ris, boaft of her fplendid entertainment in England, of the complaifance, liberty, and good-nature of a people, that thronged her house fo full, that she had not room to flick a pin; and left a poor fellow, that had the misfortune of being one of themselves, without one farthing for half a year's pains that he had taken for their entertainment.

There were fome gentlemen in the pit the first night,. that took the hint from the prologue to damn the play; but they made fuch a noise in the execution, that the people took the outcry for a reprieve; fo that the darling mifchief was over-laid by their over-fondness of the changeling: 'tis fomewhat hard, that gentlemen. fhould. debafe themselves into a faction of a dozen, to ftab a fingle perfon, who never had the refolution to face two men. at a time; if he has had the misfortune of any misunderstanding with a particular perfon, he has had a particular person to answer it :. but these sparks would be remarkable in their refentment; and if any body fall under their difpleasure, they scorn to call him to a particu-lar account, but will very honourably burn his house, or pick his pocket.

The new-house has perfectly made me a convert by their civility on my fixth night: for to be friends, and revenged at the fame time, I must give them a play, that is,when I write another.. For faction runs fo high, that I could with the fenate would fupprefs the houses, or put in force the act against bribing elections; that houfe which has the most favours to beftow, will certain, ly carry it, fpight of all poetical justice that would sup port t'other.

I have heard fome people fo extravagantly angry at this play, that one would think they had no reason to be difpleafed at all; whilft fome (otherwife men of good. fenfe) had commended it fo much, that I was afraid they ridiculed me; fo that between both, I am abfolutely at a. lofs what to think on't: for tho' the cause has come on fix days fucceffively, yet the trial, I fancy, is not determined. When our devotion to Lent, and our Lady, is over, the business will be brought on again, and then we fhall have fair play for our money.

There

There is a gentleman of the first understanding, and a very good critic, who faid of Mr. Wilks, that in this part he out-acted himself, and all men that he ever saw. I would not rob Mr. Wilks, by a worfe expreffion of mine, of a compliment that he fo much deferves.

I had almoft forgot to tell you, that the turn of plot in the last act, is an adventure of Chevalier de Chastillon at Paris, and matter of fact; but the thing is fo univerfally. known, that I think this advice might have been spared, as well as the rest of the preface, for any good it will do either to me or the play.

PROLOGUE.

LIKE hungry guests, a fitting audience looks;
Plays are like fuppers: poets are the cooks.
The founders you: the table is this place :
The carvers we: the prologue is the grace.
Each act, a course; each feene a different difh:
Tho' we're in Lent, I doubt you're fill for fiefh.
Satire's the fauce, high-feafon'd, Sharp and rough;
Kind masks and beaux, I hope you're pepper-proof.
Wit is the wine; but 'tis fo fcarce the true,
Poets, like vintners, balderdash and brew.
Your furly fcenes, where rant and bloodshed join,
Are butcher's meat, a battle's a firloin:
Your fcenes of love, fo floring, foft and chafte,
Are water-gruel, without falt or tafte.

Bawdy's fat venifon, which, tho' ftale, can please:

Your rakes love haut-goûts, like your damn'd French cheeft Your rarity for the fair gueft to gape on,

Is your nice fqueaker, or Italian capon;

Or your French virgin-pullet, garnish'd round,

And drefs'd with fauce of fome-four hundred pound,
An opera, like an oglio, nicks the age;

Farce is the bafty-pudding of the flage.

For when you're treated with indifferent cheer,
You can difpenfe with flender ftage-coach fare.
A paftoral's whipt cream; ftage-whims, mere trash;
And tragi-comedy, half fish and flesh.

But comedy, that, that's the darling cheer;
This night we hope you'll all inconftant bear:
Wild fowl is lik'd in play-house all the year.
Yet fince cach mind betrays a diff'rent taste,
And every difb fcarce pleafes ev'ry guest,
If ought you relish, do not damn the ref.
This favour crav'd, up let the mufic ftrike:
You're welcome all-now fall to, where you like.

DRA

Four, Bravoes, two Gentlemen, and two Ladies.

Soldiers, Servants, and Attendants.

THE