THE PREFACE.

Part of the Tale of this Play, I took from Shakespear, and about Fifty of the Lines; Those that are his, I have mark'd with Inverted Comma's, to distinguish 'em from what are mine. I endeavour'd where I had occasion to introduce any of 'em, to make 'em look as little like Strangers as possible, but am affraid (tho' a Military Critick did me the honour to say I had plunder'd all from Shakespear) that they wou'd easily be known without my Note of distinction.

The Conduct of the Drama I broke by design, to make room for a Mask that is mention'd in the last Act, but the House neglecting to have it Set to Musick, the Play came on like a change of Government, the weight of the Calamity fell among the Poor; that is, the chief Persons only were taken care of without any regard to those of Inferiour consideration.

I endeavour'd to make the Conversation as general as it was possible; but since Infamy and Pride, Affectation and Singularity are the proper objects of this sort of Writing, it is very difficult to escape the being thought Particular: The whole Herd are Alarm'd.

Sibi quisque timet quanquam est intactus & odit.

A Person of this sort, I am told, has complain'd (to some who were not so proper to satisfie him in it) that he is

Dishonour'd by an Expression in the Third Act; but his great tenderness in mentioning it to me, brings into my Thoughts a Gentleman of so Nice Generosity, that he wou'd not ask a favour of a certain great Man, because he was sure he cou'd not deny it him.

As to the Place of the Scene, I confess I might have made a better choice for the present condition of a Country, is what first presents it self to us when it is nam'd, and a Duke of Venice wou'd be apt too appear too full of Years, and Grey Hairs for a Lover, but several revolutions have afflicted that State, and their Princes have sometimes been Absolute.

For an Author not to Talk of his Successes, is reckon'd a very difficult modesty, and one may as well stop a Hero's Mouth after a Campaign, or a Travellor's after he's made the Tour of Italy! But 'tis a Secret as great, not to judge of one's own Work, as not to Quarrel

at another's doing it; for there are certainly no good Criticks, who are not of our Opinion; yet in general, I'll venture to say of this sort of Writing, that the Elaborate may Amuse us, and a Monster Surprize! But 'tis Nature only that will please every body: The Picture has an Affinity with the Life, and is ally'd to our Senses: It answers to something we carry about us, and like an Instrument that's tun'd to another, touches us with every sound.

This consideration, I doubt not gave birth to all those Wonders our Predecessors Ascrib'd to the power of Musick: they were not satisfy'd with giving it a Dominion over reasonable Creatures, but extended its Conquest to Brutes and Trees. Nothing was secure against its force, but that Insipid part of Mankind, whose merit you can t seperate from their Clothes, who abominate Thinking and Foul Linnen, and only fill up a Room in the World, who tread the great Footsteps of Penelope's Lovers.

Nos numerus sumus & fruges consumere nati.

They have been told that Nature gives us but few Pleasures, and that Reason robs us of some of those.

PROLOGUE, Spoke by Mr. Dogget, In a Lawyers Gown.
If no disguise shou'd pass upon the Age,
This wou'd be then the Habit of the Stage:
We Live on Plays, as Lawyers on a Cause,
And both our business is to hide their Flaws:
We neither care if Cliant sinks or swims,
Nor struggle for the Cause, but what it brings:
We have our Judges too—such as they are;
Some Frown! some Swell! some Nod too! and some Hear!
Tho' they can t See— [The Upper Gallery.
No Cliant can their stubborn Virtue move,
Yet some Intelligence with us they Love.
To us the Learned in the Law they'll yield,
And lengthen out the Harvest of the Field:
Our Fiddles, Songs and Dances, are Sham Pleas,
To baffle Justice, and to bring in Fees:
Our dirty Mobb, and all the Rabble Rout,
Are—Attorneys! Bayliffs! Clerks! that clog the Court,
And listening Councel!—

When you our Judges come, the Court is Set,
And chance determins every Poet's Fate:
We both love Forms, that have been settled once well,
And still with Prologue Speaks—the opening Councel.
My Lord! this Cause is evident! speaks for itself my Lord!
And some—I beg your Lordship's Ear for half a word.
So we Stage Councels, with the same design,
Open our Cause, some Strut too, and some Whine:
As we and Lawyers thus exactly match,
Let not our Court be scandal'd for dispatch;
But with the same amusing Wisdom pause,
And Spin the Tryal, tho' you Damn the Cause.

EPILOGUE, Spoke by Mrs. Barry.
Our Marriages we see are made above,
And not directed for the thing we Love;
But tho' I'm pleas'd, must some Reflections make,
That much allay this lucky strange mistake:
My Husband, had he Wit, might fear, again
Another Man may do as much by him!
Excuses too will never be believ d!
For here—few Women are, but once deceiv'd:
Yet no suspicion in his Climate thrives,
The French—are never Jealous of their Wives:
Marriage in this, for Women does decree;
The Knot is Wove with so much subtlety,
That 'tis the Husband's Interest not to see:
He can't our Shame, without his own disclose,
So much 'tis at his Peril, if he knows!
Thus Nature wisely for our Peace provides,
And from the Men, her tender Secrets hides:
To Live in Ignorance she makes their store;
But Woman's happiness in knowing more:

Yet a strange Star, when she was Born must shine,
Whose Joy's secur'd by crossing her design!
A different Fate the Lover was allow'd,
Who sought a Substance, and imbrac'd a Cloud:
For me the Substance for the Cloud is lay'd;
Was ever Love so civilly betray'd?
No disapointment ever was so kind;
Or Woman so much cheated to her mind!

Dramatis Personæ.

MEN.

WOMEN.

Officers and Attendants.

[Emilia], [Footman], [Footman 2], [Servant], [Officer 1], [Officer 2], [Soldier 1], [Soldier 2], [Mob], [Captain], [Priest]

Moreno,	Mr. Verbrugen.
Drances,	Mr. Powell.
Sebastian,	Mr. Booth.
Taquilet,	Mr. Dogget.
Rodoregue,	Mr. Fieldhouse.
Pedro,	Mr. Pack.
Villaretta,	Mrs. Bracegirdle.
Cæsario [Caesario],	Mrs. Prince.
Dromia,	Mrs. Leigh.
Lawra [Laura],	Mrs. Lawson.

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