Snarle. Why this Fellow's an Idiot.
Smart. No, no, he is only a Teague. But Mr. Snarlewit, do you think this Prologue will be liked?
Snarle. Psha! psha! liked, impossible! So it is for his Wife's Benefit and meant as a Puff to fill her House, why perhaps the Town may be so indulgent as to let it pass—but it is damned Trash! I advised the Fool against it. But he persisted. He said he was sure it would be better liked than the modern dull way of Prologue Writing which for many years has been only to give the Audience an Historical Account of the Comic Stoick or the Tragic Buskin, or a dull detail of the piece they were to see with the Age and Circumstances of the Author, and how long he was writing his Play. Now, says Macklin, my Prologue, Sir, if it has nothing else, it has Novelty on its side; and as Bays says it will elevate and surprize and all that. And if they don't laugh at it as a good Prologue, I am sure, says he, they will laugh at me for its being a bad one—so that either way they will have their Joke.
Omnes. Ha! ha! ha!
Smart. Ay, ay, there I think he was right; for the Audience will laugh, I make no doubt of it, but it will be at him.
Omnes. Right! Right!
Snarle. So I told him but he would persist.
Smart. But Mr. Snarlewit, how will he answer to the Critics his making the Stage represent the Pit?
Snarle. Psha! psha! he is below Criticism; they will never trouble themselves about that. Besides I think he may be defended very justly in that, for if the Stage has a Right to represent Palaces and Countries, nay, and Heaven and Hell, surely it may be allowed to exhibit the Pit.
Smart. Do you know anything of the Farce?