OCR Text |
Show The Epifile Dedicatory. T humblv beg leave to interline a W o r d or two of the A d - vemnrVof the Recruiting Ojficer upon the Stage. Mr. Rich, X Commands the Compa/iy for wli ch thofe Recruits were £ ? d has defir'd m e to acquit him before the World of a Charge which he thinks lies heavy upon him, for ading this P U v on Mr. Durfey'% third Night. * * ? 17known Jo all Men by thefe+refents, that it was tsyM and Deed, or rather W.Durfeys; for he woud! play his Third Night againft the Firft of mine. He brought down a huge Fhlht of frightful Birds upon m e ; when (Heavenknows) I had not a felther'd Fowl in m y Play, except one ftngle Kite: But I prefently made Plume a Bird, becaufe of his N a m e , and BraLn.another, becaufe of the Feather in his Hat; and with thefe three I engag'd his whole Empire, which I think was as ereat a Wonder as any in the Sun. . . S But to anfwer his Complaints more gravely, the Scafon was far advane'd; the Ofhcers that made the greateft Figures in nw vtv were all commanded to their Pofts abroad and w a ^ edonly for a Wind, which mightpofhbly turn in lefs, than a Dav And I know none of Mr. Durfey's Birds that had Pofts abroad but his Woodcocks, and their Seafon is over ; to tha he might put off a D a y with lefs Prejudice than the Re? cruitiZoler cou'd; w h o has this farther to fay for himfelf, thaihi was pofted before the other fpake, andcould not with Credit recede from his Station. . . - Thefe and fome other Rubs this Comedy met with before it anpear'd. But on the other hand, it had powerful Helps to fet it forward: The Duke of Ormond encouragd the Author and the Earl of Orrery approv'd the Play. M y Recruits were r viewed by m y General and m y Collonel, and could not foilItopaTMuJer:^ ftill to add to m y Succefs, they were rais'd amona m y Friends, round the Wrekin. This Health has the Advantage over our other celebrated Toafts, never to grow worfe for the wearing : Tis a lafting Beauty, old without Age, and common without Scandal. That you may live long to fet it cheerfully round, and to enjoy the abundant Pleafures of yourfair and plentiful Country, is the hearty Wifh of. My bards and Gentlemen, 7w moft obliged, and moft obedient Servant, G. FARCL^HAIL |