employ my wonder: yet I am glad such verse has been written for our stage, since it has so happily exceeded those whom we seemed to imitate. But while I give these arguments against verse, I may seem faulty that I have not only written ill ones, but written any: but, since it was the fashion, I was resolved, as in all indifferent things, not to appear singular, the danger of the vanity being greater than the error; and therefore I followed it as a fashion, though very far off.

For the Italian plays, I have seen some of them which have been given me as the best; but they are so inconsiderable, that the particulars of them are not at all worthy to entertain the reader; but as much as they are short of others in this, they exceed in their other performances on the stage: I mean their Operas; which, consisting of musick and painting, there is none but will believe it is much harder to equal them in that way, than it is to excel them in the other.

The Spanish plays pretend to more, but, indeed, are not much; being nothing but so many novels put into acts and scenes, without the least attempt or design of making the reader more concerned than a well-told tale might do ; whereas a poet that endeavours not to heighten the accidents which fortune seems to scatter in a well-knit design, had better have told his tale by a fire-side, than presented it on a stage.

For these times wherein we write, I admire to hear the poets so often cry out upon, ana wittily

(as they believe) threaten their judges, since the effects of their mercy has so much exceeded their justice, that others, with me, cannot but remember how many favourable audiences some of our ill plays have had; and when I consider how severe the former age has been to some of the best of Mr. Jonson's never-to-be-equalled comedies, I cannot but wonder why any poet should speak of former times, but rather acknowledge that the want of abilities in this age are largely supplied with the mercies of it. I deny not but there are some who resolve to like nothing; and such, perhaps, are not unwise, since by that general resolution they may be certainly in the right sometimes, which perhaps they would seldom be, if they should venture their understandings in different censures; and being forced to a general liking or disliking, lest they should discover too much their own weakness, it is to be expected they would rather choose to pretend to judgment than good nature, though I wish they could find better ways to shew either.

But I forget myself; not considering, that while I entertain the reader in the entrance with what a good play should be, when he is come beyond the entrance he must be treated with what ill plays are: but in this I resemble the greatest part of the world, that better know how to talk of things than to perform them, and live short of their own discourses.

And now I seem like an eager hunter, that has long pursued a chace after an inconsiderable quarry, and gives over weary, as I do.

EPISTLE DEDICATORY

TO THE ESSAY ON

DRAMATICK POESY.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHARLES, LORD BUCKHURST,

MY LORD,

As I was lately reviewing my loose papers, amongst the rest I found this Essay, the writing of which, in this rude and indigested manner wherein your lordship now sees it, served as an amusement to me in the country, when the violence of the

9 Charles, lord Buckhurst, afterwards frequently distinguished by the appellation of the witty earl of Dorset, was the son of Richard, the fifth earl of Dorset, and was born January 24, 1637-8. He survived our author a few years, dying January 29th, 1705-6. He attended the duke of York as a volunteer in the Dutch war, and was in the sea-fight of June 3, 1665, alluded to in the opening of the following Dialogue. On the preceding evening, according to tradition, he wrote the well known ballad, To all you ladies now at land, &c. But Dr. Johnson, with more probability, tells us from the information of John, the fifth earl of Orrery, that he then only retouched and finished it.

last plague' had driven me from the town. Seeing then our theatres shut up, I was engaged in these kind of thoughts with the same delight with which men think upon their absent mistresses. I confess I find many things in this Discourse which I do not now approve; my judgment being not a little altered since the writing of it; but whether for the better or the worse, I know not: neither indeed is it much material, in an essay, where all I have said is problematical. For the way of writing plays in verse, which I have seemed to favour, I have, since that time, laid the practice of it aside, till I have more leisure, because I find it troublesome and slow. But I am no way altered from my opinion of it, at least with any reasons which have opposed it. For your lordship may easily observe, that none are very violent against it, but those who either have not attempted it, or who have succeeded ill in their attempt. It is enough for me to have your lordship's example for my excuse in that little which I have done in it; and I am sure my adversaries can bring no such arguments against verse, as those with which the fourth act of POMPEY* will furnish me in its defence. Yet, my lord, you must suffer me a little to complain

The great plague of 1665.

2 The tragedy of Pompey the Great, "translated out of French by certain persons of honour." 4to. 1664.— From Dryden's eulogium it appears, that the fourth act was translated by lord Buckhurst; the first was done by Waller.

of

you

you, that too soon withdraw from us a contentment, of which we expected the continuance, because you gave it us so early. It is a revolt, without occasion, from your party, where your merits had already raised you to the highest commands, and where you have not the excuse of other men, that you have been ill used, and therefore laid down arms. I know no other I know no other quarrel you can have to verse, than that which Spurina3 had to his beauty, when he tore and mangled the features of his face, only because they pleased too well the sight. It was an honour which seemed to wait for you, to lead out a new colony of writers from the mother nation: and upon the first spreading of your ensigns, there had been many in a readiness to have followed so fortunate a leader; if not all, yet the better part of poets:

pars, indocili melior grege; mollis et exspes
Inominata perprimat culilia.

I am almost of opinion, that we should force you to accept of the command, as sometimes the Prætorian bands have compelled their captains to receive the empire. The court, which is the best and surest judge of writing, has generally allowed♦ of verse; and in the town it has found favourers of wit and quality. As for your own particular, my lord, you have yet youth,' and time enough to

3 See Valerius Maximus, 1. iv. c. 5.

4 To allow in the last age signified to approve.

5 Lord Buckhurst was at this time just thirty years old.