TO EARL PERCY: THIS TRAGEDY, AS A SMALL TRIBUTE TO HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CHARACTER, IS VERY RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS LORDSHIP'S MOST OBEDIENT AND MOST HUMBLE SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. ADVERTISEMENT. The French drama, founded on the famous old story of Raoul de Coucy, suggested to the author many circumstances in this Tragedy. [Though this story is pretty generally known, being found in many writers, English and French, it may be proper to give it briefly in this place. Eudes de Faiel, lord of Vermandois, in the twelfth century, espoused Gabrielle de Vergy, whose affections were previously engaged to Raoul de Coucy, one of the young Crusaders. Coucy being mortally wounded in a battle with the Saracens, called his faithful esquire, and charged him, on his return to France, to deliver to Madame Faiel a letter, and a silver casket containing the heart of her lover. The messenger, in visiting the castle of Faiel, met the lord of the mansion, who, having obtained the fatal deposit, caused it to be hashed, and served up to his lady as a delicious treat. When she had finished eating, the malignant demon told her what it was; and, at the same time, placed before her the casket and the letter. Madame Faiel received both with joy, applied her lips to the dish, and having cleared every particle that remained, refused all further sustenance, and died soon after. Belloy, author of the tragedy of the "Siege of Calais,"dramatised the story of "Gabrielle de Vergy" also, but it was too horrible a subject for the French, or indeed any other stage. In "Percy" there is only a slight resemblance to the tale of the Crusade; and with respect to the French poet, Hannah More, in one of her letters to Garrick, says, "I have endeavoured to differ from Belloy as much as possible, particularly by introducing the father of sir Hubert. I have followed him where it was necessary, in his plan; as to the rest, I do not believe I have, in the whole, ten lines from him."-ED.] |