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Show The PREFACE. Some have ask'd the Queftion, W h y the Elder Woudbe, in the Fourth A6f, fhould counterfeit Madnefs in his Confinement, don't miftake, there was no fuch thing in his Head; •nd the Judicious cou'd eafily perceive, that it was only a ftart of Humour put on to divert his Melancholy; and when Gayety is flrain'd to cover Misfortune, it m a y very naturally be over-done, and rife to a Semblance of Madnefs, furficient to impofe on the Conftable, and perhaps on fome of the Audience ; w h o taking every thing at fight, impute that as a Fault, which I a m bold to ftand up for, as one of the moft Mafter Iy Stroaks of the whole Piece. This I think fufhcient to obviate what Objections I have heard made; but there was no great Occafion for making this Defence, having had the Opinion of fome of the greateft Perfons in England, both for Quality and Parts, that the Play has Merit enough to hide more Faults than have been found; and I think their Approbation fufhcient to excufe fome Pride that m a y be incident to the Author upon this Performance. I muft own m y felf oblig'd to Mr. Longueville for fome Lines in the Part of Teague, and fomething of the Lawyer; but above all, for his hint of the Twins, upon which Iform'd m y Plot: But having paid him all due Satisfaction and Acknowledgment, I muft do m y felf the Juftice to believe, that few of our Modern Writers have been lefs beholden to Foreign Afliftance in their Plays, than I have been in the following Scenes. P R O, |