TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
CHARLES, EARL OF DORSET AND MIDDLESEX,
LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD,
AND KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, ETC.
My Lord,--A young poet is liable to the same vanity and indiscretion
with a young lover; and the great man who smiles upon one, and the
fine woman who looks kindly upon t'other, are both of 'em in danger
of having the favour published with the first opportunity.
But there may be a different motive, which will a little distinguish
the offenders. For though one should have a vanity in ruining
another's reputation, yet the other may only have an ambition to
advance his own. And I beg leave, my lord, that I may plead the
latter, both as the cause and excuse of this dedication.
Whoever is king is also the father of his country; and as nobody can
dispute your lordship's monarchy in poetry, so all that are
concerned ought to acknowledge your universal patronage. And it is
only presuming on the privilege of a loyal subject that I have
ventured to make this, my address of thanks, to your lordship, which
at the same time includes a prayer for your protection.
I am not ignorant of the common form of poetical dedications, which
are generally made up of panegyrics, where the authors endeavour to
distinguish their patrons, by the shining characters they give them,
above other men. But that, my lord, is not my business at this
time, nor is your lordship NOW to be distinguished. I am contented
with the honour I do myself in this epistle without the vanity of
attempting to add to or explain your Lordships character.
I confess it is not without some struggling that I behave myself in
this case as I ought: for it is very hard to be pleased with a
subject, and yet forbear it. But I choose rather to follow Pliny's
precept, than his example, when, in his panegyric to the Emperor
Trajan, he says:-
Nec minus considerabo quid aures ejus pati possint, quam quid
virtutibus debeatur.
I hope I may be excused the pedantry of a quotation when it is so
justly applied. Here are some lines in the print (and which your
lordship read before this play was acted) that were omitted on the
stage; and particularly one whole scene in the third act, which not
only helps the design forward with less precipitation, but also
heightens the ridiculous character of Foresight, which indeed seems
to be maimed without it. But I found myself in great danger of a
long play, and was glad to help it where I could. Though
notwithstanding my care and the kind reception it had from the town,
I could heartily wish it yet shorter: but the number of different
characters represented in it would have been too much crowded in
less room.
This reflection on prolixity (a fault for which scarce any one
beauty will atone) warns me not to be tedious now, and detain your
lordship any longer with the trifles of, my lord, your lordship's
most obedient and most humble servant,