Gladly they pay the trifle that we tax ‘em, And gratitude should with new zeal inspire us. Our temporary theatre’s erected, Planks laid, posts raised, and something is expected. Already have the audience ta'en their station, With eye-brows lifted up in expectation; Thoughtful and tranquil all?with hopes excited, Disposed to be amused?amazed?delighted! I know the people’s taste?their whims?caprices, Could always get up popular new pieces j But never have I been before so harassed As now?so thoroughly perplext, embarrassed I Every one reads so much of every thing: The books they read are not the best, 'tis true: But then they are for ever reading?reading ! This being so, how can we hope to bring Any thing out, that shall be good and new ? What chance of now as formerly succeeding ? How I delight to see the people striving To force their way into our crowded booth, Pouring along, and fighting, nail and tooth, Digging with elbows, through the'passage driving, As if it were St. Peter’s gate, and leading To something more desirable than Eden; Long before Four, while daylight’s strong as ever, All hurrying to the box of the receiver, Breaking their necks for tickets?thrusting?jamming, As at a baker’s door in time of famine ! On men so various in their disposition, So different in manners?rank?condition; How is a miracle like this effected ? The poet?he alone is the magician. On thc…