attacked upon the theatre, without impressing upon the imagination all
the horrors that may attend it.

I shall detain the reader no longer than to inform him, that I am
indebted for many of the most popular passages in this play to the
inimitable performer, who, in the character of the_ Gamester, _exceeded
every idea I had conceived of it in the writing.




PROLOGUE.

Written and spoken by Mr. GARRICK.

Like fam'd La Mancha's knight, who launce in hand,
Mounted his steed to free th' enchanted land,
Our Quixote bard sets forth a monster-taming,
Arm'd at all points, to fight that hydra--GAMING.
Aloft on Pegasus he waves his pen,
And hurls defiance at the caitiff's den.
The _First_ on fancy'd giants spent his rage,
But _This_ has more than windmills to engage:
He combats passion, rooted in the soul,
Whose pow'rs, at once delight ye, and controul;
Whose magic bondage each lost slave enjoys,
Nor wishes freedom, though the spell destroys.
To save our land from this MAGICIAN's charms,
And rescue maids and matrons from his arms,
Our knight poetic comes. And Oh! ye fair!