LOVE for LOVE. A COMEDY. Acted at the THEATRE in Little-Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, BY His Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. CONGREVE. Nudus agris, nudus nummis paternis, The FOURTH EDITION. LONDON, Printed for Jacob Tonfon: And Sold by R. Wellington, To the Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of Dorfet and Middlefex, MY LORD, A Young Poet is liable to the fame Vanity and Indiscretion with a Young Lover; and the Great Man that, fmiles upon one, and the Fine Woman that looks kindly upon t'other, are each of 'em in Danger of having. the Favour publish'd with the first Opportunity. But there may be a different Motive, which will a little distinguish the Offenders. For tho' 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 Caufe and Excufe of this Dedication. Whoever is King, is also the Father of his Country; and as no Body can difpute 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 Addrefs 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 diftinguish their Patrons, by the thining 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 distinguish'd. I am contented A 2. with 1 The Dedication. with the Honour I do my self in this Epiftle, without the Vanity of attempting to add to, or explain Your Lordship's Character. I confess it is not without fome ftruggling, that I behave my felf in this Cafe as I ought: For it is very hard to be pleased with a Subject, and yet forbear it. But I chuse rather to follow Pliny's Precept, than his Example, when in his Panegyrick to the Emperor Trajan, he says, Nec minus confiderabo quid aures ejus pati poffint, Quam quid virtutibus debeatur. 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 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 lefs Precipitation, but also heightens the ridiculous Character of Forefight, which indeed feems to be maim'd without it. But I found my felf 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 represented in it, would have been, too much crowded in lefs room. This Reflection on Prolixity, (a Fault for which scarce any one Beauty will attone) warns me not to be tedious now, and detain Your Lordship any longer with the Trifles of, MY LORD, Your Lordship's moft Obedient, William Congreve. A PROLOGUE FOR The Opening of the New Play-Houfe, propos'd to be Spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle in Man's Cloaths. Sent from an unknown Hand. Uftom, which every CU where bears mighty Sway, Brings me to Alt the Orator to Day: But Women, you will fay, are ill at Speeches, 'Tis true, and therefore I appear in Breeches: Not for Example to you City-Wives, Lives. That by Prescription's Settled for your Making Horns with her Hands And yet, methinks, it must have coft fome Strife: over her Head. Free |