x

to arrive in one: but to gain a greater beauty, it
is lawful for a poet to supersede a less.

I must likewise own, that I have somewhat
deviated from the known history in the death of
Muley-Moluch, who, by all relations, died of a
fever in the battle, before his army had wholly
won the field; but if I have allowed him another
day of life, it was because I stood in need of so
shining a character of brutality as I have given
him; which is indeed the same with that of the
present Emperor Muley-Ishmael, as some of our
English officers, who have been in his court, have
credibly informed me.

I have been listening'what objections had been made against the conduct of the play; but found them all so trivial, that if I should name them, a true critick would imagine that I played booty, and only raised up phantoms for myself to conquer. Some are pleased to say-the writing is

Our author, in various Prefaces, takes notice of objections that had been made by Criticks to his plays; which one naturally expects to find in some of the pamphlets published in his time. But the passage before us inclines me to believe, that most of the criticisms which he has noticed, were made at his favourite haunt, Will's

a galle

tism.

Coffee-House. He had been listening to learn what ob- There the
jections were made by those who were unacquainted with Chednax
his person; who might there occasionally deliver their hom
sentiments on theatrical subjects, and after they had he mentions
smoked the second pipe, probably thought themselves at in the Infree.
least as wise as any of the poets of the day, not excepting All for,

the Laureate himself.

Love, Ep.18)

See also p. sy" than not said thus much, if some young gallents a form Med. who pretend to intinde, had

2

dull, but ætatem habet, de se loquatur; others, that the double poison is unnatural: let the common received opinion, and Ausonius his famous Epigram, answer that. Lastly, a more ignorant sort of creatures than either of the former maintain, that the character of Dorax is not only unnatural, but inconsistent with itself: let them read the play, and think again; and if yet they are not satisfied, cast their eyes on that chapter of the wise Montagne, which is entitled De l'Inconstance des Actions Humaines. A longer reply is what those cavillers deserve not; but I will give them and their fellows to understand, that the Earl of Dorset was pleased to read the tragedy twice over before it was acted; and did me the favour to send me word, that I had written beyond any of my former

2 Our author alludes to the tenth Epigram of Ausonius: "Toxica zelotypo dedit uxor mæcha marito,

"Nec satis ad mortem credidit esse datum.

"Micuit argenti letalia pondera vivi;

66

Cogeret ut celerem vis geminata necem.

"Dividat hæc si quis, faciunt discreta venenum :

"Antidotum sumet, qui sociata bibet.
"Ergo inter sese dum noxia pocula certant,

"Cessit letalis noxa salutiferæ.

"Protinus et vacuos alvi petiere recessus

66

"Lubrica dejectis quà via nota cibis.

Quàm pia cura dêum! prodest crudelior uxor,

"Et quum fata volunt, bina venena juvant."

On this principle, I have been informed, an eminent chemist has lately attempted to cure the hydrophobia by the use of mercury; with what success I know not.

plays, and that he was displeased any thing should be-cut away. If I have not reason to prefer his single judgment to a whole faction, let the world be judge; for the opposition is the same with that of Lucan's hero against an army; concurrere bellum atque virum.

I think I may modestly conclude, that whatever errours there may be, either in the design or writing of this play, they are not those which have been objected to it. I think also, that I am not yet arrived to the age of doting, and that I have given so much application to this poem, that I could not probably let it run into many gross absurdities; which may caution my enemies from too rash a censure, and may also encourage my friends, who are many more than I could reasonably have expected, to believe their kindness has not been very undeservedly bestowed on me. This is not a play that was huddled up in haste; and to shew it was not, I will own, that beside the general moral of it, which is given in the four last lines, there is also another moral, couched under every one of the principal parts and characters; which a judicious critick will observe, though I point not to it in this Preface. And there may be also some secret beauties in the decorum of

Some of our most correct English writers have fallen into this inaccuracy. There can be but one last line. Our author should have written-the last four lines.

VOL. II.

& Schnson in the printed lef Pope, but not in thells

parts, and uniformity of design, which my puny judges will not easily find out let them consider in the last scene of the fourth act, whether I have not preserved the rule of decency in giving all the advantage to the royal character, and in making Dorax first submit. Perhaps too, they may have thought that it was through indigence of characters, that I have given the same to Sebastian and Almeyda, and consequently made them alike in all things but their sex; but let them look a little deeper into the matter, and they will find that this identity of character in the greatness of their souls, was intended for a preparation of the final discovery; and that the likeness of their nature was a fair hint to the proximity of their blood.

To avoid the imputation of too much vanity, (for all writers, especially poets, will have some,) I will give but one other instance in relation to the uniformity of the design. I have observed that the English will not bear a thorough tragedy, but are pleased that it should be lightened with underparts of mirth. It had been easy for me to have given my audience a better course of comedy; I mean a more diverting than that of Antonio and Morayma: but I dare appeal even to my ene mies, if I or any man could have invented one which had been more of a piece, and more depending on the serious part of the design. For what could be more uniform, than to draw from out of the members of a captive court the subject

of a comical entertainment? To prepare this episode, you see Dorax giving the character of Antonio, in the beginning of the play, upon his first sight of him at the lottery; and to make the dependence, Antonio is engaged in the fourth act for the deliverance of Almeyda, which is also prepared, by his being first made a slave to the captain of the rabble.

I should beg pardon for these instances; but perhaps they may be of use to future poets, in the conduct of their plays. At least, if I appear too positive, I am growing old, and thereby in possession of some experience, which men in years will always assume for a right of talking. Certainly, if a man can ever have reason to set a value on himself, it is when his ungenerous enemies are taking the advantage of the times upon him, to ruin him in his reputation; and therefore for once, I will make bold to take the counsel of my old master Virgil:

Tu, ne cede malis, sed contrà audentior ito.