"Our moral's plain, without more fuss, Man's social happiness all rests on us; Through all the drama, whether damned or not, Love gilds the scene, and women guide the plot." Among the curiosities of prologues and epilogues, may be reckoned the boasts, promises, and little confidences, in those delivered on the occasion when "Cato" was played at Leicester House, by the children of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and some of the young nobility. The prologue, indeed (spoken by Prince George, afterwards George III.), was not especially remarkable. It lauded the wisdom of men who declared that-- "To speak with freedom, dignity, and ease, To learn those arts which may hereafter please,"-- nothing was required, but that "youth in earliest age" should "Rehearse the poet's labours on the stage." As for patriotism, said Prince George,--"Know,--'twas the first great lesson I was taught!" And, of course, he gloried that he was "A boy, in England born, in England bred!" Artists, who may hereafter paint the scene, will do well to remember what pictures were suspended on the walls: "Before my eyes those heroes stand, Whom the great William brought to bless this land;-- To guard, with pious care, that gen'rous plan Of power well bounded, which he first began." The epilogue was spoken by Lady Augusta (as Prince Frederick called his daughter) and Prince Edward, afterwards Duke of York. It was mere doggerel; but Augusta flouted at the fine phrases of the prologue, and Edward--entrusted with a sly hit at George's boast of being English born--declared that George had-- "Vouchsafed to mention His future gracious intention, In such heroic strains, that no man Will e'er deny his _soul a Roman_." There was an allusion to the imperial sway the elder brother was to enjoy, and the obedience the younger was to observe; after which, the latter, addressing the little sister, to whom he had been a suitor (Juba) in the play said-- "But, sister, now the play is over, I wish you'd get a better lover." To which the already destined bride of Brunswick, and future mother of that Caroline, who was so luckless and unlovely a Queen of England, made reply, wherein we see something of the training for high duties, then adopted in high places: "Why--not to under-rate your merit, Others would court with diff'rent spirit; And I, perhaps, might like another A little better than a brother, Could I have one of England's breeding. But 'tis a point they're all agreed on, That I must wed a foreigner, Across the seas--the Lord knows where!" Whereupon, Prince Edward congratulated himself on being "wedded to the nation;" and, alluding to his mimic command in the tragedy, he hoped that future times would see him "general in reality," adding,-- "Indeed, I wish to serve this land;-- It is my father's strict command."