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ris, boast 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 ftick 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 noife 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 stab a fingle perfon, who never had the resolution to face two men at a time; if he has had the misfortune of any mifunderstanding with a particular person, he has had a particular person to answer it: but thefe fparks would be remarkable in their refentment; and if any body fall under their displeasure, they fcorn to call him to a particular 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 wish the fenate would fupprefs the houfes, or put in force the act against bribing elections; that houfe which has the most favours to bestow, will certainly carry it, fpight of all poetical juftice that would fupport 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 deter mined. 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 faw. I would not rob Mr. Wilks, by a worse expreffion of mine, of a compliment that he fo much deferves.

I had almost 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.

[9]

PROLOGU E.

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 courfe; each scene a different dish:
Tho' we're in Lent, I doubt you're ftill for flesh.
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 flowing, foft and chafte,
Are water-gruel, without falt or tafte.

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

Your rakes love haut-goûts, like your damn'd French cheese. 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 dress'd with fauce of fome-four hundred pound.

An opera, like an oglio, nicks the age;

Farce is the hafty-pudding of the ftage.

For when you're treated with indifferent cheer,
You can difpenfe with fender flage-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 each mind betrays a diff'rent tafte,
And every difb fcarce pleafes ev'ry gueft,
If ought you relife, do not damn the reft.
This favour crav'd, up let the mufic ftrike:
You're welcome all- now fall to, where you like.

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DRA

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Four, Bravoes, two Gentlemen, and two Ladies.

Soldiers, Servants, and Attendants.

THE

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