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DEFENCE OF THE ESSAY

OF

DRAMATICK POESY;

FIRST PRINTED IN QUARTO, IN 1668.

or,

PROLEGOMENA.

Sir Robert Howard, in the same year in which the ESSAY OF DRAMATICK POESY was published, produced a play, entitled THE GREAT FAVOURITE, OR, THE DUKE OF LERMA; to which he prefixed Address to the Reader, containing some observations on that Essay. This Address having occasioned a Reply from our author, I have thought it proper to give it a place here.

TO THE READER.

I CANNOT plead the usual excuse for publish

ing this trifle, which is commonly the subject of most Prefaces, by charging it upon the importunity of friends; for, I confess, I was myself willing, at the first desire of Mr. Herringman, to print it; not for any great opinion that I had entertained, but for the opinion that others were pleased to express which being told me by some friends, I was concerned to let the world judge what subject matter of offence was contained in it. Some were pleased to believe little of it mine: but they are both obliging to me, though perhaps not inten

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tentionally; the last, by thinking there was any thing in it that was worth so ill-designed an envy, as to place it to another author; the others, (perhaps the best-bred informers,) by continuing their displeasure towards me, since I most gratefully acknowledge to have received some advantage in the opinion of the sober part of the world, by the loss of theirs.

For the subject, I came accidentally to write upon it; for a gentleman brought a play to the King's Company, called THE DUKE OF LERMA; and by them I was desired to peruse it, and return my opinion, whether I thought it fit for the stage. After I had read it, I acquainted them, that in my judgment it would not be of much use for such a design; since the contrivance scarce would merit the name of a plot, and some of that assisted by a disguise; and it ended abruptly and on the person of Philip the Third there was fixed such a mean character, and on the daughter of the Duke of Lerma such a vicious one, that I could 'not but judge it unfit to be presented by any that had a respect, not only to princes, but indeed to either man or woman. And about that time, being to go into the country, I was persuaded by Mr. Hart to make it my diversion there; that so great a hint might not be lost, as the Duke of Lerma saving himself in his last extremity by his unexpected disguise, which is as well in the true story as the old play and besides that and the names,—my altering the most part of the characters, and the

whole design, made me uncapable to use much more; though perhaps written with higher style and thoughts than I could attain to.

I intend not to trouble myself nor the world any more in such subjects, but take my leave of these my too long acquaintances; since that little fancy and liberty I once enjoyed, is now fettered in business of more unpleasant natures: yet, were I free to apply my thoughts as my own choice directed them, I should hardly again venture into the civil wars of censures,

9

Ubi―nullos habitura triumphos.'

In the next place, I must ingenuously confess, that the manner of plays which now are in most esteem, is beyond my power to perform: nor do I condemn in the least any thing of what nature soever, that pleases, since nothing could appear to me a ruder folly than to censure the satisfaction of others: I rather blame the unnecessary understanding of some, that have laboured to give strict rules to things that are not mathematical; and with such eagerness pursuing their own seeming reasons, that at last we are to apprehend such argumentative poets will grow as strict as Sancho Panco's

9 Sir Robert Howard was about this time, I believe, made Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. A few years afterwards he was appointed Auditor of the Exchequer, which valuable office he held to the time of his death in September, 1698.

I

Bella geri placuit nullos habitura triumphos?

Lucan. i. 12.

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