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Show * 11 III PRE FACE T O give you the Hiftory of this Play, wou'd but caufe the Reader and the Writer a trouble to no purpofe; I fhall only fay, that I took the hint from Fletcher's Wild-Goofe Chafe; and to thofe w h o fay, that I have fpoil'd the Original, I wifh no other injury, but that they wou'd fay it again. As to the fuccefs of it, I think'tis but a kind of'Cremona bufinefs, I have neither loft nor won. I pufhed fairly, but the French were prepofTefs'd ^ and the Charms of Gallick Heels were too hard for an Englifh Brain; but I a m proud to own, that I have laid m y Head at the Ladies Feet. The Favour was unavoidable, for w e are a Nation fo very fond of improving our Underftanding , that the inftructions of a Play does no good, when it comes in competition with the Moral of Minuet. Pliny tells us in his Natural Hiftory, of'Elephants that were taught to dance on the Ropes; if this could be made practicable now, what a number of Subfcriptions might be had to bring the Great Mogul out of Fleet-ftreet, and make him dance between the Acts. I remember, that about two Years ago, I had a Gentleman from France that brought the Play-houfe fome fifty Audiences in five Months; then w h y fhou'd I be fiirpriz'd to find a French Lady do as much? 'Tis the prettieft way in the World, of defpifing the French King, to let him fee that w e can afford Money to bribe away his Dancers, when he, poor M a n , has exhaufted all his Stock, in buying of fome pitiful Towns and Principalities: Cum multis aliis. What can be a greater C o m pliment to our generous Nation; than to have the Lady upon her retour to Paris, boaft of their fpfendid Entertainment in England, of the Complaifance, Liberality, and good Nature of a People, room to ftic kth aa tP itnh rjo nagnedd lhefetr aHP op uoof5r e Ffeol fluollw,, tthhaatt fhhaed h ftaohrdet mnuinofet- |