Event Comment: Receipts: #86 (Account Book). Charges #81 15s. Profit to Society #4 5s., plus #106 17s. from tickets (Box 242; Pit 309) (Account Book). Benefit for Use of the Society at the
Thatched-House Tavern For the release and discharge of persons imprisoned for small debts. [The
Epilogue was written by
Cumberland. (See
Folger Library Theatrical Clippings). The Curtain rises and discovers a prison; at some di
stance a woman, poorly habited, and in a disconsolate attitude; after
standing some time montionless, in a po
sture of fixed attention she speaks]: @Woman: Thou loathsome dungeon in whose dreary womb@The pining Debtor finds a living tomb;@Where 'mid
st the Clank of Chains and Dismal yells@Of shakled felons my sad husband dwells;@From his dark cell, oh give him to my view!@Let him look forth and take a la
st adieu.@ [As she advances towards the prison, a person in Gentleman's apparel acco
sts her.] @Man:
Stay, Child of Sorrow, thou whose piercing groans@Might move to pity e'en these senseless
stones.@Why do
st thou bend thy melancholy way@To that Drear Dungeon? Child of Sorrow
stay.@Woman: Why should I
stay, or my sad Griefs impart?@Can there be pity in a Human heart?@Away and let me die.@ [...The Man sugge
sts a Human heart can have pity] @Woman: If there be such, O lead me to their sight,@And let me plead a wretched sufferer's right:@Can there be Truth, Humanity or Sense@In laws that make Misfortune an offence?@ [Her husband was a
God-fearing weaver who fell ill for 10 weeks, lo
st his job and was seized upon by a relentless creditor.] @
Steel'd to their trade, and deaf to all our cries,@Relentless ruffians seize their legal prize;@From my fond arms a dying Husband tear@And plunge their victims in a dungeon there!@Man: Enough! go speak the healing words of peace@To thy sad mate, and bear him this release;@Tell him the Muse, which on these Scenes attend@That balsam to his wounded spirit sends.@And Know this Truth thyself, 'tis not alone@The Preacher's pulpit and the Monarch's throne@That Charity frequents; but in this age,@She guides the
Theatre and treads the
stage;@Lo! She is present, ca
st your eyes around,@And here in each Spectator's heart she's found.