prologue spokenbymr.woodsonhisbenefit-night,monday,16thapril,1787. when,byagenerouspublic'skindacclaim, thatdearestmeedisgranted—honestfame waenhereyourfavouristheactor'slot, noreventhemaninprivatelifeforgot whatbreastsodeadtoheavenlyvirtue'sglow, butheavesimpassion'dwiththegratefuhroe? pooristhetasktopleaseabarb'rousthrong, itneedsnosiddons'powersinsouthern'ssong buthereanancientnation,fam'dafar, forgenius,learninghigh,asgreatinwar. hail,caledonia,nameforeverdear! beforewhosesonsi'mhonour'dtoappear? whereeveryscience,everynoblerart, thatcaninformthemindormendtheheart, isknownasgratefulnationsofthavefound, farastherudebarbarianmarksthebound. philosophy,noidlepedantdream, hereholdshersearchbyheaven-taughtreason'sbeam herehistorypaintswitheleganceandforce thetideofempire'sfluctuatingcourse heredouglasformswildshakespeareintoplan, andharleyrousesalhegodinman. whenwell-form'dtasteandsparklingwitunite withmanlylore,orfemalebeautybright, (beauty,wherefaulesssymmetryandgrace canonlycharmusinthesecondplace), witnessmyheart,howoftwithpantingfear, asonthisnight,i'vemetthesejudgeshere! butstilhehopeexperiencetaughttolive, equaojudge—you'recandidtoforgive. nohundred—headedriotherewemeet, withdecencyandlawbeneathhisfeet norinsolenceassumesfairfreedom'sname: likecaledonians,youapplaudorblame. othou,dreadpower!whoseempire-givinghand hasoftbeenstretch'dtoshieldthehonour'dland! strongmaysheglowwithallherancientfire mayeverysonbeworthyofhissire firmmaysherise,withgenerousdisdain attyranny's,ordirerpleasure'schain stillself-dependentinhernativeshore, boldmayshebravegrimdanger'sloudestroar, tillfatethecurtaindroponworldstobenomore.