, _&c._ why may we not
entertain the Publick with a little _Greek_, as natural as Pigs
squeak.--

_And for _Latin_, 'tis no more dificile,
Than for a Blackbird 'tis to whistle._ Hud.

I love dearly to quote my Authors.

I have been with both the Play-Houses, and one says d----n it, it won't
do; and t'other says, Z----ds it will not take; then says I to myself,
I'll have a _Greek_ Opera, by G - - d; and with this Resolution I set
about it, and made a Specimen, and so went with it in a Chair to the
Opera-House, to give it the better Grace. But that would not do neither;
for one did not understand _Greek_; nor t'other did not understand
_Greek_; and _Italian_ was all in Vogue: And I did not understand that;
and so we could make no Bargain, and I returned Home.

Z----ds, thinks I, if I don't understand their barbarous Language, must
I let them have any Thing of my ancient Language? No, Messieurs! I'll
let my Opera remain in its Infancy, and you shall curse yourselves
before you have it compleat; but that you shall know what Fools you have
been, I'll stick a Needle through my Nose, that you may look sharp; and
then you will say, why did not US take it, for in the first Scene I saw
all the Audience laugh. But to the Point, _i.e._ the second Preamble or
Argument,

OPERA.

Scene is the City of _Athens_, and an old Woman lives in a hollow Tree,
where she sells Gin and Gingerbread to the Grenadiers; her Name is
Gammer _Hocus_. Then there comes a Goddess, who sells Butter and Eggs at
_Athens_ Market, upon her Uncle's bald Mare; and as the Mare is a
stumbling Jade, so she falls down before _Hocus_'s Tree, and hurts her
Rump, and then we begin.

_N. B._ When the Goddess _Cinderaxan_ falls down before Gammer _Hocus_'s
Door, or Tree, she begins in _Ricitativo_----_Greek_ Fashion.

_O! mega mar, hocus the baldmare has cantedme ontoss;
* Philladram sukami, some Spirit offerme to suckon.
Dear _Hokey_ behasty, forbum sufferssore by a Thumpon't;
No baldmare my Gammon shall contuseagain by one moretoss._

* Fill.

_English'd_ thus for the Benefit of the Ladies, though 'tis much the
same in the _Greek_.

_O my Gammer _Hocus_, the bald Mare has canted me one Toss;
Fill a Dram, sick am I, some Spirit offer me to suck on.
Dear _Hokey_ be hasty, for Bum suffers sore by a Thump on't.
No bald Mare my Gammon shall contuse again by one more Toss._

Then out comes Gammer _Hocus_, when the Goddess had call