ris, boast of her fplendid entertainment in England, of the complaisance, liberty, and good-nature of a people, that thronged her house lo full, that she had not room to stick 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 some gentlemen in the pit the first night, that took the hint from the prologue to damn the play ; but they made such a noise in the execution, that the people took the outcry for a reprieve; so that the dar. ling mischief was over-laid by their over-fondness of the changeling : 'tis somewhat hard, that gentlemen should debase themselves into a faction of a dozen, to stab a fingle person, who never had the resolution to face two men at a time ; if he has had the misfortune of

any

misunderstanding with a particular person, he has had a partia cular person to answer it: but these sparks would be remarkable in their resentment; and if any body fall under their displeasure, they scorn to call him to a particuIar 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 faine time, I must give them a play, that

when I write another. For faction runs so high, that I could wish the senate would suppress the houses, or put in force the act against bribing elections ; that house which has the most favours to bestow, will certainly carry it, spight of all poetical justice that would sup

I have heard some people fo extravagantly angry at this play, that one would think they had no reason to be difpleased at all ; whilft fome (otherwise men of good sense) had commended it so much, that I was afraid they ridiculed me; so that between both, I am absolutely 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 thall have fair play for our money.

There

port t'other.

There is a gentleman of the first understanding, and a very good critic, who said 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 worse expression of mine, of a compliment that he so much deserves.

I had almost forgot to tell you, that the turn of plot in the last act, is an adventure of Ch ier de Chastillon at Paris, and matter of fact; but the thing is fo universally 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.

PROLOG V E.
LIKE hungry guests, a fitting audience looks ;

Plays are like suppers: poets are the cooks.
The founders you : the table is this place :
The carvers we : the prologue is the grace.
Each ad, a course; each scene a different dish:
Tho' we're in Lent, I doubt you're still for flesh.
Satire's the fauce, high-season'd, Sharp and rough;
Kind masks and beaux, I hope you're pepper-proof.
Wit is the wine ; but 'tis foscarce the true,
Poets, like vintners, balderdash and brew.
Your surly scenes, where rant and bloodshed join,
Are butcher's meat, a battle's a firloin:
Your scenes of love, so flowing, soft and chaste,
Are water.gruel, without

falt or taste.
Bawdy's fat venison, which, tho' stale, can please :
Your rakes love haut-goûts, like your damn'd French cheese.
Your rarity for the fair guest to gape on,
Is your nice squeaker, or Italian capon ;
Or your French virgin.pullet, garnish'd round,
And dress'd with sauce of fome-four hundred pound.
An opera, like an oglio, nicks the age ;
Farce is the hafty-pudding of the stage.
For when you're treated with indifferent cheer,
You can dispense with fender stagc-coach fare.
A paftoral's whip cream ; ftage-whims, mere trash;
And tragi-comedy, half fillo and flesh.
But comedy, that, that's the darling cheer ;

This night we hope you'll all inconstant bear :
Wild fowl is lik'd in play-house all the year.

ret since each mind betrays a diff'rent taste,
And every disa fcarce pleases ev'ry guest,
If ought you relish, do not damn the reft.
This favour crav'd, up let the mufic strike:
You're welcome all-now fall to, where you like.

DRA

DRAMATIS PERSON B.

M E N.

Old Mirabel, an aged gent, of an odd

compound, between the peevishnets
incident to his years, and his father-

ly fondness towards his son,
Young Mirabel, his fon
Cap. Duretete, an honest good-natured

fellow, that thinks himself a greater

fool than he is, Dugard, brother to Oriana, Petit, servant to Dugard, afterwards

to his fifter,

Mr. Woodward.
Mr. Gardner,

Mr. Cushing.

W O M E N. Oriana, a lady contracted to Mirabel,

who would bring him to reason. Bisarre, a whimsical lady, friend to

Oriana, admired by Duretete, Lamorce, a woman of contrivance,

Mrs. Lesfingham.

Miss Macklin,
Miss Ogilvie.

Drury-Lanse Old Mirabel,

Mr. Yates, Young Mirabel,

Mr. Smith. Capt. Duretete,

Mr. King. Dugard,

Mr. Davies. Petit,

Mr. Weston. Oriasa,

Miss Younge. Bisarre,

Mrs. Abington.
Lamorce,

Miss Platt.
Four, Bravoes, two Gentlemen, and two Ladies.

Soldiers, Servants, and Attendants.

THE