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Show PREFACE. fortune of being one of themfelves, without one Farthing, for half a Year's pains that he had taken for their Entertainment. There were fome Gentlemen in the Pit the firft Night, that took the hint from the Prologue to d a m n the Play ; but they made fuch a noife in the Execution, that the People took the Out-cry for a Reprieve ; fo that the darling Mifchief was over-laid by their over-fondnefs of the Changling: 'Tis fome-what hard, that Gentlemen fhou'd debafe themfelves into a Faction of a dozen , to ftab a fingle Perfon , w h o never had the Refolution to face two M e n at a time; if he has had the misfortune of any Mifunderftanding with a particular Perfon, he has had a particular Perfon to anfwer it: But thefeSparks wou'd be remarkable in their Refentment; and if any body falls under their Difpleafure, they fcorn to call him to a particular Account, but will very honourably burn his Houfe, or pick his Pocket. The New-Houfe has perfectly made m e a Convert by their Civility on m y fixth Night: for, to be Friends, and Reveng'd at the fame time, I muft give them a Play, that is, when I write another. For Faction runs fo high, that I cou'd wifh the Senate wou'd fupprefs the Houfes, or put in force the Act againft bribing Elections; that Houfe which has the moft Favours to beftow, will certainly carry it, Tpight of all Poetical Juftice that wou'd fupport t'other. I have heard fome People fo extravagantly angry at this Play, that one wou'd think they had no reafon to be difpleafed at all; whilft fome (otherwife M e n of good Senfe) have commended it fo much, that I was afraid they ridicul'd m e ; fo that between both, I a m abfolutely at a lofs what to think on't; for tho' the Caufe has come on fix Days fucceffively, yet the Tryal, I fancy, is not determin'd. W h e n our Devotion to Lent, and our Lady, is over, the bufinefs will be brought on again, and then w e fhall have fair play for our Money. There is a Gentleman of the firft Underftanding, and a very goodCritick, w h o faid of M r . Wilks, that in this Part he out-acted himfelf, and all M e n that he ever faw. I wou'd not rob Mr. Wilks, by a worfe Expreflion of mine, of a Complement that he fo much deferves. I had almoft forgot to tell you, that the turn of Plot in the laft Act, is an Adventure of Gjevalier de Chaftillon in Paris, and Matter of Fact; but the thing is fo univerfally known, that I think this Advice might have been lpar'd, as well as all the reft of the Preface, for any good it will do either to m e or the Play. * The |