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PREFACE.

FTER Mr. Rich and I were agreed upon terms and conditions for bringing this piece on the ftage, and that every thing was ready for rehearfal, the lord chamberlain fent an order from the country to prohibit Mr. Rich to fuffer any play to be rehearfed upon his stage till it had been first of all fupervised by his grace. As foon as Mr. Rich came from his grace's fecretary (who had fent for him to receive the before-mentioned order) he came to my lodgings and acquainted me with the orders he had received.

Upon the lord chamberlain's coming to town, I was confined by fickness, but in four or five days I went abroad, on purpose to wait upon his grace, with a faithful and genuine copy of this piece, excepting the errata of the tranfcriber.

As I have had several fuggeftions and falfe infinuations concerning the copy; I take this occafion in the moft folemn manner to affirm, that the very copy I delivered to Mr. Rich, was written in my own hand, fome months before, at the Bath, from my own first foul blotted papers; from this, that for the playhouse was tranfcribed, from whence Mr. Stede, the prompter, copied that which I delivered to the lord chamberlain : and, excepting my own foul blotted papers, I do protest I know of no other copy whatsoever, than those I have mentioned.

The copy which I gave into the hands of Mr. Rich had been seen before by feveral perfons of the greatest diftinction and veracity, who will be ready to do me the honour and justice to atteft it; fo that not only by them, but by Mr. Rich and Mr. Stede, I can (against all infinuation or positive affirmation) prove in the most clear and undeniable manner, if occafion required, what I have here upon my own honour and credit afferted. The introduction indeed was not fhewn to the lord chain

berlain, which, as I had not then quite fettled, was never transcribed in the playhouse copy.

It was on Saturday morning, December 7th, 1728, that I waited upon the lord chamberlain; I defired to have the honour of reading the opera to his grace, but he ordered me to leave it with him, which I did, upon expectation of having it returned on the Monday following; but I had it not till Thursday, December 12, when I received it from his grace with this anfwer; *that it was not allowed to be acted, but commanded to be fuppreft.' This was told me in general, without any reasons affigned, or any charge against me of my having given any particular offence.

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Since this prohibition I have been told, that I am accufed, in general terms, of having written many difaffected libels and feditious pamphlets. As it hath ever been my utmost ambition (if that word may be used upon this occafion) to lead a quiet and inoffenfive life, I thought my innocence in this particular would never have required a justification; and as this kind of writing is what I have ever detested, and never practifed, I am perfuaded fo groundless a calumny can never be believed, but by thofe who do not know me. But as general afperfions of this fort have been caft upon me, I think myfelf called upon to declare my principles; and I do, with the strictest truth, affirm, that I am as loyal a fubject and as firmly attached to the prefent happy establishment, as any of those who have the greatest places or penfions. I have been informed too, that, in the following play, I have been charged with writing im moralities; that it is filled with flander and calumny against particular great perfons; and that majefty itself is endeavoured to be brought into ridicule and contempt.

As I knew that every one of these charges was in every point abfolutely falfe and without the least grounds, at first I was not at all affected by them; but when I found they were still infifted upon, and that particular paffages, which were not in the play, were quoted and propagated to fupport what had been fuggested, I could no longer bear to lie under thefe falle accufations; fo by printing it, I have fubmitted and given up all prefent views of profit which might accrue

from

from the stage, which undoubtedly will be fome fatisfaction to the worthy gentlemen who have treated me with fo much candour and humanity, and reprefented me in fuch favourable colours.

But as I am confcious to myself, that my only intention was to lash, in general, the reigning and fashionable vices, and to recommend and fet virtue in as amiable a light as I could; to justify and vindicate my own character, I thought my felf obliged to print the opera without delay, in the manner I have done.

As the play was principally defigned for representation, I hope, when it is read, it will be confidered in that light and when all that hath been said against it fhall appear to be entirely misunderstood or mifreprefented; if, fome time hence, it fhould be permitted to appear on the stage, I think it neceffary to acquaint the public, that, as far as a contract of this kind can be binding, I am engaged to Mr. Rich, to have it reprefented upon his

theatre.

March 25, 1729.

INTRO

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INTRODUCTION.

Poet and Player.

POET.

A Sequel to a play is like more laft words. It is a

kind of abfurdity; and really, Sir, you have prevailed upon me to pursue this subject against my judg

ment.

ift Play. Be the fuccefs as it will, you are fure of what you have contracted for; and, upon the inducement of gain, nobody can blame you for undertaking

it.

Poet. I know, I must have been looked upon as whimfical, and particular, if I had fcrupled to have rifqued my reputation for my profit; for why fhould I be more fqueamish than my betters and fo, Sir, contrary to my opinion, I bring Polly once again upon the stage.

ift Play. Confider, Sir, you have prepoffeffion on your fide.

Poet. But then the pleasure of novelty is loft; and in a thing of this kind, I am afraid I fhall hardly be pardoned for imitating myfelf; for fure, pieces of this fort are not to be followed as precedents. My dependance, like a tricking bookfeller's, is that the kind reception the first part met with, will carry off the second, be it what it will.

ift Play. You fhould not difgrace your own works; you will have critics enough who will be glad to do that for you; and let me tell you, Sir, after the fuccefs you have had, you must expect envy.

Poct. Since I have had more applaufe than I can deserve, I muft, with other authors, be content, if critics allow me lefs. I fhould be an arrant courtier, or an arrant beggar, indeed, if as foon as I have received one undeferved favour, I fhould lay claim to another; I do not flatter myself with the like fuccefs.

ift Play.