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PREFACE.

WHEN I undertook to write a comedy, I confefs I was strongly prepoffeffed in favour of the poets of the laft age, and ftrove to imitate them. The term, genteel comedy, was then unknown amongst us, and little more was defired by an audience, than nature and humour, in whatever walks of life they were most confpicuous. The author of the following fcenes never imagined that more would be expected of him, and therefore to delineate character has been his principal aim. Those who know any thing of compofition, are fenfible, that in pursuing humour, it will fometimes lead us into the receffes of the mean; I was even tempted to look for it in the master of a spunging-house: but in deference to the public tafte, grown of late, perhaps, too delicate, the scene of the bailiffs was retrenched in the representation. In deference alfo to the judgment of a few friends, who think in a particular way, the fcene is here restored. The author fubmits it to the

reader

reader in his clofet; and hopes that too much refinement will not banish humour and character from ours, as it has already done from the French theatre. Indeed the French comedy is now become fo very elevated and fentimental, that it has not only banished humour and Moliere from the stage, but it has banished all spectators too.

Upon the whole, the author returns his thanks to the public for the favourable reception which the Good-Natur'd Man has met with: and to Mr. Colman in particular, for his kindness to it. It may not alfo be improper to affure any, who fhall hereafter write for the theatre, that merit, or fuppofed merit, will ever be a fufficient passport to his protection.

, PRO

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PREST by the load of life, the weary mind
Surveys the general toil of human kind;
With cool fubmiffion joins the lab'ring train,
And focial forrow, lofes half its pain:

Our anxious bard, without complaint, may share
This bustling feafon's epidemic care.

Like Cæfar's pilot, dignify'd by fate,

Toft in one common ftorm with all the great;
Diftreft alike, the ftatefman and the wit,
When one a borough courts, and one the pit.
The bufy candidates for power and fame,

Have hopes, and fears, and wishes, just the same;
Disabled both to combat, or to fly,

Muft hear all taunts, and hear without reply.
Uncheck'd on both, loud rabbles vent their rage,
As mongrels bay the lion in a cage.
Th' offended burgefs hoards his angry tale,
For that bleft year when all that vote may rail;
Their schemes of fpite the poet's foes difmifs,
Till that glad night, when all that hate may hifs.
"This

VOL. II,

B

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