Note 51 — EPISTLE THE ELEVENTH.
Reading edition
This circumstance is noticed by one of Higden's poetical comforters:
Friend Harry, some squeamish pretenders to thinking, Say, thy play is encumbered with eating and drinking; That too oft, in conscience, thy table's brought out, And unmerciful healths fly like hail-shot about. Such a merry objection who ere could expect, That does on the town or its pleasures reflect? Is a treat and a bottle grown quite out of fashion, Or have the spruce beaus found a new recreation? At a tavern I'm certain they seldom find fault, When flask after flask in due order is brought: Why then should the fops be so monstrous uncivil, As to damn at a play, what they like at the Devil?
Begging pardon of this apologist, who subscribes himself Tho. Palmer, there is some difference between the satisfaction of eating a good dinner at a tavern, and seeing one presented on the stage.