-Ah, Sir, in
my young days, what lofty Wit, What high-strain'd Scenes of Fighting
there were writ: These are slight airy Toys. But tell me, pray, What
has the House of Commons done to day? Then shews his Politicks, to let
you see Of State Affairs he'll judge as notably, As he can do of Wit
and Poetry. The younger Sparks, who hither do resort, Cry- Pox o' your
gentle things, give us more Sport; -Damn me, I'm sure 'twill never
please the Court. Such Fops are never pleas'd, unless the Play Be
stuff'd with Fools, as brisk and dull as they: Such might the
Half-Crown spare, and in a Glass At home behold a more accomplisht
Ass, Where they may set their Cravats, Wigs and Faces, And practice
all their Buffoonry Grimaces; See how this- Huff becomes- this Dammy-
flare- Which they at home may act, because they dare, But- must with
prudent Caution do elsewhere. Oh that our Nokes, or Tony Lee could
show A Fop but half so much to th' Life as you. POST-SCRIPT. THIS Play
had been sooner in Print, but for a Report about the Town (made by
some either very Malitious or very Ignorant) that 'twas Thomaso
alter'd; which made the Book-sellers fear some trouble from the
Proprietor of that Admirable Play, which indeed has Wit enough to
stock a Poet, and is not to be piec't or mended by any but the
Excellent Author himself; That I have stol'n some hints from it may be
a proof, that I valu'd it more than to pretend to alter it: had I had
the Dexterity of some Poets who are not more expert in stealing than
in the Art of Concealing, and who even that way out-do the
Spartan-Boyes I might have appropriated all to myself, but I, vainly
proud of my Judgment hang out the Sign of ANGELICA (the only Stol'n
Object) to give Notice where a great part of the Wit dwelt; though if
the Play of the Novella were as well worth remembring as Thomaso, they
might (bating the Name) have as well said, I took it from thence: I
will only say the Plot and Bus'ness (not to boast on't) is my own: as
for the Words and Characters, I leave the Reader to judge and compare
'em with Thomaso, to whom I recommend the great Entertainment of
reading it, tho' had this succeeded ill, I shou'd have had no need of
imploring that Justice from the Critics, who are naturally so kind to
any that pretend to usurp their Dominion, they wou'd doubtless have
given me the whole Honour on't.
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