is alfo falfe. As there is fome Difficulty in the Formation of a Character of this Nature, fo there is fome Hazard which attends the Progress of its Succefs, upon the Stage: For many come to a Play, fo over-charg'd with Criticism, that they very often let fly their Cenfure, when through their Rafhnefs they have mistaken their Aim. This I had occafion lately to obferve: For this Play had been acted two or three Days, before fome of these hafty Judges cou'd find the leisure to diftinguish betwixt the Character of a Witwoud and a Truewit.

I must beg Your Lordship's Pardon for this Digression from the true Course of this Epiftle; but that it may not feem altogether impertinent, I beg, that I may plead the Occasion of it, in part of that Excufe of which I ftand in need, for recommending this Comedy to Your Protection. It is only by the Countenance of Your Lordship, and the Few fo qualify'd, that fuch who write with Care and Pains can hope to be distinguish'd: For the Proftituted Name of Paet promifcuoufly levels all that bear it.

Terence, the moft correct Writer in the World, had a Scipio and a Lelius if not to affift him, at least to support him in his Reputation: And notwithstanding his extraordinary Merit, it may be, their Countenance was not more than neceffary.

The Purity of his Stile, the Delicacy of his Turns, and the Justnefs of his Characters, were all of them Beauties, which the greater Part of his Audience were incapable of Tafting: Some of the courfest Strokes of Plautus, fo feverely cenfur'd by Horace, were more likely to affect the Multitude; fuch, who come with expeetation to laugh out the last Act of a Play, and are better entertain'd with two or three unseasonable Jests, than with the artful Solution of the Fable.

As Terence excell'd in his Performances, fo had he great Advantages to encourage his Undertakings; for he built moft on the Foundations of Menander: His Plots were generally modell'd, and his Characters ready drawn to his Hand. He copied Menander; and Menander had no lefs Light in the Formation of his Characters, from the Obfervations of Theophraftus, of whom he was a Difciple, and Theophraftus it is known was not only the Disciple, but the immediate Succeffor of Ariftotle, the first and greatest Judge of Poetry. These were great Models to design by; and the further Advantage which Terence poffefs'd, towards giving his Plays the due Ornaments of Purity of Stile, and Juftnefs of Manners, was not lefs confiderable, from the Freedom of Conversation, which was permitted him with Lelius and Scipio, two

of

of the greatest and most polite Men of his Age. And indeed, the Privilege of fuch a Converfation, is the only certain Means of attaining to the Perfection of Dialogue.

If it has happen'd in any Part of this Comedy, that I have gain'd a Turn of Stile, or Expreffion more Correct, or at least more Corrigible than in those which I have formerly written, I must, with equal Pride and Gratitude, afcribe it to the Honour of Your Lordship's admitting me into Your Converfation, and that of a Society where every body elfe was fo well worthy of You, in Your Retirement laft Summer from the Town: For it was immediately after, that this Comedy was written. If I have fail'd in my Performance, it is only to be regretted, where there were fo many, not inferior either to a Scipio or a Lelius, that there fhou'd be one wanting equal to the Capacity of a Terence.

If I am not mistaken, Poetry is almost the only Art, which has not yet laid Claim to Your Lordship's Patronage. Architecture, and Painting, to the great Honour of our Country, have flourish'd under Your Influence and Protection. In the mean time, Poetry,, the eldest Sister of all Arts, and Parent of moft, feems to have refign'd her Birth-right, by having neglected to pay her Duty to Your Lordship, and by permitting others of a later Extraction, to prepoffefs that Place in Your Efteem, to which none can pretend a better Title. Poetry, in its Nature, is facred to the Good and Great; the Relation between them is reciprocal, and they are ever propitious to it. It is the Privilege of Poetry to addrefs to them, and it is their Prerogative alone to give it Protection.

This receiv'd Maxim, is a general Apology for all Writers who Confecrate their Labours to great Men: But I could wifh at this time, that this Addrefs were exempted from the common Pretence of all Dedications; and that as I can diftinguish Your Lordship even among the most Deferving, fo this Offering might become remarkable by fome particular Inftance of Respect, which shou'd affure Your Lordship, that I am, with all due Sense of Your extream Worthiness and Humanity,

My LORD,

Tour Lordship's most Obedient

and moft Oblig'd Humble Servant,

Will. Congreve,

Spoken by Mr. Betterton.

F thofe few Fools, who with ill Stars are curs'd,
Sure fcribbing Fools, call'd Poets, fare the worst.
For they're a fort of Fools which Fortune makes,
And after he has made 'em Fools, forfakes.
With Nature's Oafs 'tis quite a diff'rent Cafe,
For Fortune favours all her Idiot-Race:
In her own Neft the Cuckow-Eggs

we find,
O'er which the broods to hatch the Changling-Kind.
No Portion for her own she has to spare,

So much the doats on her adopted Care.

Poets are Bubbles, by the Town drawn in,
Suffer'd at first fome trifling Stakes to win:
But what unequal Hazards do they run!

Each time they write, they venture all they've won :
The 'Squire that's butter'd ftill, is fure to be undone.
This Author, heretofore, has found your Favour,
But pleads no Merit from his paft Behaviour.
To build on that might prove a vain Prefumption,
Should Grants to Poets made, admit Refumption:
And in Parnaffus he must lose his Seat,

If that be found a forfeited Eftate.

He owns, with Toil, he wrought the following Scenes, But if they're naught ne'er spare him for his Pains: Damn him the mare; have no Commiferation

For Dulness on mature Deliberation.

He fwears he'll not refent one hifs'd-off Scene,
Nor, like thofe peevish Wits, his Play maintain,
Who, to affert their Senfe, your Tafte arraign.
Some Plot we think he has, and fome new Thought;
Some Humour too, no Farce; but that's a Fault.
Satire, he thinks, you ought not to expect,
For fo Reform'd a Town, who dares Correct?
To Pleafe, this time, has been his fele Pretence,
He'll not inftruct, left it should give Offence.
Should be by chance a Knave or Fool expofe,
That hurts none here, fure here are none of those.
In short, our Play, fhall (with your leave to fhew it)
Give you one Inftance of a Paffive Poet.
Who to your Fudgments yields all Refignation;
So Save or Damn, after your own Discretion.

по

EPI

A

Spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle.

Fter our Epilogue this Crowd difmiffes,

I'm thinking how this Play'll be pull'd to Pieces.
But pray confider, e'er you doom its Fall,

How hard a thing 'twould be, to please you all.
There are fome Criticks fo with Spleen difeas'd,
They fcarcely come inclining to be Pleas'd:
And fure he must have more than mortal Skill,
Who pleases any one against his Will.
Then, all bad Poets we are fure are Foes,

And how their Number's fwell'd the Town well knows :
In fhoals, I've mark'd 'em judging in the Pits
Tho' they're on no Pretence for Judgment fit
But that they have been Damn'd for Want of Wit.
Since when, they by their own Offences taught
Set up for Spies on Plays, and finding Fault.
Others there whofe Malice we'd prevent;
Such, who watch Plays, with fcurrilous Intent
To mark out who by Characters are meant.
And tho no perfect Likeness they can trace;
Tet each pretends to know the Copy'd Face.
Thefe, with falfe Gloffes feed their own Ill-nature,
And turn to Libel, what was meant a Satire.
May fuch malicious Fops this Fortune find,
To think themselves alone the Fools defign'd:
If any are fo arrogantly Vain,

To think they fingly can support a Scene,
And furnish Fool enough to entertain.
For well the Learn'd and the Judicious know,
That Satire fcorns to floop fo meanly low,
As any one abstracted Fop to show.

For, as when Painters form a matchlefs Face,

They from each Fair One catch fome diff'rent Graces
And Shining Features in one Portrait blend,
To which no fingle Beauty must pretend:
So Poets oft, do in one Piece expofe

Whole Belles Affembles of Cocquets and Beaux.

Perfonæ

MEN.

Fainall, In Love with Mrs. Marword.

Mirabell, In Love with Mrs. Millamant.

Witwoud,

Mr. Betterton.

Mr. Verbruggen.

Petulant, Followers of Mrs. Millamant. Mr. Bowman.

Sir Willfull Witwoud, Half Brother to Wit-Mr. Underhill. woud, and Nephew to Lady Wifhfort.

Waitwell, Servant to Mirabell.

Mr. Bright.

WOME N.

Lady Wishfort, Enemy to Mirabell, for having Mrs. Leigh.
falfly pretended Love to her.

Mrs. Millamant, A fine Lady, Niece to Lady
Wishfort, and loves Mirabell.

M

Bracegirdle.

Mrs. Marwood, Friend to Mr. Fainall, and Mrs. Barry.

likes Mirabell.

Mrs. Fainall, Daughter to Lady Wishfort, and

Wife to Fainall, formerly Friend to Mi->Mrs. Bowman. rabell.

Foible, Woman to Lady Wishfort.

Mincing, Woman to Mrs. Millamant.

Mrs. Willis.

Mrs. Prince.

Dancers, Footmen, and Attendants.

SCENE LONDON.

The Time equal to that of the Presentation.

THE