2.  In allusion to his being deprived of the office of poet laureat.

3.  The Inniskilling horse, who behaved with great courage against King
   James, joined Schomberg and King William’s forces at Dundalk, in
   1689, rather resembled a foreign frey-corps, than regular troops. 
   “They were followed by multitudes of their women; they were uncouth
   in their appearance; they rode on small horses, called Garrons;
   their pistols were not fixed in holsters, but dangled about their
   persons, being slung to their sword-belts; they offered, with
   spirit, to make always the forlorn of the army; but, upon the first
   order they received, they cried out, ’They could thrive no longer,
   since they were now put under orders.’—­Memoirs, Vol.  II. p. 133. 
   The allusion in the next verse is to the dreadful siege of
   Londonderry, when the besieged suffered the last extremities of
   famine.  The account of this memorable leaguer, by the author just
   quoted, is a most spirited piece of historical painting.

PROLOGUE,

SPOKEN BY A WOMAN.

The judge removed, though he’s no more my lord,
May plead at bar, or at the council-board: 
So may cast poets write; there’s no pretension
To argue loss of wit, from loss of pension. 
Your looks are chearful; and in all this place
I see not one that wears a damning face. 
The British nation is too brave, to show
Ignoble vengeance on a vanquished foe. 
At last be civil to the wretch imploring;
And lay your paws upon him, without roaring. 
Suppose our poet was your foe before,
Yet now, the business of the field is o’er;
’Tis time to let your civil wars alone,
When troops are into winter-quarters gone. 
Jove was alike to Latian and to Phrygian;
And you well know, a play’s of no religion. 
Take good advice, and please yourselves this day;
No matter from what hands you have the play. 
Among good fellows every health will pass,
That serves to carry round another glass: 
When with full bowls of Burgundy you dine, }
Though at the mighty monarch you repine, }
You grant him still Most Christian in his wine. }

    Thus far the poet; but his brains grow addle,

And all the rest is purely from this noddle. 
You have seen young ladies at the senate-door,
Prefer petitions, and your grace implore;
However grave the legislators were,
Their cause went ne’er the worse for being fair. 
Reasons as weak as theirs, perhaps, I bring;
But I could bribe you with as good a thing. 
I heard him make advances of good nature;
That he, for once, would sheath his cutting satire. 
Sign but his peace, he vows he’ll ne’er again
The sacred names of fops and beaus profane. 
Strike up the bargain quickly; for I swear,
As times go now, he offers very fair.