A madman, stripped of your paternal estate, stripped of your money,

He will make no more of it, than if he should set about raving by right

reason and rule.

!

OVE FOR LOVE was brought out in the year 1695, at the new theatre in Portugal Row, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and is the most diverting of all Congreve's comedies. The characters are less artficial and less inspired by unpleasant motives than usual. "There are no revolting scoundrels; and the lovers really have some love." The plot is ingenious without being perplexing, and full of stage effect; while the dialogue, instead of acting merely as a vehicle for wit, is suited to the development of the story and the condition of the speakers. The demure cunning with which Miss Prue learns her lessons in love, and her eagerness to put them into practice, are in the finest spirit of comedy. This character is the forerunner of those artful damsels who have so long held the stage, whose conduct and proceedings are at thorough variance with the apparent modesty of their demeanour and the severity of their domestic training. The portrait of the querulous astrologer, though now out of date and consequently lacking in interest, was in Congreve's day true to life. "The character of Foresight," says Dr. Johnson, was then common. Dryden calculated nativities; both Cromwell and King William had their lucky days; and Shaftesbury himself, though he had no religion, was said to regard prediction."

The success of this play was so complete that Congreve was asked to write one every year for the new house.

Con.

To the Right Honourable

CHARLES, EARL OF DORSET AND MIDDLESEX, Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's household, and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, &c.

MY LORD,

YOUNG poet is liable to the same vanity and indiscretion with a young lover; and the great man who smiles upon one, and the fine woman who looks kindly upon t'other, are both of them in danger of having the favour published with the first opportunity.

But there may be a different motive, which will a little distinguish the offenders. For though one should have a vanity in ruining another's reputation, yet the other may only have an ambition to advance his own. And I beg leave, my Lord, that I may plead the latter, both as the cause and excuse of this dedication.

Whoever is king, is also the father of his country; and as nobody can dispute your Lordship's monarchy in poetry : so all that are concerned ought to acknowledge your universal patronage; and it is only presuming on the privilege of a loyal subject, that I have ventured to make this my address of thanks to your Lordship; which, at the same time, includes a prayer for your protection.

I am not ignorant of the common form of poetical dedications, which are generally made up of panegyrics, where the authors endeavour to distinguish their patrons by the shining characters they give them above other men. But that, my Lord, is not my business at this time, nor is your Lordship now to be distinguished. I am contented with

the honour I do myself in this epistle, without the vanity of attempting to add to or explain your Lordship's character.

I confess it is not without some struggling that I behave myself in this case as I ought; for it is very hard to be pleased with a subject, and yet forbear it. But I choose rather to follow Pliny's precept, than his example, when in his panegyric to the Emperor Trajan he says—“ Nec minus considerabo quid aures ejus pati possint, quam quid virtutibus debeatur."

I hope I may be excused the pedantry of a quotation, when it is so justly applied. Here are some lines in the print (and which your Lordship read before this play was acted) that were omitted on the stage, and particularly one whole scene in the third Act, which not only helps the design forward with less precipitation, but also heightens the ridiculous character of Foresight, which indeed seems to be maimed without it. But I found myself in great danger of a long play, and was glad to help it where I could. Though notwithstanding my care, and the kind reception it had from the town, I could hardly wish it yet shorter; but the number of different characters represented in it would have been too much crowded in less room.

This reflection on prolixity (a fault for which scarce any one beauty will atone) warns me not to be tedious now, and detain your Lordship any longer with the trifles of, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, and most humble servant,

WILL. CONGREVE.