LOVE for LOVE. A' COME D Y. 1 Nudus agris, nudus nummis paternis, Written by Mr. CONGREVE. LONDON: Printed for J. and R. TONSON and S. DRAPER. MDCCXLVII. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of DORSET and MIDDLESEX, Lord Chamberlain of his Majefty's Houfhold, and Knight of the Moft Noble Order of the Garter, &c. My LORD, A Young Poet is liable to the fame Vanity and Indifcretion with a young Lover; and the Great Man who fmiles upon one, and the Fine Woman who looks kindly upon t'other, are both of 'em in Danger of having the Favour publish'd with the firft Opportunity. But there may be a different Motive, which will a little diftinguish the Offenders. For tho one fhou'd 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 Excufe of this Dedication. Whoever is King, is alfo the Father of his Country; and as no body can dispute your Lordship's Monarchy in Poetry; fo all that are concern'd, ought to acknowledge Your Univerfal Patronage: And it is only prefuming on the Privilege of a Loyal Subject, that I have ventur'd to make this my Address of Thanks to Your Lordship; which, at the fame Time, includes a Prayer for Your Protection. I am not Ignorant of the Common Form of Poetical Dedications, which are generally made up of Panegyricks, where the Authors endeavour to diftinguifh 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 distinguifh'd. I am contented with the Honour I do myself in this Epiftle; without the Vanity of attempting to add to, or explain your Lordfhip's Character. I confefs it is not without fome struggling, that I behave myself in this Cafe, as I ought: For it is very hard to be pleafed with a Subject, and yet forbear it. But I choose rather to follow Pliny's Precept, than his Example, when, in his Panegyrick to the Emperor Trajan, he fays, Nec minus confiderabo quid aures ejus pati poffint, I hope I may be excus'd the Pedantry of a Quotation, when it is fo juftly apply'd. Here are fome Lines in the Print, (and which Your Lord 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 Defign forward with lefs Precipitation, but also heightens the ridiculous Character of Forefight, which indeed feems to be maim'd without it. But I found myself in great danger of a long Play, and was glad to help it where I could. Tho' notwithstanding my Care, and the kind Reception it had from the Town; I could heartily wish it yet fhorter: But the Number of different Characters reprefented in it, would have been too much crowded in lefs room. This Reflexion 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, WILLIAM CONGREVE. A 4 |