The Church of Seotlands Lamentat-
ion Concerning the setting up of
Plays and Commedies.
March 1715.
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LET not the News in Gath be told.
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Nor Streets of Ashkelon,
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Lest Vile Idolaters Triumph,
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and mock our Caledon,
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Where Gospel Light has been Displayd.
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in Truth and Purity,
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And strict Engagements made to Serve,
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the Soveraign Lord most High,
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That Satans Synagog and School,
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should in her Coasts be found,
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And wickedness with open Face,
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should in her Streets be found.
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These very Nests of Sin and Vice.
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which Satan Antiently,
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Appointed for his special use
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as Marts for Venery
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These Chapels Consecrat unto,
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the Dung-hill Idol Gods,
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where they declair themselves well pleasd
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with Plays and interludes,
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Promiscous meetings of both Sex,
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in Revalings by Night,
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In which these Dung-hill Dieties,
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did mightly Delight,
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How art thou then Poor Scotland fallen,
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from thine Excellency,
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Thy Horn Debasd into the Dust,
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and Sunk in Misery.
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Insteed of Solemn Holy Days.
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of Gospel Sacrifice,
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In thee are Solemn Pompous show[s]
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of Pagan Vaniries,
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Concurse of People meet by Night,
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in Venus School to Play,
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While Satans Actors on the Stage,
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his Bonnar there Display,
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By Commadies and Interludes,
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Prophane and Untrue Jests,
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Spectators wantonly all round,
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have up their Naked Breasts,
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That Lustful Eyes may feed thereon,
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whilst they with wanton Glance,
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Give secret Signals by their Looks,
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and Amrous Countenance,
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Mean while the Male Spectators all,
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with bussy Eyes do spy,
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The Jalrs & Neighbours wives for whom
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They like Fed Horses bray,
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To blow the Coal of Rampant Lust.
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the Actors Act their part,
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By Wanton and Lascivous Jestes,
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set off with all their Art,
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At once they Batter Ear and Eye,
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with Hells Artillary,
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Reciet some wanton Love intrigue
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or Act of Venery,
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Shew how some Witty Amrous Miss,
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Trapand a Country Squait,
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Or how some well accomplishd Rakes,
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Deflowrd a Female Fair,
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Or how some surrly Usera[r].
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who kept his wife too near,
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Was bravely Tricked of his Bags,
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and got the Horns to wear,
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Lo, these and many such like things
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by Gesture and by Speech,
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With many mimick Antique Arts,
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they to their Scholars seach.
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The Scene to Satisfaction ends,
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all partys fully pleasd
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Then Venus School in shade of Night
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is of her Scholars easd.
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Good Breading doth excite the Boaus
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To wair the Ladys Home
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Each Picks his Darling at the Door
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Then through the Street they Roam,
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Till they come near some propor House
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the Squair then makes Address
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Unto his Miss and Courtiously
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Invits her to a Glass
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With some sham shyness she at first
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doth seem a little Coy.
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But with his Rethroick and his Art
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doth her at last Ducoy.
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When Set. they all the Play Repeat
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and highly do Commend
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The Actors and the Actresses,
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who did the Stage attend.
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Their pleasant Air and pretty Speech
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and Lively Acts likewise.
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The Subject of the Scene also,
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they mightily do praise.
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Their Pasions raisd with wanton thoughts
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and Hearts inflamd to Lust,
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We leave them in a private Room,
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and guess what follows rixt.
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Poor Scotish Church what wilt thou do?
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canst thou no ways Restrain?
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Such Rampant Heaven during Vice
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and practices profane
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Has Church Disiplain lost its Force?
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alas! it has, but may
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Thou not fall on some happy Course
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This Raging Devil to slay?
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Wilt thou like Lot in Sodom sit
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still wholy impotent?
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Or like the Men of Gelea
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will not the wrong Resent?
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Bestir thy self and still protest,
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if thou can do no more
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That thou doth hate such wicked ways
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and do thou Heaven implore
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Tavenge it self, and Scotland free
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of such a Wicked Race.
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Call Heaven and Earth both to Record
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and Pray for Sparing Grace.
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