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Show The PREFACE. muft expect no lefs than a Labour upon the .vage; but I hope the examining into that Afperfion will be enough to wipe it off, fince the Character of the Midwife i- only fo far touch'd, as is neceflary for carrying on the Ploc, lhe being principally decipher'd in her procuring Capacity ; a-id I dare not aitront the Ladies fo far, as to imagine they cou'd be offended at the cxpofing of a Bawd. Some Criticks complain, that the Defign is defective for want of Clelia's Appearance in the Scene; but I had rather they fhould find this Fault, than I forfeit m j Regard to the Fair, by fhowing a Lady of Figure under a Misforune ; for which Reafon II made her only Nominal, and chofe to expofe the Perfon that injur'd her; and if the Ladies don't agree that I have done her Juftice in the end, I'm very lorry for'r. Some People are apt to fay, That the Character of Rich-more points at a particular Perfon'; tho' I muft confefs, 1 fee nothing but what is very general in his Character, except his marrying his o w n Miftrefs; which, by the way, he never did, for he was no fooner off the Stage, but he chang'd his mind, and the poor Lady is ftill in Statu Quo, but upon the whole Matter, 'tis Application only makes the Afs; and Characters in Plays, are like Long-Lane Cloaths, not hung out for the Ufe of any particular People, but to be bought by only thofe they happen to fit. The moft material Objection againft this Play, is the Importance of the Subject, which necefTarily leads into Sentiments too grave for Diverfion, and fuppofes Vices too great for Comedy to punifh. 'Tis faid, I muft own, that the Bufinefs of Comedy is chiefly to ridicule Folly ; and that the Pu-nifhment of Vice falls rather into the Province of Tragedy; but if there be a middle fort of Wickednefs, too high for the Sock, and too low for the Buskin, is there any Reafon that it fhou'd gounpunifh'd? W h a t are more obnoxious to humane Society, than the Villanies expos'd in this Play; the Frauds, Plots and Contrivances upon the Fortunes of Men, and the Vertue of W o m e n , but the Perfons are too mean for the He-roick, then what muft w e do with them ? W h y , thev muft of neceffity drop into Comedy : For it is unreafonable to imagine that the Law-givers in Poetry wou'd tie themfelves up from executing that Juftice which is the Foundation of their Conftitution ; or to fay, That expofing Vice is the Bufinefs of the Drama, and yet make Rules to fcreen it from PerfeTct iio.n .. Som? |
