IN THREE ACTS. WITH Burlesque Annotations, AFTER THE MANNER OF DR. JOHNSON AND GEO. STEEVENS, Esq. PRINTED FOR JOHN MILLER, 25, BOW STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1814. 20499 98 23498.12.91.1D COLLEC APR 18 1899 Pierce fund W. POPLE, Printer, SIRE, DEDICATION. ΤΟ Ka-Hing, EMPEROR OF CHINA. When, in addition to your exalted The ears of Princes are too much accustomed to the voice through the medium of a language with which YOUR MAJESTY is, most likely, unacquainted. I shall, therefore, forbear to insinuate YOUR MAJESTY into the possession of any of those virtues with which it is usual for authors so unnaturally to encumber those to whom they dedicate their works; but shall content myself with giving YOUR MAJESTY full credit for the exercise of the ordinary Princely quota. Thus to intrude upon the notice of YOUR MAJESTY, may, by the world at large, be considered presumptuous; but let it be remembered that " a cat may look at a King" and I trust that I shall not be charged with any sinister motive in soliciting YOUR MAJESTY's protection for the following work, when I openly declare that I cannot boast of the felicity of caring five farthings for YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY, and that, to the best of my belief, YOUR MAJESTY does not care half so much for me. I have the honor to be, With the most profound respect, SIRE, YOUR MAJESTY's most devoted Servant, London, September, 1812. THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. CONSCIOUS that any attempt to treat with levity the works of our IMMORTAL POET is in some danger of being received with displeasure, the following production is submitted to the public with that diffidence which the delicacy of its subject must, naturally, excite. In order, however, to remove such objections as may arise solely out of partiality or of prejudice, a few observations may not be, altogether, unneces sary. |