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Show • HBflnj The EfiJOe dedicatory. u to the laft, has been no left Uluftriow. ft, Jcrs Spain, and ^ W , have been the Scenes „f | Your Aaions, in the higheft Ranks of ,he Al. m v - and fo long as thofe Wars remain recorded in Story, Your N a m e will be remembred with Honour. T T H E whole Courfe of Your Ltfe has beta carry'd on in the fame Spirit and Vigour. The] Court, and Camp, Cabinet,and Senate, have been 2ll on different Occafions, WuneiTes of Yost eminent Abilities, and Publick Virtues; as Yo«t generous P r o t e a n of Your Friends, anda. eaeing Courtefy to all Mankind, are daily In-ftancesofYour private Virtues^ | M v Lord, fuch heroick Merit, fuch oft-ful Accomplifuments, and fuch agreeable M • ners, have juftly made Your Grace efteemda S Noble, and moft Worthy Patron. I I am, May it pleafe Tour Grace, Tour ever Obligd, and moft Obedient Humble Sm*l THO. SOUTHERN!! T H E P R E F A CE, HIS Tragedy was begun a Tear before the Revolution, and near four !"l W% ^ 5 WYitten without any View, but upon the Subjecl, which I took from the Life of Agis in Plutarch. Many things interfering with thofe Times, I laid by what Ihad written* for feventeen Tears: IJhew'd it then to the late Duke of Devonlhire, who was in every regard a Judges he told me, he faw no Reafon why it might not have been afted the Tear of the Revolution: / then finip'd it, and, as I thought, cut out the exceptionable Parts, but could not get it acled, not being able to perfwade my felf to the cutting off thofe Limbs which I thought effenttal to the Strength and Life of it: But fince I found it mufl pine in Obfcurity without it% I confented to the Operation', and after the Amputation of every Line, very near the Number of Four Hundred, it ftands on its own Legs ftill, and by the Favour of the Town, and indulging AJfiftance of Friends, has come fuccefsfully forward upon the Stage. Pj . The » H |